[Thaeris]

If you're up for more suggestions, here's kind of what I had in mind for "scales," so-to-say:

...er, see the attachment.

The "organic" appearance might have been overdone in a spurt of creativity, but if reasonably applied might yield some impressive results. Well, at least in terms of looking like a machine mimicing an organic structure. But then being Shivan, you never can tell...

I also thought up a possible design for the lateral beams/cannons. They are in essence very scaled-down versions of the Lucifer's lateral weapons, rotated 45 degrees to fit between the scaly armor and the exposed structure aft of it. Once again, perhaps a little overdone, but it's merely an idea.

-Thaeris

[attachment deleted by Tolwyn]

[Hades]

I'd say try to model in the detail in the textures, that would probably look probably look better than anything else.

[Black Wolf]

Those scales look badass.

[Luis Dias]

Yes, I'm still open to suggestions, thank you Thaeris, those were my first ideas regarding the backside too, but the difference was, I'd put some ribs over it!

I have had less time now, and yesterday I tried to make the rear ribs in a completely different way, and it didn't turn out ok, so that was lost time. Today I had only half an hour, and so I only had time to try Raven's idea in a quick fast way. Perhaps tonight I'll have more time.

[attachment deleted by Tolwyn]

[Commander Zane]

I don't think tubes would be the best way either.

[Snail]

Not a fan of the tubes either...

[BlackDove]

I like the tubes, but there's nothing tubey about Shivans, so unfortunately, that's a blatant no-no.

Everything they need to connect, I'm sure is wireless.

[Kolgena]

The tubes might look better if they had a surrounding superstructure so that it didn't look like a bundle of cables.

And I recommend having the rib styling identical in the front and back. Otherwise, the ship might look a little messy.

[Commander Zane]

And have massively exposed engines?

[Kolgena]

Rib styling as the general feel and shape of the ribs. Obviously you'd have to fill it in. (still think the front part should be filled in with something as well, seeing as having lasers fly straight through it would be rather annoying.)

[Rodo]

I know there was another argument about turrets in the other thread but I must remind you that there's a beam turret on the lower part and it should be able to shoot through the middle of the body  (I hated that, many times killed in forced entry ), so make a two sided body there, do not fill it up.
Don't flame me please ^^

[SypheDMar]

The tubes might look better if they had a surrounding superstructure so that it didn't look like a bundle of cables.

Might look better if it's a thinner, too. Sorta like veins or arteries.

[Commander Zane]

I would still say that as a texture for unarmored areas (Of which I don't believe the Rakshasa has any), tubes are a good idea, but not as a form of direct structural design.

[Raven2001]

I'm not digging the tubes either

[Galemp]

How about, instead of just open tubes like that, you had a round core with round ribs running from front to back? Like a Gothic column.

[Thaeris]

Gothic column with scales? 

-Thaeris

[Commander Zane]

It might work...

[Snail]

Hmm. I still think something closer to the original texture would fit best. Perhaps a skeleton-like structure akin to the original model covering the tubes?

[ragingloli]

I was thinking about a more pronounced/thicker spine and a human like ribcage filled with something that look like inner organs with the ends of the ribcage sticking out of the underside like on the demon. Maybe the ribcage could be partially covered by carapace like armour as a transition to the back part that I would see as a full carapace.
I think that might look good.

[Aardwolf]

I liked ragingloli's drawing better 

Also, Thaeris' drawing looked like Marvin the Martian (before I zoomed in).