[Luis Dias]

Frankly I had envisioned something more "Nebulon B frigate" in that vertical section, but also frankly as it is it's awesome. Great job DahBlount!

[DahBlount]

Thanks all, now all I've got to do is mark seams and create the UV map.

[Raven2001]

Are you really going to lock the modelling development? I think the back part is too smooth and bland compared to the front. The detail that you have in the back isn't too exaggerated in terms of bevelling, which makes it look too smooth (again, compared to the front). Also, you could play a bit more with the silhuette of the back, especially the triangular fin.

Hope that's useful

[DahBlount]

As it stands, the Zeph is at more than 50k tris and I'm not overly fond of going any further over that amount. I can always add detail using normal maps as well.

I would be willing to mess with the silhouette a little bit if I knew what you had in mind.

[Kolgena]

I think some pseudo-functional girders and pipes in the ventral fin would look good.

As for surface details in the back, maybe you could draw some inspiration from this photo: My main reservations about this model (it's great otherwise) is that it looks a bit too sleek and FS2-generation vasudan/terran tech. Personally I would have imagined clunkiness. Basically a utilitarian civilian tanker that had some turrets tossed onto it just because.


What's your reservation about 50k tris? That doesn't seem that high to me, considering the size of this ship.

[Rodo]

Change the view on p3d to wire on x-ray, you'll inmediately see the disproportion of detail between the front against the center and the back of the model.

[DahBlount]

Have you looked at the newest update?

I added it to the first post now.

[Raven2001]

As it stands, the Zeph is at more than 50k tris and I'm not overly fond of going any further over that amount. I can always add detail using normal maps as well.

I would be willing to mess with the silhouette a little bit if I knew what you had in mind.

The 50k Tris come mainly from the Gas Tanks, which just proves that polycount =\= detail. You can solve the Gas Tank problem with detail boxes

The Zephyrus is one of those odd and complex cases, because the Gas Tanks are a very high frequency noise area, that covers about 40% of the ship's area, which makes designing an HTL version of it quite complicated.
I took a screengrab of your p3d, and did a quick paintover (sorry for the imperfect perspective, but I went for speed). Note that I barely touched the wee small details, and instead focused on the big shapes, structure definition. It should add more interest when you see the ship from far away, and I believe it balances out all that "noise" from the Gas Tanks.
If you end up changing your mesh, I'd say don't be afraid to be bold and exaggerate the shapes.


[attachment kidnapped by pirates]

[Rodo]

Ah yes, on the new one the details spreads a little more.
Still, I feel that panelling work in the middle is a little tad uninspired, like random greebling. Texturing might help though, so I'm not pressing this matter.

[DahBlount]

As it stands, the Zeph is at more than 50k tris and I'm not overly fond of going any further over that amount. I can always add detail using normal maps as well.

I would be willing to mess with the silhouette a little bit if I knew what you had in mind.

The 50k Tris come mainly from the Gas Tanks, which just proves that polycount =\= detail. You can solve the Gas Tank problem with detail boxes

The Zephyrus is one of those odd and complex cases, because the Gas Tanks are a very high frequency noise area, that covers about 40% of the ship's area, which makes designing an HTL version of it quite complicated.
I took a screengrab of your p3d, and did a quick paintover (sorry for the imperfect perspective, but I went for speed). Note that I barely touched the wee small details, and instead focused on the big shapes, structure definition. It should add more interest when you see the ship from far away, and I believe it balances out all that "noise" from the Gas Tanks.
If you end up changing your mesh, I'd say don't be afraid to be bold and exaggerate the shapes.

  That detail though. I could modify the fin and change the flanges on the rear but the rest of that may be beyond my capabilities. Also, it is important not to take too much of a deviation from the retail model however if we can get a large enough consensus that less retail == better then I'll go for it.

[Raven2001]

See it as a learning experience
You take a bit longer on this one, and then you'll ace the next ones.

if you use Max, I can give you some pointers on the technical aspect. Others on HLP use Blender, so they can help you out if it's the case.

[DahBlount]

Oh I don't have problems with technical stuff, I've already utilized and memorized a lot of Blenders power, the problem lies mostly in my creativity and general lack of ability.

[Raven2001]

It's all learnable, trust me I teach design\drawing at my local university, so I have the experience to back that statement.
If you want, you can use my paintover as inspiration, of course.

[DahBlount]

Indeed.

So far so good.

[Ulala]

Nice. I agree with Raven, don't be afraid to get outside of your comfort zone, be bold, and take risks! You can always go back, assuming you're versioning.

[Col.Hornet]

Indeed.

So far so good.

Very good concept Raven. I like the details... except one thing xD sorry mate. Look at the shape of the engine flaps . They remind me of  some part of male's anatomy.

I couldn't stop myself, sorry for that xD. I will post my own idea for the flaps within couple of hours

Edit. I removed the picture (it could offend somebody).

[Bobboau]

the mods tend to react swiftly and forcefully to such comparisons.

ever since the phallus incident...

[Nyctaeus]

But that's pretty... Good comparison this time . I love what Raven did and I really want to see details like this in actual model, but shape of engine flaps needs to be changed IMHO.

[Mongoose]

Sorry man, but unless you're already specifically looking to see phalluses in everything, there's nothing wrong with that shape.

[Raven2001]

Bunch of pervs. Everyone sees penises in whatever I do....