[knn]

From the personal log of Admiral Aken Bosch:

I went EVA around my ship today to inspect turret orientations. And was all the savagery and terror of my regime for this? Am I to lead humanity to its destiny in the NTF NearlyACube? Even the pharohs in their divinity could never have imagined a low poly piece of junk as this! Can knn save humanity from its fate at the hands of the destroyers and give us a worthy vessel, or must we all perish as the countless civlizations that proceeded us did???

Fear not humanity! Thou shall be saveth from the devils of the underworld (I hope).

After a loooong period of not modelling (and not posting) I've started working on the Iceni from zero again. The basic geometry is almost ready, with only the bottom missing. Details are missing from everywhere except the top:



And the engines I've made today:


BTW, the turret orientations ARE incorrect in the original modell.

Allmost forgot - for the neck you might want to try the same thing I did for the Hecate neck - doesn't use much polies nad looks good too...

Yup, I had something similar in mind. Actually, my previous Iceni had something like that on the bottom of the neck, but it didn't look too good.

Now I need a good NTF logo for the nameplate. BTW, should the nameplate stay?

[NGTM-1R]

Well, there was only one Iceni, so IMO the nameplate's an extravagance as far as canon goes.

On the other hand, for the rest of us in the campaign-making community, it'd be a nice thing to have...

[Raptor]

Forget the modelled in nameplate.  Just use a simple plane slightly above the hull (or what not...)

Looks good.  Are you going to rename the turrets so they are sensible order, and even (dare I say it) move one or two?  That one between the lower engines on the bottom... worst place for a turret ever.

Speaking of turrets, you know you can use more that cubes for the barrels right?  Eight sided cylinders are the best compromise I think.

[Galemp]

The profile still looks too low-poly, but the greebling you have on the top could be its saving grace if applied everywhere, with more exaggeration.

As for the NTF logo, I have a 2d and a 3D version right here.

[Admiral Nelson]

Hooray! He's back...
I agree with scuppering the modelled in nameplate -- just the regular style of nameplate would be sufficient, as the Iceni model is used in other campaigns such as Derelict for other purposes.  

I don't like square gun barrels, either, round 'em off!  I'm sure you have noticed that some of the mirror style turrets aren't even attached to the hull of the current model!!  It might be nice to have a distinct missile launcher turret, too.

Thanks for all the work!

[Cobra]

i actually like having the nameplate there. makes the Iceni look cooler.

[StratComm]

Not to burst any bubbles here or anything, but the center of that nameplate is in almost the exact same place as the dockpoint.  The words can stay, but the center circle either needs a dockpoint map or it needs to dissapear completely.

[FireCrack]

2D version looks better (logo)


As for the dockpint thing, you thaught that was a picture of earth?

[Mongoose]

I'm really liking the job you did with the engines

[Cobra]

ooh, just noticed:

Originally posted by knn

move the top of this a bit, looks like you forgot to straighten it.

[Taristin]

Or it could be perspective.

Also; I'd like to add my voice to the "Don't model in a nameplate" crew. Nameplates are ridiculous, and I'd hate for every last iceni class vessel to have NTF emblazened on it's side.

[StratComm]

I would steer away from putting it in geometry.  That's almost always a bad idea, as it's unmoddable and is a tremendous waste of polys.  I'd put a nameplate in there, but just as a duplicate face for a transparent plate (like on the Fenris).

[knn]

Well, there was only one Iceni, so IMO the nameplate's an extravagance as far as canon goes.

It's not booleaned in yet, so it can go, but I thought it would look good with an NTF logo in the middle. I didn't know the dockpoint was there:nervous: , but the circle can be the dockpoint, with the nameplate around it (reminds me of ST:TMP)

Forget the modelled in nameplate. Just use a simple plane slightly above the hull (or what not...)

Umm, I think I should have said this, but I thought it was obvious. That's just a temporary nameplate, because I was too lazy to start up Photoshop. It' way too much polygons, it's just there for me to see how it would look finished. BTW, the nameplate is also missing from the other side, because I modell only one side usually, then mirror the whole thing.

Looks good. Are you going to rename the turrets so they are sensible order, and even (dare I say it) move one or two? That one between the lower engines on the bottom... worst place for a turret ever.

Yes, that one is in a very stupid place, but remember that this is a canon FS2 ship. I don't know yet. As for the names, I probably will, because I'll have to change the turret vectors and positions anyway.

Speaking of turrets, you know you can use more that cubes for the barrels right? Eight sided cylinders are the best compromise I think.

I'll try it, but I made the barrels cubical intentionally for the big ones. I'll make round ones and see which ones look better. For the small turrets the round ones will probably be a better choice.

The profile still looks too low-poly, but the greebling you have on the top could be its saving grace if applied everywhere, with more exaggeration.

I'm deriving some detail from the textures, but sofar I've done only the top.

As for the NTF logo, I have a 2d and a 3D version right here.

Thanks.

ooh, just noticed:

    quote:Originally posted by knn



move the top of this a bit, looks like you forgot to straighten it.

that's perspective.

Also; I'd like to add my voice to the "Don't model in a nameplate" crew. Nameplates are ridiculous, and I'd hate for every last iceni class vessel to have NTF emblazened on it's side.

How about a subobject you can destroy before the mission (for the plate itself, the text won't be there)? The dockpoint will have to stay though.


I've checked. There's only one dockpoint on one side of the ship. Suggestions? (logo on one side, dockpoint on the other, or would that look stupid?)

[Cobra]

Originally posted by Raa
Or it could be perspective.

well golly gee, excuse me for trying to be helpful.

[StratComm]

If you do it right, you just need to use texture replacement to give it a nameplate.  That's the method most people use these days.

[Mefustae]

Go for the nameplate, this is the flagship of the NTF Rebellion after all! In terms of the dockpoint, why not have that big circle in the middle of the nameplate emblazened (sp?) with the NTF Logo, and also be the dockpoint...! So you've got a dockpoint with the logo painted on it...! It could work... sure it could...

EDIT: Also, whereabouts is the Bridge actually located?

[Wanderer]

I'm sure there are others as well but atleast i would like to have a possibility to use the Iceni (not as NTF command frigate) also in some mods so IMHO do not put modelled nameplate to it. Just use the same method as in other HTLd ships.

[aldo_14]

Wasn't the Iceni built before the rebellion anyways?  So why would it have a bloody great NTF logo?

Anyways; still a bit plain, but the detailing on the top midsection looks great, so use the same sort of principle on the rest of the ship (within reason) and it'll be tip-top.

[Black Wolf]

Originally posted by aldo_14
Wasn't the Iceni built before the rebellion anyways?  So why would it have a bloody great NTF logo?

Indeed. It was a GTVA project, which Bosch was overseeing. When it was finished, he nicked it and apparently sunk it into the Boadicaea for 18 months... bit of a silly thing to do with a ship that powerful, but I think he was saving it for his run in with the Shivans and wanted to make sure the GTVA didn't kill it first.

[Mefustae]

Originally posted by aldo_14
Wasn't the Iceni built before the rebellion anyways?  So why would it have a bloody great NTF logo?

It would be a small nameplate, it's not exactly part of the superstructure we're talking about here. Should knn put it on, the arguement could be made that he just slapped it on there either at Polaris Shipyards after the Rebellion, or when he sunk it into the Boadaecea. Either way, it'd be a great addition to the model, and would look really great illuminated with spotlight ala the Orion nameplates (but blended in so as not to stand out)

Originally posted by aldo_14
Anyways; still a bit plain, but the detailing on the top midsection looks great, so use the same sort of principle on the rest of the ship (within reason) and it'll be tip-top.

I believe that was what Knn meant by:

Details are missing from everywhere except the top

he just hasn't gotten around to doing it yet... I assume...