Author Topic: WIP of TheUnknown - The Akula (mk II) (Read 106783 times)

captain_obvious · « **Reply #960 on:** April 08, 2012, 09:12:23 AM »

Quote from: F9thCenturus on April 07, 2012, 07:47:14 PM

Please, please, it's just plain Centurus. I'm not with the 9th anymore, but I can't change my display name here on BCC, and I don't feel like making a new account.

Naw you just don't want to lose your post count

Lionus · « **Reply #961 on:** April 08, 2012, 10:41:08 AM »

Quote from: captain_obvious on April 08, 2012, 09:12:23 AM

Naw you just don't want to lose your post count

Nor the rubber chicken that comes with it..

eclipse74569 · « **Reply #962 on:** April 08, 2012, 01:41:32 PM »

Hey Cent, have you tried contacting Jimmy or Sovereign? I think they can change your name ;)

TheConstable6 · « **Reply #963 on:** April 08, 2012, 02:57:53 PM »

Jimmy changed mine

Thanks

Bones · « **Reply #964 on:** April 08, 2012, 03:02:49 PM »

Yeah, admins and mods can change your name 9thCenturus

Centurus · « **Reply #965 on:** April 08, 2012, 03:28:33 PM »

Long ago but I think the message probably didn't get through. Either way....*smacks everyone with a rubber chicken* Back to the Akula.

X_TheUnknown_X · « **Reply #966 on:** April 10, 2012, 01:54:44 PM »

Some possible changes to the Akula:

Revised the lower hull slightly. The inset picture is a close-up of the impulse dome.

Shadowknight1 · « **Reply #967 on:** April 10, 2012, 02:00:53 PM »

I have a strange suggestion. Instead of sticking with the standard TMP impulse deck, why not split the engine? Make two impulse decks on either side of the pylons with a smaller impulse crystal, perhaps?

admiral horton · « **Reply #968 on:** April 10, 2012, 06:33:40 PM »

i like it but the dorsal pylon is to long a far back and there is no aft torpedo launchers
If you remeber in SFC I and II the akula had a torpedo launcher like the miranda class pod

Centurus · « **Reply #969 on:** April 10, 2012, 09:38:13 PM »

I like the new lower connection. It flows much more nicely. As for the impulse deck, don't go with the half dome on either end, go with either 2 smaller complete domes, one on either side of the top pylon, or, as Shadowknight suggested (and an excellent suggestion I might add) you can split the engine so that the ship has 2 of them.

X_TheUnknown_X · « **Reply #970 on:** April 16, 2012, 03:35:23 PM »

Yet more (minor) details to the mesh. Just smoothing and optimising it now. I've also been able to get the poly count back down, so it shouldn't end up more than 17k when in BC. As soon as the mesh is ready, it'll be on to UV mapping it.

Also, I've decided just to get rid of the domes on the impulse engine. I tried some of the suggestions given here, as well as some of my own ideas. IMO, none of the layouts quite worked; and all the references I have suggest either the ship doesn't have the domes - or had two halves as before. Personally, I think it looks pretty decent without them.

Centurus · « **Reply #971 on:** April 16, 2012, 07:58:45 PM »

Captain_D · « **Reply #972 on:** April 16, 2012, 10:52:37 PM »

Like the improvements, looking good.

X_TheUnknown_X · « **Reply #973 on:** April 28, 2012, 01:32:14 PM »

Finally got to the point where I can start UV mapping the Akula. So far everything except the nacelles has been mapped, taking up about 3 maps. Also, an ingenious method of unwrapping the saucer section, demonstrated by Tobias Richter over at SFM, means that the entire saucer, top and bottom, can be squeezed onto one map.
Next up will applying textures (where I might borrow elements from my old Akula).

Also, depending on how much texture space (and time) is left, I may change my stance about those impulse domes...

X_TheUnknown_X · « **Reply #974 on:** May 06, 2012, 03:31:46 PM »

It's been a while, but I've finally had enough time to start the textures. First up is the upper saucer section, and Tobias Richter's method of unwrapping the saucer makes all the textures stay nice and crisp.
Here's what I have so far:

(I've deliberately made the hull plating darker that it should be so it's more visible on this render)

FarShot · « **Reply #975 on:** May 06, 2012, 03:42:53 PM »

Looking good, nice to see you're still around. ;)

Captain_D · « **Reply #976 on:** May 06, 2012, 04:04:32 PM »

Like the direction your going as well. Nice so far.

baz1701 · « **Reply #977 on:** May 06, 2012, 04:11:27 PM »

Quote from: X_TheUnknown_X on May 06, 2012, 03:31:46 PM

It's been a while, but I've finally had enough time to start the textures. First up is the upper saucer section, and Tobias Richter's method of unwrapping the saucer makes all the textures stay nice and crisp.
Here's what I have so far:

(I've deliberately made the hull plating darker that it should be so it's more visible on this render)

Do you have a link to this method. Always like to learn new tricks.

X_TheUnknown_X · « **Reply #978 on:** May 06, 2012, 04:16:27 PM »

Quote from: baz1701 on May 06, 2012, 04:11:27 PM

Do you have a link to this method. Always like to learn new tricks.

Sure, here's the thread on SFM:
http://www.scifi-meshes.com/forums/showthread.php?78500-Texturing-the-Enterprise-Saucer
After I'd read it, I coudn't believe I'd never thought of it before

X_TheUnknown_X · « **Reply #979 on:** May 17, 2012, 01:06:14 PM »

Still going (slowly) on the Akula. Just the lower hull and nacelles to start, now. Then it's just adding the little details.

News:

Author Topic: WIP of TheUnknown - The Akula (mk II) (Read 106783 times)