Art & Design

[Jorahl 0]

Of late I have been on a design kick, building 3D models in SecondLife of some stuff for my sims. I had the thought that a thread or even a folder just for the sharing of artwork and designs might be nice. We are a text based game but visuals can help make the worlds we create richer and more detailed. And I'm sure there are things that come up on other sims that others never see but would find interesting.

 

I've seen this done on another message board. I figure this could just start out as a thread for anyone to share what they've done or might be working on. Then, if it doesn't generate enough interest no harm, if it does then maybe we can bug the higher ups about a seperate folder...if needed.

 

And I'll start it out with a little pic of a starship design I've made. The ship is my design and work, the starbase in the background is a screen capture pasted in.

 

[Aliana Lucindak 0]

Hey, I think thats the Aegis, lol

 

Really cool design Jorahl, what class of ship is it?

[Atragon9 0]

Of late I have been on a design kick, building 3D models in SecondLife of some stuff for my sims. I had the thought that a thread or even a folder just for the sharing of artwork and designs might be nice. We are a text based game but visuals can help make the worlds we create richer and more detailed. And I'm sure there are things that come up on other sims that others never see but would find interesting.

 

I've seen this done on another message board. I figure this could just start out as a thread for anyone to share what they've done or might be working on. Then, if it doesn't generate enough interest no harm, if it does then maybe we can bug the higher ups about a seperate folder...if needed.

 

And I'll start it out with a little pic of a starship design I've made. The ship is my design and work, the starbase in the background is a screen capture pasted in.

 

That's a great idea, Jorahl (and a cool-looking ship), let's just remember to post snapshots of the artwork in the thread and NOT links to some other site, that's when it can get to be a problem.

 

We don't want to be pointing our players to sites that are unrelated to us and our games. So, post away, but give us your artwork, not links to other locations. Thanks!

[TKAR 0]

quite interesting -i havent seen something like that in years-how did yoy do it -there was a program called Starship Creator do that but it had a programming error you couldn,t print it out or cut nor print...

[Jorahl 0]

quite interesting -i havent seen something like that in years-how did yoy do it -there was a program called Starship Creator do that but it had a programming error you couldn,t print it out or cut nor print...

 

I built it in the virtual world of SecondLife. I'm sure there's better rendering programs but I already have the "land" there to build things and I'm use to it. I have the Star Trek:Starship Creator but it's more of a joke than anything.

 

Here's a larger view of the ship. Some notes: The idea is a joint design between the Romulans and Starfleet. This is why the nacelle glow is green and the nacelle pylon and pod unit form a wing structure somewhat like a warbird's. It's a small craft, slightly smaller than a Nova-class but a little more sturdy in it's construction. It doesn't have a name yet, I've stuck the NX-97000 tag on it for now.

 

[TKAR 0]

Of late I have been on a design kick, building 3D models in SecondLife of some stuff for my sims. I had the thought that a thread or even a folder just for the sharing of artwork and designs might be nice. We are a text based game but visuals can help make the worlds we create richer and more detailed. And I'm sure there are things that come up on other sims that others never see but would find interesting.

 

I've seen this done on another message board. I figure this could just start out as a thread for anyone to share what they've done or might be working on. Then, if it doesn't generate enough interest no harm, if it does then maybe we can bug the higher ups about a seperate folder...if needed.

 

And I'll start it out with a little pic of a starship design I've made. The ship is my design and work, the starbase in the background is a screen capture pasted in.

 

LOV IT -FANTASTIC

[Brynna Baxter 0]

Oh wow, with the bigger picture it's easier to see (obviously); that is a shiny, shiny ship!

[STSF Precip 0]

Frak, I wish I were talented enough to learn how to design and make my own starship! Nice work! The tail vaguely reminds me of Babylon 5's White Stars.

 

-Precip

[T'aral 0]

I built it in the virtual world of SecondLife. I'm sure there's better rendering programs but I already have the "land" there to build things and I'm use to it. I have the Star Trek:Starship Creator but it's more of a joke than anything.

 

Aside from the fact that you're limited to their 3 or 4 options of any one feature, the d$ thing doesn't run on my system - most likely an incompatibility from Windows '95 to now.

 

Of course, I can't get SecondLife to run on this machine either, so I probably shouldn't judge.

[will_marx 0]

Frak, I wish I were talented enough to learn how to design and make my own starship! Nice work! The tail vaguely reminds me of Babylon 5's White Stars.

 

-Precip

 

As do I Precip. :) Granted, I do have them designed...but sketched out in words rather than on paper or in a computer program. Of course, if anyone's willing to take on that challenge, let me know.

[Sumo 0]

A Long Long time ago in a SFOL galaxy far away, I designed a ship for the sim I used to help run. Sketched it out and even went as so far to start to do floorplans for the decks. Could only use window's paint at the time but it worked for me. Please excuse this shallow attempt. =0)

 

I promised that I would show it.

 

[Atragon9 0]

I cannot lay a claim to be the artist for this, but I did commission these ship images, so that I could transfer the image to the front of a tuxedo vest for a ShoreLeave back in 2001. Ladies and Gentlebots, I present the fleet of Spacefleet Online, from eight years ago.

[T'aral 0]

As do I Precip. :P Granted, I do have them designed...but sketched out in words rather than on paper or in a computer program. Of course, if anyone's willing to take on that challenge, let me know.

 

 

I'm a CAD designer - among other things. At the moment I have a number of starship variations written out on paper. A careful moment could get them transferred to a PDF file. Of course, I would much prefer creating digital renditions.

 

If I can ever get a CAD or drawing program to work on my machine, I'd be happy to take you up on your challenge.

 

Actually - with a little practice, I could probably get PC Paint to give me a rough rendition ...

Edited June 20, 2009 by T'aral

[will_marx 0]

I'm a CAD designer - among other things. At the moment I have a number of starship variations written out on paper. A careful moment could get them transferred to a PDF file. Of course, I would much prefer creating digital renditions.

 

If I can ever get a CAD or drawing program to work on my machine, I'd be happy to take you up on your challenge.

 

Actually - with a little practice, I could probably get PC Paint to give me a rough rendition ...

 

Heh... ah, if only you were able to make it to SLE...

[T'aral 0]

Ah, if only ...

 

An introductory sketch, but it demonstrates a basic 'saucer' and engine pattern.

[precip 0]

OOOhh!!! Creating a new another new ship! Cool!

 

-Precip

[T'aral 0]

Well, not looking to make more than it is. It seems that there are three primary elements to Federation starship design: the primary hull, the secondary hull, and the engine nacelle. Once you have those three patters it's a question of mix & match: how to configure them in order to produce an efficient vessel.

 

All I need now is to model a secondary hull, and I'll be ready to build up some variations or modify the basic models - infinite diversity in infinite combination, as one might say.

[will_marx 0]

Well, not looking to make more than it is. It seems that there are three primary elements to Federation starship design: the primary hull, the secondary hull, and the engine nacelle. Once you have those three patters it's a question of mix & match: how to configure them in order to produce an efficient vessel.

 

All I need now is to model a secondary hull, and I'll be ready to build up some variations or modify the basic models - infinite diversity in infinite combination, as one might say.

 

Well, Antietam started out as a Galaxy-class variation, 1.4km in length. Through verbal redesigns, she had a more Voyager/Sovvie/Prometheus saucer with the bridge set back over the ship's primary yaw axis, three nacelles that were a blending of Excelsior and Galaxy-class nacelles, the lower aft portion the secondary hull given over to the fighter wing (four launch tubes, 2 on each side, with the landing bay between them, all facing aft), the Galaxy-style main shuttlebay split into 1 and 2, with three and 4 on the dorsal, and that glorious phaser cannon from All Good Things.

 

Revenge is a bit simpler. It's an uprated and improved Daedalus-class, with Movie (Constitution-refit/Miranda) era nacelles and secondary impulse deck on the sphere being the biggest visible changes. Everything else is under the hood, so to speak.

[T'aral 0]

Hmm ... pretty good description regarding the Antietam, though I'll have to get an image of the phaser cannon. I gave up on TNG years before the series ended.

 

Yes: the Revenge is simpler - but again I will need to work on developing baseline knowledge. I'd love to work on this over the next few weeks: I'm just saying that things won't be drilled out immediately.

 

-----

 

Question: what kind of secondary hull would you like for the Revenge? The Daedalus had a very basic cylinder; I would assume ( perhaps incorrectly ) that you would wish something a bit more stylized?

 

Question: I think I found your cannon for the Antietam ... the spacing of the nacelles now becomes a question. Would you like a secondary hull placement like "All good things ...", or would you like one positioned on the primary hull like the '75 Tech Manual version of a dreadnought? ( Also seen on the cover of Fortunes of War - Book 1: DREADNOUGHT by Diane Carey ). The primary hull shuttlebay you requested could be split by the dorsal strut.

Edited June 23, 2009 by T'aral

[will_marx 0]

Hmm ... pretty good description regarding the Antietam, though I'll have to get an image of the phaser cannon. I gave up on TNG years before the series ended.

 

Yes: the Revenge is simpler - but again I will need to work on developing baseline knowledge. I'd love to work on this over the next few weeks: I'm just saying that things won't be drilled out immediately.

 

-----

 

Question: what kind of secondary hull would you like for the Revenge? The Daedalus had a very basic cylinder; I would assume ( perhaps incorrectly ) that you would wish something a bit more stylized?

 

Something more stylized, I think...perhaps along the lines of a "tweaked" Constitution-refit engineering hull? Which would make it far more useful to a pirate, in terms of cargo and crew volume.

 

Question: I think I found your cannon for the Antietam ... the spacing of the nacelles now becomes a question. Would you like a secondary hull placement like "All good things ...", or would you like one positioned on the primary hull like the '75 Tech Manual version of a dreadnought? ( Also seen on the cover of Fortunes of War - Book 1: DREADNOUGHT by Diane Carey ). The primary hull shuttlebay you requested could be split by the dorsal strut.

 

As verbally redesigned, Antietam's third nacelle was mounted on the secondary hull, similar the AGT alt-future Enterprise-D.

[Mreh K'hal 0]

Ack, where have I been? I didn't even notice this thread.

 

Interesting thoughts so far, and a very neat design, Jorahl.

 

Playing with starship design is fun, and I've done a little as well. It's still very much work in progress, something I'm cooking up for one of my characters for the next phase of the career, a private ship for contractor work. Working ship name is the Thunderbird, sort of a "if I was going to build a bird of prey this is how I'd do it" kind of thought. Have done the work in SketchUp since that's the most complicated I can get with 3D programs at the moment, lol.

 

The general idea was to go for a horizontal warp core (there's an ejection port in the "beak" that's not detailed enough to really see yet). Need to add more detail and refine the shape to the nacelles and I'll probably completely re-do the nacelles struts to something more streamlined. Out of appreciation for naval history have gone with the round portholes, and rather than have the control center on the top as usual that top dome is actually the lounge/observation/recreation and the CC is on the deck below, facing forward (the two largest windows).

 

Still working on a lot of other details, and slowly at that. If I ever get it done it will probably look considerably different from what I have here, but when I do work on it I find it both extremely challenging yet fun to tinker with, so I'm taking my time on it since it's not something that has a deadline, and seeing as I can slap duct tape over my character/client any time I want I don't have to listen about design delays. :P

 

[precip 0]

Wow...sweetness! I so wish I can do this stuff!

 

-Precip

[Jorahl 0]

 

Very cool design. I read somewhere that the original Romulan bird of prey was suppose to be based on stolen Starfleet design. That looks like what they would have stolen. But...I don't hold that they'd need to use anyone else's ideas. Hehe, for a moment the design reminded me (especially the front "beak") of the ship on the old Gatchaman/G-Force/Battle of the Planets anime.