USS Wildcat 3D Model

[Rekkert]

Despite some trepidation, I felt a bit forced by real life to take on another commission while still working on my current one. Depending on how well this goes, will it become something regular or not.

Without further ado, @The Librarian commissioned me to create a 3D model for his Wildcat-Class starship. It's been a long time since I did any ship, and it'll be my first one on Blender, so I'm exited for this one.

Here's the progress so far:

 

[Kaiser]

Looks like a good precursor or alternate version of the Loknar class

 

[Atolm]

Very, very sexay shape you've got going on there sir. Nicely done so far.

 

[The Librarian]

Looks like a good precursor or alternate version of the Loknar class

The Loknar is an inspiration, as is the NX-01. It's a fair bit beefier though.

 

[Rekkert]

@Atolm: Thank you very much!

I've added the superstructure directly below the bridge, and started with the shuttlebay area. I've also worked on the phaser banks and nacelle caps.

 

[The Librarian]

Looking good, I'm really liking how the bussards and nacelle... blue balls are looking, as well as the deflector.

 

[Atolm]

Excellent re-interpretation of a deflector assembly mate. Really digging where this is going

 

[Rekkert]

@The Librarian: Glad you're liking it so far!

@Atolm: Thanks!

I've done the basic bridge structure, as well as the impulse engines and shuttlebay doors.

 

[Sibyl]

Interesting design!

It kinda reminds me of one of the old FASA designs (Loknar?).

Just looked it up. Yup! Loknar. Subtly different.

 

[Rekkert]

I've worked on the windows for deck 2, as well as on the pylons and nacelles. I've made these a tiny bit thicker as they were too thin when compared to @The Librarian's original model.

 

[Atolm]

Awesome!

 

[The Librarian]

Nice work on the windows, I wasn't sure how well those would translate onto an actual model but I like how they turned out.

 

[Sgt_G]

If that's the shuttle bay hatch just above the name on the fantail, I'd hate to be the pilot who has to land in there.

 

[The Librarian]

That's why God gave you a tractor beam.

 

[Rekkert]

@Atolm: Thanks!

@The Librarian: Thank you! I wasn't sure about the windows myself, we never saw them so close together in this era of starship design, but they do look good.

@Sgt_G: It could be a lot worse.

I believe I'm pretty much done modeling the nacelles. I've also added some further details on the saucer section and started placing the ship's name on top of the saucer.

 

[Rekkert]

Finished with the registry, and started adding some lights around the ship. I've also swapped the texture for the windows and added more life to them. Finally, more details are added all over the saucer section.

 

[The Librarian]

Nice work on the lighting. I think those spotlights will work well in the dark to illuminate the letters, which is one of the cooler things that CG models make over the originals. You might stick something similar for the markings under the hangar too. The registry and name mimics the TOS look very well.

As far as the Deck 2 windows go, they are a bit closer and more numerous that what's on the TOS saucer section, especially along that front arc. At the same time I wanted to have at least one row up there to make up for the lack everywhere else except the rim, and they're not that much more dense that the Connie's engineering section or the set of four we see on the Connie deck 2. In some ways its a side-effect of how I determined the window layout by figuring out the spacing of the compartment first. Pretty much all the Trek ships except maybe Voyager and the NX have issues stemming from how the random spacing doesn't at all fit a rational interior layout. For example this ship lacks windows on the lower saucer where the Connie has some because I realized that they'd basically be looking into the torpedo storage or phaser equipment rooms.

 

[Rekkert]

Yeah, the windows do make sense, and looking at the ship internals, the placement is well thought out.

I've finished with the windows placements, added the torpedo tubes, some more lights (not on the hangar markings, those will come soon), and the docking port behind the bridge.

Also, here are some renders showing the self illumination so far:

 

[The Librarian]

Oh man that self illumination

 

[Finn]

Wow!