Antares Class

[RichMerk]

Aside from my ancient attempt to produce something with an old pirate copy of 3dsmax (http://3d.merknet.com/free/mann/mann.html), the USS Antares was my very first recent creation using legitimate software (http://3d.merknet.com/free/antares/antares.html). I think it was OK for a first attempt, but the time has come for a better version. I'll also do a Sherman class version this time.

 

[Wingsley]

You're off to a great start.

I really like your first effort, BTW.

 

[Potemkin_Prod]

Really terrific work here!

 

[RichMerk]

Thanks, guys.

The old model was out of proportion, not shaped quite right, and I didn't really understand UV mapping back then so the hull was mostly just solid colors.

Here are the next few wip images:

 

[BolianAuthor]

Very nice... I like this ship design.

 

[Patrickivan]

Nifty. Very clean looking.

 

[RichMerk]

Today's progress: added the crew module and started on one of the nacelles.

 

[The Axeman]

A very nicely built model of a very ugly ship.

 

[Kemaiku]

Awesome, I've been waiting for someone to have a go at this design, nice work.

 

[RichMerk]

Heh, it's one of those you either love or hate.

Here's one last shot of the Antares from Hexagon before she sails off to Carrara for tweeking and the dreaded uv mapping. Unless I forgot something or someone has a good suggestion, the modeling is finished.

 

[kkozoriz1]

Very nice!

 

[Wingsley]

Beautiful job.

You captured the TAS artwork and TOS-R CGI perfectly!

If it were me, I'd use the "cheese grater" style aft nacelle caps on those warp pods, and put "Cage"-style spikes on the fronts of the nacelles, just for a sense of Treknological place and time.

You really are faithful to the TAS/TOS-R ship concept, alas, one that always puzzled and perplexed me. Looks like it could be a workgroup photocopier with nacelles, or one of those island thingies with "KitchenAid" on the side of it.

Despite all that jazz, you do great work.

 

[RichMerk]

Thanks.

My references are, in order of importance:
1. screencaps of the Antares from Charlie X and the Woden from The Ultimate Computer.
2. screencaps of the Shermans from More Tribbles More Troubles.
3. the Daystrom Institute web site's "size comparison" images
4. my own paltry imagination

Yeah, I still have much work to do on the backside of the nacelles. Frankly, I really can't think of a good way to do that funky shape, and the cheese grater effect. Does anyone have a suggestion/hint/tip?

 

[Solarbaby]

Damn! I wish I'd seen this earlier. I was asked to create an MSD for this design. I couldn't figure out from the external images what each part of the ship was - except the nacelles and deflector dish. Your details clash with what I got from the images online lol. You must have a good eye for detail

 

[RichMerk]

Neat! It's all just personal impressions and interpretations, so yours is as good as mine and just as valid. Besides, the only real difference I see is the location of the impulse engines. I might not have put so much crew space in, since the Sherman class was supposedly a remote-controlled "robot" ship.

 

[Solarbaby]

Neat! It's all just personal impressions and interpretations, so yours is as good as mine and just as valid. Besides, the only real difference I see is the location of the impulse engines. I might not have put so much crew space in, since the Sherman class was supposedly a remote-controlled "robot" ship.

I was asked to do this for an audio Fan film group. They said the ship had become a generational ship. Due to damage on the top 4 decks they had to refit a cargo bay as a new bridge. I couldn't figure out where the impulse engines were on the pics I saw. On your model it makes sense.

 

[kkozoriz1]

There's a series of blueprints that shows the two flat section on the stern are attachment points for cargo pods. Page 5

http://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/lcars/sherman-class-cargo-drone.php

 

[RichMerk]

Yeah, I've seen those. Those plans are pretty different from what we've seen onscreen. Even the general outline of the ship is different. While I'm not against fan ships at all, in building this particular model, I'm trying to stick strictly to the official specs.

 

[Solarbaby]

There's a series of blueprints that shows the two flat section on the stern are attachment points for cargo pods. Page 5

http://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/lcars/sherman-class-cargo-drone.php

This is more similar in design http://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/lcars/robot-cargo-ship.php

I tried to use that as a reference but I thought it was too big (22 decks)when you see the comparison size of Enterprise next to it. So I gave it less decks ( I think the constitution class has 24 decks?)

 

[kkozoriz1]

Yeah, I've seen those. Those plans are pretty different from what we've seen onscreen. Even the general outline of the ship is different. While I'm not against fan ships at all, in building this particular model, I'm trying to stick strictly to the official specs.

Agreed. However, since both your model and the plans have the flat sections at the aft end it's still possible to use the tow pad concept.