CG Galactica

[Senmut]

Launch!

[martok2112]

That looks great!

Your viper and big G is looking mighty fine :-D you've come a long way

[Matador]

Originally Posted by Andromeda

Your viper and big G is looking mighty fine :-D you've come a long way

Thanks... Lots of trial and error.

I'm currently working on some combat scenes... More to come.

[Matador]

OK, so here are the last two shots I made of my Viper...


I say last two... Meaning that I've made a leap to a new 3d modeling and rendering program called Lightwave.

This was a very hard decision... I actually lost sleep over it. But it really came down to cost value. The program I was using, 3ds Max is a very good program, but is missing many elements that you can get out of the box with lightwave... Many things I need in max (plugins) are just very expensive and I'm not a big production house and can't afford it.

Lightwave offers them, built in, and for a better price. Problem is I have to learn a whole new way of modeling and animating. It's like spending 5 years learning to speak German and then switching to speak Portuguese. But with a tight budget, I had to make the switch.

One good thing is that I was able to import my Viper model into lightwave, but have to re-texture it.

Here are some samples of lightwave:


Lightwave is also the program used in the new Galatica series and firefly.

I will probably finish up my space battle scene with Max, but will eventually switch over to lightwave.

[Matador]

So I've been getting myself pretty familiar with Lightwave. It has been very a very challenging change from modeling in 3ds Max to Lightwave. But it is something I must do.

I'm re-creating my viper... Although I can import my model from Max into Lightwave. I need the practice... So here is what I have done so far.

[Matador]

Just a little update.

One of the cool tools in Lightwave is the Stencil option, which is one of the options in the "Drill" tool.

I'm able to create hull detail that I would have had major problems with in Max. I know this may look silly, but it's a huge step for me.



This is going to be a huge help with Sci-Fi modeling. Thanks to Mikala, Maudib, and Taranis for the tips and help. This has been a tough transition. Kinda like letting go of an old Girl friend and moving on.

[Matador]

Just adding the Top wing and Cockpit Windows. Will do more tinkering later.

[martok2112]

Coming along nicely!

[Matador]

Originally Posted by martok2112

Coming along nicely!

Thanks... Getting used to the way modeling is done in lightwave is a huge step for me.

Several key strokes and options in places that take some getting used to. But it's all about practice.

Looking forward to modeling Galactica next.

[Matador]

After doing some review, I realized that the blue prints I was using to build my Viper was not accurate.

I modified the hull to be a little thinner and lowered the top engine.

I believe the Viper looks a lot better.

[martok2112]

Good design there on the rough Viper.
Yeah, I'm still working with Blender, but it serves me....shoot, for being a free program, it works wonders, and I haven't even scratched the surface of just what all Blender can do.

The Galactica is an interesting bird to tackle. I'm anxious to see your take on it.

[Matador]

Originally Posted by martok2112

Good design there on the rough Viper.

Thanks Martok... I gave blender a try, but I just couldn't get used to the right-click thing. I'm too spoiled with the Left click.

I've got another buddy who is trying Blender out. For a free program, you can't beat it.

But after much back and fourth and looking at a lot of work being done in Lightwave for shows like Galactica, Firefly, and Hunger games. I felt it was a good investment.

Lightwave has an awesome Render engine built right in. Another big selling point.

Anyhew... I'm making a new "Lightwave Version" of Galactica. I could import my already made Mesh from Max, but I want to see how long this takes me.

[martok2112]

I know Galactica was the first model I ever built....and with the awesome tutorial I had from Karan Shah on the basic interface for Blender, it took me five days to build my first version of Blender Galactica. (The fully rendered model is done in iClone, in Blender, she's just component pieces all in the right places.)

Keep up the good work, and keep us posted.

[Matador]

Did some more detailing on the Viper.



Not easy to see, but here is a close up look at the stencil work on the back engine covers that I was able to do in Lightwave...

This is an awesome feature in lightwave that is a time saver.

Also I did a bit more work on the old Girl.

[Matador]

Did some more work on Galactica. I even applied a temporary texture to give it a bit of something to visualize.



I can actually says that I'm now a lot more comfortable with modeling in Lightwave and really am beginning to enjoy the new tools available in Lightwave.
It has taken some getting used to, but I can say I love it's render engine.

[martok2112]

Coming along quickly there!

[Matador]

Originally Posted by martok2112

Coming along quickly there!

Thanks... Probably since I've modeled the old Girl so many times, it has become a little easier. I was sort of amazed how quickly I got the shape down in Lightwave.

Here are some updates.



I think I'm going to start working on Detailing the Hull now.

[Matador]

OK... Got some hull plating done...


I'm also adding some pipes and other Greebles to give the ship some detail.

[martok2112]

Keep at it. She's really shaping up!

[Matador]

Pipe, pies, and more Pipes... Then greebles.

Trying to get all the detail work done.

[TwoBrainedCylon]

I hope this doesn't come off the wrong way but I'm a geek for these sorts of details. Speaking from ignorance. Did the original model have pipes running along the base like that? It looks good but it seems a bad choice for a ship you expect to get shot at. Not trying to be an ass but I always try to figure out what the details on these models would do and this sort of detailing seems like something that would be ideal on a civilian ship but might be out of place on a warship.

In the larger scheme of things, ... back in the day when I was doing CG, the Lightwave modeler was a dream. I used to find modeling in it very relaxing. I'd imagine its only gotten better in the last few years.

Really nice detailing of hoses, etc. on the viper above.

All my best,


Russell

[Matador]

Originally Posted by TwoBrainedCylon

Speaking from ignorance. Did the original model have pipes running along the base like that?

Really nice detailing of hoses, etc. on the viper above.

All my best,

Russell

Well Let's look at a production model of the Original Galactica.


Yep... Pipes!

Let's then look at Maudib's verison, (which is the best highly detailed and completely accurate to the studio version I've seen so far)...


Oh yeah... More pipes.s

Now, having exposed pipes like that may have not been the smartest idea for the Colonials. It probably would explain why the entire fleet was destroyed so easily... Also, flying around in a viper with no pressure suite or mask didn't make a lot of sense either, but it made for a great show and we all love the costumes...
The Galactica from the new series would be a better bet, because everything is all tucked away behind armor...

But one thing both ships had was lots of Bulky armor, heavy defense system, firepower, and Vipers! Everything was Reduntant and by-passable. Like Star Trek and the Auxiliary systems.

My version of Galactica is very different and is intended to be that way... I did not want to copy anybody else's work... Sort of how the Enterprise from the new Star trek is the same but different than the original movie version.
My landing bays are open on both ends.

I am still very new to Lightwave... After working with Max for almost 6 years, switching over has not been easy.

Thanks for checking out my post.

[TwoBrainedCylon]

Wow, how unobservant am I? The Galactica universe ships were always known for pipes but I'd always regarded them as something along the lines of our own warships. It wasn't until I saw this without the other gurnies that I noted just how large of a target the old girl had. Even worse, I never noted the lower set was painted red.

Agree with the Maudib version. Some fantastic work.

Best of luck with this version.

All my best,


Russell

[Titon]

The lower half of the Galactica's head section in red originally was made up of "U" channel. It's hard to see but it looks like pipeing but it really is U channel.

[Matador]

Originally Posted by Titon

The lower half of the Galactica's head section in red originally was made up of "U" channel.

Fair enough...

Moving forward... Started working on some detaling of the head section.

[Matador]

Pretty much done with that head section.



Now working on adding detail to the rest of the Old Girl.

[Titon]

Looks cool....

Might i suggest something? On the landing bay's it might be in your best interest to reduce the "smoothing" on them. They look a bit to organic if i may say so otherwise for your first attempt at it looks fun!

[Matador]

Originally Posted by Titon

Looks cool....

On the landing bay's it might be in your best interest to reduce the "smoothing" on them.

Yes, thanks... I've been working on that... Trying to figure out how I want to approach that... But in the meantime I added more detail to the support arms/legs(what ever you want to call them)... Eventually she won't look so naked.
Here is the latest picture with a bit more detail added to the support arms


Matador

[Matador]

Based on the recommendation from Taranis... I removed the smoothing thing. Not sure why I had that on there. But thanks for the tip.

So I was told that the legs/arms should be called Pylons... OK...

So I've updated the ship and added more greebles...