New art from a new member

[Mycetrap]

Hi, everyone! I'm brand new to this forum and I've got some art to share. They aren't a whole lot more than doodles, but I've accumulated quite a few over the years. Often time's I'll be inspired by a canon vessel, like the old Klingon battlecruisers, and I'll put my own twist on it. I've done it with a few different ships and I've decided that this seems like a good place to share it. So, Since I mentioned the battlecruiser, here's a sketch I did of a perhaps over-modernized D7. I imagine it would be seen in the late 25th century or something. It's a first pass, and it's only a couple inches long. What I usually do is draw small, then scan, expand, and enhance. I did this with my Sabre-class revamp which I may post soon, depending on the response I get on this ship here.

I'd love to entertain any comments or questions about my design.

 

[Kaiser]

very nice looking Klingon ship there

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

Eager to see your more fleshed-out take on this. I like what you've done with the head and the neck. Feels slicker and more streamlined, but at the same time very strong, bulky, and Klingon.

 

[Mycetrap]

Thanks guys. The battlecruiser has long been one of my most favorite trek designs, simply because it's so icon and seemingly immortal. In the mean time and as promised, here's my touched-up Sabre class.

I drew up the side view years ago and is no longer in concert with the dorsal/ventral views which I last touched up over the summer. I'll be working on my Klingon ship before I do any more work on this Sabre.

I've altered the "bridge ellipse" since this scan. The chevron shape aft of the ellipse now pushes up a little more, but you get the idea.

 

[Mycetrap]

Whoops, I know those Sabres are a little large, I'll keep an eye on that.

 

[Kaiser]

Your Sabre's look much better than the cannon ones

 

[Mycetrap]

Take 2!
Before I go into commenting on my own work, here's that battlecruiser after being blown up and detailed a little more

I've already changed the head to make it a little more bulbous since this image was taken. After all, I think that was part of the charm of the original design. I also think it keeps it from looking back heavy. My only other concern is that it's starting to look like a Romulan design has been crammed into a Klingon mold. Time will tell. Speaking of time, time-permitting I'd like to turn this into a 3D model.

 

[Kaiser]

looks good to me

 

[Mechanic]

Mycetrap: ~LOOOOOOVE~ your Saber-Class refit/upgrade. MORE!!!

 

[The Axeman]

So you do 3D models as well?

 

[Mycetrap]

I used to. It's been a long time since I've done any. I'm trying to download and install blender as I speak.

My brother is really good at 3D modeling, and owns maya, but he doesn't really speak and refuses to work even for good old fashioned cash.

 

[publiusr]

I love the front view. Often, people take Klingon designs and make them simpler, more triangular. The key is to expand on the initial manta shape, and go in more directions.

SFB just fattened up the hull, but did do the layered pagoda style cobra head, which I would like to see with more complex Fed Bridges not unlike the top of spacedock, with antenna and layered sections.

FASA went for intricate shapes with great detail, but abandoned the flow in some respects.

Keep up the good work.

 

[Mycetrap]

I love the front view. Often, people take Klingon designs and make them simpler, more triangular. The key is to expand on the initial manta shape, and go in more directions.

SFB just fattened up the hull, but did do the layered pagoda style cobra head, which I would like to see with more complex Fed Bridges not unlike the top of spacedock, with antenna and layered sections.

FASA went for intricate shapes with great detail, but abandoned the flow in some respects.

I have no idea what most of this has to do with what I've posted. Care to clarify?

Keep up the good work.

This I understand and appreciate.

 

[Maverisms]

As long as we're making requests, I'd like to see more of that battle cruiser's front view. This is a bloody good ship you've got there.

Nice work on the Saber, too

 

[Starship]

I would like to have other views of that Klingon ship. Maybe I´ll adventure myself in building a 3d version (it isn´t a promise, therefore).
The Saber looks dammed cool too.

 

[Mycetrap]

I'll definitely work on this a bit more soon. I've had about a zillion different projects to work on in the past week or so and they're all coming to a head today (Tuesday.)

I'll try to crank out a couple more views for this Klingon ship, but in the mean time, here's a couple things I plan on tweaking:

1) Nacelle height
Even on my sketch with the most recent adjustments (more bulbous head and thicker...brim?... the nacelles just seem too tall, but only slightly. I'm going to bring their bottom edge up just a little. This feeling I'm getting will be aided by change 2 as well.

2) Nacelle curvature
As they are, I think the nacelles are far too rounded for anything Klingon, no matter what era I'm shooting for. I mentioned earlier that they look kind of Romulan to me, or almost Ferengi. I think because both the fore and aft ends of the nacelle have slopes, it creates the optical illusion of the entire nacelle being rounded, as if it were sliced off the edge of a circle. So, I'm going to add some angle to both ends of the nacelle.

3) Weapons sail curvature.
That thing in the middle that sticks down - that's the weapons sail inspired by DS9. Much like the nacelles, I think this is too curvy and too pointy. I plan on hardening this up just a bit.

I think even after I add all these corners and angles I'm talking about, this ship will retain its knife-like precision and elegance while at the same time moving a little to the left on the Klingon to Romulan scale... At least in my mind... and that's what counts.

I plan on keeping the glowy bits on the nacelles styled the same way they are now. If it helps your imagination, think of them like this: (From fore to aft)

The "M" shape - This was kind of inspired by the air intakes on a Lamborghini. You'd only be able to see the glow if you were looking head on.

The Chevron - Imagine pointed, non curved fish scales, or spanish tile. Glow would only be visible from between the scales when looking at the ship from behind at zero degrees to 45 degrees below the X - but would be mostly obscured by the rest of the length of the nacelle anyway.

The half-arrow - this would be a fairly standard vent-like pattern of mostly congruent overlapping armor plates or cowlings. Glow would only be visible from behind.

My thought process behind all this armor on the glowing parts is this: Firstly, as Deus Ex Machina as it was, I was inspired in part by Voyager's ablative armor in "Endgame." Secondly, the glowing bits tend to be the weak spots. If I can make them more difficult to hit while still having them directly exposed to space, I should. After all, WE ARE KLINGONS! I mean dammit, Jim. I'm designing a battlecruiser, not a pleasure yacht.

Thanks for all your complements on my Sabre. Maybe one day I'll get back to her.

 

[Mycetrap]

Dangit, I wrote this big long reply and description, but it didn't go through...Ill get to it guys.

EDIT

OHHH page 2.......... I didn't get enough sleep last night.

 

[Mycetrap]

I've been dealing with a faculty member in the chemistry department who keeps showing up to his labs drunk, so I haven't been able to work on any new views yet. Plus, I really want to pin down the starboard elevation first, and then attempt to push it into 3D and get some of the other views through that. Anyway, I worked out some details.

Before...

And after...

So what did I change? First, I changed some minor hull details. I'll probably change them again. Second, as mentioned before, I inflated the head a little bit. I also changed the angle of the tip of the bill. I also have am off-center torpedo launcher. I'm trying out the concept of two launchers on the head like the ships from Starfleet Command and Klingon Academy. This too may change. Third I added a little layer in the middle of the neck. Just for texture. Although, I did like the idea of one continuous plate across the dorsal side, so I might switch this back. Fourth, I hardened the angles on the ventral weapons sail. Fifth, the corner launcher behind the weapons sail, is now more visible as a launcher. My idea behind this is that from its position on that corner, it would be able to fire from 0 degrees (forward) to at least 90 degrees (from this view, directly starboard.) Sixth, I took the rear dorsal engine mount down a little - down the wing, that is. So, closer to the viewer. If you look at the very first image I posted, that sketchy little fore view kind of shows the twin engine mounts. They're the little triangles on top. You get the idea. Seventh, but certainly not least, I have the nacelles a total re-work, and I think the new version looks entirely more Klingon...even though they still seem too tall.

What do you have to say about that, Hmm?

 

[Kaiser]

looks awesome

 

[Mycetrap]

Here's a little dorsal view. It's not too great and probably doesn't line up, but whatever, it can only impove.