Um, extrude down with a reverse draft angle? Then subtract the saucer profile out of it and there you go.
Do the newer versions of AutoCAD have "metaball" capabilities to allow you to basically sculpt a shape from simpler primitives?
^^ about the only changes to recent versions of AutoCAD have been upgrading the 3d modeling aspect further and further. the 2010 version again jumps the UI closer to what you see in all the current 3d modeling programs, and adds a much higher level of control over both the objects you create and the way they are governed. i did a trial run with v2010, but it really bogged down my system. so im stayin with '08.
i'm curious (since as of today, i am once again disturbing the waters and wading in over my head into my own Refit model) what scale are you working at?
^Yup. In CAD, two meters is no more memory-intensive or disk-intensive than two millimeters. They're just double-precision, floating-point numbers.
Anystar and CTM ....you guys....are like the Detail Dynamic DUO.... just unbelievable the work you do.
true, but i have modeled the refit in different versions, and i have different standards depending. sometimes i've modeled to replicate the filming miniature, others to create a full starship speculation. when i model in full size i tend to be quite flexible in allowing for moving or re-sizing certain portions to better represent what the interior components need for fit/placement. my model replications i tend to make no allowances whatsoever, and try to be as precise to the model as possible
My purpose for this wasn't to replicate the filming model, but to theorize what a real ship might be like. Next version, however, I will take a great deal of lessons learned and will be MUCH better in both aspects. Of course, I have some intermediary projects before I plan to try the next version of this one (Locknar, Excelsior, perhaps a Miranda...)
Truth be told, I figure a couple of years per model... and I should be so lucky. I figure I have several more decades before retirement. I would love to be able to retire early and do this sort of thing for a living, but I love my regular job too (I find that most Engineers tend to do for fun what they do for a living, or the converse, do for a living what they do for fun).
^^^ Especially if you ever try to tackle an Excelsior or, even more large, a Galaxy class, two years at least!
I'd be more than happy to finish off my blueprinted Galaxy to give you a jumping off point! i even already have cross sections cut at deck heights.
Not planning a Galaxy class at this time. Far too big, and there are numerous fine deck-plans already out there (including semi-official ones, such as the set I have on my bookcase). Excelsior, OTOH, I envision much the way the art designers originally did: A larger, newer "Enterprise replacement" (the role it filled in ST-III). As such, I envision not much more ROLE than we saw Enterprise performing, but far more capable over the long haul. Having poured over Enterprise in this detail, I can tell you she is a bit of a cramped ship for 430 or so crew. Junior crewmen (All enlisted and Junior officers) HAVE to share rooms - if not even hot-bunk. There's just not enough space to fit everybody otherwise. R&R facilities are limited to the Rec Dec, the gym, botanical garden, and a small swimming pool. In short, think closer to Attack Sub than Missile Sub or Surface Ship for space. For a designed 5-year (60-month) cruise (assumption, I know) you of course include more amenities than you would for a 6-18 month cruise design (think some of the smaller FASA creations, such as a Locknar). Excelsiors would be designed to be much longer-legged - more amenities, better facilities, moderately larger crew requirement. It would permit them to operate well into the TNG era as viable ships long after the older Connies were retired from service.
Lord.. (nightmare), I had someone ask about whether I planned doing a Galaxy and thought I'd burst a brain vessel just reading it. After a year of rough-ins on the FJ plans, I can't imagine doing a D. Two years might not be enough.
Truth is, it's simply a matter of having the correct pre-fab modules to simply drop in wherever needed. The problem is that it would quickly become so monotonous as to rapidly suck any enjoyment out of the endeavor. Could I do it? Sure. For the right paycheck, any of these are manageable. For my own enjoyment? Naah, I'll stick to smaller, more (internally) interesting ships.