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Author Topic: [BFG] - Designing new ship types - 3d printing madness  (Read 151068 times)

Offline Malika

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Re: [BFG] - Designing new ship types (Homeworld inspired)
« Reply #210 on: June 08, 2014, 09:45:02 AM »
Little update, I've also added the dimensions:

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Offline Malika

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Re: [BFG] - Designing new ship types (Homeworld inspired)
« Reply #211 on: June 12, 2014, 05:42:29 PM »
The big guns on the escorts have been bugging me for a while now, so I decided to make some variants!



The ship on the top/left (depending on which pic you're looking at) is a carrier craft, launching waves of fighters to intercept incoming ordnance, but are also capable of launching their own bomber waves to deal with larger targets. Its torpedo tubes are replaced for plasma batteries.

The other two ships are basically the same model, but with different weapons. Instead of launch bays, it is armed with additional turrets. Whilst not that effective against more armored targets, mass waves of fighters, bombers and torpedoes don't stand a chance against this configuration. Its prow weapon can either be the traditional torpedo tubes or plasma batteries.

All in all the models should be relatively easy to cast, the only potential challenge might be the launch bays and the plasma batteries, so I need to see whether this could be done as a single piece model, or if I might have to cut it up.
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Offline Malika

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Re: [BFG] - Designing new ship types (Homeworld inspired)
« Reply #212 on: June 17, 2014, 01:47:48 PM »
Whilst the escorts are as good as done (besides the potential challenges regarding their casting), I've been paying some attention to the light cruiser again:

Still haven't started on the back of the ship yet, but I did work on a variant carrying plasma batteries...

In the meantime I've also delved into something different...


It's still a very early WIP. A lot of the structure still needs to be thought out, the plasma batteries will need some serious tweaking. One thing I'd like is that the domes are meant to be see through, the four outer structures would contain vast forests in their domes, but I doubt that would be a real possibility, kinda tricky to do perhaps? I guess it will take some experimentation. :)
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Offline Malika

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Re: [BFG] - Designing new ship types (Homeworld inspired)
« Reply #213 on: June 18, 2014, 07:45:30 AM »
By the way, remember my old Absolutist Light Cruiser? It got painted up by Icesword from Miniatures of the North!



« Last Edit: June 18, 2014, 07:48:50 AM by Malika »
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Offline marell le fou

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Re: [BFG] - Designing new ship types (Homeworld inspired)
« Reply #214 on: June 18, 2014, 10:51:39 PM »
Nice ! The casting layers do not appear at painting.

Offline Malika

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Re: [BFG] - Designing new ship types (Homeworld inspired)
« Reply #215 on: June 18, 2014, 11:00:00 PM »
Thanks a lot!

In the meantime I'm still working on the station. And yes, the see through parts are separate components. I'm wondering if they'll work in see-through resin, the domes are about 1mm thick. :)
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Offline Malika

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Re: [BFG] - Designing new ship types (Homeworld inspired)
« Reply #216 on: June 19, 2014, 07:46:14 AM »

I'm getting more and more tempted to make the central dome more akin to the external ones, so see-through. But I need to ponder a bit about it...




Quickly put together another escort variant. Needed a ship that can deliver a real punch against bigger targets, so...plasma batteries!
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Offline horizon

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Re: [BFG] - Designing new ship types (Homeworld inspired)
« Reply #217 on: June 23, 2014, 10:30:42 AM »
You keep getting better and better.

But all those Imperial equivalents, I need Craftworld Eldar. ;)

Offline Malika

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Re: [BFG] - Designing new ship types (Homeworld inspired)
« Reply #218 on: June 23, 2014, 12:24:21 PM »
Thanks! :)

Regarding the Eldar ships, I have been pondering on doing a faction that sort of looks like the Eldar. My main problem however is that SketchUp really sucks when it comes to organic shapes. And if I were to do Eldar, I'd like them to be organic like Jes Goodwin's concept art or the original Space Fleet models. It's a bit tricky, but I might give it a shot...
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Offline Malika

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Re: [BFG] - Designing new ship types (Homeworld inspired)
« Reply #219 on: June 23, 2014, 03:43:44 PM »
I quickly started on some fighter craft. Whilst I'm happy with their general shape, I don't really like the four barreled prow weapon. I'm thinking of replacing it for a prow similar to the larger ships, sort of to keep it uniform.



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Offline marell le fou

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Re: [BFG] - Designing new ship types (Homeworld inspired)
« Reply #220 on: June 24, 2014, 12:05:01 AM »
Franckly, before i read your message, i just thought that rear was the back, and they where propelled with 4 reactors... So yes, something is wrong.

Offline Malika

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Re: [BFG] - Designing new ship types (Homeworld inspired)
« Reply #221 on: June 24, 2014, 10:19:21 AM »
Yeah, I know. I tweaked the fighter design last night, but it still looked 'backwards'. Now I've added a tail to the aircraft. For some reason they kinda remind me of the old Epic-scaled Thunderbolt fighter and te Wraith Fighter from Star Craft, that...and WWII aircraft!

Oh yeah, for some reason I also started making variants...



Fighters (on the left) and interceptors (on the right). The interceptor is basically the two wings put together, with the body of the fighter removed. But considering the size, the thing ended up looking like an aircraft of its own.



Heavy fighters (left) and bombers (right). The bomber is basically a 'double bodied fighter', kinda borrowed that idea from the Star Wars TIE-Bomber. The heavy fighter is a beefier version of the fighter, maybe some sort of long range craft. I kinda imagined them to have stealth capabilities as well.


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Offline Malika

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Re: [BFG] - Designing new ship types - 3d printing madness
« Reply #222 on: June 24, 2014, 01:59:21 PM »
Ok, little update on the fighters, that...and I've added the dimensions of the models! :)


Standard interceptor. A rather fast, but weak craft that's easily shot down. However, they are effective against enemy aircraft and are often used as cannon fodder against  fire from enemy ships.


Advanced interceptor. Upgraded with extra armor without losing speed, the idea behind this design is that the pilots will survive the first attack. Often used by elite pilots and squadron leaders to hunt down enemy aircraft.


Standard fighter. The backbone of most aircraft fleets. Whilst not as fast and maneuverable as the interceptor, the fighter has superior armor and weaponry, making it formidable against enemy bombers.


Advanced fighter. Like the advanced interceptor, this craft is primarily used by elite pilots and squadron leaders. Besides additional armour and weaponry, this fighter also has extra engines. This enables the craft to be deployed for long range missions.


Scout craft. These are often deployed ahead of the fleet to explore uncharted territories. They are also used during battle to detect cloaked enemy craft. 


Standard bomber. The main reason aircraft are still used in spacial warfare. Bombers are capable of destroying enemy escorts and seriously damaging larger ships. They are however slower, and thus more vulnerable. This means they often need to be protected by other aircraft.


Advanced bomber. This upgraded bomber has additional armour and engines. Like the advanced fighter it can be deployed for long range missions. However, they are often used when there is a lack of fighter craft to protect normal bomber craft.
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Offline marell le fou

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Re: [BFG] - Designing new ship types - 3d printing madness
« Reply #223 on: June 25, 2014, 03:14:15 AM »
I like very much the idea of a clearly asymetrical ship.

Offline Malika

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Re: [BFG] - Designing new ship types - 3d printing madness
« Reply #224 on: July 03, 2014, 12:42:56 PM »

I've got 14 different types of fighter craft so far. There are basically four categories (interceptor, fighter, bomber, scout), elite versions (only for the interceptor, fighter and bomber) and then there's the MkII version (with the bigger wings).

There's only one major problem at the moment. I'm a sucker for inverted wings, but not it looks as if they are flying backwards, which means that the tails will need some redesigning in order for them to work...



In the meantime I've also started working on a new version of the transport ship (and yes, it include removable containers). It's quite a lot bigger than the previous incarnation, it's more heavy cruiser sized rather than escort. In all the ship will probably be about 10cm long, twice as long as a escorts! The prow fits in the style of the escorts and light cruisers, but is slightly modified to set it apart as a civilian ship.
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