3D interiors in Blender

[Rekkert]

Well, after trying an assortment of different stair styles, we decided to go back to the original idea of just having the stairs inside the walls, going from the side alcove and ending up in a door next to the entrance in deck 2, where the mannequin stands. This'll keep the space looking more open and clean.

I've also completely redone the ceiling on top of the balcony, to have new lights reminiscent of that on TNG's corridors. The exact same pattern is repeated below on deck 3.

Spoiler: Image

 

[Rekkert]

I've added some details braking up the long ceiling lights that were recently added, and on deck 3, these details continue up to the wall for some further detailing there. I've also changed the light fixtures there. The wall itself is now finished, though some potted plants will be placed on the spots that were left empty.

As you can see, the center of the room now has a further step down, and a shape that goes in line with the balcony on top. Other changes include the little spotlights and the set of Ten Forward doors added.

Spoiler: Image

 

[Rekkert]

Aaand one more update for the night, handrails done.

Spoiler: Image

 

[TOMFAN]

Do you think that some different furniture may add a bit of variety, and make it seem less formal, maybe some sofas and coffee tables, or some bar tables and stools, that sort of thing?

 

[Rekkert]

@TOMFAN: Oh absolutely, all those will be added in as I model them. Most of deck 2's remaining open space is already planned out and will be devoted to sofas with coffee tables, similar to Ten Forward's side walls. I've located several tables and seats that fit the style (and some that appeared on the show as well) to fill in the room. I simply haven't modeled them yet.

Speaking of which, I've modeled another one of the Ten Forward's tables and realized that they fitted very well under the columns that support the balcony.

Spoiler: Image

 

[Matthew Raymond]

@Rekkert, those tables seem like a slippery slope metaphor waiting to happen...

 

[Rekkert]

@Matthew Raymond: Those tables appear to be the most uncomfortable design ever, but well, I guess they're for the masochist members of the crew.

I added a bit of a semi-closed area for the senior officers on the balcony. The sofa is taken from Troi's office, but using the same colors as the rest of the furniture.

I've also added a subtle Starfleet logo on the handrail glass panels, and on the lower deck, I've added smaller tables on each corner of the sunken area.

Spoiler: Image

 

[ashleytinger]

@Matthew Raymond: Those tables appear to be the most uncomfortable design ever, but well, I guess they're for the masochist members of the crew.

I added a bit of a semi-closed area for the senior officers on the balcony. The sofa is taken from Troi's office, but using the same colors as the rest of the furniture.

I've also added a subtle Starfleet logo on the handrail glass panels, and on the lower deck, I've added smaller tables on each corner of the sunken area.

Spoiler: Image

Very nice!

To be fair though, those uncomfortable tables may only be uncomfortable to humans. Other species might be right at home with those!

 

[Rekkert]

@ashefivekay: True, but I can't help imagine only Edosians could use it comfortably, as they'd have one hand always ready to catch a glass slipping to the floor.

I've added some more tables and modular sofas on deck 2, while also starting cutting the door for the stair access, and placing some plants (whose design and color might change) around the lounge.

Spoiler: Image

 

[Rekkert]

Had a particularly busy week but luckily now I'm back working on this... just in time to travel away from home for the weekend...

Still, I've managed to complete the basic shape for the staircases. still a lot of work to be done in this area, the idea is for it to be reminiscent of the TNG corridors once it has further details added.

Spoiler: Image

 

[Matthew Raymond]

@Rekkert, love the stairs on the side. It really opens up the center of the room. A large central staircase would have dominated the room too much and fragmented the space.

 

[valkyrie013]

Loving the interior, I'm looking to get in to some interiors, but the problem I have is figuring out sizes, any good references?
Looking to do a small ish bridge.

 

[batboy853]

Loving the interior, I'm looking to get in to some interiors, but the problem I have is figuring out sizes, any good references?
Looking to do a small ish bridge.

The Set blueprint exchange has good references
https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/set-blueprint-exchange.244483/

Most of the references are compiled into this flickr album
https://www.flickr.com/photos/99878876@N02/albums/

I would say first pick an era of bridge, then come up with a top down look of where you want things to go on your bridge, then start with modelling the walls / doors.

 

[TheSeeker]

Loving what you've done so far. I would love to hang out there!

 

[TOMFAN]

Looking great!

Makes Ten Forward seem really small and pokey now!

 

[Rekkert]

@Matthew Raymond: Agree, ended up being the best alternative.

@valkyrie013: Pretty much what @batboy853 said, that Flickr album has every reference you could want.

@Savage Dragon: I'd love to hang out there as well (or play a Tennis match, it would be possible given the size ).

@TOMFAN: Thanks! Yeah, it changes your perspective a lot.

I've worked a bit more on the stair area. Still more to do here as you can probably see some UV errors in there (not to mention a lot of beige

), but it's getting there.

Spoiler: Image

Going on a bit of a tangent, a couple of months ago (back when I finished the USS Odyssey bridge) I started a little article for Ex-Astris-Scientia detailing the set history and showing what we did to properly 'complete' the bridge. That way all the research that was done wouldn't be lost or kept with us, but rather shared with the bigger Trek community. This past week Bernd uploaded the finished version of the acticle, which you can all see here. Hope you enjoy the little read.

 

[WinstonSmith]

For whatever it's worth if that stairway were to be built to real life building code there would probably be a landing half way down (so if you trip you don't plummet down the whole flight). Your design is fictional of course so it doesn't really matter (maybe there's forcefields to catch you in the walls or something) but I always figure it's those little touches of realism that help to sell a design as something that might have actually been built on a sound stage somewhere just my $0.02

 

[CaptainSerek]

@Rekkert I read your USS Odyssey bridge article, well done as expected. Good work on the lounge well.

 

[Matthew Raymond]

@Rekkert, not sure I'm on board with the table as the light source at the bottom of the stairs. I think it would make more sense if you just copy what you did at the top. No point in having no lighting or wall decor at the bottom just so you can put in a small table that will get in the way and no one will use. I like how the top of the stairs turned out though. It looks pretty good.

That thing that the banister is mounted to looks funny to me. Maybe if it was the same color as the carpet and covered in fabric it would look better to me, but it kinda just looks like a pointless embellishment. Might make a more sense if the wall was different above and below the banister, but as-is it just looks like a detail for details' sake. And the black line in the banister is just too much if you have that complicated back piece. I'd say get rid of the lines on at least one of those.

Not trying to be overly critical, though. It mostly works. I just have a few nitpicks.

 

[Rekkert]

@WinstonSmith: Interesting, I never heard of that code (and I do see a lot of stairs daily that would break it ), is it something to do with what US studios are allowed to build on sound stages or something like that?

@CaptainSerek: Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

@Matthew Raymond: No problem, I welcome criticism and nitpicks! We wouldn't be Trek fans without nitpicks!
Regarding the tables, the idea isn't for them to be a source of light, but rather just a table for some sort of decoration to go on top. These exact tables were used in Ten Forward for that purpose. They don't particularly get in the way here, the stairs are large enough for three people to use at once without being uncomfortable, so there's a lot of space around those little tables.

Indeed the banister looks weird, but I'm just replicating the look they had on the typical TNG corridors, and they do serve the purpose of adding some visual interest to the walls.

More progress on the stairs! They're pretty much finished now, except for some minor stuff such as some bevels that need doing and some UV maps.

Spoiler: Image