Merian-Class and Mogai-Type Warbird

[aaron067]

I'm currently in the (very slow) process of creating a full Star Trek conversion for a game called Sins of a Solar Empire set in the TNG future, circa 2400.  A lot of the work I've seen here has sparked many ideas, and I've certainly pushed myself past the limits of what I originally thought was possible as far as my own ability to model and texture.  

With that said, I don't actually own BC, but as a big thanks to this community for all of the inspiration I've received here I'd like to offer up any or all of my completed models/textures as I finish them to someone who might be interested and can convert them to Bridge Commander.  I'd also like to improve my work through any thoughts/critique.  Sins has dozens and sometimes hundreds of ships on a map at once, so I've kept this model to 4600 triangles, plus a single 2048x2048 texture sheet.  I do all of my textures in Illustrator, so if someone would like to convert the ship to Bridge Commander, it's a simple matter for me to scale everything up for multiple high res textures with any loss of quality.

My current project, and also my very first 100% from scratch model/texture job, is a refit of the Norway Class.  While searching through all of the current models in use in the various ST games, I was struck by how low quality the options for a Norway actually are.  Knowing that I was going to create my own model, I decided to throw caution to the wind and re-imagine the ship in a late 24th century/early 25th century refit-style using the colors and design aesthetics seen in the Vesta Class with a few nods to the First Contact-style paint jobs.

I've nearly finished with all of the foundation textures (with only the nacelles left to complete), and then I'll begin adding the remaining details.  

  

***You might also notice a few similarities with Wylie's Proteus Class.  I was actually imagining an incredibly similar concept for a light cruiser/interceptor when he first posted that in August, and I wanted to see where he went with it.  So, I put that on hold and began this ship with some similar ideas.  

[admiral horton]

very interesting design i like it and hope to see more when u ar done
i would include phaser arrays on the ventral side of the pylons and well defined torpedo launchers both forward and aft

[eclipse74569]

very interesting design i like it and hope to see more when u ar done
i would include phaser arrays on the ventral side of the pylons and well defined torpedo launchers both forward and aft

Took the words right outta my mouth LOL

It is a very nice take on a great ship   I personally can't wait to see more!

[aaron067]

Wow!  Lightning-fast responses.

The ventral phaser arrays are a feature I had considered, but I don't remember why I didn't include them.  I'll add them in when I get a chance.

There are currently three launchers.  Two forward launchers are located just above the deflector array, and a single aft launcher sits just above the shuttle bay/shuttle control.  I imagine the ship to specialize primarily in diplomatic missions with a large portion of its interior dedicated to VIP quarters, large conference halls, and facilities meant to entertain and keep those guests comfortable.  The secondary mission profile is scientific and short-range exploratory.  With that said, I don't really want to load her down with weapons, though quantum torpedoes and type-12 phaser arrays are standard.

[flarespire]

man this is one sleek looking ship, well done.

[Nihilus]

Now that's cool.  I never really cared for the Norway originally, maybe because the model used in the movie was low quality and only served as a background ship.  But you've done a really nice job making her more sleek.  Her textures especially make her look more "Starfleet" compared to the original.  And finally, the placement of the Shuttle Bay is super cool. 

[Aeries]

Honestly I'm not a fan of the impulse engines, but beyond those, the ship looks fantastic. 

[aaron067]

Thanks a lot for the comments, everyone!

Honestly I'm not a fan of the impulse engines, but beyond those, the ship looks fantastic. 

I wasn't originally, but I went through 4 or 5 different designs before I settled on those.  They've grown on me, though I'm not 100% committed to them.  My plan is to add some type of colored paneling around them, but I'm interested to see what you don't like about them.  It may help me pinpoint my own hesitancy.

[FarShot]

Beautiful work.  I hope we see you around here more often. ;)

I really like this reimagined Norway.  I do see elements like the Proteus, and they work nicely.  Whether or not they were inspired by it doesn't matter.  It came out right.

I would convert it myself, except I don't know how to do that.  I'm in the process of making my own ship, but I've only got the modelling, UV mapping, and texturing down.

[X_TheUnknown_X]

Nice  . This looks better than the original Norway, and I like the way the shuttle bay flows from the saucer. As far as the impulse engines go, maybe just line them up to follow the curve of the rear saucer a little more?

[086gf]

Other than the few things that have been said, very well done.

[mckinneyc]

This how the Norway should have looked all along! Well done, I really like her.

[Aeries]

I wasn't originally, but I went through 4 or 5 different designs before I settled on those.  They've grown on me, though I'm not 100% committed to them.  My plan is to add some type of colored paneling around them, but I'm interested to see what you don't like about them.  It may help me pinpoint my own hesitancy.

Honestly, it's just a subtle change that I'm proposing. The only thing that really irks me is how the outer edges of the impulse manifolds don't flow with the "lines" of the ship. I've attatched a very rough photoshop of what I think MAY look slightly better; note that the outer angles of the manifolds flow, imo, better with the rest of the hull lines. Arrows point to what I mean. Like I said, just subtle. Really it's only a small nitpick.

Also added a texture overtop of the manifold for fun... kinda looked neat, I thought. 

[Vedic]

Oh wow that's very Nice, I've never been a fan of the Norway, but that is a beautiful model. Keep up the Excellent work.

[JamesTiberiusKirk]

Oh wow that's very Nice, I've never been a fan of the Norway, but that is a beautiful model. Keep up the Excellent work.

[Starforce2]

that's a wonderful ship. The only issue it really has is that it looks far to clean and plain especially from below. Remember, unlike rts games that have hundreds of ships at once, your emphasis on BC should be detail. Don't be afraid to add lots, or even to dirty the ships, especial klingon, to make them look a bit less new. There's nothing at all wrong with a 4500 poly mesh, you've done quite a bit with such low poly, but you can also go to 10-12k for capital ships easily enough. Not that I am saying this ship needs any help in the model department, it's fine. The clean sleek lines really give it the feeling of the norway, the old one was like from the late Ent-C era.

[aaron067]

Thanks for the heads up.  I've darkened the hull paneling a bit because it's practically invisible on these pics.  I think it helped a lot.

Once my schedule calms a bit I'll add some additional detailing on the nacelles and around the impulse engines.  After that I'll leave it mostly as is because it takes its design cues from the Vesta class, which is fairly clean-looking. 

[Starforce2]

don't forget the torpedo tubes.

Phaser locations: The aft ventral area seems a bit vulnerable. Now I know she's manuverable, but you may want to give her some defense there. AN example would be a pair of torp tubes on the back of that flat section (or a phaser) of the engeneering area.  Also, on the very top section, dorsal, you have a group of 3 escape pods on each side, a short phaserbank might look good near that area as well.

[Nebula]

ah SF2 she has torps... look a few posts back.

[Captain_D]

Like what you have done with it. I may be one of the few that likes the Norway design. 

I really like the Nova class influence in the saucer, works well for a refit design on the ship.

Looking forward in seeing more from you, great job.