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[Arik_the_Red]

WHAT? WHAT? COMPLETED PROJECT? Could it be that, after all this time, I might COMPLETE A PROJECT?

...ooooh heaven forbid...

And here, the hardest part for me to decide... how to make the ring... so going slow, thinking too much and doing too little... after this, it'll all come together smoothely. As is, am trying to make the arms. The central core, and then the rest of the ship, I already know pretty well what to do with.

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[lizeal93]

wow that is a lot of detail. keep it up.

[Arik_the_Red]

Thanks, lizeal... a lot of detail, but a lot due to the wonders of copy and paste!  Not much time to work this last weekend - my son graduating from high school, and all the activities around that... but have must finished the ring section...

Oh, and based upon what I have decided to do with the "ring thing," I have named the ship the USS Nikola Tesla ... or what ever might be most appropriate in the place of "USS".... (note the change in subject name)

Now I can work on the rest. The ring design was my biggest headache, trying to decide just how the whole thing should look...

EDIT:

I needed a diversion from ship design, so experimenting with rocket flames... Of course, would NEVER have all rockets firing at once here, but...

[Bobert]

I really like the rocket exuast. How did you make it?

[Arik_the_Red]

Making Rocket Flames

Create the Materials "Flame Fade" and "Flame Solid:

"Flame-Fade" Material:
- Copy and save this image (a freebee courtesy of GIMP and me)



- Settings for Texture

 

Note where the black-whiteblur.jpg file is applied as a "trans map" in 2nd image above.

"Flame-Solid" Material: Use same settings for the colors, etc., as in the "Flame-Fade", but do not apply trans map texture. Keep it a simple, solid color.

Create Flame Shapes:

- Make two cylinders, as follows

 

- Convert both cylinders to mesh
- Apply "Flame-Fade" material to cylinders
- Apply "Flame-Solid" material to the "Start End" of each cylinder as shown:



"Convert to Subdivided" both cylinders:



Place the "inner flame" within the "outer flame". There is an undesirable heavy edge at the end of the flames... so I cut it off to make the fade effect complete....





and there you go!



...and rendered...



Something to try... When making the outer flame... Have the "End" measurement be wider then the "Start" measurement, for a fanning out effect...

Also, perhaps make the inner flame's color lighter than the outer?

[Bobert]

Very nice method. I wouldn't have that about that myself. Looking forward to the final result!

[Olias]

That's looking quite good, Arik.

[Arik_the_Red]

Oh, forgot to post this... I did rework the flame by the last suggestion, just to see. I think I like it.

[EricAug]

Yep, looks cool. I wonder if you added some randomization into the perfect white-black gradient, how would it look?

[Arik_the_Red]

A bit more... adding and detailing the whatzit chamber in front of the fuel-a-mabobs....

[headwax]

Arik

still going beautifully I see.

Flames are very impressive, I like the method. maybe some noise (in the transmap?) as Eric suggested/.?

How about giving us a render with a distant/collimated light source and an ambient value of zero on the hull? Then adjusting the lights to mimic the small amount of refected light that would occur in this situation? (assuming the jet engines aren't full bore )

cheese

[EricAug]

Oh is that a door? That's really cool.

[Arik_the_Red]

Thanks for the C&C... especially the crits... I do want crits and suggestions. 

Yes, that's a door, Eric!

All these renders are in Object mode so far... but will start thinking on lighting and such pretty soon as I am working toward the final parts of the craft.

And, here I've brought the things to date together...

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As for the flames, I do want to give them some pulsing, and flaws as commented. I'm just unsure how to effect that for animation.  Any ideas would be welcome.

Next things to add will be an area along the girderwork to attach satellite probes, and then the bridge and crew quarters, and that'll do it!

Then to create it's "Space Journey" items... and put this thing to video and music.  I'd originally started this with an ELO tune idea, but my music choice has shifted, and continues to mull about.  Am sort of lingering on the idea of an old Pink Floyd instrumental called "Interstellar Overdrive"...

[Project Test Chamber]

This is looking awesome Arik, keep it up.

[Arik_the_Red]

Been busy with life, and mucking around with the Jabberwocky... but still piecing bits together for the space-ship thing.

Here's a render test I did, experimenting with a space backdrop.  The ship has a lot of work to be done - obviously the "bridge sphere" is detached from the rest still... but I just like to see it fly

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