[Jadehawk]

And I'm at it again! Since I nearly completed the Khepri, I dug out this one I started even before that one and completed it off. I can say this was more difficult to do due to the way it was UV mapped. Does not help that the model was also rough in some spots, but I think I made something worth while.

This is the GVF Shu, a Vasudan Fleet Interceptor and Escort Fighter. I added a large central engine as I didn't like the three small ones all by themselves. The three smaller engines linked to your computer and flight controls are responsible for the incredible maneuverability the GVF Shu has. It has average armor, but compensated with the best shielding ever made for a GTVA fighter.

Like the GVF Khepri, this fighter uses a new power reactor designed for a heavy bomber, made more compact with a slight increase in power. This is the reason both the GVF Khepri and the GVF Shu have their capabilities. The Shu now has 6 guns in 2 banks with 4 missile tubes in 2 banks. However, the loadout for the missiles is light to average. For example, it can only carry 12 Harpoons per missile bank. The end result is a compact fighter (Only 11 meters long) that has excellent maneuverability, excellent shielding, high cruise speed and high afterburner speed. The down side is it's cost due to the advance compact  power reactor technology and higher than average maintenance. As a result, only a few chosen squadrons in strategic locations are cleared for use.

A little story about these fighters and their weaponry.
In my 21st Battle Group campaign I'm gonna develop, They use the newly released UD-10 Kayser II gun as the weapon of choice to take on the advance Shivan fighter technology they have encountered. This gun was the end result of using current discoveries in Shivan advances and new GTVA overlapping beam riding technology to triple the weapon's output. Speaking of the gun technology, the Terrans and Vasudans combined all their weapon companies research divisions under a single research Institute. While this saved money, it also increased the base knowledge and expertise and this is why the UD-10 Kayser II was able to exist.

With all that aside, here is the GVF Shu:



Comments and suggestions are welcomed! However, I'm not gonna change much due to the difficulty with the UV map explained above. 

[Snail]

Hmm... It looks real good, but the 'wings' don't really seem to have much texture. I always saw the wings as sort of scales (like the Horus) rather than just grooves or stripes.

[Jadehawk]

I agree! Still a WIP I should mention. This is the first screen shot in the game environment and will make some changes soon.

[shiv]

Sexy job

[Harbinger of DOOM]

Ow ow ow, hot ****!!!

* Harbinger of DOOM dunks hands in liquid nitrogen *

Ahhhhh.......

[Galemp]

Now that is a hot cockpit! Well done!

Though I'm inclined to agree with Snail on the wings--I'd like to see them closer to the original Shu or the Horus. Again, you really need to up the contrast and increase variety in the browns (tan, gold, maroon, chocolate) on these skins to add interest.

For compatibility, could you show us a layout with 3+2 primary banks and 3 secondary banks?

[Akalabeth Angel]

    Wow that looks pretty good. Some old Vasudans getting some new texture lovin'.

     If you want to rescue a ship that really needs a new texture there's the: http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/GVF_Heptu. Though not sure how good the model is, but the texture certainly could be better. Though the texture's a lot better than anything I've done (ie nothing).

[Jadehawk]

Thanks all

Here is a shot that shows the loadout placements.

[ssmit132]

Great work as usual, Jadehawk.

[blowfish]

Not sure I like the blue glowy sections, but otherwise, awesome work

[lefkos]

i really like it!
your doing an awesome job

[eliex]

That looks really good! 

[Grimper]

It looks good, but it's going to be a pain in the ass to hit anything with those outer guns. You should swap the outer guns and the missile tubes around.

Go fly the Horus and you will see what I mean. The Ursa is another good example, you can only ever hit a fighter with one set of guns, not both.

[Jadehawk]

It looks good, but it's going to be a pain in the ass to hit anything with those outer guns. You should swap the outer guns and the missile tubes around.

Go fly the Horus and you will see what I mean. The Ursa is another good example, you can only ever hit a fighter with one set of guns, not both.

I went back and made a second version with 4 guns where the missiles were plus two of them in their original place next to the new guns. Missiles are now in the outer places where the guns used to be. But now only three missile tubs all in one bank. Still holds 24 Harpoons however.

Honestly, after playing this several times, to me, I see no difference in which is better and honestly again, I hit better with the first version! Dunno why, but maybe that's because I get better area coverage than the second version. I prefer the first one as I get two different missile banks.  But that's just my opinion! I want all your opinions and will release whatever the moral majority wants.

[NGTM-1R]

This version appears to be a remodel in addition to a retexture, and it largely destroys the birdlike aesthetic that connected the Shu to existing Vasudan fighters such as the Serapis. It no longer "fits" in a lineup of FS craft, which is a serious and endemic problem with many mods unfortunately. The cockpit area is stupidly, ridiculously large and appears to be a cut-and-paste of the Ulysses. I know what the existing Shu looks like well, I work with it a lot in SA; this largely ruins it for small and debateable gains.

[Aardwolf]

The arrangement reminds me of the Scourge from StarCraft.

[Jadehawk]

This version appears to be a remodel in addition to a retexture, and it largely destroys the birdlike aesthetic that connected the Shu to existing Vasudan fighters such as the Serapis. It no longer "fits" in a lineup of FS craft, which is a serious and endemic problem with many mods unfortunately.

Since when are we supposed to follow the same thing over and over and over? Is it cannon and a law that we are supposed too? Sounds like a recipe for creative disaster to me. Things change for a reason in real life and I cannot see why we can't change things in this game either. So get used to it and as for the model it's self, I had ZERO, ZIP, NADA to do with it as it was available in a model dump. If you don't like it, by all means please provide or make a better new one and I would love to try texturing that one.

The cockpit area is stupidly, ridiculously large and appears to be a cut-and-paste of the Ulysses. I know what the existing Shu looks like well, I work with it a lot in SA; this largely ruins it for small and debateable gains.

Again I ask you oh really? Have you actually gone and checked them both? I certainly did and do not believe these two were one and the same at all. The only thing I see the same is the overall basic shape and even that, there is much difference between them both in shape and size.

I'm gonna give you advice here, before you try to rip and trash someone's thread, it's considered a good idea to back up your claims with substantial proof to support your point. If you would have done that, I would most likely have taken you more seriously. Also, try to be more constructive when you criticize someone's post. It would be more acceptable and more helpful to the individual and surely be taken more seriously by others. 

[Jadehawk]

Update time

Revised the details here and there. Looks better in my opinion.

[Grimper]

I'm gonna give you advice here, before you try to rip and trash someone's thread, it's considered a good idea to back up your claims with substantial proof to support your point. If you would have done that, I would most likely have taken you more seriously. Also, try to be more constructive when you criticize someone's post. It would be more acceptable and more helpful to the individual and surely be taken more seriously by others. 

Ooooooh *Burn*

Someone get him some ice

[Droid803]

I checked the original model.
The cockpit is the same. This one is just shiny, the old one not shiny.