Request feedback on this starship design

[Scott1768]

... to the OP Scott1768 - always loved this design from the first time I saw it. IIRC, I made a simple 3D model of it back in the late 90's for a fan club using this design for their "ship" down in Texas. Can't remember which one it was, though. Looking forward to seeing more on this.

Thanks! I'll be posting further WIP info regarding the auxiliary craft (Warpshuttle and Marine Assault Craft) and the Crew Orientation Manual in separate threads soon.

BTW, I don't suppose you might be interested in doing a 3D model of this version, would you?
.

 

[Mysterion]

If one was to order a set of your plans, how much should be included for shipping?

 

[Scott1768]

If one was to order a set of your plans, how much should be included for shipping?

That depends on whether you're located in the US or across the pond.

Domestic shipping for 11x17 packets is $5.00, for 24x36 plans $15.00 each (rolled in a tube and shipped via UPS).

If you're overseas, I'll have to research the charges based on your location and let you know.

When you're ready to order, make a check or money order out to Scott W. Bell and send it to this address along with the plans that you want:

Starship Dynamics
P.O. Box 160352
San Antonio, TX 78280

 

[Mysterion]

^^^
Thanks!

 

[137th Gebirg]

... to the OP Scott1768 - always loved this design from the first time I saw it. IIRC, I made a simple 3D model of it back in the late 90's for a fan club using this design for their "ship" down in Texas. Can't remember which one it was, though. Looking forward to seeing more on this.

Thanks! I'll be posting further WIP info regarding the auxiliary craft (Warpshuttle and Marine Assault Craft) and the Crew Orientation Manual in separate threads soon.

BTW, I don't suppose you might be interested in doing a 3D model of this version, would you?
.

Unfortunately both the tool I used (Specular Infini-D) and my 3D modeling skills are about 15 years out-of-date. I don't even have a system that will run Infini-D any more (ran on a Mac classic w/ OS-9).

What I can do is try to track down the old model and make an attempt to convert it to a DXF mesh for import into more standard/current software, as a potential baseline for something more substantial. I've never worked with LightWave or the other more modern tools that this particular effort would deserve. I've been more of a 2D Adobe Illustrator/PhotoShop artist in the past decade. Would like to get back into 3D one day in the distant future, but I just don't have the spare cash lying around.

I'll let you know what I can dig up.

 

[137th Gebirg]

Well, I found the CG files, but the original model is "trapped" in the old Infini-D format and I can't get it converted into anything else.

Here are the pics I did - it was for an old SFI ship USS Kepler which I don't think exists any more:

 

[Scott1768]

OOOOH, I like!! Thanks!

Do you have any others, or just the two above?

 

[Scott1768]

Well, I found the CG files, but the original model is "trapped" in the old Infini-D format and I can't get it converted into anything else.

I did some quick digging, and I *think* that I can import it into Lightwave...I just got my copy of this app and I'm at the bottom of a steep learning curve, but I'd like to give it a shot. Would you be willing to share that Infini-D file with me? I'll be more than happy to give credit if it works.

 

[137th Gebirg]

Well, I found the CG files, but the original model is "trapped" in the old Infini-D format and I can't get it converted into anything else.

I did some quick digging, and I *think* that I can import it into Lightwave...I just got my copy of this app and I'm at the bottom of a steep learning curve, but I'd like to give it a shot. Would you be willing to share that Infini-D file with me? I'll be more than happy to give credit if it works.

Thank ye kindly. Unfortunately, I only have those two images that were requested by the Kepler folks at the time. The one with the insignia is actually a final "touch up" of the original without the insignia, as it has additional lighting effects that I added to the image post-render. I wasn't familiar with light mapping too well back then and I wasn't sure how to do the warp lighting effects with the halo fade using the 3D program. Funny, it's better looking than I remember it - you might actually be able to do something with it.

I do, however, have all my source files (including the original Infini-D file) and if you PM me your email address I'll zip the whole directory up and send it to you. Hopefully your software will import it correctly. It's an obscure format that nobody seems to support any more.

 

[Scott1768]

I do, however, have all my source files (including the original Infini-D file) and if you PM me your email address I'll zip the whole directory up and send it to you. Hopefully your software will import it correctly. It's an obscure format that nobody seems to support any more.

Jim,

I haven't posted enough to gain PM privilieges yet; however, my addy is scott.wayne.bell at geemayle.

I truly do appreciate this. I think you did a remarkable job, especially considering the dearth of detail available at the time!

 

[137th Gebirg]

Thanks again and address received. I'll try to send it out tonight when I get home.

 

[137th Gebirg]

OH! And - to all - I have updated the credits for the Ariel in the database to match the new information discussed here, although I'm still looking for a date of publication of the Enterprise Evolution sheets. I'm thinking probably 1982 or 83, but I want to be sure before making that change.

Additionally, a cursory search for any new schematic/ortho images of the Ariel has turned up nothing. I found a few low-poly 3/4-view renders that look like they came from the old Starfleet Command III game, but it seems the little pic I put together almost 15 years ago is still, sadly, the "gold standard".

 

[Cary L. Brown]

OH! And - to all - I have updated the credits for the Ariel in the database to match the new information discussed here, although I'm still looking for a date of publication of the Enterprise Evolution sheets. I'm thinking probably 1982 or 83, but I want to be sure before making that change.

Additionally, a cursory search for any new schematic/ortho images of the Ariel has turned up nothing. I found a few low-poly 3/4-view renders that look like they came from the old Starfleet Command III game, but it seems the little pic I put together almost 15 years ago is still, sadly, the "gold standard".

Back in the day, these were the best there was. The basic design was seen in numerous places, though... not all from Aridas or his collaborators. I have a big "sillouettes poster" that shows it, for instance.

I bought that about a year after it was being advertised (the ad was for buying it from either New Eye Studio or the Federation Trading Post... can't recall which... in the back of an issue of Starlog, as I recall!) This would have put the publishing during my early high school years... so yeah, it's somewhere between 1981 and 1983.

I'm going to provide a low-res scan of the Ariel's sheet, and the "overview sheet" from this set (because it gives context of the Ariel class design... and remember, this pre-dates TNG by a number of years). It's quite interesting.





I'll also provide a high-res scan of the Ariel's line-drawing itself.



Obviously, all of this is fully and completely the work of Aridas, except as noted by him... I have no legal rights to this in any sense and am providing it purely for informational purposes.

The high-res scan you see is what I used as my pattern when making my own 3D model of this ship, several years ago.

EDIT: By the way, I know that this came after TWOK, which came out in the summer of 1982. I know that, because the aft end of the Ariel uses Reliant-style hangar bays, and the secondary hull impulse engine is styled similarly to the impulse deck on the Reliant.

 

[137th Gebirg]

NICE! Thank you for that. First time I've seen it with that level of detail. Going to add it to my update queue.

 

[Kaiser]

Well, I found the CG files, but the original model is "trapped" in the old Infini-D format and I can't get it converted into anything else.

Here are the pics I did - it was for an old SFI ship USS Kepler which I don't think exists any more:

Now those are awesome

 

[Kaiser]

OH! And - to all - I have updated the credits for the Ariel in the database to match the new information discussed here, although I'm still looking for a date of publication of the Enterprise Evolution sheets. I'm thinking probably 1982 or 83, but I want to be sure before making that change.

Additionally, a cursory search for any new schematic/ortho images of the Ariel has turned up nothing. I found a few low-poly 3/4-view renders that look like they came from the old Starfleet Command III game, but it seems the little pic I put together almost 15 years ago is still, sadly, the "gold standard".

Back in the day, these were the best there was. The basic design was seen in numerous places, though... not all from Aridas or his collaborators. I have a big "sillouettes poster" that shows it, for instance.

I bought that about a year after it was being advertised (the ad was for buying it from either New Eye Studio or the Federation Trading Post... can't recall which... in the back of an issue of Starlog, as I recall!) This would have put the publishing during my early high school years... so yeah, it's somewhere between 1981 and 1983.

I'm going to provide a low-res scan of the Ariel's sheet, and the "overview sheet" from this set (because it gives context of the Ariel class design... and remember, this pre-dates TNG by a number of years). It's quite interesting.





I'll also provide a high-res scan of the Ariel's line-drawing itself.



Obviously, all of this is fully and completely the work of Aridas, except as noted by him... I have no legal rights to this in any sense and am providing it purely for informational purposes.

The high-res scan you see is what I used as my pattern when making my own 3D model of this ship, several years ago.

EDIT: By the way, I know that this came after TWOK, which came out in the summer of 1982. I know that, because the aft end of the Ariel uses Reliant-style hangar bays, and the secondary hull impulse engine is styled similarly to the impulse deck on the Reliant.

thank you for posting this i've been waiting years to see this and i hope theres a way to view the rest if thats possible

 

[137th Gebirg]

Well, I found the CG files, but the original model is "trapped" in the old Infini-D format and I can't get it converted into anything else.

Here are the pics I did - it was for an old SFI ship USS Kepler which I don't think exists any more:

Now those are awesome

Thanks very much! I had forgotten about these for so long, I'm glad I had an opportunity to resurface them. Kind of wish I made them bigger back then, but screen resolutions and CPU rendering power at that time weren't like what they are now and I guess I had limited resources to work with.

They actually had the ship design and insignia machine-embroidered into a polo shirt and they did an amazing job on it (sent me a complimentary shirt for the renders). I'll see if I can dig that up and scan it. It was beautifully done. Wonder where those guys are now...

 

[137th Gebirg]

Scott - I sent you the zip-file. Let me know if/when you get it and if you can import the ID file. Thx and good luck!

 

[Scott1768]

Scott - I sent you the zip-file. Let me know if/when you get it and if you can import the ID file. Thx and good luck!

Got it. I'll try importing it this weekend...thanks again!!

 

[Starship]

Yes, that ship is interesting!
About the history of Infini-D, found this: http://blog.isotropy.ca/2009/09/the-infini-d-resource-page/

Importing/Exporting: http://artzone.daz3d.com/wiki/doku.php/pub/software/carrara/06_six/06_import_export

What leads me to ask: can you send me the 3ds and obj exports? If so, with Deep Exploration I can generate other exports for you.