Rick Smith's STAR FLEET UNIVERSE Art

[Rick Smith]

Eneen Heavy Cruiser WIP

I'm teaching myself Google SketchUp and I thought I'd start myself off with an
Eneen star ship because of the simplified shapes. I've really never dabbled in
3D programs yet (I stick mostly to 2D) and thought something simple would be
the best way to go - as not to frustrate myself too quickly or psyche myself out.
Doesn't look like much yet, but I'll try to post more updates as I change/add
things to it.

Please let me know what you think. Keep in mind it's pretty rough right now
and once I finish the left side of the ship I can duplicate it for the right.

[Nerroth]

ENEEN!


Yes!


(I love the Magellanic setting.)


Can't wait to see where you go with this!

[Rick Smith]

Thanks man! I'm glad you like it so far. I hope to have a few more updates on it soon.

[djdood]

Pretty cool so far. I like the inset details on the back end of the engines.

I've toyed with the idea of messing with SketchUp, even to the point of installing it a while back, but from what I had gathered it was really heavily geared to doing architectural shapes in support of their Google Earth 3D initiative.

It's hard to beat the price, but how well does it do with curved-shapes, etc.?

I'm still leaning towards Blender, but just haven't had time to go up it's learning curve.

If only I could afford a license for CATIA (the software I model in at work) for home.

[Rick Smith]

Hi Will. Thanks!

Yeah, I've been paying a lot of attention to the warp engines lately - time
to spread some action to the rest of the ship.

I'm learning a lot from this first attempt into the 3D realm. It's slow going,
but since SketchUp has almost no learning curve whatsoever, it's a lot
easier for me to dive into than some other programs out there. I tried using
TrueSpace and I was lost. Maybe someday...but so far the folks at Google
are the winners.

You can do spherical or curved shapes in SketchUp. I just haven't really
stepped to them yet as this ship (at least in my mind) doesn't really call
for them.

I'll have to look into CATIA and Blender. Haven't heard anything about them
yet. But like I said - I'm still a 3D noob.

Here's a short video created by Massive Black (awesome art studio) and the
folks at Google. I thought it was fun:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlgtLXhwJSM

[Rick Smith]

Toying around with the bridge section right now and how to echo similar shapes in it from the rest of the ship. The main bridge will be prominent. The emergency bridge will be hidden within the other "pontoon" on the right side. Not sure about the shuttle bay, but it's in a similar area when compared to the SSD.



Still working. More to come.

Edit: I should mention that this is all conjectural and is in no way what this ship SHOULD look like. It's already been visualized on the cover of Module C5: The Magellanic Cloud. I'm just having a good time doodling. Thanks!

[Nerroth]

Well, maybe you could turn it into the NCL instead?


They look similar, but not necessarily alike... and technically, the NCL is from a different 'generation' of construction design to the CA (albeit one built to supplement it).

[Rick Smith]

You know Nerroth...you're right. I could do that. I remember reading about the differences and I think you're on to something. I've purchased soooo much FC and SFB stuff recently that everything's getting jumbled up in my brain.

[Nerroth]

Just as well I have Magellanics on the brain, then!

[Steve Cole]

Nice work. When you get several Mag ships done, Email me and we'll see about having you do a piece of art for us.

[Rick Smith]

Wow...really?!? Thanks Steve! It would be my pleasure.

/cracks knuckles
/gets working

[Rick Smith]

Another "in progress" piece. A Baduvai Strike Cruiser based loosely on the cover art for Module C5: The Magellanic Cloud and the SSD contained within. Working in
tandem to make sure the scales for the ships match up...

[Nerroth]

Looks cool - but again, maybe this ship could be completed as a Baduvai War Cruiser?

That would scale well with an Eneen NCL...

[Rick Smith]

Probr Revolution Emblem


Probr Revolution - Ship Hull Variant


Ryn Enclave Emblem

[Nerroth]

Nice!


Long live the Revolution!