3D interiors in Blender

[Rekkert]

@Tapper: Don't worry, there's plenty of room on the side stations, each being more than a meter wide. I did go with 4 of them in the end though, even with plenty of space, it looked way too crowded with 5 chairs.

@batboy853: I'm still messing around with that area I'll probably do something similar to those panels, as I want to be able to put an MSD there.

@Burning Hearts of Qo'nOs: Hahaha, indeed a small accents of wood can look very cool on SciFi!

Well, I've added more details and separated all the side consoles, but I'm really unhappy with how they look. Maybe they'll look better once it has more details, but I might end up scraping them completely...

 

[Jay Everington]

Hard to say without the LCARS graphics. I don't think it looks bad, though.

 

[Tapper]

To be honest I really like the side consoles like this. The chairs still have that protruding base connected to the wall which would make sitting in them awkward, but I assume right now they're placeholder duplicates of your helm/ops chairs.

Of course it's your decision, but I would go forward adding detail to those side consoles. I think you'll find they fit very nicely in the overall design.

If I can add a comment on the subject of wood accents: I think the trend in sci-fi these days is to portray 100% function over form to, (usually), support their bleak, dystopian storyline. This is fine of course, but by the same token the Star Trek designs have always reflected their reality/timeframe pretty well. There's a lot of form over raw function because frankly, in most cases Starfleet could afford the time and resources to make it so. Plus there is actual utility to comfort on longer-duration tours.

TLR - The amount of wood/wood-paneling on the bridge has a direct correlation to how 'comfortable' Starfleet was when the ship was built.

 

[Rekkert]

@Tapper: Oh I definitively agree with your opinion on the wood accents. In times of war or of uncertainty, all the wood is replaced with metal (such as the Defiant, Prometheus, and the Enterprise-A in Undiscovered Country).

I've been working on some other stuff these past couple of weeks, mostly in helping out with some modeling on the Stage-9 project. For those of you unaware, it's a work in progress recreation of the whole Enterprise-D in Unreal Engine 4, compatible with VR devices.

I've worked on the bridge model Rob was using in Stage-9 in order to create the Generations bridge. The base model is NOT mine, only the stuff added for the movie is (the rails, side consoles, steps, etc). I've worked on some other stuff for the project and hope to continue doing it in the future. (Keep in mind that this images are still of a work in progress version.)

Now, as for the Buenos Aires-Class bridge, I've decided to make it the bridge of the USS Anchorage, one of the last ships of the class commissioned on the 2360's. The reason why it's not the bridge of the USS Buenos Aires is because I had begun working on that bridge on 2010 with Bernd's approval, and as you can see, it's the antithesis of this design (TNG era layout with TMP era aesthetics), and I'm planing to redo that version as the Buenos Aires bridge eventually).

As for actual advances in the mesh, I've made the steps down the center consoles bigger, and modified the carpet around the railing as to keep people from bumping into it (as long as they keep walking in the blue areas ). I've also modified the side consoles, removing the connection of the chairs to the walls, and adding a light on top of the consoles. I've made a render with a base human figure I've downloaded, to show how much space each console has, as you can see, it's not cramped at all and all stations are actually bigger than those on the Enterprise-D.

The biggest change is on the aft consoles. I've modified the arrangement a bit. The middle console will have an MSD similar to that of the Brattain, while the vertical consoles at the sides will contain regular LCARS. Thoughts?

 

[Tapper]

Regarding the middle console on the back wall, I think I'd like to see it a little taller, (3 panels high instead of 2). I think once you get the MSD/LCARS on there, (particularly if you emulate the Brattain MSD), it might look better that way. Or it's possible I'm just trained to want every screen I see to look like a 16x9 television.

Love the Stage-9 project screenshots. I recently got caught up with his updates on YouTube and I'm glad to hear you're doing some work on that.

 

[Rekkert]

I've finally finished UV mapping everything and started the MSD area, not done yet, but I wanted to show you some progress.

The left consoles has a map (reproduced from one shown on Picard's quarters) and some isolinear chips below. The right console will also have the isolinear chips but it'll probably contain some sort of list instead of the map.

 

[Tapper]

I retract my comment about the screen. Now that I see it with the graphics, I think it looks balanced the way it is.

 

[ashleytinger]

@Tapper: Oh I definitively agree with your opinion on the wood accents. In times of war or of uncertainty, all the wood is replaced with metal (such as the Defiant, Prometheus, and the Enterprise-A in Undiscovered Country).

I've been working on some other stuff these past couple of weeks, mostly in helping out with some modeling on the Stage-9 project. For those of you unaware, it's a work in progress recreation of the whole Enterprise-D in Unreal Engine 4, compatible with VR devices.

I've worked on the bridge model Rob was using in Stage-9 in order to create the Generations bridge. The base model is NOT mine, only the stuff added for the movie is (the rails, side consoles, steps, etc). I've worked on some other stuff for the project and hope to continue doing it in the future. (Keep in mind that this images are still of a work in progress version.)

Now, as for the Buenos Aires-Class bridge, I've decided to make it the bridge of the USS Anchorage, one of the last ships of the class commissioned on the 2360's. The reason why it's not the bridge of the USS Buenos Aires is because I had begun working on that bridge on 2010 with Bernd's approval, and as you can see, it's the antithesis of this design (TNG era layout with TMP era aesthetics), and I'm planing to redo that version as the Buenos Aires bridge eventually).

As for actual advances in the mesh, I've made the steps down the center consoles bigger, and modified the carpet around the railing as to keep people from bumping into it (as long as they keep walking in the blue areas ). I've also modified the side consoles, removing the connection of the chairs to the walls, and adding a light on top of the consoles. I've made a render with a base human figure I've downloaded, to show how much space each console has, as you can see, it's not cramped at all and all stations are actually bigger than those on the Enterprise-D.

The biggest change is on the aft consoles. I've modified the arrangement a bit. The middle console will have an MSD similar to that of the Brattain, while the vertical consoles at the sides will contain regular LCARS. Thoughts?

Absolutely love the way you took the movie bridge layout and applied the TNG aesthetic. With every update you've done it looks better and better.

 

[Rekkert]

Hahaha, thank you both!

I've finished the whole MSD area. What do you think?

Here's a look on eye level from afar:

And the MSD graphic itself:

 

[ashleytinger]

Hahaha, thank you both!

I've finished the whole MSD area. What do you think?

Here's a look on eye level from afar:

And the MSD graphic itself:

I think it looks great. It's not too busy so it doesn't distract from anything else going on but still looks like it serves a purpose.

 

[Tapper]

Looks fantastic! Can't wait to see the whole thing done.

 

[Cyfa]

Oh, wow! Your interiors look great! I certainly wouldn't complain at having to go to work if it was on the Anchorage bridge. I really like those vertical displays - especially the map one.

 

[Rekkert]

@ashefivekay: Thanks! That was the purpuse, to make it look useful, not just a random collection of LCARS there.

@Tapper: Thanks!

@Cyfa: Thanks! Hahaha, I wouldn't complain at having to go to work on ANY Starfleet bridge.

I've done a lot of little things here and there. I've finished the details on top of the side stations (the red labels, red alert lights and panels); added the labels to the doors; added some stars on the viewscreen; and did all the vertical panels on the bridge, including the four alert status indicators, the dedication plaque, and the traditional little yellow MSD.

From this shot you can see that the back end of the bridge is now completely finished (except for the ceiling, I have to add details to the structure there).

 

[Rekkert]

Well, again lots of little bits here and there. I've finished the ceiling, a mix of what was on the Enterprise-D and my own thing. I've added more details to the side consoles, including among other things, some details below the consoles, to make the area look less empty. I've also modified the door areas a bit, to make the fabric there look more organic, before it was just ending when it met the wall in a rather unrealistic way.

Finally I've started with the LCARS on the side consoles. As you can see the actual controls are finished (each station has it's own individual texture), and I'm starting work on the monitors.

 

[Tapper]

Looking great! The little details, (as well as the LCARS, obviously), really sell it.

 

[Rekkert]

Thanks Tapper!

I've finished with all the LCARS, including the small bits below the viewscreen that I missed before.

Unless I've missed something, it seems to be finished now, so I'll start making the finalized renders.

 

[The Librarian]

I really love those side stations, the layout feels very practical with everyone where the CO can see without getting neck strain.

 

[Rekkert]

Thank you very much Librarian! Yeah, I really don't like that in TNG, the captain can't see a thing behind him.

Here are the finalized renders!

 

[ashleytinger]

Gorgeous! Love that bridge!

 

[Tapper]

Looks great! Looks right at home for that era.