3D interiors in Blender

[Rekkert]

@Schimpfy: Thanks!

We're going back to the 23th Century for this one!

It's the bridge of a Constellation-Class starship, as it looked when it was brand new. The name isn't set in stone, but as the exterior will be different than the Constellation we know from the TNG era, we're going with the prototype USS Constellation NX-1974 for now.

The idea with it is to take the styling of the Hathaway/Enterprise-C bridge set, with its long blocky consoles, and re-imagine it with a movie budget in mind. Down to basics it'll be an "Enterprise-A meets Enterprise-C" bridge, but with several brand new and interesting bits thrown in, including a visit to an alternate timeline for some inspiration.

The basic structure is in place, but a lot of shapes and materials are temporary at this point.

Spoiler: Image

 

[137th Gebirg]

Looking forward to seeing where this one goes.

 

[valkyrie013]

Cool, has a ST5 type of Helm, them going with the Tng helm and ops panels on the excellsior was a bad idea, but i know they had like $5 to build it.. so
SO, brand new, when are you thinking it was built? 2285? around the time of excellsior?? nothing in cannon on when she was built, except for the Refit styling. Hmm..
Looking forward to this!

 

[Jedman67]

It looks pretty empty. Maybe reach out to IKEA Starfleet for some sofas and armchairs?

 

[Rekkert]

@valkyrie013: Around the time of the Excelsior pretty much, yeah. The computer graphics will be mostly TUC style Okudagrams, but some TWOK style physical buttons will be thrown in as well.

@JedGhost67: I already reached out to them, but they'll take their time getting those delivered.

More groundwork done all around, placing the doors alcove in (though they still need several adjustments), and starting with the ceiling and central pit. Both elements will be heavily based off of the TUC Enterprise-A bridge, though as you can see the ceiling will be much darker. I've also swapped some of the consoles around, and reworked the buttresses.

Spoiler: Image

 

[Schimpfy]

Good start. Looking forward to this build since it's such an uncommon one.

 

[FormerLurker]

Interesting initial view. Usually it's from the front, and head-on. This side view can be confusing if one doesn't realize it, and zoom in. Honestly, it makes the center console look off-center.

Catches one off-guard. I like it. Makes me think you should keep it until it's about done, and only then show the forward and aft views as per usual. Just because.

 

[Rekkert]

The ceiling is pretty much done now. The central dome is transparent unlike that on the Enterprise, as it'll include okudagrams inside it.

The basic shapes of the steps are likewise done, though more refinement and details are still to be added. Those will help with the visibility aspect as well, as all the materials there are pretty dark right now. The steps are a hazard right now, but more lights will be added.

While this isn't intended to be an exact reproduction of the TUC Ent-A bridge, it's heavily based on it, so @Donny 's thread is a definite source of inspiration and references here, I couldn't be working at this speed without his incredible work available.

Spoiler: Image

 

[cardinal biggles]

I already reached out to them, but they'll take their time getting those delivered.

Let me guess... Tuesday?

 

[Blip]

Let me guess... Tuesday?

Thursday most likely. Apparently some a$$hole son-of-an-admiral called "Harriman" is getting his stuff delivered on Tuesday...

 

[Donny]

While this isn't intended to be an exact reproduction of the TUC Ent-A bridge, it's heavily based on it, so @Donny 's thread is a definite source of inspiration and references here, I couldn't be working at this speed without his incredible work available.

Spoiler: Image

I'm honored you're using my in-progress build as a reference! And this is also serving as an inspiration to get back to work on mine! Great work!

 

[Rekkert]

@Donny: Thank you! The honor is mine if my work can inspire someone as talented as you to work on your interiors!

I've added some more light fixtures so the overall lighting is a bit increased. The pit area has been further refined, plus I've changed the ceiling center piece to the TMP one.

Spoiler: Image

 

[valkyrie013]

Looking great!
An idea, don't have to use it on this one, but the NX bridge has the "spot lights" like individual light cans iluminating the work stations, maybe on the struts have some cans? just an idea, or.. maybe some work lights attached to the station?

Looking good!

 

[Rekkert]

@valkyrie013: Thanks! I've used those kinds of fixtures before, I'm partial to them but they do provide a more interesting look and a bit more depth than most of Trek's light fixtures.

I've modeled the rails for the pit (except for the front area), plus I've added one of the most distinct features of this bridge, the two standing consoles at each side of the Captain's chair. These sit on top of the rails helped by two supports each.

I've also added the remaining light fixtures on top of the consoles, plus I've been playing around with the walls and floor materials, in order to make them more like the ones in TUC. This does result in a darker overall bridge, but I'm positive the Okudagrams, once in place, will more than make up for it.

Spoiler: Image

 

[Rekkert]

Per feedback from my client, I'm changing the railing color to black, and added the front section of the railing as it was in TWOK, without the uniquely weird TUC elements.

I've also added the detachable panel on top of the consoles, as they're seen on the TNG battle bridge and other reuses of this style of console.

Other than that, in order to get a better idea of the final lighting levels before moving forward with the modeling, I'm doing a bit of work on the Okudagrams, plus I've added some text in each console indicating the station, as both the Stargazer and Hathaway had this, I'm using a combination of both, with the text located on the same spot as in the Hathaway, using the color it had on the Stargazer.

Spoiler: Image

 

[Rekkert]

A bit more work on the graphics, including the somewhat modified schematic of the Constellation as it was on its NX configuration, before so many add-ons were pasted on the design.

Spoiler: Image

 

[Rekkert]

I was basing the okudagram colors off of the Enterprise-C color pallet, which (given 'Yesterday's Enterprise' production date) were closer in colors to the TVH graphics than to the 'finalized' TUC ones. I've changed them to the full TUC pallet now, so they have a lot deeper colors.

More work on the console graphics, plus the beginning of the viewscreen, and I've rotated the stands for the consoles at the back, I think that makes them look a lot better.

Spoiler: Image

 

[batboy853]

This is such an interesting looking bridge. It looks like an updated TOS bridge, but also it has design elements from TMP, TUC, as well as the ENT-C.

My only nitpick is that the lighting is super dark. Hopefully once you add in all the lighting from the consoles and stations it will illuminate the bridge a bit.

 

[Rekkert]

@batboy853: Thanks! Yes, the final bridge will certainly be more illuminated, though not overly so. If the consoles can't provide the needed extra light, I'll increase the overall lighting levels a bit.

Some more work on the graphics. Given the era and the fact that Constellation development is somewhat parallel to the Constitution, I'll be including some graphics from TMP/TWOK and TVH, but modified in order to fit in with the TUC overall okudagram aesthetics. I've also added clocks on top of the Science and Engineering stations. However unlike the very out of place red LED clocks of TUC, these are incorporated into the console and keep the same unified look for the displays.

Spoiler: Image

Now for something completely different, I was recently contacted by Aaron of the Starbase 118 role-playing community, about creating a bridge for his Galaxy-Class USS Astraeus, after an upgrade received in the 2390's.

The requested bridge was very straightforward to do, so I decided to do it in tandem with the Constellation for a few days. As you can see below, it's very similar to the Challenger, but keeps a more traditional Galaxy layout, plus some new features. The ship also got some unique changes to its outside, including brand new nacelles, and these are reflected in all the LCARS.

 

[Donny]

Just my two cents: I think the darker lighting for the bridge is on the right track. I'm a fan of moodier lighting schemes myself, although I do struggle myself with that fine line between "just right" and "too dark" with my own work. I also love what you've done with those side consoles, and how you inverted the console stands to make it look more aesthetically pleasing.