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Trans-Warp Starship Design-Request

CuttingEdge100

CuttingEdge100

Commodore
Commodore
I am in need of either a series of a good 2D or 3D artist who would be willing to help me conceive of a design which I had touched upon some time back.

The design that was to be a trans-warp capable heavy-cruiser similar to what the Excelsior was supposed to be. Design wise, the ship was essentially supposed to be a design out of a parallel-universe somewhere between Old-Trek and Nu-Trek. After a failed attempt in working out the original design, I have reworked the concept and have a design loosely based on the Sovereign Class with a variety of modifications which I now can more easily articulate.

Any takers?
 
1.what is your definition of Transwarp ?
2. what is your definition of Heavy Cruiser?
3.what do you think the Excelsior was supposed to be? (naval ship type)
WTF should nutrek have to do with it?

BTW I don't consider myself a 2D artist,but I like the black line drawings on white paper orthographic views for Starships.
 
Max Nex said:
1.what is your definition of Transwarp ?
2. what is your definition of Heavy Cruiser?
3.what do you think the Excelsior was supposed to be? (naval ship type)
WTF should nutrek have to do with it?

BTW I don't consider myself a 2D artist,but I like the black line drawings on white paper orthographic views for Starships.
Click to expand...

I'll answer your questions in the context of his request for artwork.

1. why does it matter?
2. why does it matter?
3. why does it matter?

and again, why does it matter?
 
ok, so as a method of procrastination I was inspired to look over your old thread. is something like this what you're interested in?
altexcelsior.png
 
WinstonSmith

I do plan on taking some characteristics from the earlier concept, but I'd prefer to have more sovereign class characteristics in the design, so I'd like to start from there.

I'm thinking to begin with having a saucer like this with a basic hull-form based around having the neck cut back to this line rather than merging under the saucer

The saucer design changes, I'd want to follow along would basically be the same as before: clipped sections on the side removed, other than the contours of the saucer, to remove the triangular top-section, the impulse engines, and the bridge (which I'd prefer to work out later).

I'm also planning on using a different nacelle design so that's not really needed yet.

This sounds fairly reasonable?
 
Try and understand that you're asking for someone to spend many, many hours working unpaid on your vague notion of a ship design. If I went into the fan fiction forum and asked someone to write me a novel based on a couple of simple ideas I've had, how many people do you think would jump at the chance to drop their own projects and create one for me? Would it come as a surprise if almost no one did?
 
Have to agree with Axeman here. It's good that you have a head full of ideas and designs and I'm sure everyone would urge you to continue having them.

I'm sure that if you asked someone to draw something with a high level of detail based on words alone, the result would be somewhat different. As I'm finding out on my own project, you have got to have a good idea of what you're going to model before you model it. Sometimes small tweaks to meshes can involve a lot of time and effort. I struggle to realize some shapes even though I have reference to lots of images of the TMP Enterprise. I'm crap at modelling but struggle on because I'm determined to get it done.

You will also see there are threads where people have taken other peoples 2D drawings and modelled them because they like what they see. So all I can suggest is that you start drawing your ideas. You don't have to be good at freehand drawing - just have the following tools - graph paper, tracing paper, a ruler, a flexy curve (used these in school and university to draw curves - ah the good ol' days before Excel), and fine grade pencils.

If your ideas are based on existing designs then trace out the parts you want to use. Nice thing about this is that you can move parts around to match your new configuration, then pencil your ideas into the gaps. If you have a printer, you can rescale a part, print it and then trace from it.

Also google "technical drawing" - you might find some ideas there on presentation or how to do shapes. This drawing for an old Lotus might help.

http://www.lotusespritturbo.com/Lotus_Esprit_Technical_Drawing_Autocar.gif

If you can present a drawing (with some detail) with front, back, side, top and bottom views, (and it's interesting) people will be more happy to realize your designs in 3D.

Hope this helps.

S.O.
 
The Axeman

Try and understand that you're asking for someone to spend many, many hours working unpaid on your vague notion of a ship design.
Click to expand...

Actually, the idea is to design by part -- design first the saucer, then the engineering hull, then the nacelles and so forth and tweak everything from there. I don't really need 3D design and a series of 2D drawings would be fine.


Science Officer

You will also see there are threads where people have taken other peoples 2D drawings and modelled them because they like what they see. So all I can suggest is that you start drawing your ideas.
Click to expand...

That's the problem -- I can't really draw too well (poor hand-eye coordination -- it's been a problem since I was 22) If I could draw it, I would. I wouldn't mind 2D art instead of 3D. It still is fine for my purposes.
 
Hi CE100,

That's why I suggested the tools I did. Freehand drawing can be tricky, but add a ruler and flexy curve into the mix (and possibly a protractor), you should be able to take your time and end up with a nicely drawn line. Tools can allow you to rest your hand on the paper while you draw. It will be frustrating, but with practice you will improve. You've got to have patience.

Back in my teenage years, I had a detached retina that required surgery (eye looked like mincemeat for a few months). Although it was difficult having one eye covered by a shield, I still managed to do a still life drawing and a painting for my O-level art (and get an A). Even now my 3D perception isn't fantastic (I'm always careful walking down stairs and can't play golf) and have poor central vision in the one eye.

As I mentioned before, translating words into images can be tricky. I know that this issue has struck before on one of your previous threads. IMHO to really move your ideas on, coming up with simple technical drawing-style drawings has to be the way forward.

Cheers,
S.O.
 
Science Officer

You ever got in a car-crash when you were 22 and ended up with chronic headaches, hearing-loss in one year, and some loss of fine-motor coordination and hand-eye coordination?
 
You can type and work a PC, you can do basic art stuff. I'm colourblind, need glasses to read anything smaller than a headline and have RSI issues in my right hand, and I can still knock out a picture now & again. Trying to guilt people into doing dozens of hours of work for you is not the way ahead.

We've told you before on the previous occasions you've posted here, we'd much rather you try yourself and we help you than you come here getting annoyed when people wont do unpaid work for you or dont contribute quick enough for you. There are toddlers out there who can make cut & paste pictures, no one believes you cant do anything. For sure it wont be as good as you'd like, but it would be a good start and show that you mean business and are not just mooching for people to do stuff for you because you cant be bothered to even try. Try, you might get to like it.
 
Not to pile on here, but didn't the OP make a similar request a few months ago and didn't that thread descend into chaos due to lack of specificity in the request for a ship design?
 
CuttingEdge100 said:
Science Officer

You ever got in a car-crash when you were 22 and ended up with chronic headaches, hearing-loss in one year, and some loss of fine-motor coordination and hand-eye coordination?
Click to expand...

Of course not and I'll take that comment as one borne out of frustration. I'm sorry to learn about the nature of your problems - too many a car crash is a life-changing event.

Look the previous posts were to find a constructive way of moving things forward and I can't think of anything else that might help. So I'll leave it at that and hope you find a way to get your ideas realized.

Cheers,
S.O.
 
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