BSG Viper - Version 3.123

SeanP · May 5th, 2003, 12:35 PM

The other day Hito asked me if he could use my Viper to make some artwork.
I told him I was in the process of rebuilding it.
This weekend I got everything but the nose rebuilt.
With the new modeling techniques I am using, I managed to cut the number of polys in half without sacrificing any detail.

Still to do:
- rebuild the nose as it is really wrong
- add landing gear, doors and bays
- a few small details here and there

May 5th, 2003, 12:43 PM

Looking good

What's the polycount ?

SeanP · May 5th, 2003, 12:57 PM

Thanks Katana!
It is right around 160,000.
I still have a little optimization to do yet.

May 5th, 2003, 01:27 PM

Excellent ! ... very nice mesh for such a decent polycount !

Better than my last attempt

http://katana.3dgladiators.net/images/Viper_test1.jpg
http://katana.3dgladiators.net/images/Viper_test2.jpg

SeanP · May 5th, 2003, 01:53 PM

Thanks Katana!
You are off to a good start.
Why don't you finish it?

May 5th, 2003, 03:22 PM

wow thats some really impressive modeling sean, nice work

SeanP · May 5th, 2003, 03:42 PM

Thanks Jason!
I am hoping this time I will be able to actually use the model.
So far it has been either inaccurate or too many polys to work with in a good scene.

May 5th, 2003, 05:38 PM

Unfortunatly I only start projects, never finish them *lol*

May 5th, 2003, 08:37 PM

WOW!

Very nice sir... verah nice

May 6th, 2003, 12:23 AM

OHMYGOD!

AWESOME!!!!!!!

SeanP · May 6th, 2003, 09:34 AM

Katana - I know the feeling.
AsianC + thomas7g - thanks!

I will be splinecaging the nose today at lunch.
Will post an update this afternoon.

Hito · May 6th, 2003, 10:21 AM

Elowan · May 6th, 2003, 10:47 AM

Nicely done.

SeanP · May 6th, 2003, 02:24 PM

Hito - stop drooling, you shorted out my monitor!

Elowan - Thanks!

I didn't get much done at lunch - at least not enough to post.
Maybe tomorrow I will have enough done to post.

Titon · May 6th, 2003, 07:39 PM

You missed a spot!

LOL

Nice work Sean.

Hito · May 7th, 2003, 11:01 AM

I was just thinkin bout how nice it might be to have a little dogfight action between this bebby and Fabio's new starfighter

jewels · May 7th, 2003, 02:03 PM

That's a gorgeous viper. When can we take it for a spin?

SeanP · May 7th, 2003, 02:15 PM

Titon - Thanks Don!
Nice to hear from you again.
Maybe this time the ship will be good enough to actually use.

Hito - MMMMMMMM DOGFIGHT....
I would put my money on the Viper.

jewels - Thank you!
At present I have no plans to do a public release - sorry.
Hito will probably be the only recipient as he and I have been trading models back and forth for years now.

Boy, splinecaging the nose is turning out to be a real b*tch.
I am on attempt #3 now.

May 7th, 2003, 02:59 PM

Hey how you doing that????? 2 places at the same time????? You must be one of those there science genious's you are............Howz bout inventing us a update!

before I *cough* all over you

SeanP · May 7th, 2003, 03:27 PM

I have an evil twin.

We'll see how this latest nose works out.

May 7th, 2003, 03:29 PM

Isa loves s'me deetales boss...................indent those there cannons!

Titon · May 8th, 2003, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Boy, splinecaging the nose is turning out to be a real b*tch.

Remember you and i had this conversation about 2 years ago about the vipers nose. I had to finally build the thing in sections and do alot of point and poly editing to get it to look right.

Are you using the monogram kit as reference still?

I have something that you don't....na na boo boo

SeanP · May 8th, 2003, 10:00 AM

Hey Don!
I am going to try to build it in sections this afternoon.
We'll see how that works.

Yeah, still using the model, but I am also using the crappy blueprints and whatever reference photos I can find.

[FIRES A HOCKEY PUCK]
Yeah - you've got something I haven't got - missing teeth!

SeanP · May 8th, 2003, 01:19 PM

Okay, I broke the nose into sections and started the splinecage over.
I managed to get a fair bit done in 45 minutes.
The cage is still straight down the long edges, but that won't take long to add the curves.
The straight cage is causing some funky creases, but those will go away once the curves are added.
This time I know the general shape is right.

More tomorrow.

SeanP · May 12th, 2003, 01:43 PM

After screwing around with the splinecage trying to put nice curved edges on the cutouts by the canopy, I finally said screw it, it will just have sharp edges.
Bloody pain in the ass.

Anyways the shape is finally right - I hope.

I still need to add the thruster at the front, the laser cutouts and the triangle shape on the top.
Then I will have to rebuild the canopy and a few pieces underneath to match the new curves.
Then on to the the landing gear.

Sean Kennedy · May 12th, 2003, 07:49 PM

Very cool!

May 13th, 2003, 11:26 AM

I love it!

p.s. Cargile · May 13th, 2003, 10:18 PM

Ahhh, if only I still had my Viper toy with the tiny pilot and the red missile that sprung out of the nose. I even had a cardboard cockpit forward panel I got from a cereal box deal. I put a lot of hours on that thing.

SeanP · May 14th, 2003, 09:13 AM

Thanks everybody!
Funny you should mention that p.s. Cargile, I am in the process of finishing the basement in my house and the other day I was rearranging things and came across a box of old toys.
In it was my viper and cylon raider toys.
Everything still intact but the viper pilot.
I remember he broke in half a long time ago.
Unfortunately, some of the decals are starting to peel off the viper and the glue they used is turning a light brown.

May 14th, 2003, 01:58 PM

Great work on the Viper Sean!
Any plans to build the Cylon Raider? that is a really cool ship, and possibly one of my all time favorite looking ships.

I have those toys too, they're in storage at my mother's house in Ottawa (while I'm here in Vancouver). I packed them up in plastic bags years ago when I returned from Europe before they started deteriorating, still in pretty good shape too. Could be worth some money in the future....only thing is I don't have the boxes any more....but everything else is in good shape as I recall.

I still have a lot of my starwars toys too. the boardgame and even a couple of badly printed blankets.

Those are worth a small fortune.

later,
Lucas