Hard Light Productions Forums

Modding, Mission Design, and Coding => The Modding Workshop => Topic started by: Col.Hornet on December 08, 2013, 09:45:38 am

Title: GTCa Hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on December 08, 2013, 09:45:38 am
Here is the model that I'm making now . Aesaar's Diomedes inspired carrier named Hera. I had a lot of free time yesterday so I managed to do some basic shape.

Title: Re: GTCa hera
Post by: MatthTheGeek on December 08, 2013, 09:47:12 am
I think your p3d link is bogus or private, 404 here.
Title: Re: GTCa hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on December 08, 2013, 09:47:45 am
fixed
Title: Re: GTCa hera
Post by: MatthTheGeek on December 08, 2013, 09:54:03 am
Lookin' good so far, but I'm not sure I'm fan of the whole WC-esque run-the-length-of-the-ship bay, especially without doors , and especially when it makes the ship that hollow.

There's very little volume left for reactor, ammunition, crew, maintenance crew and spare parts for the fighters.

I suggest any of the battlestars from BSG as good examples of how you can make run-the-length bays right without compromising the whole ship.
Title: Re: GTCa hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on December 08, 2013, 10:03:29 am
Yes, you are right, however this is not the entire ship.  I plan to add some structures above the landing deck, like bridge and several other objects but now I cannot do that because I'm using mirror modifier in Blender. This ship will be asymmetric (the bridge will be on right or left side like on the US Navy carriers)
Title: Re: GTCa hera
Post by: Enioch on December 08, 2013, 11:21:54 am
Yeah, I was about to say that that topdeck needed some superstructure. If you're planning on doing it, that'd be fine.

I like the large bay.
Title: Re: GTCa hera
Post by: Dragon on December 08, 2013, 01:19:54 pm
I'd actually prefer a flythrough fighterbay, IMO it looks better. House engineering stuff in the engine pods, and command inside an "island" on top deck or on the side (like in HW Hiigaran Carrier).
Title: Re: GTCa hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on December 10, 2013, 02:02:45 pm
i rescaled entire hull a little ("wings" seemed to be a little bit too big). I would also like to show you how I see the placement of the bridge.
Title: Re: GTCa hera
Post by: Dragon on December 10, 2013, 03:41:51 pm
I just had a thought. The island is nice, but could you try placing it on the front, around middeck level, facing sideways? Sort of like a Hiigaran Carrier from Homeworld 2. The way you have it now, it just seems a lot like Scooby's carriers. Side-mounted bridge with a perfectly flat top would be something new.

Oh, and it definitely looks like "flythrought converted to a closed-bay". Could you make it flythrought like it used to be? It looked much better.
Title: Re: GTCa hera
Post by: blowfish on December 10, 2013, 04:24:10 pm
Very nice design :)  I'm not a huge fan of the asymmetric bridge though - IMO something lower and more centered would look better (though I know the height of such things is a matter of tireless debate).  You seem rather set on this arrangement though, so no need to listen to me :P

Also, I disagree with Dragon re: flythrough fighter bay.  It looks fine just loading through the front, engines need to go somewhere, and this is more consistent with ... everything else in the Freespace universe.
Title: Re: GTCa hera
Post by: whitearrow on December 10, 2013, 05:00:42 pm
It's a nice model. I can see a bit of Aesaar's influence here and there. But that bridge's configuration looks like something that have been already seen around. Though the island bridge makes sense onto an aircraft carrier for obvious reasons, I don't think it does in a starship, unless you place some heavy weapon system on the deck or engines or something else to justify the bridge's asymmetric position...
Title: Re: GTCa hera
Post by: Nyctaeus on December 10, 2013, 05:45:46 pm
Most of the flat plate around the bridge will be occupied by landing pads, docks and other stuff like this.
Title: Re: GTCa hera
Post by: Dragon on December 10, 2013, 05:54:38 pm
Also, I disagree with Dragon re: flythrough fighter bay.  It looks fine just loading through the front, engines need to go somewhere, and this is more consistent with ... everything else in the Freespace universe.
The engines could go on side pods, and on the lower half of the hull. I agree that it's more consistent with other models... That's what we're trying to avoid, don't you think? We've already got enough of non-flythrought bays on other models.
Title: Re: GTCa hera
Post by: Droid803 on December 10, 2013, 08:00:53 pm
If you don't make it fly-through I would recommend putting doors on so the AI doesn't get stuck in it (and so players can't hide in it, etc).
While not strictly necessary, it's probably a good idea to consider how players may potentially try and break missions using this like that, heh.
Title: Re: GTCa hera
Post by: blowfish on December 10, 2013, 11:22:20 pm
I agree that it's more consistent with other models... That's what we're trying to avoid, don't you think? We've already got enough of non-flythrought bays on other models.

New and interesting features are always good, but I don't see a fly-through fighter bay as adding much aesthetically or gameplay-wise, beyond 15 seconds of "oh hey look" and then forgetting about it.

Edit: spelling
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on December 21, 2013, 11:29:35 am
http://p3d.in/qpQj2 Update
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: fightermedic on December 21, 2013, 02:51:35 pm
i like where this is going!
keep up all the good modeling work
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Nyctaeus on December 22, 2013, 10:10:47 am
It's awesome! Keep on rollin' :D
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on December 23, 2013, 06:10:45 pm
http://p3d.in/qpQj2 What do you guys think about this engine pattern?
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: DahBlount on December 23, 2013, 06:19:06 pm
Looks good! However I would like to know what happened to the bridge.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Alan Bolte on December 23, 2013, 06:19:26 pm
The oblong low-poly shapes look kind of dated. I mostly see circles or something more complex in recent models - if you don't like circles, check out Hades's Leviathan and Orion.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Nyctaeus on December 23, 2013, 06:25:39 pm
It was removed in current version for development purposes. Don't worry, the bridge will be included in final version, when Hornet finish symetrical part of the model.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on December 24, 2013, 07:11:05 am
The oblong low-poly shapes look kind of dated. I mostly see circles or something more complex in recent models - if you don't like circles, check out Hades's Leviathan and Orion.

Don't worry the thrusters will get more details in time. I'm just checking the placement for them :)
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: whitearrow on December 24, 2013, 03:58:01 pm
Talking again about internal space management: you have a pretty large landing deck. Considering that the engineering is going to occupy all the space behind the deck, and crew quarters may be placed under it, where are you planning to store the fighters? Since it's a carrier there should be planty of them...
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on December 28, 2013, 01:49:23 pm
http://p3d.in/qpQj2 I changed my mind about the engines
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: An4ximandros on December 28, 2013, 02:53:23 pm
Very "Homeworld"-esque. :nod:

If you want a suggestion, maybe you could consider adding a hole at the 'top' that goes into the hangar? It looks quite bland there.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Mobius on December 30, 2013, 10:02:23 am
I like it, more details inside the fighterbay and a door would be welcome. :)

Also, what kind of turrets are you going to add? And what about smaller, side bays for escape pods and small craft?
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on January 08, 2014, 10:55:21 am
Update. I would like to present you a concept of a symmetric bridge.
I still cannot decide to make it this way or like on Nimitz class carrier for example. On the right side of the deck.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Phantom Hoover on January 08, 2014, 07:45:07 pm
Asymmetry is good. Do it Nimitz-style.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: X3N0-Life-Form on January 09, 2014, 07:49:34 am
Symetry is fine too. Do it this style. :)
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: whitearrow on January 09, 2014, 07:21:22 pm
You can do a symmetric base structure and an asymmetric bridge or asymmetric radar and antennas arrays...
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on January 12, 2014, 09:21:33 am
http://p3d.in/qpQj2   I decided to make the Nimitz style bridge, but first I must finish the symmetric parts ;)
Now I started making the detail on the bottom. Several armour plates and the fuel hatch
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Dragon on January 12, 2014, 09:28:34 am
Hmm, now that I look at it, don't you think it looks more interesting without a bridge? A tall tower is fine, but it's lack brings to mind Japanese carriers of WWII, something seen much less than American ones. Also, it makes the carrier look much more compact. If you have to make the tower, make it short and not too pronounced.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on January 29, 2014, 05:03:30 pm
http://p3d.in/qpQj2


The simplest solutions are always the best ones. Here comes the bridge. Entire ship is rather flat, so I decided to keep it that way. High tower was breaking that good flat line of entire carrier. I've also added some details on the secondary flight deck.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: BritishShivans on January 30, 2014, 08:55:57 am
Why a second hangar? It looks very vulnerable with how thin the space between the roof of that hangar and the bridge.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: General Battuta on January 30, 2014, 08:58:31 am
Hey, cool, it's like a carrier Diomedes. I can see the tiny little hangar being used for marine or pod operations.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Colonol Dekker on January 30, 2014, 11:21:59 am
I prefer it upside-down.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on January 30, 2014, 12:49:17 pm
I corrected the position of the hangar door. Now the bridge is not directly above the door.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on February 02, 2014, 04:33:49 pm
   Double post. Hm... nevermind.

All exams  at uni passed so now I can get back to more pleasant things like social life and of course Hera.
http://p3d.in/qpQj2 
I prepared a place for 4 beam cannons (but not the beams themselves)  and a couple of other details on the hull.

#Edit
Main anti capital beams are done.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on February 20, 2014, 06:03:36 pm
"Safety first"  :D Now the crew can evacuate much faster thanks to the Hermes launching tubes system
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Phantom Hoover on February 20, 2014, 06:12:16 pm
They're an awfully long way from the bridge...
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Droid803 on February 20, 2014, 06:16:56 pm
You'd be amazed how well people can haul ass when the ship is exploding.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Darius on February 21, 2014, 04:32:01 am
Personal vacuum chutes ala Serenity movie.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Colonol Dekker on February 22, 2014, 03:21:16 am
Escape pods for enlisted men only!!

Officers caused the flipping thing to go down, they can go down with the ship :yes:
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Nyctaeus on February 22, 2014, 06:17:45 am
I think there will be more launching tubes. HoRnet cares about realism as well as he can, and he knows I hate simple models when I'm UVing them :P.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on June 08, 2014, 07:41:48 am
It's time for some updates :D
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on June 23, 2014, 05:21:03 pm
After considering a few things I decided to create the second version of the ship with some changes. And here is my question for you guys. Do you like the version without the flaps on the top of the engine and the bottom fin moved more towards the rear?
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: DahBlount on June 23, 2014, 05:51:33 pm
Definitely stick with the first version. The placement of the bottom fin doesn't matter as much as having detail where the flaps are.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on June 23, 2014, 06:12:16 pm
What about now :D? The details will be there, don't worry. The point was just that I had a feeling that the top flaps were disturbing the entire line of the ship. I've been confused by this for a long time.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: DahBlount on June 23, 2014, 06:14:02 pm
Happens to the best of us (I think). That's better, just make sure you find ways to make the detail seem relatively purposeful. I too have problems with this.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on August 02, 2014, 06:59:32 am
Update.
Hera class Carrier (View in 3D (https://p3d.in/qpQj2))
(https://p3d.in/model_data/snapshot/qpQj2) (https://p3d.in/qpQj2)

Now I'm adding details on the sides (cargo loading bays, magazines) After then I will move towards the bottom section of the ship.

If anybody has any suggestions or ideas for the details, feel free to share them :)
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Colonol Dekker on August 02, 2014, 07:59:07 am
Radar dish, boarding ramp, escape pod rack, Eva airlock, gallery Window,  comms array, fuel intake, coffee subsystems. :yes:
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on August 06, 2014, 01:51:58 pm
So. Today I can say that the mesh is almost finished. Now I must check the geometry  to look for any bugs etc.
Multipart turrets are here just for a while. I will use different ones but for now I don't have any idea for them. 

Texture work will be done by Betrayal (mapping) and Aldriel from DeviantArt (http://aldriel.deviantart.com/)
I hope that my next post here will contain some colours ;)
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Colonol Dekker on August 06, 2014, 02:53:41 pm
Did you consider any of my suggestions?
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on August 06, 2014, 03:27:20 pm
Sure. I will add radar dishes :D And maybe a few more hatches. You will also see some VLS tubes. I plan to arm Hera with some tactical warheads. 4 slash-type beams will cover the top of the ship and missile baterries will provide defence for bottom/ sides sections. And of course entire CIWS screen to massacre incoming shivan bombs, bombers and fighters :)
btw I must model some cool miltipart turrets for rapid- firing weapons. Gatling maybe :D
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Cyborg17 on August 06, 2014, 06:28:13 pm
So excited for this carrier.  :D
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Nyctaeus on August 17, 2014, 10:40:40 am
:bump:

Modelling process is finished. Now I'm starting to mapping this monster.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: X3N0-Life-Form on August 17, 2014, 11:16:42 am
Juicy news :)
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Aesaar on August 17, 2014, 12:10:43 pm
You're a lot better at greebling than I am.  This thing really looks excellent.  Well done!
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: The Dagger on August 18, 2014, 10:54:35 am
This is a beautifull ship. Kudos!  :yes: :yes:
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on August 31, 2016, 06:19:31 pm
OK, this thing a little too dusty *coughs*

Status report: I decided to push this project further as I concluded that leaving this thread rotting unfinished is kinda frustrating. Especially that the ship itself received a warm welcome from many of you.

  Right now I'm making a set of turrets which I started with a 3 barrelled point defense turret. But the most important thing is to clean the whole model which will be the next step. To be honest, there are a lot of places which are a nightmare to UVmap <I was a complete noob when I began that ship so how could I care for such things as mapping-friendly geometry :)?>

Hera class Carrier (View in 3D (https://p3d.in/qpQj2))
(https://p3d.in/model_data/snapshot/qpQj2) (https://p3d.in/qpQj2)

(sorry for crappy smoothing. i uploaded the model using an obj file. downloaded from my p3d account. I will fix it once I dig the blend file from my PC)

 But I'm afraid I won't be able to UV this thing on my own anytime soon (since both me and Betrayal are occupied with Exile stuff as well). I would be very obliged and grateful if somebody could help me the UVs.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Nyctaeus on September 06, 2016, 10:10:35 am
(http://i64.tinypic.com/14alb13.jpg)
So 2 years passed...

I drop the fully baked version, as we decided it will need fully painted main texture. So I started to map it. Some details are already mapped and will be baked into single texture. Rest of the ship, armor plates, major parts will be uvmapped and digital painted.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on September 06, 2016, 11:22:47 am
IMPORTANT QUESTION

Do you guys know any free program to display 3D models with textures (diffuse, glow normal, etc.) in real time?  That would save us a lot of time. I tried to found something called PBR viewer but it's not working at all and I don't know why.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Phantom Hoover on September 06, 2016, 12:30:05 pm
Please use less busy textures on it, all those grey rectangles look a lot worse than the clean armoured surfaces on Aesaar's Dio.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on September 06, 2016, 12:52:05 pm
Don't worry. We had quite an argument yesterday about it <I tried to tell him the same thing you pointed out. And it was like talking to a wall xD>. Once Betrayal finishes the small parts <actually he already did> and bake them into one texture I will do some Photoshop magic and make the plating less noisy (actually i will flatten the existing plating and make my own linework on the wings. I will also correct any other detail which will look weird. For God's sake how I hate random slapped little plates...) Next step will be the UVmap of the large hull surfaces which will be painted. I will try to not screw this up :P

#Edit:  OK, enough "tileraping". Initiating UVmapping sequence.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Nyctaeus on September 06, 2016, 07:48:44 pm
Don't worry. We had quite an argument yesterday about it <I tried to tell him the same thing you pointed out. And it was like talking to a wall xD>. Once Betrayal finishes the small parts <actually he already did> and bake them into one texture I will do some Photoshop magic and make the plating less noisy (actually i will flatten the existing plating and make my own linework on the wings. I will also correct any other detail which will look weird. For God's sake how I hate random slapped little plates...) Next step will be the UVmap of the large hull surfaces which will be painted. I will try to not screw this up :P

#Edit:  OK, enough "tileraping". Initiating UVmapping sequence.
First: FU :P. I hate you for this... U btch xD
Second: Awactile1 and Awactile3 visible above are actually only bases for further texture edits we have planned. I just need this tile as a base for further modifications on the texture. Majority of the texture will be digital painted from scratch, and some parts will be done via baked texture with later photoshop edits.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Nyctaeus on January 02, 2020, 06:41:32 am
:bump:

I dug it out from eldritch abyss of my HD. This thing will happen in PBR glory... Soon :]
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Nightmare on January 02, 2020, 06:45:31 am
Any particular project this is for?
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: NeonShivan on January 02, 2020, 07:03:54 am
Could throw it at BP: "Here Tevs, have a carrier!"
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Nightmare on January 02, 2020, 07:09:47 am
Could throw it at BP: "Here Tevs, have a carrier!"
...to go in line with Aesaars ships...

...
:warp:

Besides that, the Titan is supposed to be the GTVA carrier in BP.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: NeonShivan on January 02, 2020, 07:18:49 am
Besides that, the Titan is supposed to be the GTVA carrier in BP.

Here, have a smaller carrier.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Nyctaeus on January 02, 2020, 08:20:09 am
It's about 3km ship, so she is bigger then Erebus. We're going for original plans regarding this ship, and make her dedicated fleetcarrier of GTVA fleets. Smaller than INF Warlock, but still bigger then a destroyer.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Nightmare on January 02, 2020, 09:18:17 am
So it IS for a project?
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Nyctaeus on January 02, 2020, 10:22:02 am
So it IS for a project?
nope
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Col.Hornet on January 02, 2020, 05:34:17 pm
One texture done, three more to go: (https://i.imgur.com/HKiIvce.jpg)
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Nightmare on January 02, 2020, 05:40:55 pm
After just 3 years, the sudden finishing experience starts. :D
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Nyctaeus on January 03, 2020, 04:13:11 pm
(https://i.imgur.com/1vK41M9.jpg)
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Nightmare on January 03, 2020, 05:02:47 pm
SCP-TEV Corvette :yes: :yes:
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Colt on January 03, 2020, 08:17:24 pm
Ohh, already off to a good start to the year!  Looks like a cross of the Diomedes corvette with HTL Deimos., which makes it gorgeous. :yes: I'll admit a tiny gripe about the edgy/pointy forward runways .vs the general smoothness of the carrier, but that's just my opinion.

(Also, do I spy VLS missile tubes on the sides?)
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Nyctaeus on January 03, 2020, 08:24:00 pm
6 slashes are her only anti-cap weapons, and they are actually her defense. As a fleetcarrier, Hera strikes with countless bomber wings. The circular things around the top ramp are mounts for multipart, flak turrets.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Colonol Dekker on January 04, 2020, 12:19:37 am
Have always loved the starlancer soviet feels this gives me...
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Nyctaeus on January 04, 2020, 08:02:02 am
(https://i.imgur.com/4SlbsbG.jpg)
WiP of alternate texture scheme to resemble Threat Exigency Initiative warships from Blue Planet.
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Nightmare on January 04, 2020, 09:42:38 am
Nice thing!
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Col. Fishguts on January 04, 2020, 11:13:18 am
Both versions look amazing :yes:

But 2-way traffic on each strip? That's just asking for frontal collisions ;)
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Colt on January 04, 2020, 02:49:06 pm
6 slashes are her only anti-cap weapons, and they are actually her defense. As a fleetcarrier, Hera strikes with countless bomber wings. The circular things around the top ramp are mounts for multipart, flak turrets.
Makes sense, and still a nice suite of weapons. Looking forward to playing around with it in the future.

But 2-way traffic on each strip? That's just asking for frontal collisions ;)
I thought the same too, but I imagine the idea is that if one hanger bay goes down, the other two will still be operational. It would suck to have your one launch/receiving bay get knocked out. :p
Title: Re: GTCa Hera
Post by: Nyctaeus on January 04, 2020, 08:12:07 pm
(https://i.imgur.com/2b23qcI.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/JqAzYw9.png)
Hornet! Move your ass, and release her!