Battlestar Galactica Viper WIP

[ElricMoroe]

Hello everyone I am new around here and figured I would post my current WIP even though it is nowhere near as good as the work I see around here. I am trying to get better at modeling so any C&C is welcome as I have a lot to learn. All textures are temporary stand-ins until the model is finished. I have kept it exact to the blueprints except 2 things the brake assembly on the front landing gear was added (because the model looked to much like a toy) and the front part of the rocket booster tube (I made it match the rear part instead of the tubes being exposed) I just felt that it looked better.
The front landing gear;

http://home.neo.rr.com/elricmoroe/images/LG1.jpg

The body or at least what I have done so far;
http://home.neo.rr.com/elricmoroe/images/viper.jpg

[VWporsche]

wow... looks pretty good. great detail.. even though i have no idea what its supposed to look like.. ;-D

[Aichi-Val]

nice, the top one reminds me of sumtin im workin on

[ElricMoroe]

Thanks guys,

I hope to have an update soon.

[ElricMoroe]

deleted

[RickStefani]

I was waiting for someone to build one of these. The mini series was awsome. I was nervous about a female Starbuck and think that might have been a slight mistaake even though they pulled it off.

On your model. Are you trying to biuld one of the newer Vipers from the mini series or one from the older TV show. It seems to have a mix of each. It seems torounded for the older ones and too hard for the newer ones. I know they are like MKII or something like that.

[Dirtyskillet]

The mini series was so cool. I bet there going to do a TV show. Good modeling. Amazing u remember the details of the fighters.

[RickStefani]

I was wrong and you ave the nose real well. I found something you probably have but I am posting it anyway.

[ElricMoroe]

Thanks for the comments,

Rick-thanks for posting the pic but that is not the one I am modeling ;) that is the 2rd version of the viper (mk2) mine is the mk1, I have the large blueprints from the original TV show. :cool: The only thing I have changed was I added a bunch of details that the original designs did not have, like the braking system on the front landing gear. On the other hand I have not changed the base shapes or design at all. The extra details are only being added so it does not look like a toy. I found a bunch of pics from the original TV show and the ships looked just like toys (probably because they were). At any rate I hope I am able to make them look a little more realistic then the originals but keep the old design. I may model one of the new ones later.

Dirtyskillet-Battlestar Galactica was one of my favorite shows growing up and I have always wanted to model some of the ships but never had the blueprints until now. I even have detailed cockpit blueprints, so lets see what I can do with them. :cool:

[RickStefani]

Can you E-mail me the blueprints at rstefani@belcan.com ? I would love to see them.

[ElricMoroe]

Well I would but I bought them and they cost quite a bit of money and to give them away would not be fair. :(

[RickStefani]

Understood. How about the name of the book or location you purchased it. I love detail Sci Fi stuff like that.

[ElricMoroe]

A friend of mine owns a collectables shop here in town and while he was buying and selling stuff he came across the set of blueprints, some guy in California had them. He knew that I would love to have them so he bought them from the guy for me. I have no idea where you could get another set but I could let him know that you are looking and see if he can find any more. The set I have has 64 full sized blueprints and cost me $300, but that is not much for the size and quality of these prints. Hell if you get a set of actual prints for a house they can cost more than that. Anyway it was a good investment for me as I am very happy with them.

[RickStefani]

Damb, that is sweet. I think 300 is out of my range right now but it is defenately not unreasonable. It has all dimensions? I am a mechanical drafter by trade so that might be fun doing an engineering model from them. We are all weird in what we consider fun.

[ElricMoroe]

Yes Rick they have all dimensions. :)

Oh and by the way modeling rivets sucks.

[ClayCreator]

Nice looking model there man, the Viper a cool starfighter. :)
I´ve seen those fighters in the movie, makes you wonder where the idea for Star Wars X-wing fighters came from eh? Lucas u copycat....:p

[RickStefani]

RIvet can be a pain. You could always bump map them as long as you are not going to do a close up.

ClayCreator, The people whoe did the models for the original Battlestar did the models for Star Wars so it then makes sense to the simularitys.

[ElricMoroe]

Thanks ClayCreator,

I used to wonder that also growing up as a kid. ;p

Rick-I want to go all out on this one. I don't want to fake anything. I am even going to model all the buttons on the console and screws if it has any. ;p

[TyKeiL]

good work so far,

are you even going to go so far as to make LOD levels so that your render times arent completly screwed up?

[ElricMoroe]

Thanks TyKeiL,

Nope no LOD, render times should be fairly low, seeing that I have a pretty beefy system.

[ElricMoroe]

I finally got some more time so here is an update. I have added many details and shaped things up a bit better. I am modeling the rear landing gears and wings now so hope to have a new screen shot of those soon. Anyways let me know what you all think.
http://home.neo.rr.com/elricmoroe/images/viper3.jpg

[ElricMoroe]

I got some more work done: added the rear landing gears (Still need to add the brake hoses to them) and started on the rear stabilizer fin. As always C&C are welcome.
http://home.neo.rr.com/elricmoroe/images/viper8.jpg

[MattyG]

Wow good work great detail

[ClayCreator]

Lol, great work man I can´t believe all the detail you put in the landing gear! :eek:

Looks cool man,can you post a rear view of the thrusters with the landing gear please?
I just wanna see how it looks when it lands. :D

[ironiC]

great model, i love that show btw

[ElricMoroe]

Thanks guys for all the kind words!

Keep in mind I still have a bunch of details to add, hell even the rear landing gears are not finished. :D
http://home.neo.rr.com/elricmoroe/images/Viper8b.jpg

[MattyG]

Can't wait to see the engine effects!

[ElricMoroe]

Small update,

http://home.neo.rr.com/elricmoroe/images/viper13.jpg

[RickStefani]

Very cool. Keep it coming.

[ElricMoroe]

I have started on the cockpit, still very rough but here is what I have.
http://home.neo.rr.com/elricmoroe/images/cockpit1.jpg

[ClayCreator]

Absolutely gorgeous, I love it the engines look great.
Nice start on the cockpit as well. :)

[ElricMoroe]

Thanks!

Small update, I started on the details finally.

[ElricMoroe]

one more,