[Col. Fishguts]

Hi folks. I finally found some time to model some concept art I made a while ago...and well, here's the result.
This is just a 3 hour job for testing how it looks. It's rather low poly, but I intend to do a high-poly version of this. However, before starting the high-poly version I'd like some feedback from you guys, since I think it's still missing something.



Some backgound info: This is supposed to be a fast, 2 seated strike bomber with big afterburner capacity.
Something that goes in fast, punches a hole trough the defending fighter screen, delivers its payload and gets out quick enough to survive. Actually how the Athena was intended to be....but this time with real bombs.
It's basically a big honking bomb bay with a rather small fighter built around it. The big missile bank can carry only 2 Cyclops torps. There is a second very small missile bank on top of the main hull, which can carry a few Harpoons, in addition to the 3 primaries on the left flank.

So, watcha thinkin' ?

[karajorma]

Nice. The cockpit is a little bland though. Maybe it just needs textures but it's a little blah at the moment. Over all though

[mikhael]

Someone crossed a Dragon with a Harrier!

It looks pretty good, but I can't help but think you're throwing away polygons on the gun rounding that could be used better smoothing out the wings, secondary pod, or fuselage.

[Flipside]

I like the model, but through no fault of Col. Fishguts, I'm inclined to think of 'Foghorn' when I look at that underwing pod for some reason

[Taristin]

I have a few little problems with the mesh, but overall it's an interesting design.

I do, however, think that the 'foghorn' goes in way to deep. It shouldn't be that deep. It's probably why Flipside thinks it's a horn.

[Nico]

Originally posted by mikhael
Someone crossed a Dragon with a Harrier!

It looks pretty good, but I can't help but think you're throwing away polygons on the gun rounding that could be used better smoothing out the wings, secondary pod, or fuselage.

I agree.

Don't dig much the assymetrical weapon setup, but that's just me.

[Col. Fishguts]

Originally posted by mikhael
Someone crossed a Dragon with a Harrier!

It looks pretty good, but I can't help but think you're throwing away polygons on the gun rounding that could be used better smoothing out the wings, secondary pod, or fuselage.

I know, I know.....bit as I said in my first post, this is just  "concept art" to show the basic shapes. I plan to make a proper high-poly version of it, with smooth hull and wings, and reasonable facecount on the guns:D .
As for the asymmetrical weapons...well that was pretty much the innitial idea, which made the do the whole thing at all....so it will stay that way


btw...can someone point me to a FAQ with the FS2 guidelines for modeling, since I read somewhere that models not intentionally built for FS2 will cause huge problems when converting.

EDIT: Oh, and the foghorn...haven't looked at it that way..hehe. But in the final version, it will look more like the bomb bay on the medusa.

[JarC]

Nice! that looks similar to what I am wanting to do with the Ulysses. If I ever acquire enough skill that is...

[Nico]

Originally posted by Col. Fishguts
As for the asymmetrical weapons...well that was pretty much the innitial idea, which made the do the whole thing at all....so it will stay that way

I just think it would be better with a central torpedo launcher and two primary pods, coz now to me it just looks unbalanced, but I didn't ask you to change it or anything.

[karajorma]

Originally posted by Col. Fishguts
btw...can someone point me to a FAQ with the FS2 guidelines for modeling, since I read somewhere that models not intentionally built for FS2 will cause huge problems when converting.

If you're building for HTL a lot of those problems go away because the game triangulates the model after loading it.  IIRC the only major ones you have to worry about are having a polygon with more than 20 sides or a vertex which is part of 20 polygons.

If you want more modelling help my own FAQ has links to several other tutorials and the [Wiki][/Wiki] also has a lot of modelling stuff on it.

As for the asymetrical nature of the ship I like it Might make it a bit of a ***** to aim properly though.

[Col. Fishguts]

Ah...thanks, your FAQ is pretty damn neat. The Wiki is not very informative when it comes to moedling questions, maybe you should put some stuff from your FAQ in the Wiki....or post a big fat link to your site.

[Taristin]

Almost scary how much this, and Nico's comments describe a concept drawing I have stored away somewhere...

[Black Wolf]

That is awesome - I love it It looks very freespacey, but at the same time unique and interesting. I love how a few extra details - the various connectors and things around the ship - make it appear built rather than modelled. When you've finished it, are you going to need a texturer?

[Beowulf]

I like it! Looks good. Some wrinkles need to be worked out but overall...

[Corsair]

I like the asymmetrical design...although the bomb bay bugs me. In all of the pictures except for the front and back views, it screams "jet engine!" at me.

[Jetmech Jr.]

looks good, but ive always hated asymmetrical fighter designs. on smallcraft it just looks ungainly.

[Col. Fishguts]

Originally posted by Black Wolf
.... When you've finished it, are you going to need a texturer?

I'll try to texture it myself...but if I should fail miserably (might happen), I'll come back to you, thanks.

[ShadowDrakken]

pretty nice, I agree that the asymetry is a bit awkward on it though.  I can visualize it symetrical and it still looks great

[Setekh]

It's a great thing that you're playing around with atypical designs. I'm not too keen on this implementation of asymmetry either, but I think it's important that you give it a go. Keep modelling!

[Col. Fishguts]

Thanks for the feedback guys. The asymmetrical setup will stay, it is supposed to look a bit clumsy, as a price for the bombing capacity in a small fighter.
I tried some symmetrical weapon layouts and didn't like them very much. Maybe I'll do a heavier version later with two bomb bays and symmetric primaries...

And for the viewing pleasure, here's a pic from MAX.
I started with the high-polyfication, ignore the colors and the jpg artefacts.