Well, I've finally managed to get the spline modeler to work with me after about three years of mediocre vertex pipe modeling, and am trying to go for that sort of over-detailed SF type stuff that people seem to go for in my genre, hopefully so that I can start selling my stuff, or at least getting people to take it for free. Somehow, I think I'm still missing something. Does anyone have any suggestions? Other than things about it looking like a pen cap? I've heard that one already. Thanks in advance.

It's a VERY cool design. Quite original. I like the ring; it makes me think it's some sort of space field induction coil or something. I also like the piping you have from the cockpit to the head of the ship. Cool touch. Notes for improvement (from my perspective, obviously; take these comments as being worth what you've paid for them -- nothing). The fact that the cockpit looks to be recessed in the chevron shaped fuselage structure seems strange; there are windows (presumably so the pilot can see), but the view from them is blocked except for straight up and mostly ahead. I'd bring the cockpit up higher in the structure so the pilot could see to the sides (and even ahead). I'd love to see some kind of greebling (the term used for details on a physical model) around the outside of the ring; something that indicates there's equipment in there -- pipes, exposed bits of energy coils, little panels behind which technicians would adjust the trans-dimensional flow regulator or whatever, hand-holds for the technicians to climb up on the ship while they're working on it, that sort of stuff. Also, I'd like to see panels and seams hinted at in the texture of the metal; look at stills from Star Wars or Battlestar Galactica; every ship looks like it came off an assembly line and was riveted together from hundreds of machined pieces of metal. (Well, not Queen Amidala's ship, but that's a different aesthetic.) Sorry if I'm too long winded; I tend to be that way. I really like the design and would love to see it in animation. Keep us posted on its development.

Nice design...what is it? Before reading your comment, I thought it was some sort of muscle stimulation device. Then I looked again and the green section kind of looks like a cockpit. Which would make the white tube on the bottom a missile. Then again it looks like a shockstik that attached to the forearm. Yeah, I would have to agree with AzChip. Add shaders (texture mapping) to define the shape. And Pistola, when your done please post your final version.

Looks very cool. I don't have a whole lot to add to AzChip on this one. Unlike you, I am completely the opposite. I haven't gotten the vertex modeler to work for me as well as I'd like just yet. I think I have the spline modeler nailed down (at least reasonably). I wanna see the final! -Kix

-Kix

I'd say that big circle thing above and slightly behind the cockpit was an engine...how about something glowing in there with a bit of an aura... Brian

Agreed! Or, maybe a vortex with particles :>

I would, but my RDS glow effects are shot, and importing into Carrara involves a whole lotta fixing up. Here's a first attempt at "greebling", with a sorta chromed-over plate shader. I lost a lot of the highlight by giving it a strong bump map, but it's still essentially the same thing with the appearance of more detail.

Oh, and the cockpit's supposed to be kinda nested. My original design didn't have a noticeable cockpit at all, but I was talked into it. Pilot's supposed to be safer with most of the fighter wrapped around him, and picks up all his sensory input from the chromed block at the front, which has stuff on the other side. Since, when inserted into the game I'm setting up my current stuff for, the actual fighter is supposed to go at about 90kps and do a full turn in less than a second, a side view wouldn't help much.

I like it. Very cool design. I can't add anything that wasn't covered though. -Paul

I like it a lot - one suggestion - the ring has too few sides? try making it with more points so its a smoother curve.

I like the added greebling. It helps a lot, I think. As for the design feature of the hidden cockpit, I get your reasoning and will accept it as is..... The bump map is a little ragged; you might want to do some color stuff as opposed to a bump map -- you know, like the Enterprise in the movies -- varying shades of grey in a panel pattern; Then if you want raised panels, build them. (Or use Anything Grooves, I guess, though I don't remember if you're in Carrara or RDS.) I like the pipe-box things on the outside of the ring. Very nice.... Keep working on it; it's very cool now -- it'll be amazing when your done!

I think that's mostly the render making the bump map look odd, since it's a procedural. One that doesn't come out with quite the right effect as a texture, unfortunately. Here's a texture map sample to provide a little color variation... I'm not sure whether this is the right direction for it or not.

I'm with everyone else... very nice, original design. (at least, I haven't see one like it). This last one looks like it's been shot up a bit. Cool work.

I like the extra texturing of this last one, but I would minimze the laser holes a bit like FWTempest said. Or are they bolts? If bolts, they're a little large. Maybe some grease stains around where the pipes attach?