[Grunt]

Well, I've done a kind of "aggressive" transport / landing ship model for TCP. See some pictures here:

http://w3.enternet.hu/fscult/Anatis1.jpg
http://w3.enternet.hu/fscult/Anatis2.jpg
http://w3.enternet.hu/fscult/Anatis3.jpg
http://w3.enternet.hu/fscult/Anatis4.jpg
http://w3.enternet.hu/fscult/Anatis5.jpg
http://w3.enternet.hu/fscult/Anatis6.jpg

And the Techroom blabla:

Han-Ronald Corporation developed the GTT Anatis for the GTVA Special Forces to provide them with a heavily armoured troop transport for rescue and capture operations. After a succesful introduction, GTVA command ordered several of them for all Terran fleets. It was also a perfect replacement of the obsolete landing pods for inserting a great number of marines in a possible ground invasion.
The Anatis has limited flight capabilities in planet atmosphere, but it is definitely a well armoured and armed landing ship which may carry 500 troops with their equipment and even small ground vehicles. The three rapid fire antifighter turrets, the front mounted missile lounchers and light beam cannon can easily destroy enemy troops and other ground targets to clear the landing area. The ship is capable of docking to any kind of space ships, or approaching the ground fast, landing safely, unloading the troops quickly and giving a temporary shelter on the battlefield.

What do you think ?

[StratComm]

Neat ship - the nose may be a bit much but the concept is very good.  A good troop transport is something that FS has been missing.

[Black Wolf]

The concept is a good one, but the actual ship I don't like - the wings are very thin, and the model is kinda simplistic. Plus the texture you've chosen as the main one is too simple to be repeated to that extent - makes the ship look fairly blank.

[Grunt]

Originally posted by Black Wolf
...the model is kinda simplistic. Plus the texture you've chosen as the main one is too simple to be repeated to that extent - makes the ship look fairly blank.

So what about this one:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-110/lores/sts110-s-039.jpg


I was thinking about this. Namely how much detail and texturing a transport model deserves.
I wanted one which is more detailed (in geometry) than the Argo or Elysium, but still with an "FS conform" poly count.
This was also an experiment for me to build a relatively simple model, which can believable fly in the atmosphear but still bulky and looks well armoured, adding minimal detail where it's needed, and cover simplicity with texturing.

So I ended up here.

Btw, I also wanted to see it approaching the large deck of the GTI Arcadia and landing on the "legs".

[Alikchi]

Well, if you actually look at the space shuttle, it's made of hundreds of those little um white brick thingies (???).

[Grunt]

Originally posted by Alikchi
Well, if you actually look at the space shuttle, it's made of hundreds of those little um white brick thingies (???).

Sure.
Repeated in a hopeless monotony.
Which also proves that the best things in life are simple.

[Black Wolf]

Originally posted by Grunt

I was thinking about this. Namely how much detail and texturing a transport model deserves.
I wanted one which is more detailed (in geometry) than the Argo or Elysium, but still with an "FS conform" poly count.
This was also an experiment for me to build a relatively simple model, which can believable fly in the atmosphear but still bulky and looks well armoured, adding minimal detail where it's needed, and cover simplicity with texturing.

So I ended up here.

You have to take into account asthetics as well as practicality here. There are a lot of feature in both the models and the textures of Vs ships that really have no reason to be there - exceprt to look cool, and look cool they do. On pure practicality, every ship would be a similar looking geometric blob covered in grey armour, which wouldn't sell many games.


Even in the space shuttle there is a lot more variation than at first glance - that's what makes it look real. Look at the rudder thing omn the tail, the proportionate wings, the black underside, the variation in the hull plating, the logos and windows on the sides etc. etc. It may not have been designed to look cool like a game ship - it just has a lot of detail like any object in this world.

[Grunt]

Originally posted by Black Wolf


On pure practicality, every ship would be a similar looking geometric blob covered in grey armour, which wouldn't sell many games.

That's right.
Though a several kms long cigar of gleaming black steel passing quietly right beside your fighter could be cool even in a game IMO.
But tastes differ...

[diamondgeezer]

I always thought FSII could have used more cool troop transports. Nice work.

[Setekh]

That's excellent. It's a little blocky for my tastes, but I think a troop transport should be like that anyway. "You will be escorting a convoy of Argos and our new Anatis-class transports. While you provide a space-borne diversion in the upper atmosphere of the planet, our ground troops will be inserted at the LZ situated 4 clicks from the rebel base." Fits perfectly.

[Eviscerator]

Gimme!

[Grunt]

Originally posted by Setekh
That's excellent. It's a little blocky for my tastes, but I think a troop transport should be like that anyway. "You will be escorting a convoy of Argos and our new Anatis-class transports. While you provide a space-borne diversion in the upper atmosphere of the planet, our ground troops will be inserted at the LZ situated 4 clicks from the rebel base." Fits perfectly.

Wmmm, Setekh ! Haven't seen you around for a while.
Thanks a lot ! To be honest, I was afraid that the Anatis would be a complete failure. Even I was not sure if I liked it or not.

As I see transport mods have been rare like white raven till now.
What if we start a new thread for a common transport model. I mean all modders who have ideas could add something to it. Then it could come closest to the wish of the majority.

I have some rough ideas for a more detailed one, which I could upload as a 3ds model (untextured) to start with.

[Solatar]

Originally posted by Alikchi
Well, if you actually look at the space shuttle, it's made of hundreds of those little um white brick thingies (???).

Yeah, but no two tiles are the same. They all have a different pattern of grooves designed to reduce friction so they don't burn up upon re-entry.


As for the transport, I love it.