The Bicycle Tires In Orbit by NefariousDrO
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Description
Continuing exerpts From "The Travels of Martin Leftwick, Wanderer and Observer" a popular post-war biography:
I am often amused at the stubborn behavior we humans often exhibit. It never fails when governments or companies name their stations, colonies, or even ships the rest of the population inevitably adopts their own, more colorful, name to use instead. It's as if we somehow resist allowing our conception of the universe to be defined by an impersonal organization. And even more so, we like our names to somehow represent the thing or place in a more direct and descriptive fashion.
All of which leads me to this station. Designated "Large Capacity Demonstrator 7" by the Hyde-Dynamics firm, it was almost immediately re-christened "the Bicycle Tires" by the engineers who were designing it! That name, of course, became the public's preferred name. Although there were a few other, well - suggestive will suffice, nicknames as well.
All of this ties into another interesting problem for ship and station engineers. Out in space, space is ironically an expensive commodity. The volume that can be contained in a breathable and usable unit is very pricey, and myriad methods are in play to make that somehow less expensive. Inflatable modules are perhaps the most common solution. They are easier to assemble and handle, tend to be more durable in space, and allow greater options for re-locating them later on.
This station was really meant as a demonstrator, testing a number of ideas and methods to determine what works and what needs to be reconsidered. For this purpose, it needed to be used as closely as possible to the intended purpose of the commercial product, so this became the home of the very engineers who developed it, and then worked on its successors. As stations go, it's probably the most intensely studied of any. It spawned some interesting and successful models, and continues to be used and modified even now.
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This model was built entirely in Bryce 6, mostly with textures of my own creation, but a few presets are there as well. As the story suggests, this was an experiment on my part with an idea I'm still not entirely sure how to execute, but I'm getting closer.
The planet was created in Photoshop, as were the stars and the nebula is a couple of photos of clouds. Compositing and other post working also done in Photoshop.
Enjoy the view, and as always comments and suggestions/critiques are highly encouraged.
Comments (26)
maudawg
...so I do hope there are plans to publish this story...or at least finish it for your Rendo fans...with all the renders of course...hmmmm?
blankfrancine
Stunning detail in this,Mike.
Ancel_Alexandre
Nice "tire", and great story! Maudawg is right, a website with all those pics and stories would be very nice!
CoreyBlack
Very nicely done! Love all the intricate detailing and textures. Really quite amazing realism. Great work here.
annie5
Love how you did this one! Cool tire..great texture and details/Ext work :)
Hubert
An impressive station!
tennesseecowgirl
terrific work!
wblack
I've enjoyed the story and the models you are crafting -- your prose is reminiscent of Asimov in his Foundation Trilogy, at least that is the feeling it evokes for me, excellent work!
geirla
Great details! I really like the "tire" texture.
grafikeer
Another well-modelled and textured piece...great backstory too!
kjer_99
Excellent modeling. Think it is one of my favorites. Great textures, too. Love the closeup POV. Very effective.
peedy
WOW, fantastic modeling and image! Great story! Corrie
preeder
WOW. Such complexity it looks great.
soffy
Impressive work and details,excellent**
pat40
Very impressive.
Richardphotos
really some talented modeling
gunsan
Fantastic creation, but very far apart from "my world" of imagination. have to admire your skill!
jocko500
this is wonderful done. the image and story
KnightWolverine
Amazing!
ia-du-lin
fantastic space station, great image
jmb007
beau velo!!
carlx
Excellent modeling, composition and sci-fi!!!
Madbat
I love these future histories of yours, and the modeling is excellent as usual. This one must have taken awhile to do!
RodS
Another unbelievably complex and magnificent structure, Mike! Incredible! I've only been playing with Bryce for a short time, but it's enough to appreciate the work that wnet into this. It must take forever to work all these details out. Fantastic work, my friend! One of these days I'll figure out how to work that material editor without crashing Bryce! LOL!
frogster
Wonderful work
DMWVCS
Creative work!!! David