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Post by Centurus on Mar 13, 2005 3:23:37 GMT -5
This is a kitbash WIP of WZ's TMP Akula and U.S.S. Valiant. I contacted WZ himself for permission to do this. Now this is a very minor and simple bash. I replaced the original nacelles with those from the Valiant, as well as replaced the entire saucer with that from the Valiant. As far as bashing the mesh, she's done, and I can't see any holes anywhere in the ship. Texture-wise, there's only so much I can do since I'm still relatively new to the whole kitbashing area, and don't have much time to learn new tricks. I used the neck texture from the Valiant for the new pylons, but don't know how yet to update the weapons pod textures so that the texture scheme matches with the rest of the ship. The concept is a 24th Century pre-Dominion War refit, for use as a testbed for the equipment that would eventually go into the Valiant. What do you guys think?        |
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Post by Atolm on Mar 13, 2005 20:47:07 GMT -5
I'd like to see it...personally,
All I get are "x's
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Post by Centurus on Mar 13, 2005 23:46:18 GMT -5
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Post by 0mega1 on Mar 14, 2005 0:00:02 GMT -5
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Post by Chris Johnson on Mar 14, 2005 12:03:06 GMT -5
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Post by Atolm on Mar 14, 2005 12:38:03 GMT -5
OOOOOOOOO Pretty  but I love the Akula ship config |
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Post by Centurus on Mar 14, 2005 21:07:00 GMT -5
Thanks for the positive comments. Although I did the bash, I have admitted many times that this bash is roughly the extent my bashing abilities can go, since I don't know how to mesh new parts if necessary. But yes, I feel it's a nice start for a 24th Century Akula.
Some people in the SFC community I showed it to said I shouldn't do it, because it wouldn't make any sense to refit such an old ship for any purpose, and that another ship would have been used for a testbed for Valiant-refit tech. Some of these people also said I should just have made the Mark 6 into a Lost Era Constitution or a pirate Constitution, and that no one wanted old ships designs refitted to TNG or post-TNG specs.
Anyone here willing to help out in taking care of some of the texture ideas I have? Hell, if WZ himself is looking at this, well WZ, care to help finish her off? :-D :-D
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Post by Wicked Zombie on Mar 18, 2005 17:37:55 GMT -5
As I've said before, don't pay too much attention to ship critics. If you're satisfied with the ship or you want to make something, then to hell with anyone else. In the end, if someone doesn't like a ship for whatever reason, they certainly don't have to download it and it isn't going to hurt them if the model exists. I've got nothing against (constructive and tactful) criticism, but aside from blatantly obvious/stupid errors being pointed out, there isn't much reason to listen to it 99% of the time. Most people don't understand a modeler's viewpoint or motivation for a particular ship and they only have what is shown to them as a basis for their opinions. They aren't going to see a ship the same way the modder does. Besides which, ships like the Akula and Constitution have been used as late as the Dominion War so upgrading them wouldn't be a problem. In fact, it'd be a requirement if the ships were needed for any real ship-to-ship combat since decades old vessels wouldn't hold up for long against modern enemies. That was the whole basis for the Valiant/Republic upgrades - easy, cheap, but still formidable refits to older hulls to make up for the losses from the war. Whether they'd still be used after Starfleet recovered and had new, modern ships finished, is doubtful though. Of course, you don't really need a legitimate reason to make/kitbash a ship other than simply wanting to...or just being bored  |
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Post by Centurus on Mar 19, 2005 19:53:02 GMT -5
That's why I decided to resurrect this Akula project I did. As for the texture modifications I mentioned in the first post of this thread, those are actually things I want done. I'd go into detail in this thread, but would rather go into detail with someone one on one to bounce ideas off of.
But most definately, I feel the textures for the weapons pod and even the pylons need to be reworked, at the very least the weapons pod. Also, I don't know where to fit the Starfleet insignia on the ship, other than perhaps the rear of the saucer, which I could try on my own.
I got some of the ideas when I was working with Capt_Dawg on the Mark 4, which was mainly a texturebash. Not bad for a couple beginners if I do say so myself.
WZ, is it possible to get the registry font you use off of you, and maybe some basic instructions on how to apply them? I'd really be grateful.
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Post by Wicked Zombie on Mar 23, 2005 17:16:53 GMT -5
I used "Starfleet Bold Extended" for the main registries and "Federation Wide" for the nacelles. As for applying them, it depends on what program you're using.
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Post by Centurus on Mar 24, 2005 19:39:11 GMT -5
I've got Photoshop 7.0.1
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Post by Wicked Zombie on Mar 30, 2005 20:36:09 GMT -5
I don't have any experience with Photoshop since I use Paint Shop Pro. I'm sure someone out there knows an easy way to add registries with PS.
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Post by Centurus on Apr 26, 2005 6:06:41 GMT -5
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Post by Chris Johnson on Apr 26, 2005 13:51:26 GMT -5
I'm not fond of the name looking like that on the hull. It's too big and the curvature doesn't match the curvature of the registry number. Add to that, I believe both the dorsal name and registry number is improperly placed. But aside from all those needless nitpicks, I still think it's pretty good overall. You don't need to change anything as far as I'm concerned, it's your work.
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Post by Atolm on Apr 26, 2005 15:14:46 GMT -5
I like it!!!
nuff said...lol
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