[Spoon]

Ray Mk III
Your average multi role fighter.





I would like feedback on how to make this more awesome looking. Around 1500 poly's so far, still got budget left.

In case you might be wondering on the 'MkIII' part and what happened to I&II.

This is the MkI
Don't ask about the MkII 

[Mobius]

Looks like a fusion between a Terran and a Kilrathi fighter...

Good job on the insignia - did you add it to the texture? Maybe you used the specific insignia options instead?

This is the MkI
Don't ask about the MkII 

The second phrase reminds Jecht from Final Fantasy X...

[Angelus]

Me likes the MkIII design

[Getter Robo G]

Improvement suggestions:

your engine nozzels
Your guns
And make a defined cockpit frame so you can map a proper texture over it unless you go the cockpit model route. I don't bother with that cause I am just a converter... And a very minor kitbasher.

[Spoon]

Good job on the insignia - did you add it to the texture? Maybe you used the specific insignia options instead?

Added it to the texture yes.

your engine nozzels
Your guns
And make a defined cockpit frame so you can map a proper texture over it unless you go the cockpit model route. I don't bother with that cause I am just a converter... And a very minor kitbasher.

I agree that the engine nozzels don't look that good, I don't really know what to do with them at this point. Also, once the thrusters are on in game, you won't really see that part anymore.
How do you suggest I improve on the guns?
It won't get an exterior cockpit, for several reasons 

Me likes the MkIII design

Good to hear 

[Getter Robo G]

I take it you've never seen my conversions...

Mapping a separate texture over a plain barrel can give the illusion of complexity.

Or you can model some med poly ones, or cheat and use weapon pofs over your fire points liek Steve-o's weapon pack!  Also Nuke Mod's weapons add on the pof.

NUkemods ROTATING gatling guns added to pof via table (Steve-O's Lancer/Nuke's ttable)


Or you can extrude and bevel flat faces/boxes and use a hole texture or glow map to make missile racks or surface lasers evident...(Aldo's banshee)


Or you can use a combination of slightly more model detail and more complex texture... (Kreeargh/UW's Model, my kitbash and re-texture)




Depending on what you want seen you can make better nozzels for under 500-3000 polys no problem


I like shaped ports with either flaps or solid nozzels.
("Gunryu" tribute to Captain Tylor - Not exact, but it was a happy coincidence from the Starshatter Community, exact artist escapes me atm).



So I hope some of these examples broaden yuor horizons...

[Spoon]

Once again thanks for a good post with examples Getter. It certainly did broaden my horizon.
I tried some stuff but couldn't get anything I liked out of it though, so not much improvement on the guns for now. I also spend the whole day (not kidding) trying to texture. I. can't. Texture. to. save. my. life.
Eventually I just got frustrated and slapped the texture map of the Thor on it.

It's frustrating that I know how to handle the tools needed for texturing, I just can't get anything nice looking. 


Changed the back a bit.

[Getter Robo G]

Don't feel bad it's a very good model and texture job.

My limits were the GTC Cube... I even managed to texture it.. I cheated but hey it's good enough for borg right?


But anyway if you have trouble with a specific texture look try rotating it. I do that a lot with gun or metallic textures with straight lines or dark areas. Sometimes I can get them to line up just right. This only has a chance of working if flat planes are mapped and not triangles or weird shapes. Tiled textures.

I know it's hard to see but the gray texure on these has lines and help separate a port from the barrel and other minor details not seen at that distance. You can plan these or just find "happy coincidences."



Hard to do when some of the things I convert I have to knock OFF 30-60 textures to get them in game...
At least when trying to keep the spirit visually of the orginial.

[Spoon]

I'm such a stuborn person, if I can't get it right after working on it the whole day... i'll just continue until deep into the night. 
So yeah, here's something alternative:





Pretty weird huh?
I'll just accept the fact I can't texture a normal good looking ship hull.

[Getter Robo G]

That's fine, that's what RE-textures are for (like me and Jadehawk)... 

I would say one thing, those two top back flaps...
Instead of keping them perfectly square, how about tapering the back edges in a little, either sharp or rounding them.

  Know what I mean?

[ssmit132]

So yeah, here's something alternative:
*snip*
Pretty weird huh?
I'll just accept the fact I can't texture a normal good looking ship hull.

That's actually quite good. Definitely unorthodox, but that doesn't matter. I like it.

[Spoon]

That's actually quite good. Definitely unorthodox, but that doesn't matter. I like it.

Good to hear, I guess i'm happy as long as people don't want to stab their own eyes out after seeing my textures 

That's fine, that's what RE-textures are for (like me and Jadehawk)... 

I would say one thing, those two top back flaps...
Instead of keping them perfectly square, how about tapering the back edges in a little, either sharp or rounding them.

  Know what I mean?

Hey, if you and Jadehawk wanna go crazy with retexturing my stuff, then please by all means 

Not much of an update, just felt like throwing the ship into the game early. Still got to do some adjusting on the texture and add some normals later.

[Spoon]

Trying my hand at capital ships now.



In game this gives a bit of a cartoony/toy look when fully lit.
With some shadows and lighting it looks suprisingly decent (opinions may vary  )


i'd love to do a animated glow map for the red stripe but I still have to figure out how to do that yet.

[Spoon]

Don't be shy people...
i'd love to hear some feedback.

[Rodo]

I don't like that egg thing, the rest looks good.

You could replace it with a big artillery turret or something else.

and try making the fins on the back side a little more big and long so they stick out of the model-

well that's what I'm thinking of, but I'm no modder so don't take it like an experts advise ^^

[Getter Robo G]

Spoon I am not allowed to post a certain pic (Someone would scream at me)...

But, it reminds me of a M7 Carrier and a MacrossSDF style cruiser from the down first front angle shot!
Just needs soem refinement, but definately got something there!

 

I hope you know what I am talking about.


[EDIT!]  Hehe found it!

Macross (UNSPACY) Bream Frigate



Same style front gun, that's what reminded me.

[Spoon]

I don't like that egg thing, the rest looks good.

You could replace it with a big artillery turret or something else.

and try making the fins on the back side a little more big and long so they stick out of the model-

well that's what I'm thinking of, but I'm no modder so don't take it like an experts advise ^^

You don't have to be an expert modeller/modder to give valid criticism/advice
'egg thing' dully noted, i'll try to make it seem more like glass and less like... egg 
Making the backfins longer means i'll have to adjust the shield mesh to be more form fitting. i'll leave them this size for now.

Spoon I am not allowed to post a certain pic (Someone would scream at me)...

But, it reminds me of a M7 Carrier and a MacrossSDF style cruiser from the down first front angle shot!
Just needs soem refinement, but definately got something there!

 

I hope you know what I am talking about.


[EDIT!]  Hehe found it!

Macross (UNSPACY) Bream Frigate
<snip>

Same style front gun, that's what reminded me.

The resemblance is certainly there, though I like the design of the one you posted a lot more then my own one
Could you point out in a bit more detail where I could refine the design more?

[Getter Robo G]

Hmmm..  Ok well since I don't really know what you have in mind for the design I would first say how about rounding the edges of those protrusions.

The two underneath and the 4 off the back engine block? That would make them smoother looking and change the feel of the model (just a suggestion).


Oh and would you mind posting your original fighter? I might want to mess with it later if that's ok with you?
 

[Spoon]

The MkI or III? .pof or .max?

[starlord]

Hey spoon, I once recall that yoseph from the EOTP MOD was actively looking for a few fighter designs.

You can find the MOD page here, should you be interested to help:

http://www.cambium.com/eotp/news.htm

best regards.