AndyP's Trek building thread
- Thread starter batboy853
- Start date
@Rekkert Thanks!
Yesterday I was going to add in the dual color carpeting pattern when I noticed that just about all of the measurements I made on the various platforms were completely off. I am not at my normal computer now, but I will post an image when I can. I ended up rebuilding the entire floor.
Today I needed a break from work stuff, so I modeled the TNG ops/helm chair, based off of measurements from that not so screen accurate ST: The Experience Measurement study posted here. I have a few uses in mind for this chair.
Yesterday I was going to add in the dual color carpeting pattern when I noticed that just about all of the measurements I made on the various platforms were completely off. I am not at my normal computer now, but I will post an image when I can. I ended up rebuilding the entire floor.
Today I needed a break from work stuff, so I modeled the TNG ops/helm chair, based off of measurements from that not so screen accurate ST: The Experience Measurement study posted here. I have a few uses in mind for this chair.
Your Nova-class bridge looks wonderful - I think it's one of the more welcoming and casual bridges.
- Don't you both look great as Starfleet officers! You certainly know how to throw a pose. Any chance you'll be dressing up again for the art challenge this weekend?
I agree that you guys look super cool in those uniforms. I used to prefer the later versions of the uniform, but now, for some reason, I've come to really appreciate them and like them even a little more. They just look a little more futuristic than the later iterations and I love the added shoulder details.
@Cyfa Thanks! As far as the contest had not planned on it.
@Michael agreed, however I can see how the cast would take issue with them. Had I not added the waist band into it our backs and bottoms would have been one hump and looked weird. We both agreed that the next uniforms that we get will be two piece versions even if we have to pay a little extra.
Using the chair built yesterday, I modified it and created a new captains chair!
During the character animation stage of my short film, I was a bit frustrated that really the only things I could do with the captain and first officer was to have them have their hands on their laps. At one point I wanted on of the characters to use the center console, but it would have meant having the character basically lean all the way over and down just to reach the console from where the chair was located.
As such, new captain's chairs with arm rests so they can push buttons. The center console will be retextured to make it more of a status display, rather than buttons to push.
Here is a render! Also noticing that there are some weight paint issues on the uniform on the captain, so I might need to go back and revisit the uniform to fix a few things.
@Michael agreed, however I can see how the cast would take issue with them. Had I not added the waist band into it our backs and bottoms would have been one hump and looked weird. We both agreed that the next uniforms that we get will be two piece versions even if we have to pay a little extra.
Using the chair built yesterday, I modified it and created a new captains chair!
During the character animation stage of my short film, I was a bit frustrated that really the only things I could do with the captain and first officer was to have them have their hands on their laps. At one point I wanted on of the characters to use the center console, but it would have meant having the character basically lean all the way over and down just to reach the console from where the chair was located.
As such, new captain's chairs with arm rests so they can push buttons. The center console will be retextured to make it more of a status display, rather than buttons to push.
Here is a render! Also noticing that there are some weight paint issues on the uniform on the captain, so I might need to go back and revisit the uniform to fix a few things.
I hope the neck support is adjustable though - it looks uncomfortable at the height it is on your figure.
@blssdwlf unfortunately I did not make them adjustable, but I might refine the design or the head cushion shape down the line.
@Dr. Kravaal thanks!
Friday I re-rigged the male uniform mesh, apparently Mixamo's rigging system is now garbage, or at least it was when I used it to rig the male uniform. I have not checked the female uniform yet. But this does mean that I now need to go back and re apply the uniform mesh to all of the male characters and refit at the neck so that it fits each character I have. I might also be able to just transfer the weights
Yesterday and today I worked on the viewscreen and helm. I modified the originals a bit, the only new piece that I modeled was the actual screen part of the view screen. It should now be closer to the as seen on TV version. But I think it is kind of a boring view screen, and I might make a different one either based off the FF/TUC viewscreen, but have not decided yet. I also updated materials here and there such as replacing the chaser lights under the viewscreen with a gradient map that gets animated.
Also even though it is hard to tell the lights that are built into the helm station, do have a bit of a gradient to them similar to the on screen version
Old
new
@Dr. Kravaal thanks!
Friday I re-rigged the male uniform mesh, apparently Mixamo's rigging system is now garbage, or at least it was when I used it to rig the male uniform. I have not checked the female uniform yet. But this does mean that I now need to go back and re apply the uniform mesh to all of the male characters and refit at the neck so that it fits each character I have. I might also be able to just transfer the weights
Yesterday and today I worked on the viewscreen and helm. I modified the originals a bit, the only new piece that I modeled was the actual screen part of the view screen. It should now be closer to the as seen on TV version. But I think it is kind of a boring view screen, and I might make a different one either based off the FF/TUC viewscreen, but have not decided yet. I also updated materials here and there such as replacing the chaser lights under the viewscreen with a gradient map that gets animated.
Also even though it is hard to tell the lights that are built into the helm station, do have a bit of a gradient to them similar to the on screen version
Old
new
I redesigned the viewscreen again, the first one while close to the as seen on screen version, it was just rather.... Meh. I redesigned the viewscreen, and used a different technique than how I made the first one (inset/outset instead of Booleans). I tried to make it look like a blend between what we saw in TFF / TUC, the view screen I made for the conference room. Additionally I have a half sphere that is hidden from the camera but still impacts indirect light, so that the view screen looks lit up. Got the idea from this. I might change the panels that are to the left and right of the screen, not sure.
Past few days I've put in tiny details here and there mostly buttons in certain places like the doors, captains chair. I also created the dedication plaque!
After this I'll be applying the set stickers to the consoles and elsewhere they appeared on the set. I also have a few graphics to update still
Past few days I've put in tiny details here and there mostly buttons in certain places like the doors, captains chair. I also created the dedication plaque!
After this I'll be applying the set stickers to the consoles and elsewhere they appeared on the set. I also have a few graphics to update still
Old says space station…new says ship…Old
new
@Dr. Kravaal what about the new new? Lol
I like the direction of the viewscreen I'm not 100% sure that this will be the final design. I've been toying with thickening the upper portion of the screen by lowering the bezel down. .125' but concerned about the aspect ratio being weird on the screen? I'm also thinking of rebuilding the screen again, but this time making it more of a trapezoid shape akin to what was seen on Voyager's / Enterprise-E viewscreen because I feel like that's what the design style was like for the 24th century look.
I like the direction of the viewscreen I'm not 100% sure that this will be the final design. I've been toying with thickening the upper portion of the screen by lowering the bezel down. .125' but concerned about the aspect ratio being weird on the screen? I'm also thinking of rebuilding the screen again, but this time making it more of a trapezoid shape akin to what was seen on Voyager's / Enterprise-E viewscreen because I feel like that's what the design style was like for the 24th century look.
It is sort of high up. Makes me think we are in an aquatic base looking up and out.
Too low and I think airship. That make any sense?
There was one bridge on a page here somewhere that someone made with everyone having their own viewscreen. There was a strip on the wall…and it looked corporate..Ferengei somehow, as if I were on the New York Stock exchange.
Too low and I think airship. That make any sense?
There was one bridge on a page here somewhere that someone made with everyone having their own viewscreen. There was a strip on the wall…and it looked corporate..Ferengei somehow, as if I were on the New York Stock exchange.
@Rekkert yeah, if I go with a trapezoid shaped view screen I'll need to design something new to go there, but the question is what. The intrepid featured red alert lighting to the left and right of the view screen. Or I could do displays similar to the Ambassador bridge
@publiusr That makes sense, but this is also the general location of the screen on the on-screen set. My bridge being based off of the equinox bridge, which was a redress of the Prometheus bridge, which was a redress of the cheaply made Excelsior class bridge for flashback, which also appeared in Star Trek: Borg (which was a good reference source even though it was low resolution.)
So right now I have 5 options for view screens:
Current:
Version A:
Version A - Lowered
Version B:
Version B - Lowered
@publiusr That makes sense, but this is also the general location of the screen on the on-screen set. My bridge being based off of the equinox bridge, which was a redress of the Prometheus bridge, which was a redress of the cheaply made Excelsior class bridge for flashback, which also appeared in Star Trek: Borg (which was a good reference source even though it was low resolution.)
So right now I have 5 options for view screens:
Current:
Version A:
Version A - Lowered
Version B:
Version B - Lowered
*chants* Version A, all the way!
Yup, 'A' for me as well.
As for what to go around it, sometimes less is more; don't feel like you need to go overboard and fill every centimeter with something. IMO that area already looks great, I'd just add those ubiquitous rectangular Starfleet labels at the corners.
As for what to go around it, sometimes less is more; don't feel like you need to go overboard and fill every centimeter with something. IMO that area already looks great, I'd just add those ubiquitous rectangular Starfleet labels at the corners.
I just came across this thread and went through the past posts. This is very impressive and fun stuff. I like to see anyone do CG sets, but I especially like that you're tackling characters and animation. Really makes the sets come alive.
I watched your short and really liked it. A lot has been said about the visuals that I agree with, but I also wanted to compliment you on your direction. It was very professional-seeming to me. You have a good eye for composition and movement with the camera.
Looking forward to your future work.
I watched your short and really liked it. A lot has been said about the visuals that I agree with, but I also wanted to compliment you on your direction. It was very professional-seeming to me. You have a good eye for composition and movement with the camera.
Looking forward to your future work.
@Lt. Washburn Thank you! I have taken the feedback received and will be using it as improvements for the future. I guess as far as camera movements, the reason why the camera was moving in every shot was because I was trying to convey a sense of energy and excitement. My next go of it will not have as much camera movement, or mixed camera movement. While building sets, I have already started looking at ways on how I can setup and frame camera shots.
For the bridge I will go with Viewport Option-A. Earlier in the week I applied the set labels through-out, as mentioned previously the update is just about to the point where I am not sure what to update next. There are a few more complicated graphics that I wish to update, but I currently temporarily do not have an Adobe license, and wanting to be sure I use only licensed apps for theses projects as I am mostly working off of a corporate laptop from my IT job, and that's all I will say about that. I should have a license back in a few weeks to months.
I modeled a new tactical console that was slightly thicker. The tactical console, is one piece that does not exist on the canon set. When I did my animation short, I found that just about every shot I had of either the Captain, or First officer also had the Tactical officer's headless torso in the background. When I took film studies classes in college, this was one thing they told us to avoid. I am not trying to determine what direction I would want to go with that station.
The original intent of having the tactical console at that central location was due to so many shots in TNG of Worf standing behind Picard saying something simple, like firing phasers, firing torpedoes. Or in voyager they would always add an additional officer there for some dramatic scenes.
I also wanted to avoid the shots that were common place on the TFF TUC bridges where they would remove a display and plop a camera there, additional example from the flashback version of the set. For conversation shots Spock was always standing so it was easy for him to turn and talk, there was also the Uhura chair swivel. While it worked for those specific characters, I do not find it practical for a tactical officer to be in the middle of battle and to have to constantly be turning around to acknowledge orders.
What was nice about the design of Voyager's bridge, all they needed to do was plop a camera in front of Tuvok or Kim, and shoot. Heck for those shots they would not have needed all of the actors on set. What was nice about Enterprise's (NX-01) bridge, was that you always would able to setup shots using the rule of thirds, where they had really nice shots of Archer talking to either T'Pol or Reed.
I guess what i am trying to get at with this longer post is that I plan on moving the tactical console, but have not decided on where yet. For the time being I think I will be moving it to the edge of the rail behind the Captain / XO, and will place a second console opposite of tactical for the engineer / mission specialist.
Here's an ortho of the bridge, also shown would be the other placement I was considering.
After this, I am going to start work on the next room which will be the ready room.
For the bridge I will go with Viewport Option-A. Earlier in the week I applied the set labels through-out, as mentioned previously the update is just about to the point where I am not sure what to update next. There are a few more complicated graphics that I wish to update, but I currently temporarily do not have an Adobe license, and wanting to be sure I use only licensed apps for theses projects as I am mostly working off of a corporate laptop from my IT job, and that's all I will say about that. I should have a license back in a few weeks to months.
I modeled a new tactical console that was slightly thicker. The tactical console, is one piece that does not exist on the canon set. When I did my animation short, I found that just about every shot I had of either the Captain, or First officer also had the Tactical officer's headless torso in the background. When I took film studies classes in college, this was one thing they told us to avoid. I am not trying to determine what direction I would want to go with that station.
The original intent of having the tactical console at that central location was due to so many shots in TNG of Worf standing behind Picard saying something simple, like firing phasers, firing torpedoes. Or in voyager they would always add an additional officer there for some dramatic scenes.
I also wanted to avoid the shots that were common place on the TFF TUC bridges where they would remove a display and plop a camera there, additional example from the flashback version of the set. For conversation shots Spock was always standing so it was easy for him to turn and talk, there was also the Uhura chair swivel. While it worked for those specific characters, I do not find it practical for a tactical officer to be in the middle of battle and to have to constantly be turning around to acknowledge orders.
What was nice about the design of Voyager's bridge, all they needed to do was plop a camera in front of Tuvok or Kim, and shoot. Heck for those shots they would not have needed all of the actors on set. What was nice about Enterprise's (NX-01) bridge, was that you always would able to setup shots using the rule of thirds, where they had really nice shots of Archer talking to either T'Pol or Reed.
I guess what i am trying to get at with this longer post is that I plan on moving the tactical console, but have not decided on where yet. For the time being I think I will be moving it to the edge of the rail behind the Captain / XO, and will place a second console opposite of tactical for the engineer / mission specialist.
Here's an ortho of the bridge, also shown would be the other placement I was considering.
After this, I am going to start work on the next room which will be the ready room.
First renders of the ready room. The walls are barren, next week I'll be adding things like décor, a replicator. modifying the display behind the desk. Some PADDs, a desktop monitor... The things you normally see in a ready room. Oh the bar/drink table I mentioned wanting in this room will go by the window.
