TAS Armored Shuttle Reimagined
- Thread starter Michael
- Start date
It's so much earlier than Picard, no reason you can't have an Ibn Majid as well 
I'm working with a 2018 MacBook Pro (500GB SSD and 32GB RAM), which is still one of the newer ones. It's super fast with most of the graphic software I am running on it, so there isn't really much I can do in the way of upgrading my hardware (short of switching to PC, which I won't
). It's just that Blender, from what I understand, can only be made to run faster with a special graphics card or some accelerator software, both of which seemingly can't be done on a MacBook.You know, I think you are right. This is my reference image from TOS, and while it certainly looks rather shiny on the edges, overall it looks somewhat more rough/dull. I adjusted the material on my shuttle accordingly.
Thank you, @Professor Moriarty! Coming from you this really means a lot to me.
Yeah, it kinda does, doesn't it? I have the model kit in mint condition. Do you want one?It actually looks like a model kit that's on display with the way it looks now, I would say that that's a pretty nice result.
Seriously, though, I actually have a hard time making the shuttle look like the giant full-scale model it's supposed to be. For some reason it looks more like a miniature in most renders and I can't quite figure out why. I added some more texture to the rocks in the background, which in turn should make the size of the shuttle more apparent …
Changing the perspective so you're looking up its belly makes it look larger as well, I think …
And, at long last, I also put it out in space …
The AMT box is inspired. 
That model kit box is incredible! I did notice the "miniature"-look in a couple of the earlier images, but not now in these latest ones - well, until you build the model kit, of course...
The "looking up its belly" shot is my favourite - it looks so powerful and imposing. And big! (I like the subtle ground mist/haze, too)
Have you seen Space Station 76? A retro-future (70s) space comedy-drama starring Patrick Wilson, Liv Tyler, and Matt Bomer (one of my favourite films)? Anyway, your beautiful space shots - especially the lighting in the last one - really remind me of the clean and bright space scenes featuring SS76's 70s style shuttles.
The "looking up its belly" shot is my favourite - it looks so powerful and imposing. And big! (I like the subtle ground mist/haze, too)
Have you seen Space Station 76? A retro-future (70s) space comedy-drama starring Patrick Wilson, Liv Tyler, and Matt Bomer (one of my favourite films)? Anyway, your beautiful space shots - especially the lighting in the last one - really remind me of the clean and bright space scenes featuring SS76's 70s style shuttles.
I want that kit!! I want that kit!!
Looking really awesome.
Looking really awesome.
YOU!?? GET BACK TO THAT SHIP YOU'VE NEVER FINISHED!
This is brilliant Michael, and an incredible amount of progress in such a short space of time. There's a great TOS vibe to these renders.
By the way, I'm in the same boat with regard to making use of the work-from-home situation. I'm also learning Blender right now, using those same Blender Guru tutorials! How did your donut and coffee scene turn out?
By the way, I'm in the same boat with regard to making use of the work-from-home situation. I'm also learning Blender right now, using those same Blender Guru tutorials! How did your donut and coffee scene turn out?
That's a really effective scene you've built there @Michael. Well done.
Re: the scale issue. Maybe a small window in the hatch would help sell the two deck internal structure (I guess there's the entry level and the cocpit above)? And if I guess the scale using the hatch as a guide which is, say, ~2m tall then those steps on the "wing" are going to be separated by >0.5m, that climb aboard is really going to work your thighs.
Re: the scale issue. Maybe a small window in the hatch would help sell the two deck internal structure (I guess there's the entry level and the cocpit above)? And if I guess the scale using the hatch as a guide which is, say, ~2m tall then those steps on the "wing" are going to be separated by >0.5m, that climb aboard is really going to work your thighs.
That's a really effective scene you've built there @Michael. Well done.
Thank you so much for your kind words!
I dabbled a lot in MagicaVoxel, which I love, but this is the first time I managed to build something proper in 3D. It can still get pretty frustrating at times because of seemingly random bugs (the other day I spent the whole evening trying to figure out why all of a sudden the camera wasn't showing anything anymore, for example), but overall I'm still pretty stoked by the possibility to finally build anything I can imagine. I'm curious where it'll lead me next. I already have a couple of ideas …
Dude, I have seen your work. I'm not sure I will ever reach that kind of level.The AMT box is inspired.
That model kit box is incredible! I did notice the "miniature"-look in a couple of the earlier images, but not now in these latest ones - well, until you build the model kit, of course...
I'm glad you guys like the model kit. It just hit me that I should also mock it up as an Eaglemoss model.I want that kit!! I want that kit!!
Looking really awesome.
No, I have not seen that. But the from the trailer it looks pretty sweet. And I can see what you mean about the effects shots. I will definitely give it a watch. Thank you!
To be honest, I skipped the donut and went straight for the anvil. I just figured the shuttle had much more in common with an anvil than a donut. 
There were a couple of things I had to look up, but overall it worked out rather well.It's so interesting to me that you are learning Blender, since from my point of view you have pretty much mastered 3DS Max.
Re: the scale issue. Maybe a small window in the hatch would help sell the two deck internal structure (I guess there's the entry level and the cocpit above)? And if I guess the scale using the hatch as a guide which is, say, ~2m tall then those steps on the "wing" are going to be separated by >0.5m, that climb aboard is really going to work your thighs.
Oh god, you are absolutely right about those steps! I guess I'm not much of a constructor or architect after all. I'm in the business of making things look cool, not necessarily functional. Thanks for the heads-up. I have changed it to five steps now (six if you include the skid), which might still be too few, but looks much more realistic to me. I also added handles (modeled after the one seen in the Enterprise engine room) and hinted at some of the interior. All of this helps to sell the size of this thing, I think.
And finally, a couple of shots in space with narrower depth of field just for fun. Makes it look even more like a tiny toy.
This is looking even better, the skills you've learned now could be used for any number of cool projects in Blender. I hope you continue as I'd be interested to see what you do next.
As for learning Blender myself, I'm not cutting 3dsMax out completely - it still has some capabilities which Blender does not - but Blender offers some very interesting tools all in one package. I can't believe this is a free program, I think it's wonderful that anyone can just download it and within weeks produce images like the ones in this thread.
As for learning Blender myself, I'm not cutting 3dsMax out completely - it still has some capabilities which Blender does not - but Blender offers some very interesting tools all in one package. I can't believe this is a free program, I think it's wonderful that anyone can just download it and within weeks produce images like the ones in this thread.
I too would love to see the interior. Something like a small cabin cruiser or RV van with sleeping, eating, lounging arrangements for four or more (the ship was also called a long range shuttle). As for the exterior, I love it.Those extra steps really help to sell the scale and I love the glimpse of the interior.
