Competition #13 - Z-trooper

[Tom]

Originally Posted by nistrum

the only thing i would say about it is it looks a bit like a gun rather than a whole ship.. it lacks a little complexity... i thinkthats mopstly due to the fac tthat you didnt really draw a deep concept.. so dont let that put you off. if you remember you want things like windows and that.. just to remind people this is BIG.

Dont worry, it will be BIG. The windows I'll make for the texture map will underline that. I hope some plates on the textures will add more complexity too.

Right now I'm trying to save some tris while I 3D my concept (because I suck at 2D drawings) for some other classes in this style (there are nearly 2 months left).
Once I've completed the smaller craft(s) I can see how many tris I have left to add detail to this one to make it seem larger.

[nikuskwas]

I love those engines!

[nistrum]

i second that, the engines are top notch.. looking forwards to the development

[Tom]

Thanks both of you. I'm glad you like it.

I am currently working on a freighter (just a quick model).
I wanted to test a hull concept for a frigate, so I decided to try it out on a subject that wouldnt need that much external tech stuff.

It will also serve to test my theory of ships docked in the cruisers hanger will help underline the size of the cruiser.

[nikuskwas]

While looking at your model and thinking of something constructive to say, I came up with one thing:I believe the reason it looks like sort of a "Big Gun" instead of a Mothership is mainly because of that huge circular thing in the middle of the ship. In a practical matter (I don't know if you've explained this before) the circular thing looks like it has no practical purpose. I'll give you an example of my own project: I try to put a reason for every piece my Mothership has. If it has some huge structure, I try to give it a meaning... either an antenna, a dock-door, a sensor radar... But if you would really be the designer of a real-super-mega-massive spaceship... would you invest so many resources in doing only something decorative? I think that all that concept-art out there that succeeds, is because it is intended to work (somehow at least in our imaginations...). Just some thoughts... I hope it helps.

Nick.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by nikuskwas

While looking at your model and thinking of something constructive to say, I came up with one thing:I believe the reason it looks like sort of a "Big Gun" instead of a Mothership is mainly because of that huge circular thing in the middle of the ship. In a practical matter (I don't know if you've explained this before) the circular thing looks like it has no practical purpose. I'll give you an example of my own project: I try to put a reason for every piece my Mothership has. If it has some huge structure, I try to give it a meaning... either an antenna, a dock-door, a sensor radar... But if you would really be the designer of a real-super-mega-massive spaceship... would you invest so many resources in doing only something decorative? I think that all that concept-art out there that succeeds, is because it is intended to work (somehow at least in our imaginations...). Just some thoughts... I hope it helps.

Nick.

I know what you mean, I am calling it the "reactor" its on my concept drawings. I imagine a fusion reactor would require a huge space for a huge magnetic field to hold the plasma. And a sphere provides a uniform magnetic field from all sides (to the core) so thats why it has a sphere inside the cylinder.
I also wanted to try something different, something to break that boxy look.

Here is what I've tried so far by adding another smaller craft (freighter), which helps give the illusion of size.

(On this one I'm also playing around with a force field)

[Kyle_Katarn]

Very nice mate. It definately looks like a Tau warship or something that they'd come up with lol.

[nistrum]

i like that 2nd ship design much more than i do the larger one.. MUCH more style to it..

[Tom]

I have decided to send my battle cruiser to the salvage yard.
There are a number of reasons why:

- A lot of people are doing this industrial look, and I'm pretty sure it just wont stand out - aka no chance of winning.
- By stepping out of my comfort zone (industrial-ish design) I have to make other stuff work that I dont usually like so I'll be spending more time designing it - which I hope will show off in the end.

I am currently working on some concept drawing - but they are too early to show here.

The point of this post:
Don't bother commenting on the designs and ships you have seen so far.

[nistrum]

cool. well thats what the early stages are all about. finding something your confident in good luck with the design process