Starfleet Museum Orbital Annexe - WIP from a modelling newbie!

[unusualsuspex]

Well, I've been rendering for a while using fantastic models made by others and having lurked and occasionally posted here, I decided it was about time to stop messing about and dive in!

So, MAX at the ready I've started with this, the Starfleet Museum Orbital Annexe.

This is the first version which (in modelling terms) is a total nightmare. Unaligned parts, billions of polygons, and wasted elements!

HOWEVER as a first attempt it doesn't look bad and now I can refine the basic concept!

My thanks to Kenny-Z, Buckky and Andrew Hodges for the loan of their models to show scale and my textures are placeholders.

Watch this space!

 

[Klaus]

nice work!

 

[TrekkieMonster]

Cool idea, and I like how you're doing a riff on the standard spacedock design. I can see it with many more "arms" and dozens of ships of all sizes attached, looking just a little "cluttered" maybe, but in a good way: sort of like the Smithsonian's Air and Space museum.

 

[unusualsuspex]

nice work!

Thank you Klaus!

Cool idea, and I like how you're doing a riff on the standard spacedock design. I can see it with many more "arms" and dozens of ships of all sizes attached, looking just a little "cluttered" maybe, but in a good way: sort of like the Smithsonian's Air and Space museum.

Not sure about how many 'static display' ships to have as I'm guessing Starfleet would like to have as many in the line as possible. This is TNG/DS9 era so what I intend is to have between 5 and 10 static ships with docking positions for serving ships that people can then visit.

Thats all way down the line though cos I've only been modelling a few days!

Thanks for the comments and updates soon.

 

[The Axeman]

Very nice work so far, certainly doesn't look like a first model. I think you need to cram on plenty of docking booms, otherwise it doesn't make a whole lot of sense having such an enormous facility for what is essentially a car park. The more ships docked, the more it makes sense to have them connected to a large facility to supply power and regular maintainence, as well as ease of access for visitors and researchers.

 

[Belisarius]

Nice work, and a really great original concept. I'd suggest putting some fairly obvious multi-directional deflector arrays on the station itself. If you have a collection of what are, essentially, priceless artifacts (the starships) docked externally, you'll need to protect them from the hazards of space. Various flavors of shield emitters and docking bays for engineering shuttlepods wouldn't be a bad idea, either.


~Belisarius
---------------------------
"All life is struggle, from first breath to last."
- Anonymous

 

[Admiral_Young]

Very cool design and something that I've wondered about. I like the idea that the Museum is basically a large space dock. Where is it located?

 

[unusualsuspex]

Great suggestions guys! Thank you greatly. though I'm gonna have to improve my modelling to achieve all that I think!!

The idea came from my Starfleet Academy fanfic and it is sited in geosyncronous orbit above San Francisco. Essentially it's a museum, no more no less, but there will be facilities for Starfleet vessels to dock at temporarily allowing the public to visit them.

One thing I had thought about was escape pods. Why? You might ask. Well considering public health and safety they're the equivalent of fire escapes. Logical or unnecessary do you think?

 

[danellis]

Looks a good start to a nice concept.

I don't think you need to worry about it being too big overmuch. I'm sure inside there is a, for example, much more comprehensive collection of shuttlecraft and other smaller craft, perhaps this is where Picard went to visit the Phoenix. It's possible in a future iteration you may choose to move the NX inside, given her relative size.

I'd certainly agree that escape mechanisms would be a major concern: I'm sure administrators would hope for visitors in the tens of thousands to not be unusual

Of course the ships themselves could always serve as lifeboats if it came to it!

The one real criticism I would have though is that the airdock corridors coming off of the arms are far too long. It would be nice to see them telescoping so that they can serve a Galaxy class ship (which I presume is why they're the length they are?).

dJE

 

[unusualsuspex]

Absolutely agree about the docking arms, WAY too long! But in the revised version, which is well under way, they will be shortened! Thanks

I'm actually considering the whole 'interior' display idea as well for the smaller vessels. The PHOENIX idea was one that popped into my mind when I wrote the original story funnily enough.

Anyway, hopefully some updates tomorrow

 

[Kaiser]

very cool renders and art idea

 

[unusualsuspex]

Ok, the major reconstruction is complete. I now need to work on details which will be a loooooooooong drawn out process as this is the first model I've ever done.

(BTW the lighting rig here is as described in Madkoifish's tut in the Tutorials Section of Sci-Fi Meshes)

Texturing (after the detailing) is also brand new to me so be patient.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Beautiful work and a great idea.

Do you think you might make those arms window-lined? So visitors can the the ship exteriors as they approach.

This reminds me of a dream I had, around the time Nemesis came out. The Enterprise-E was leaving orbit and passed a museum and the NX-01 was docked there. I can't remember if there were other ships there.

 

[unusualsuspex]

Yep, when I get to the stage of texturing (hahaha! right!) the docking arms will have windows and where they join the body of the station (the two rings) they're viewing galleries which will also be windowed!

 

[ST-One]

Those renders look a bit... soft.

The general idea/design looks very nice. Can't wait to see the start of the detailing-phase

 

[Kaiser]

very cool now your 3D render looks likes made from plastic or wood

 

[unusualsuspex]

Ok as you're all aware, this is my very first model so be gentle!

I've added some detail here and there but have tried to be restrained, mainly because of the scale of the station and my (steam-powered) PCs limitations!

Added shuttle bays below the visiting ships docking ring, dish supports in the main saucer, greebles here and there and one or two other small things. I've also tidied up the modelling a bit as well but I'm still probably way high on the poly count (which is why my machines protesting! LOL)

I know I want to add top and bottom comms arrays and detail that flat surface on the lower saucer and I may add a few more bits, but I'd like to respectfully ask for some ideas from you guys who have much more modelling experience so feel free!

Thanks for looking!

 

[brandomack]

Nice progress Sus!

how about when you get further, you add lots of small craft inspecting all the ships with spotlights and what have you, to create action.

i'm looking forward to seeing the final result.

 

[MadMan1701A]

I like it. It looks like it could fit easily between a K-7 era starbase, and the big mushroom dock from the movies.

 

[unusualsuspex]

That was the idea Madman. This would have been the precursor to the Spacedock we're familiar with and as a historic structure once it was replaced, what better place for the Orbital Annex of the museum

I guess I really ought to start looking at textures now....