Once upon a time, I modeled [this ship](http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=164303) and I never released it because the mesh would only hold up properly in LightWave and it was a very inefficient mesh. Not properly optimized with a very heavy polygon count. So, I decided that it was time to create an updated version. I grew up building scale models, so that's the way my mind works when I model. I just keep sticking greebles and nurnies on top of primitive shapes until I've got something that remotely resembles what's in my head. All tris and quads, zero n-gons and a very light polygon count. :o) Cheers!

Mind Over Matter
"If you don't mind, then it don't matter."

Started the *greeble-n-nurnie* process... I tend to crawl from front to back... and then I go back again with more detail with each pass.

Stonemason suggested that I post a couple of Poser figures with these just to show the intended scale of these things. Not sure if anyone is interested in this approach to modeling, but I thought I'd share anyways. :o)

Cheers! M
Message edited on: 01/29/2006 09:57

Message edited on: 01/29/2006 10:05

Mind Over Matter
"If you don't mind, then it don't matter."

nicely done my freind

Thanks for sharing. This just cleared up a miconseption that I had about modeling. I thought everything was made from a single object the was extruded and re-extruded. Now I can stop pulling out what's left of my hair and try this approach:) Stew451

Hi Stew, For hard surface models like this, where you don't expect to do any deformations (i.e. twisting, bending, stretching, morphing) I think that this approach to modeling works just fine. Otherwise the "unimesh" approach to modeling is absolutely necessary. Hard surface models that explode are another matter. You might need to model "guts" and "innards" to simulate chunks of debris. Breaks and tears in surfaces also need to be modeled in advance. You might need to model in specific areas with a denser mesh that can twist and curl. My piece of unsolicited advice is to plan out what your intentions are with the model, and choose the most suitable approach. Thanks for dropping by... I'll keep you updated here. :o) Cheers! M

Mind Over Matter
"If you don't mind, then it don't matter."

i really like the little poser guys for scale, need one of these to drive down the highway, to compete with the soccer mom's in their minivans.. ;) J.B.

hanks Moebius87:)

Hello Moe, long time no see. I dunno if the model is finished or not, if it is then I have a suggestion. You might wanna add a bit more detail to the middle/back of the vehicle. As it is, my eyes kept wandering to the front of it where all the details are, by adding more details to the back, the design would look more balance. just my 2 cents. :)

Hiya PT... long time no see, mate... been a while. :o) Nah, this model is far from done. I just haven't had enough time to do anything... real life is getting in the way again. I've had a bit of time to work on this a little more... and as you might have noticed... you've read my mind. I will be adding nurnies and greebles to this all over... a little bit at a time. :o) Cheers! M

Mind Over Matter
"If you don't mind, then it don't matter."

Lookin sweet Moe, your placement of those lil people reminds me of archviz for some reason. lol Just curious, do I detect ambient occ. in your render? I notice dark areas around mesh intersections. Look forward to the final version. PS. still got same email address? might hit you up with a couple emails just to say hello and ask about Thailand, might go there sometime this year if I got enough money. heh...

Yes, just a wee bit of ambient occlusion to make the chalk render a bit more interesting. It's got a long way to go to this one... there's still some interiors that need modeling. Yes, I'm still at the same email address... and I am still here in Thailand. Let me know, so the wife and I can meet up with you for dinner or something. :o) Cheers! M

Mind Over Matter
"If you don't mind, then it don't matter."

Wife?!? wow... a lot has indeed happened hehehe... By the time I got to Thailand, there could be Moe Jr. already lol All the best Moe, with the family and the everything else. Ps. I wanna see gun turrets on that model for the next update :P

Aye, PT... I went and got hitched early this year. Just before I turned 40. :o) Here's an update... sorry, there's not going to be too much in the way of gun turrets for this model. I might add in a few later on, but this flying brick is really just a lander... for dropping stuff dirtside from a larger vessel in orbit. I think I'm going to post one little Poser guy per update. Just to see how many of these little fellas I can cram into a render. Let me know when you're coming through. :o) Cheers! M

Mind Over Matter
"If you don't mind, then it don't matter."

your always excellent with the modeling and this is no different.. excellent work and detailing.. one day i hope to be able to model half as well as you do Moe... ty for sharing .. your very tallented

Here's the incomplete underside of the LV-X9. I still need to model in some supplementary thrusters on the underside and work out the landing gear. It was suggested that I go for a six-point landing gear configuration... but I think I will attempt a five-point set-up. Cheers! M

Mind Over Matter
"If you don't mind, then it don't matter."

The 8 thrusters would be for more precise landings like on rough terrain, but if all four thrusters on one side were fired they would also create a roll effect...for that design the front part would need modified slightly to make room for the front pair. The landing struts would actually be about the size of that face, able to drop down then foldrotate out. That'd be alot of weight, but i'm not sure how to fit much more on the bottom of that as it is...the balace would be ok though with the weight of the cockpit and controls in the front, and the reactorengines in the back. I like the main thruster design, very cool and of course the rest of the model looks great.

Well, at least a single twin gun turret just for defense ;) I got an idea, those 4 rounded things at the side with holes in them, you can rotate them around like those VTOL thing on a Harrier. That way you'll only have to model a couple more thrusters at the bottom. Moe, can you tell me how you keep smooth inorganic surface in poly modelling? Do you model low res mesh and smooth it out or do you model the final shape straight away? I always use NURBS for modelling inorganic stuff. I'll let you know when I'm goin but could be as late as December lol

Ummm... actually, that is exactly what those round thruster drum like things are on the four corners. But, I will add in a few more thrusters on the bottom arranged on the sides to assist this *"flying brick"* when it needs to do rolls. Render above shows the front drums rotated -65 and the rear drums rotated 65. To redirect full thrust to the main engines I would simply roll the drums to a fully closed position. Keeping them smooth... hmmm... I model the final shape right away and keep an eye on my smoothing angle at all times. It's tedious, but you can control every single point and polygon without wasting too many polygons. Cheers! M

Mind Over Matter
"If you don't mind, then it don't matter."

Wow Moebius Outstandin Job ....Yeah can understand the high poly count as I've have been there myself.....You Once Agian have made me look in Aw ......Bravo :)

sgtprotex1@netscape.net

University of Pheonix Alumni 2008
AA Criminal Justice Degree
BA Criminal Justice Degree

Currently study in Parapsychology

I've completed the greebling on the top along the spine of the ship. Side panels, side turrets, ramp, landing gear... and the list goes on and on... LOL! Cheers! M

Mind Over Matter
"If you don't mind, then it don't matter."

IceWolfX... I've taken your suggestion. :o) Here's an update of the underside... Cheers! M

Mind Over Matter
"If you don't mind, then it don't matter."

Ok... last of the updates for the day. I've comlpleted the detailing on the top and I've modeled in the ramp. I'm going to tackle the landing gear next... still not decided on the best means of mechanically configuring this, but I'm sure I'll be able figure it out. :o)

Cheers! MMessage edited on: 02/05/2006 11:42

Mind Over Matter
"If you don't mind, then it don't matter."

awsome work M!

Zeno [LightWave] ... AUDI A3 (wip) Mitchell Library (wip) ...

Wow. You should make like a tut or something, dude. :) I so want to learn how to do this kind of modeling! Maybe just a workflow timelapse...you don't even need dialouge. Just seeing the full process would be enough. drool

Thanks, T... :o) I wish I could teach something useful here, but this is all primitives and extrustions layered on top of each other, layer on top of layer. Here's an update with the sides done and the turrets in place. Guns need to go into the turrets. Still need to do the underside with the landing gear, but it's getting there slowly. Cheers! M

Mind Over Matter
"If you don't mind, then it don't matter."

"I wish I could teach something useful here" Oh but you have: "this is all primitives and extrustions layered on top of each other, layer on top of layer." :)

Yeah, I kinda knew that it was built from primitives and extrusions but my mind has trouble "seeing" where to place details and stuff...I guess it's practice and good design sense (when it comes to vehicles, I lack that). Still, a timelapse would be sweet (hint hint nudge nudge).

Hey moe, got any close up renders? I'm just wondering how it looks up close. I love the details but that much on a military transport kinda gives me the impression that the vehicle is a bit vulnerable to attack.

That's what escorts are for, lol. Hiya PT.

D'OH! lol Heya Teyon. I meant as in fragile, too easy to get shot down. BTW, love your centaur model Teyon.

The sides look a lot cooler now Moe, like how this is coming along!

I think I'm done... :o) Cheers! M

Mind Over Matter
"If you don't mind, then it don't matter."

sweet man..really nice work feels chunky & kind of evil at the same time,I can imagine a render for this already Cheers!

Cg Society Portfolio

no your not moe, there is no textures :P j/k looks amazing moe

Here are a few detail images of the mesh work for this model. Even though I just throw primitives and simple geometry on top of each other, I like to keep my meshes clean, simple and neat. While I don't do the actual uvmapping myself, it helps stay inside the lines when the lines are drawn out clearly. Thanks for all the comments, encouragement, feedback and criticisms. All appreciated. :o) Cheers! M

Mind Over Matter
"If you don't mind, then it don't matter."

fantastic detail and clean mesh.

for some free stuff i made
and for almost daily fotos

GREAT CONCEPT Moe. Truely awesome!

@Phlegm_Thrower, You may be slightly dissappointed at the small gun turrets but what Moe hasn't told you yet is that the 7 panels on the upper part of each side open up to reveal a cursed pirate crew manning very large cannons filled with grapeshot and cannister. Moe is sneaky like that - there's always a cool surprise up his sleeve. ;-)

Before they made me they broke the mold!
http://home.roadrunner.com/~kflach/

Phlegm, hey, this model is awesome. Far supperior than anything I could think up in my mind. The daydreams I've already had of seeing that in an unreleased verison of a movie like Starship Troopers (dropping off backup - or freshmeat depending on how you look at it). Or in a new battle action movie on a unknown planet like the XBox360 game Gears of War or Lost World. My thoughts runnest over in daydreams. but the ultimate would be, this turning into a tabletop three or four cup cupholder! I guess I'll get to work on my animation scene. I'll be checking this thread regularly. Thanks for the heads up on Moe's surprises. I really look forward to seeing them! This MY kinda 'eye candy'. :)

bloody hell..thats one sweet model

I know that this is still the **3D Modeling Forum**, but I did want to share the finished modeling product. I hope no one minds too much.

Here are a few stills from the animation I put together. The textures are all temporary seamless tiles and procedurals. You can have a good laugh at it here.

It's only a six second animation, but I think that perhaps for a landing vessel of this scale the entire landing sequence should last much longer. I've also discovered that I forgot to envelope the opacity of the hypervoxels over the life span of the particles. If I ever get around to re-doing the animation, I know I've learned something here. :o)

Thank you very much for all your feedback.

Cheers! M

Mind Over Matter
"If you don't mind, then it don't matter."

Looks pretty good to me. Great job.

very nice work as usual moe! its great how you take something so 'simple' and make it look so complex =)

the animation turned out pretty sweet my freind, now that it's landed where is the drone troopers marching out to do battle?

I have no probs with full renders in the forum, just the gallery. :) Wires are always helpful in a thread but it's nice to lay down a full render now and then. Love it buddy...which gives me an idea.