my take on the TMP-E

[USS Mariner]

Rhinoceros is incredible at solid and NURBS modeling.

 

[Saquist]

It's just as AnyStar says "trial and error" "and usually takes several tries"

Maybe one tip: try to avoid solids created by using part of elipses.

WOW...I mean...WOW...you're doing it almost like how I do it just...on purpose...

No it isn't

If you care, here is a link to my models ALL created in Acad and imported into 3dsmax, made up in solids for at least 99% (acad2004 did not have a loft command so sometimes I used a meshpart), my Ent is on page 2 and 3.
http://s131.photobucket.com/albums/p298/wjaspers/

GET OUTTA HERE!
You DID THAT....with CAD?

We're going to have to talk in more detail....that stuff was...beautiful...You guys make it look so....effortless.

Looked at your thread, and the Youtube vids, but it was very hard to make out how the sec hull should look like, ie give you a tip on how to do it.

Like I said...a doozey.
It goes larger as it goes back and the cross-section has three distinct curves get larger conicly from front to back.

You'll get no argument from me on that point. I know my exterior is not as accurate - I knew that would be the case from the moment I decided to build it from the inside out. This is outstanding work AnyStar. Again, please don't wait on me to start working on your interiors - the more the merrier.

It's still the most ...amazing construction I've ever seen.
I love that both of you are working on the same ship...they have such a character.

i still love modeling in CAD, but its a completely different beast than most 3d modeling programs.

one of the most common commands/techniques i use in CAD is like you mentioned the lofting. primarily i'll work in sectionals, and when im done with the wireframe i'll turn cross sectional segments into regions, and either loft/extrude/sweep/revole to get the shape i need.

since control points are nearly non-existent in AutoCAD your only option for editing past that are boolean opreations, which luckily work far better than in Max. believe it or not, when i'm modeling in Autocad i'm constantly tweaking my objects, then making "moulds" of them with a series of booleans. because in order to keep refining you have to keep manipulating, but the way AutoCAD "remembers" the original shapes of your objects (despite deliberately turning off the option to retain it) it will eventually bug.

this is an old version of the fuselage for my x-wing project. you can see the evolution of the different parts, and the final digital "buck" from which i can just pop in a box shape and instantly boolean the final product to continue refining. its also in 4 parts, male and female so i could extract upper and lower halves separately.

about 60-70% of my CAD models are created by this process.

you also have to plan out your "intermediate" steps and curves in advance as well with polylines or arcs, and use them with the path or guide options. it is always trial and error for me getting some of the more complex shapes. and usually takes several tries.

above all, the best tip i can give you for modeling in CAD:
when you get frustrated trying to get the shape you want (and you WILL) just set it aside and move on to a different part for a while.

WOW....this is going to be a great teaching thread Anystar.
So I've got to star planning these cross-sections...

 

[AnyStar]

Rhinoceros is incredible at solid and NURBS modeling.

several years ago, somewhere around '99 or 2000 i downloaded the trial version of Rhino and I remember liking it a lot, it was also remember it was insanely easy to use. it was only like a 10 or 20 day trial, but i was already able to create some decent stuff!

 

[Saquist]

Was the X Wing Fuselage literally done with each half having it's own single set of cross sections?

 

[AnyStar]

no, not by a long shot!!! in order to keep continuity and on topic, in a few minutes ill post a more detailed explanation and some better images over on the non-trek wip thread i started the other day.

 

[Birdog]

I'm a CAD drafter and am decent at modeling. What free or cheap software would you recommend to import my models into to do textures and rendering?

 

[AnyStar]

^ thats a question i could get some use out of too! i dont really "do" textures, other than to assign a color/material. i'm one of those detail or greeble freaks... i always think like "if you can see a detail, you can model it." which then usually gets me in over my head

i've read a lot of users here and elsewhere talking about Kerkythea (i think thats spelled right) i've been meaning to check it out myself!

 

[Birdog]

I've got a TOS Big E I'm working on and I actually modeled the markings into the hull a fraction of an inch. Big pain the the butt and opens up a whole new set of problems. So far I have the secondary hull pretty much done and am working on the primary right now. I'm going to leave the markings until last so I can reuse my geometry for Franz Joseph's other Class 1 ships.

 

[Saquist]

I'd love to follow that.
You should create a thread.

 

[Birdog]

It's been on the back burner for a while. I should bring it back out. It's an exterior only but is hollow to allow internal lights to shine through.....;-)

 

[AnyStar]

^ i'd love to see it too!

 

[Birdog]

After seeing your model from CAD...I got nuthin ;-) I'll make one up tonight and post some renders of what I have now.

 

[AnyStar]

thanks for all the compliments guys, but seriously: i'm just a guy who likes to draw that has WAY too much time on his hands...

 

[Saquist]

^The creed of Artist Everywhere.

Yeah, CTM had similar difficulties but...(don't tell hi I said so) Yours from the outside is quite superior in detail and that's because I believe you modeled the outside first.

You'll get no argument from me on that point. I know my exterior is not as accurate - I knew that would be the case from the moment I decided to build it from the inside out. This is outstanding work AnyStar. Again, please don't wait on me to start working on your interiors - the more the merrier.

To tell you the truth what you're doing scares the Ba-Jesus out me. It's a monumental task. I wouldn't know where to start. MSD was the first step if the outside model goes as planned...then I might be so bold.

 

[AnyStar]

i decided to just start from scratch.

all new saucer is about done

 

[Saquist]

That looks...really good.

 

[AnyStar]

been a hectic day, about all i managed to do was pay around with some materials... haha
but i did label it!

 

[Birdog]

What technique do you use to do your lettering? I do a series of very thin shells and subtractions and actually etch it into the hull. I'm looking for a better, less poly intensive method.

 

[AnyStar]

i just entered the text with the text tool. then conveted the line of text to a poly object, and extruded the faces.

then just rotated the letters around separately to align to the saucer. instead of etching, all i did was float them till the surface poked above the saucer surface.

 

[USS Mariner]

Nice concentric reduction on the saucer wireframe, though I think you could stand to do it one more time.