[Earthcrosser]

1)  How long does it generally take to make a model for a new ship?

2)  How much programing skill is required?


I am hoping to do several star wars mods, mostly for Star Destroyers and Mon Calamari cruisers, if it's not too difficult.

[DragonClaw]

Originally posted by Earthcrosser
1)  How long does it generally take to make a model for a new ship?

Depends entirely on how many polygons the ship is, what program you are using, whether what you are trying to make is complex and precise or not, thinks like that. My blimp model took me 30 minutes to make(the majority of that time was spent manually creating the polygons connecting the ship to its outer disc)
Texturing can take a long long time. If you are making your own textures, it can be easier, or takes longer, depends on how you are texturing.

Originally posted by Earthcrosser
2)  How much programing skill is required?

None, at all. You do not need to know a single C, C++, VB, or anything of the sort

If you are doing your first model as a complex ship like the MC80, you're messed. It takes a long time to learn how to model well, and it takes a lot of willpower.

Good luck.


Oh yeah,

[Earthcrosser]

Okay, that may have been a little overboard, I guess.  Yeah, I was looking along the lines of an MC80 or perhaps something a bit smaller.  I want to do Home One eventually...that'd be cool.

C++...I have absolutely NO idea what that means.  Remember, there are 10 types of people:  Ones that understand binary, and ones that don't.

Okay.  If you think a Mon Cal ship is too complex to start out with, what (if any) Star Wars ship should I start?  Maybe something like a Nebulon Frigate?  That doesn't seem too hard, although in reality it's probably more difficult than I anticipate...

[DragonClaw]

I'd suggest starting out with the borg cube(we have quite a collection already, but I'm sure we wouldn't mind another )

But in all reality, my FIRST model was a tie bomber, and it REALLY sucked, you can ask KillMeNow to testify, it was so blasted horrid.

On the other end you might be very talented, and can be naturally good at something like modelling. What program are you using anyway? For a starter ship I'd actually recommend a Dreadnaught. Boxy, simple, but its good for starters. Then move on to something like a Star Destroyer if you really want a challenge, if the Dreadnaught was easy for you. Then possibly the MC80... Mon Calamari Cruisers are very hard to model due to all the curves. Nuf said.

[Earthcrosser]

Well, imho experience is better than talent, so I'll go with your advice and do a cube first before moving on to something more complex.  I haven't gotten any programs yet, I'm still looking for that fs2kit or whatever it was called.

Determination and time I have...talent is probably another story, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

[DragonClaw]

the FS2Kit doesn't come with a modeller or anything I think.

There's a few free ones out there(TrueSpace 3.2 - search for it on download.com , its there. And there's Blender which a lot of people prefer over TrueSpace)

There's also a few tutorials flying around on the web for building various fighters and texturing in both programs. I think there's a good blender tutorial at http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/

[Earthcrosser]

I'll check those out.  Thanks for your help, man.  You probably saved me from a load of headaches:lol:

[Krackers87]

Originally posted by DragonClaw

The new and improved  Hlp Beam now

[karajorma]

A similar question was just asked on this thread so you may want to read the answers there too.

[Black Wolf]

Oh. I was going to denounce truespace as a dangerous criminal of some kind, start talking about how much easier to understand max is and suggest he download GMax.


Bu now I don't have to.

[Killfrenzy]

Originally posted by Earthcrosser
Okay, that may have been a little overboard, I guess.  Yeah, I was looking along the lines of an MC80 or perhaps something a bit smaller.  I want to do Home One eventually...that'd be cool.

Get joining the Star Wars conversion!! :D