WIP of TheUnknown - The Akula (mk II)

[X_TheUnknown_X]

Changes from the beta testing version of the Fed Starbase are complete now, and I'm just packing it all up before it's release (hopefully) tomorrow. Thanks for all the help and kind comments from everyone here whilst I was making that station . Oh, and as for the BCUT thing, I might be my Hard Disk causing the problem, becuase some other programs don't seem to like it either.

As you may have guessed from the new thread title, I'm already plunging straight into a new, mammoth project: an overhaul of the Kessok  :eek . I'm going back to where it all started one year ago, tomorrow, when I decided to retexure some of the aging Kessok ships from stock Bridge Commander. Now, three ships and two space stations down the line - I feel up to the challenge of redesigning the Kessok again, bringing them even more up-to-date and higher quality.
I'm going to go through this one ship at a time, working back through all the Kessok ships I've released so far, starting with the Kessok Light Cruiser. As I've said before this is going to be a very challenging project for me, so I could use any advice or constructive critisisms you may have at any stage in development - I want this to be something you all will like at the end.
Anyway, I've not dug too far into this just yet, but below are some plans I've made for the new layout of the Kessok Light Cruiser. This is only a rough design, futher details will be added during the modelling phase.

[King Class Scout]

you're the only author of mods to work on the Kessok at all.  not only do the ships need revamped, but, sticking my nose into the actual character models has shown that they're in serious need of a revamp themselves (which is beyond either of our capacity, i think).  a while back, I posted a federation style reskin of the Kessok Heavy that gathered a lot of attention.  if you work on the heavy and get it cleaned up, I'd like to revive the idea and see if people will bite on it.

[X_TheUnknown_X]

sticking my nose into the actual character models has shown that they're in serious need of a revamp themselves (which is beyond either of our capacity, i think).  a while back, I posted a federation style reskin of the Kessok Heavy that gathered a lot of attention.  if you work on the heavy and get it cleaned up, I'd like to revive the idea and see if people will bite on it.

It seems everything about the original Kessok is pretty slap-dash. The Kessok ship models are a mess, I'm surprised they look as smooth as they do, considering. Simply 'repairing' the models didn't seem good enough, which is why I planned to start over with them.
Your idea seems interesting; I rebiuld the Kessok Heavy model and you give it a Federation-style reskin? Well this update might suit that perfectly.

I'm starting small with the Kessok Light now, trying not to rush into it too much. I've attempted to create a whole new warp nacelle design for the Kessok ships. I've based it partally around the Akira's nacelle design (which is then based on the Miranda's, after reading up on Drex files about it), so it might look a little familliar. So far, the model is quite plain, I haven't yet added a curvature to it or small details. A picture is attached below, tell me what you think of it and if anything need changing.
Edit: Pic rendered and attached

[King Class Scout]

http://bc-central.net/forums/index.php/topic,1433.740.html  this page has my fed reskinned kessok idea.  too bad I had an install problem.  I forgot to save it AND the screenshot
(page 38 of the best BC screenshots thread)

[Captain_D]

 Man that engine is looking nice. Don't know about the split in the bussard collector though, doesn't look right to me for the Kessok.
 Also it would look better more like an oval shape.

 Hope you keep the "organic" look to it with the textures like you have done with the Kessok base and the other ships of the race.

 As always, great work

[X_TheUnknown_X]

I've been working on the aft hull of the Kessok Light recently. Haven't been getting too far with it because I can't seem to settle on a shape I really like. So far I have the struts connecting the hull to the nacelles (still needs properly attaching and bevelling), the nacelles themselves and the aft part of the main hull. As you can see on the picture below I've added a shuttle hangar, which will probably store my Kessok Fighter I made a few month's back; although I'm not certain about keeping it  .
Next on the hull will be adding the deflector, which will no longer be an odd oval stuck onto the lower hull. I was thinking about imbedding it in the same way the Sovereign's is. Also, I'm unsure where to add the impulse engines (which, I've decided, will be modelled in): should I put them on the aft hull or attached onto the wings?

On an unrelated topic, I've pulled back the release of the new Starbase becuase of all the new mods being released recently. With DS9FX, Wiley's and Baz's ships all released in the space of a few weeks, I thought it best to hold the Starbase until this weekend.

[King Class Scout]

as far as I can tell on the stock KL, the two green trapezoid shapes are the impulse vents themselves.
the original also seems to have a seperate section on the back of the nacelles where it could have been put.  mabey an attempt to mold them into the "wingroot" of the pylon support would work, if you didn't feel like repeating the original's impulse vent positioning.

[X_TheUnknown_X]

mabey an attempt to mold them into the "wingroot" of the pylon support would work

That's an idea. I was thinking of making them the same kind of shape I used for the Kessok Destroyer. The best two places to attach them IMO would be beside the hangar or inside the wings as you suggested. I'll have a look and see which one fits best.

A slight update now, I've done some work on the deflector assembly. It turned out a little different than I originaly imagined, but I'm happy enough with it.

[King Class Scout]

it's set WAY too far back.  unless they got a VERY long sensor range that can read around their own hull.

[deadthunder2_0]

it's set WAY too far back.  unless they got a VERY long sensor range that can read around their own hull.

Wrong, deflectors just block space debris, it is not a sensor aray

[X_TheUnknown_X]

Well, I've redone the deflector so it is placed further outwards on the hull. Also, it had a direct line-of-sight from the front of the hull; so, for functional purposes it should work. I still might try and do it again, differently.

Anyway, more work has been completed on the main hull now. All the shapes are now in place, so you can get a good feel of how the ship is going to look when it rolls out. I've kept the primary hull very similar to how it looked originally, yet I plan to make some changes to the original look when it comes to textures  ;) . I've still to properly construct the wings, and model some impulse engines (which will now be added onto the wings, close to the hull).

I think some pictures are probably necessary:

[MarkyD]

NICE work 

cookied..   keep going i love it..   

nice to see someone doing the races that dont get that much attention..  :eek
 

[Matt Williams]

NICE work 

cookied..   keep going i love it..   

nice to see someone doing the races that dont get that much attention..  :eek
 

What he said and...

VERY NICE

[JimmyB76]

nice to see someone doing the races that dont get that much attention..  :eek
 

lol yeah, the poor neglected unloved Kessok...
no one really did ever pay much attention to them; i always did like the ship designs...

[Nebula]

lol yeah, the poor neglected unloved Kessok...
no one really did ever pay much attention to them; i always did like the ship designs...

lol yeah we've been waiting 7 years for this XD before all we had were small re-textures. (and maybe 3 kessok bash ships)

[Captain_D]

Looking great. Much sleeker than the stock model. Good Idea on the deflector.

 Might want to do something were the "wing" connects to the engines, taper the sides out a little wider instead of being so straight if you know what I mean. Just my opinion.

besides that,,,

[X_TheUnknown_X]

Firstly, thanks everyone for all the kind words regarding the Kessok Light  . I hope to allow the Kessok to live up to their potential.
Also, I've just submitted the Federation Starbase to BCfiles, so it should be up there within the next day or so.

Now onto the Kessok Light: I've finally got round to modelling the wings properly (I've followed Captain_D's advice and tapered them onto the hull and nacelles), and there are also some impulse engines on the wings so the ship can now fly  . Still unsure about the impulse engines however, tell me what you think? After that, I just need to add some minor details (such as torpedo tubes) and the model should be about done.

[Matt Williams]

I like it myself. Nicely done!

[Captain_D]

Man that looks nice.     I like it too.

[JamesTiberiusKirk]

awesome. really!