Hard Light Productions Forums

Modding, Mission Design, and Coding => The Modding Workshop => Topic started by: Omniscaper on February 28, 2005, 01:14:05 pm

Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on February 28, 2005, 01:14:05 pm
(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper MkVII/VipMkVII_wip.jpg)
(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper MkVII/VipMkVII_wip2.jpg)

Does anyone know a site that has blueprints or non-angled views of this craft? I'm having trouble discerning the form on some parts.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Overlord on February 28, 2005, 01:41:53 pm
Here you go:
http://www.shipschematics.net/cgi-bin/bsg/bsg.cgi?Official

[Edit] Just noticed that there are only MKII. :sigh:
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 02, 2005, 11:22:33 am
(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper MkVII/VipMkVII_wip3.jpg)
(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper MkVII/VipMkVII_wip4.jpg)
(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper MkVII/VipMkVII_wip5.jpg)
(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper MkVII/VipMkVII_wip6.jpg)

I'm homing in on a final mesh. So far its 1300 polys. I have ~400 left on the poly budget for the ship alone. The cockpit will take up 800. My total budget for a fighter will be ~ 2 - 2.5k

I'm still not happy with the fact that I still had to guess on some parts of its form. I NEED BLUEPRINTS!!!!



Need comments, suggestions.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Deepblue on March 02, 2005, 12:41:03 pm
Lookin' good.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Sheepy on March 02, 2005, 04:17:12 pm
needs the lil guns on the wings and the back fin, but other than that looks about right to me.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Corsair on March 02, 2005, 04:42:00 pm
I want to fly it. Like, in real life.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 02, 2005, 07:38:58 pm
Some texture begining... need not make this thing look so PLAIN!!! Suggestions ppl?

(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper MkVII/VipMkVII_wip8.jpg)
(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper MkVII/VipMkVII_wip7.jpg)
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Turnsky on March 02, 2005, 09:05:24 pm
try and vary the shades of grey slightly along the leading edges, add some indications of use, and such

try and borrow some ideas from the usually plain looking US fighter craft, what with decals, emblems, and whatnot.

i would suggest with the "intakes" to make the edge of those a color lighter than the rest, makes them stand out.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: IceFire on March 02, 2005, 11:48:10 pm
Drooling goodness!!
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: NGTM-1R on March 03, 2005, 12:40:55 am
Colonial insigina (if there is a Colonial insignia, I'm not sure) on one of the wings, maybe squadron or BattleStar insignia on the other (See the BSG opening for that ship's patch and presumably insignia.). Squadron type and number (V for Viper followed by a number.) and current base (the BattleStar's hull number, for example Galactica's is BS-75) on the tail.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Turnsky on March 03, 2005, 01:46:29 am
Colonial Insignia on either the main fuselage or the wings, squad insignia on tail, fighter/pilot number on nose, you get the idea.. like i meantioned before, take some visual cues from modern-day carrier-based aircraft.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: WMCoolmon on March 03, 2005, 01:51:09 am
http://www.galactica2003.net/colonials/viper7.shtml
http://www.galactica2003.net/cgi-bin/view.cgi?/Images/CAG.jpg

Also, some turret pics on the same site:
http://www.galactica2003.net/cgi-bin/view.cgi?/Images/Fire.jpg
http://www.galactica2003.net/cgi-bin/view.cgi?/Images/Railgun1.jpg
http://www.galactica2003.net/cgi-bin/view.cgi?/Images/Railguns1.jpg
http://www.galactica2003.net/cgi-bin/view.cgi?/Images/Railguns2.jpg
http://www.galactica2003.net/cgi-bin/view.cgi?/Images/Railguns3.jpg

And the site:
http://www.galactica2003.net/colonials/mini.shtml
 http://www.galactica2003.net/articles/conceptart.shtml
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Carl on March 03, 2005, 02:42:44 am
800 polies for a cockpit? dang. I really think those could go to better use on the ship body. the cockpits on the show are opaque anyway.

personally i would much rather see a ship with 2000 polies and no pilot than a ship with 1200 polies and a pilot.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: aldo_14 on March 03, 2005, 03:57:00 am
Quote
Originally posted by Omniscaper
Some texture begining... need not make this thing look so PLAIN!!! Suggestions ppl?


Add white/light grey/etc highlights for counter-contrast.  Also add lots of little brown streaks and patches to add coour difference.

Ach, hell; just look at Damocles' one to see what I mean.  And use the spec maps a LOT to get the right look ingame....
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: KappaWing on March 03, 2005, 07:53:59 am
Carl's right. You should ditch the pilot. You can hardly see him under the dome anyway.

Otherwise, lookin' good! :yes:
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Flaser on March 03, 2005, 08:20:30 am
Quote
Originally posted by KappaWing
Carl's right. You should ditch the pilot. You can hardly see him under the dome anyway.

Otherwise, lookin' good! :yes:


Negative Kappa.
Lods are your friend, and the cockpit is for internal view mostly.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: KappaWing on March 03, 2005, 08:39:49 am
Hmmm... I suppose.... But it would just look so much smoother without the pilot.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 03, 2005, 11:32:15 am
(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper MkVII/VipMkVII_wip9.jpg)
(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper MkVII/VipMkVII_wip10.jpg)

Added some weathering... thoughts? Too dirty?
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: KappaWing on March 03, 2005, 11:40:52 am
It does look dirty, but it brings out the details in the model at the same time.

Perhaps there is some way you can weather it after hull integrity drops below a certian level.

Btw, what program are you using?
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: aldo_14 on March 03, 2005, 11:56:00 am
You need to add more light tones to it; at the moment the dark & brown is overpowering without contrast.  I think you should also add some pixel-by-pixel weathering on certain appropriate areas.

Unfortunately, I can't show the example I want to use, because it's secret at the mo.  Bugger...
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 03, 2005, 12:07:13 pm
I think specular highlights will take care of the light tones. This plane's color is pretty uniform.

I'll work on site specific weathering once I get the UV's in place.

(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper MkVII/VipMkVII_wip11.jpg)
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Grug on March 03, 2005, 12:26:26 pm
Some of the grayer areas still needs something (like weathering).
Seems to bland.

Maybe some scorch marks around the air intakes and engine exhausts?
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 03, 2005, 12:32:46 pm
I haven't touched the aferburners yet.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: i90r on March 03, 2005, 12:34:33 pm
It looks like it needs fresh coat of paint :)
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Unknown Target on March 03, 2005, 01:01:23 pm
Try coloring the panels each a slightly different shade, to show how panels from different aircraft may have been used?
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 03, 2005, 01:36:57 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Unknown Target
Try coloring the panels each a slightly different shade, to show how panels from different aircraft may have been used?




Like so?

(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper%20MkVII/VipMkVII_wipF.jpg)
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Carl on March 03, 2005, 01:54:03 pm
no omni, less gay than that.

there needs to be a subtle difference. maybe not even in color, but in light/dark.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 03, 2005, 02:10:12 pm
Oh.... bummer
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: KappaWing on March 03, 2005, 02:15:42 pm
Maybe you can save that for some future disco mod.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: aldo_14 on March 03, 2005, 02:17:20 pm
Disco Stu doesn't advertise!
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: DaBrain on March 03, 2005, 02:33:33 pm
Try to make the cut-offs between the plates harder.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: IceFire on March 03, 2005, 04:01:15 pm
I think the key aethetic with this ship is that its supposed to have a sort of armored look to it.  The general feel on the wings particularly is that its layered plating one on the other...try and use some shadowing somehow to play that out a bit is probably a good idea.

You guys achieved some near photoperfect results with the Viper Mark II so I'm sure you can do just as well on this one.  Love the VII so far!!
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Bobboau on March 03, 2005, 05:37:51 pm
what you did with coloring the plates, take that color layer and reduce the saturation to about 20-30%
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Ace on March 03, 2005, 08:31:57 pm
(http://starshattercentral.com/Core/modules/coppermine/albums/userpics/10002/1.jpg)

(http://starshattercentral.com/Core/modules/coppermine/albums/userpics/10002/2.jpg)

Make the area between hull plates and the wear pattern more like the texture on Damocles' Viper IV.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 03, 2005, 09:19:58 pm
Ah... DamoclesX... the MASTER!!!....  Where is that bloke!!! If he were still doing BSG stuff I wouldn't have to be here!!!
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Taristin on March 03, 2005, 09:35:59 pm
Some day I'll learn to do that..... some day...
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 03, 2005, 10:08:42 pm
Well considering that those screen shots are RENDERS... I too can play that game...

(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper MkVII/VipMk7CG.jpg)
(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper MkVII/VipMk7CG2.jpg)
(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper MkVII/VipMk7CG3.jpg)

Touche!!! DamoclesX!!! Get over here and finish what you've started!!! I'm tired!!! I need to PLAY freesapce games again and not develope!!
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Taristin on March 03, 2005, 10:08:59 pm
Umm... If you can do that... why not just Bake the ship?! :wtf: (press 0 on the keyboard. :p Render to texture! :p)
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Grug on March 03, 2005, 10:16:23 pm
lol.

Suggestion: Perhaps a render of the underside and rear of the ship? :)
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 03, 2005, 10:22:54 pm
(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper MkVII/VipMk7CG4.jpg)
(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper MkVII/VipMk7CG5.jpg)

Take that *****!!! (to DamoclesX) Get back here and BEAT ME!!!


I've still yet to master baking techniques.... Will make attempts.. I still need the photoshop exercise... I'm gonna gradaute soon, so I need to flex the muscles.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Taristin on March 03, 2005, 10:38:54 pm
I can bake pretty well. Didit on a few capships, and just an hour ago, I did it on a turret.

But it is good to know how to do it by hand. I don't know how to get use procedurals, like that. I wish I did, I wanna make some plating for my destroyer.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 03, 2005, 10:36:16 pm
No procedurals here... all photoshop baby.... Buch of the maps I used for bump/specualr ... already existed in the textures I've been working on. I just isolated the layers that were effective for each map slot.

I just gotta figure out how to bake to EXISTING UV's!!! Thats my problem. I don't like how Max auto-unwraps
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 03, 2005, 10:42:48 pm
Ugh!!! When can we start using BUMPMAPS!!!...
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Carl on March 03, 2005, 10:58:36 pm
NEVAR!!!!
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 03, 2005, 11:04:13 pm
:(
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Ace on March 03, 2005, 11:05:50 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Omniscaper
(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper MkVII/VipMk7CG5.jpg)


Nice. I'd add in the various logos and text now and bake the textures to get some of the bump mapping in as Raa mentioned. This will look awesome with the shinemaps.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: FireCrack on March 03, 2005, 11:14:17 pm
Give each plate a slightly different brightness on the shinemap for added effect.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: comic on March 04, 2005, 01:00:50 pm
OMG thats so cool, have to get me one of these. Maybe make the scorching around the engine intakes and thrusters a little more pronounced to give it more variation.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Deepblue on March 05, 2005, 12:03:37 am
Why scorching around INTAKES? And the engines aren't even textured yet...
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Bobboau on March 05, 2005, 12:36:56 am
have you ever looked at the inside of a vacume cleaner?
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Turnsky on March 05, 2005, 12:42:01 am
it'd suck in more than just air, or in space, nothing at all, small rocks, dust, and such would get taken in, also
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Carl on March 05, 2005, 12:55:40 am
not in space it wouldn't. there is very very little matter in space.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: WMCoolmon on March 05, 2005, 12:59:31 am
I question the validity of intakes on a space fighter.

I'm guessing it has some atmospheric flight capability.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 05, 2005, 01:18:24 am
bingo
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: NGTM-1R on March 05, 2005, 01:22:46 am
Still, that would mean it has two seperate propulsion systems...or one that works in both environments, yet can somehow make use of atmosphere to be more efficent...UC Gundam-style thermonuclear jet engines?
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Flaser on March 05, 2005, 05:04:22 am
Quote
Originally posted by ngtm1r
Still, that would mean it has two seperate propulsion systems...or one that works in both environments, yet can somehow make use of atmosphere to be more efficent...UC Gundam-style thermonuclear jet engines?


I don't know if BSG has nuclear engines - but if you had them it would be easy to build them for dual use.

A nuclear engine just replaces the reaction chamber (where you'd otherwise inject fuel and burn it) with a reactor.
The propellant passes throuogh the reactor and expands due the heat it recieves, and later leaves via a conventional thruster.

In a nuclear engine fuel and propellant are separate - fuel is plutonium or uranium in the reactor, while the propellant is the reaction mass; which is usually Hydrogene in most designs.

You can build either a rocket or a jet desing - the rocket has onboard propellant tanks, while the jet has a turbine + copressor to suck in air which is passed through the reactor.

Fusion engines may use their plasma as propellant though, however unlike fission engines they are not feasible with our current technological knowledge. (Fission Engines are a prooven theory and are completly ready for production! The only reason they are not used is the danger of nuclear contamination and fallout in case of a mishap during the mission.)
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: IceFire on March 05, 2005, 09:36:37 am
Now thats coming along nicely!  It still needs the guns and whatnot but thats a minor detail.  The texturing is coming along nicely and its looking really great!  Can't wait to take it up against the Cylons!  With the "patch" of course...no more Cylon viruses for me :D
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: aldo_14 on March 05, 2005, 10:08:09 am
Quote
Originally posted by WMCoolmon
I question the validity of intakes on a space fighter.

I'm guessing it has some atmospheric flight capability.


The Mk. II has, I think;

Spoiler:

I can't remember the episode, but Starbuck gets lost on an alien planet after ejecting.  The dialogue mentions search missions, and that the ships intakes have become, IIRC, fouled up from the atmospheric debris.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 05, 2005, 04:46:09 pm
Attempting to carry over bumpmapping information into FSO's speculars....

(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper MkVII/VipMkVII_wip12.jpg)
(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper MkVII/VipMkVII_wip13.jpg)
(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper MkVII/VipMkVII_wip14.jpg)
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: aldo_14 on March 05, 2005, 05:04:32 pm
Purdy
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: WMCoolmon on March 05, 2005, 05:08:28 pm
Wow.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 05, 2005, 05:14:27 pm
Danke. But, I would think the wow factor would be much bigger if I didn't have to FAKE bumpmapping. HINT HINT

I guess much can be gotten away with in the speculars. But I'll keep researching ways to create normal maps and uberized bumpmapping in the mean time. Until that FATEFULL day that the SCP gods allow us to finally use bump or normal mapping.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 05, 2005, 05:19:18 pm
Still tweaking with speculars to show some extreme weathering and rust.

(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper%20MkVII/VipMkVII_wip15.jpg)
(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper%20MkVII/VipMkVII_wip16.jpg)
(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper%20MkVII/VipMkVII_wip17.jpg)
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Fractux on March 05, 2005, 05:22:14 pm
Wow, amazing work on that texture Omni. it really looks all worn and potmarked.

Cheers!
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 05, 2005, 05:31:34 pm
Some more subtle, speculars...

(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper%20MkVII/VipMkVII_wip18.jpg)
(http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/staff_images/Viper%20MkVII/VipMkVII_wip19.jpg)
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: NGTM-1R on March 05, 2005, 06:08:59 pm
...you know, I do have to pose the question: the Mark VII is pretty much brand-new, correct?

The weathering effects are pretty and all, but let's be honest: if it's brand-new, it shouldn't have them.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 05, 2005, 06:18:47 pm
All things within the universe are subject to entropy, dude.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: WMCoolmon on March 05, 2005, 06:28:39 pm
Criticism, after looking at some Mark VII pics:

1) The intakes look blocky and polygonized (the technical term :D) compared to the rest of the ship.

2) The spikes on the end. Again, they look sort of polygonized.

I'm not sure how many polygons it'd take to improve on either of those, but it's worth looking into IMHO. The rest of the ship looks ultra-smooth.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Turambar on March 05, 2005, 07:35:01 pm
you forgot the gun-thing on the top fin and you need to make the lines on the body and wings darker
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: NGTM-1R on March 05, 2005, 07:35:11 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Omniscaper
All things within the universe are subject to entropy, dude.


Entropy takes time. Time it hasn't had.

Unless Galactica has some Mark VII's sitting in the hanger gathering dust somewhere, and they manage to somehow render them Cylon-tampering-proof, of course.

It just seems rather a lot of effort for a model that won't feature very often.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 05, 2005, 09:20:54 pm
Its a fun photoshop exercise. I'm having fun reaquainting myself with PS.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Ace on March 05, 2005, 09:44:30 pm
I like the rusty one, but tone down the specular map a little.

The subtle one is too subtle. While these are new fighters, I think giving a worn look is better as these suckers would be used a lot. Probably nearly constant CAP use.

Anyway, plop in the text, logos, and symbols :p
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 05, 2005, 09:57:36 pm
Quote
Originally posted by WMCoolmon
Criticism, after looking at some Mark VII pics:

1) The intakes look blocky and polygonized (the technical term :D) compared to the rest of the ship.

2) The spikes on the end. Again, they look sort of polygonized.

I'm not sure how many polygons it'd take to improve on either of those, but it's worth looking into IMHO. The rest of the ship looks ultra-smooth.


I have no problem resorting back to my perfectionistic tendancy and making this fighter uber smooth by going up to 5k. But I now must think of performance. The BSG project will have large furballs consisting of 20+ fighter battles. I don't think high poly fighters will fly well in that scenario. Conidering there will be a 30k Galactica in the vicinity.

I gotta balance quality and performance if folks without an uber graphics card will play this. The model is already 2059 polygons. I can remove the pilot and cockpit, but this ship will look silly with just a shiny canopy.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Deepblue on March 05, 2005, 10:40:16 pm
From the screens I saw the canopy wasn't that opaque...
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Trivial Psychic on March 06, 2005, 02:30:47 am
You're gonna put guns on her, right?
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Getter Robo G on March 06, 2005, 02:53:07 am
Please save a new Option for the pilotless one (that way if we find ourselves overwhelmed we can DL and plug in the "Light Version". But for the mod the standard one is the HP one. JKust a thought.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Flaser on March 06, 2005, 03:29:34 am
Quote
Originally posted by Getter Robo G
Please save a new Option for the pilotless one (that way if we find ourselves overwhelmed we can DL and plug in the "Light Version". But for the mod the standard one is the HP one. JKust a thought.


LODs are your frind Getter Robo G.
They do marvels for FPS.

@Omni: Could your write a tutorial on how you made this textures in PS?

That would be very usefull for newbies + oldies like me who have no previous experience.

BTW: Your work is Exemplary - you've grown from a begining porter to a full fledged model genius in little time.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: gevatter Lars on March 06, 2005, 04:58:22 am
I would also like to get some tips for making that kind of textures...I am just trying to get something done myself so help would be great.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Woolie Wool on March 07, 2005, 01:59:30 pm
Quote
Originally posted by WMCoolmon
I question the validity of intakes on a space fighter.

I'm guessing it has some atmospheric flight capability.


More likely it is an engine nozzle. In Newtonian physics, to slow your forward speed, you have to direct thrust forward. Watch the B5 StarFuries in action.

Or it could be some kind of ventilation intake so that you don't have to use a pressure suit or anything like that during atmospheric flight.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: IceFire on March 07, 2005, 02:41:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by ngtm1r


Entropy takes time. Time it hasn't had.

Unless Galactica has some Mark VII's sitting in the hanger gathering dust somewhere, and they manage to somehow render them Cylon-tampering-proof, of course.

It just seems rather a lot of effort for a model that won't feature very often.

You must have missed some episodes.  In the first episode, Apollo nails that freighter from the cockpit of a Mark VII.  I'm a fan of this new version of the Viper so I, if nobody else, will cheer for its cause.

Although the producers are surely appealing to the nostalgia element of the show, there are Mark VIIs onboard Galactica, they have been "fixed", and surely they are on CAP with the Mark IIs.

I think the key aspect here, however, is a visual appeal as well as a gameplay appeal when it comes to the MOD.  It means instead of one fighter type to fly, you have two very solid canonical designs...much like the Aurora and Thunderbolt StarFurys of Babylon 5.  The visual appeal is that the Mark VII appeals to people like me who love clean and sleek lines while the Mark II seems more worn and well used and nostalgic.

Back to Episode 1 of the series again, the Raptor, the Mark VII (both ships seem to be of the same style of design BTW) and the Mark II in formation (Boomer, Starbuck, Apollo) has a really great "rag tag" feel to it because you have mixed squadrons flying together with different ships of different abilities but ultimately flexible in their approach.

As for performance, the VII is supposed to be more sensitive and manuverable (sort of like the F-15 vs F/A-22) and it looks as if it has an extra gun (is that confirmed?).  So I think it'll be neat to fly around with...can't wait :D
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Fractux on March 07, 2005, 03:53:11 pm
Quote
Originally posted by IceFire

Although the producers are surely appealing to the nostalgia element of the show, there are Mark VIIs onboard Galactica, they have been "fixed", and surely they are on CAP with the Mark IIs.
/B]


I know that in the final battle in the pilot you can see some MKvii's coming in for landings when Galactica's pods are retracting, so they are getting used.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: aldo_14 on March 07, 2005, 04:51:59 pm
Apollo defo brought his own Mk. VII on the ship and uses it on quite a few episodes.... so if you want to make missions with an easily recognisable 'hero character', there you go.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Trivial Psychic on March 07, 2005, 09:38:30 pm
Quote
Originally posted by IceFire
You must have missed some episodes.  In the first episode, Apollo nails that freighter from the cockpit of a Mark VII.  I'm a fan of this new version of the Viper so I, if nobody else, will cheer for its cause.

Actually, he wasn't flying a Mark VII when he took out the Olympic Carrier, rather it was the twin-engined one, the Mark IV.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: WMCoolmon on March 07, 2005, 09:48:56 pm
AFAIK the only time we've seen a Mark VII was in the miniseries.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 07, 2005, 11:08:15 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Trivial Psychic

Actually, he wasn't flying a Mark VII when he took out the Olympic Carrier, rather it was the twin-engined one, the Mark IV.


What are you smoking? :) That was a Mk7.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: RedAssAg05 on March 07, 2005, 11:09:36 pm
I'm pretty sure it was the Mark VII in '33'...I'll check again.  I've seen the Mark IV ONCE in the series...it was in the starboard landing pod 'museum' in part one of the mini series...only way I recognized it was after seeing DamoclesX's model of it

The Mark VII has been used by Apollo at least once since the mini series
*****SPOILERS******







In episode 5, 'you can't go home again', Apollo begins the search for Starbuck in his Mark VII ('Make that canopy crystal clear, chief')...mind you, the search was ATMOSPHERIC.  They were doing Mark I 'eyeball'...a visual grid search, close to the surface.  So, there you have it, atmospheric use:-)
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Trivial Psychic on March 08, 2005, 01:18:50 am
Quote
Originally posted by Omniscaper
What are you smoking? :) That was a Mk7.

Episode reviewed.  I stand corrected.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 08, 2005, 01:37:58 am
Believe me, if it was a MkIV, I would have modelled it already!!! Now that I think of it... I DO wanna model the MkIV but its gonna be tough forcing it into the story.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: IceFire on March 08, 2005, 08:03:40 am
Whats the Mark IV?  I don't think I've seen it.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Deepblue on March 08, 2005, 01:07:03 pm
There is no canon mk IV. Democles X made up his own version. Therefore it's impossible to see a mk. IV like DemX's in the show.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: RedAssAg05 on March 08, 2005, 01:53:58 pm
Are you positive about that Deep?  I could swear I saw one in the museum in the mini-series.  When i get a spare moment I'll look again and see if I can grab a screeny.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Deepblue on March 08, 2005, 10:38:05 pm
Yeah I'm postive.

anyway...

SPREAD THE PROPAGANDA!!!
http://www.game-warden.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=697

Omni, go get some shots of this on the Mk. VII. :D
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: RedAssAg05 on March 09, 2005, 11:44:22 am
okay...checked the mini again...I yield to your conclusion Deep...I think I got confused because the ship on the left of the shot (I'm an idiot and don't know how to upload images into my message here) I mistook for a Mk II at first, but it's actually a Mk I.  The ship on the right was the one I was mistaking for the Mk IV...I think its a Mk II, but the lighting on it does give it lines on the canopy and fuselage similar to Damocles' MkIV.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Omniscaper on March 09, 2005, 12:03:07 pm
DeepBlue, if you're gonna spread propaganda for the BSG Project...  make sure its completely GOOD propaganda..


Add a zero on your FPS counter. :)
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Deepblue on March 09, 2005, 04:00:43 pm
Hehe.

I have an excuse... my computer is crap... and the fps drops significantly during screenshots.
Title: Viper MkVII WIP....
Post by: Deepblue on March 09, 2005, 04:01:50 pm
Damnit, you have to register to view that pic. Scrap that, I'm starting a new thread. *erases FPS counter*