ideas please

[candle_86]

I built this just to do it, but I like the shape, and the lower pic is the inside of the engine, now Im lost on direction here, I was thinking coping my engine design onto 2 other engines and add them onto pylons on each side and maybe a lower hanging hanger deck, but would like some community input. The idea here is a 2020 Deep Space Exploration ship, experimental grav plating, no armarment. The Hanger would hold 2 shuttle like space craft, dressed in NASA Livery. Stated Goal to travel to Alpha Centuri and start a colony. Max speed is 89,937,737.4m/s or 3/10 FTL using ION engine, powered by a Fusion reactor. Life support systems include a large hydropnics area with trees ect to act as natural air recylers, and lifestock for meat. Reactor powered by collected space debries and solar dust (havnt worked out an idea for that) Travel time anticipated to be 61years, but the ship never returned home, presumed destroyed. But I want more ideas on what to add to the model itself, still working on texture ideas in my head.

Just a break down, the front section is the command module, designed to seperate if the reactor breach's included cryostatis chambers. Middle section is the main area, hydroponics, recreation, science labs, main reactor. Rear cone is the engine assembly

I want to give a rouge estimate of 120 total crew 60men, 60 women all unmarried upon launch, the idea is because of trip length the crew would reproduce and then train there children to operate the vessel

[KrrKs]

To me this sounds like a precedessor to that:
http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/ENDEAVOUR;28919

[candle_86]

possibily but no warp drive, totally intended for sublight power

[candle_86]

how does this look so far, 2 engines annoyed me

[candle_86]

here is this, now tomorrow ive got to detach/weld it all to make it one mesh that should be fun lol

below is the actual mesh, i decied to delete the launch bay it ruined the design to me. So if you have any pointers on how to get this mess welded in im all ears on this, the main body and center engine is a single mesh, just the side engines are not, I made those by destroying part of the mesh lol

[Armondikov]

I certainly can't and shouldn't tell you which direction to take a model. I usually work without thinking too much about where it's going beyond some vague ideas and let the polygons just suggest things to do as I'm going (which sounds weird but it works).

However, I'd be tempted to try something a little different if you're looking at pylons for engines. Rather than just mount them directly, have a ring or similar to give it a slightly more unusual shape. If you want it near future, you can also look up things like Howard Day's Earth-Mars Transit Vehicle: http://www.scifi-meshes.com/forums/3d-wips/20337-earth-mars-transit-vehicle.html

[candle_86]

well came back today the .gmax curupted

[Armondikov]

Have you considered Milkshape? It was big as an entry level program a few years ago but has since re-appeared on the net. To the best of my knowledge, it's pretty stable and works really well for the stuff you're doing now.

[candle_86]

ive considered it but am told milkshape doesnt texture, i do own 3ds but got lost and went back to gmax till i get better lol

[Armondikov]

Milkshape does texture from what I remember of using, but it's not a particularly powerful UV mapper so it's difficult. It's pretty much the perfect program for manipulating 3D geometry before moving on to the likes of 3ds Max, Maya or Lightwave.

[candle_86]

well ive made ships before, here are the two finished ships i already made, textures and ships

[King Class Scout]

whoa, I completely forgot about a "tripod" type.  Have you converted these for BC yet? please?

[ACES_HIGH]

I for one would love to see more SFM ships on BCFiles

[candle_86]

whoa, I completely forgot about a "tripod" type.  Have you converted these for BC yet? please?

not yet, wasp needs to be remade totally for BC its on my todo list, so does Daedalus.

working on the wasp remake for you, here is a teaser

[Phaser]

I like your Wasp design!

[candle_86]

yea i need to get back to it