KJCs Work

[kjc733]

Well the shape is done. I've prepared the nacelles for upscaling and I decided I wanted to get a quick image before I started uv mapping (again). So I upscaled, selected my first window to boolean in and... the mesh disappears. Undo it, try again... disappears again. Resave... again. ARRGGHHHHH!!!!
Maya can be such a temperamental $%£*& sometimes. I think I've got a hole in the mesh somewhere, where I've tried to complete a loop but it didn't snap to the vertex I was aiming for but instead added one immediately next to it. Which means I'm going to have to search every vertix to find the duplicate!!!

 

[Adm_Z]

If I recall, there is a merge vertex tool you can use on all vertices, and if you set the tolerance right, it will merge all of them whether you can see them or not. We always used .001 or something, but you might want to try .01 or .1.

But you are right, Maya is a pain, and it is especially bad at boolean functions.

 

[kjc733]

Yes, the merge vertex tool is what I use to fix the problem (found 3 so far). I hadn't considered widening the tolerance... guess I could make a duplicate to test it on.

 

[Majestic]

Loving the direction you're going with this. I love the Intrepid probably my favourite Fed TNG era ship.

 

[kjc733]

Infuriatingly, I managed to find some more vertices and have got to the point where I can boolean the low poly mesh - but not the high poly mesh. Which is bizarre as the usual reason for not being able to boolean is insufficient faces.
Anyway, I figured I'd do some screenshots without all the blocks so you can all see what it is I've been doing and admire her lovely lines.
As always, the comparison is against Aads' model, which is a little unfair given the poly difference.

 

[Adm_Z]

Nice! Looks great. Maybe you have some stacked faces?


It's funny because when I'm making a model for 3D printing, if it won't Boolean, it doesn't really matter because I can leave parts separate and overlapping and they will still print fine. But I understand the frustration when it doesn't work and you need it to....

 

[Majestic]

Wow I think I'm in love

 

[Jetfreak]

It's really outstanding seeing the new elements blending together, she'd be gorgeous in a new photo-shoot for sure.

 

[Sqweloookle]

Wasn't the folding nacelle struts a point of an improved warp drive concept? It was an Intrepid thing that helped me fall in love with the class, hate to lose it.

I'd love to see the folding nacelle struts with the new nacelles, see what that looks like?

I love the deflector and how it is just a smidge bigger. Where is block 2? I don't think I saw it.

 

[kjc733]

I've cut most of the inserts into the base mesh, but is going to be a pain upscaling without distorting them. That's going to keep me busy for a while.
As an engineer I dispised the folding nacelles, especially as no other ship has them. Many seem to accept that the newer sovereign style nacelles has the same effect.
There are two "flight 2" styles. The original was while I was still learning and exists as an A2 model in the downloads. The updated version only exists as high poly, you'll need to scroll back or look at my DA page.
Basically flight 2 was my attempt to fix certain aspects of the Intrepid which don't make sense, obvious physical differences were the Nova-ish style nacelles and a more organic blended look. I overdid it and this version will give the hull some definition. Also these nacelles work better than the last ones.
The deflector is actually exactly the same size, I've just added some fittings (older hands will remember I tried about 6 different configurations). I'm still on the fence about keeping this one, or going more Titan or Vesta.

 

[Archonon]

From an engineering standpoint, I am pretty sure that the folding nacelles are useless and make no sense. From a purely cosmetic perspective, I suspended my disbelief and thought that Voyager looked "cool" when it went into warp. I mean heck, the same thing could be said about the Klingon Bird of Prey, whose wings fold in a similar manner yet don't even represent a proper warp nacelle into its design. Still like it though, lol.

So all that being said, I love your changes to the Intrepid kjc. I can't quite put my finger on it but the fixed nacelles give the ship a new personality, almost like it is a new ship altogether; more Federation-y somehow, lol. Forgive my obvious question, as I didn't read many of the earlier posts concerning this model, but is this meant to be a replacement for the original Intrepid per se or a refit/upgrade for the existing Intrepids made at a later time?

Beautiful work.

 

[kjc733]

Both. The Voyager relaunch novels alude to a refit and describe some never before seen capabilities. And like the Connie refit I would imagine any new builds would be built to the later standard.
Some details and discussion is on my DA page:
https://www.deviantart.com/kjc733/art/Intrepid-Flight-II-Orthos-596629813

 

[Sqweloookle]

The deflector is actually exactly the same size, I've just added some fittings (older hands will remember I tried about 6 different configurations). I'm still on the fence about keeping this one, or going more Titan or Vesta.

Forgive me I wasn't specific, I wasn't talking about the Deflector's size, but the whole ship's size. Sorry.

As an engineer I despise the folding nacelles, especially as no other ship has them. Many seem to accept that the newer sovereign style nacelles has the same effect.

Well that we know of in terms of the folding nacelle strut feature, a stretch would be the Prometheus's saucer has folding out Nacelle struts when separated. It was meant to make the Intrepid unique in terms of propulsion advances. They might have fixed the damaging effects of warp drive to subspace after Intrepid mass production, I don't recall any mention of it though lol... But it's all good, not everyone likes everything.

She still looks awesome.

From an engineering standpoint, I am pretty sure that the folding nacelles are useless and make no sense. From a purely cosmetic perspective, I suspended my disbelief and thought that Voyager looked "cool" when it went into warp. I mean heck, the same thing could be said about the Klingon Bird of Prey, whose wings fold in a similar manner yet don't even represent a proper warp nacelle into its design. Still like it though, lol.

I thought the BoP wings were just wings, the warp engines were in the rear of the ship?

Though the rising of the nacelles for the Intrepid could be for that the warp bubble could not be formed as the flat struts placed them outside the bubble??? Don't know but it's a theory that I just came up with just now.

Like Archonon said we still love your models! Thank you for sharing with us.

 

[kjc733]

While there was no explanation given on screen for the folding nacelles I believe that the explanation for it in the writers guide (which I used to have a copy of before the great meltdown) was that it was a fix for the damaging space problem. But as no one ever mentions it again despite the apparent lack of folding nacelles anywhere else I would assume another fix for the problem was invented.

As for the BoP, according to the technical manual its in the wings. Which is why my B'Gin class has nacelles built into the wings.

 

[Majestic]

Well that we know of in terms of the folding nacelle strut feature, a stretch would be the Prometheus's saucer has folding out Nacelle struts when separated. It was meant to make the Intrepid unique in terms of propulsion advances. They might have fixed the damaging effects of warp drive to subspace after Intrepid mass production, I don't recall any mention of it though lol... But it's all good, not everyone likes everything.

I recall reading back in the late 90's at the time of First Contact that the damaging effects were fixed in the Sovereign class. The Intrepid was kinda a prototype with the folding nacelles a technology that was made redundant when the Sovereign came out. So makes sense after the Dominion war Starfleet would refit the Intrepid class to use what is now standard tech.

 

[kjc733]

Moving on, some tedious work having to shape the window cutouts. Still a dew funnies to sort out - and I haven't even started the edge arrays - but slowly taking shape.

 

[Sqweloookle]

What are you considering are funnies?

 

[kjc733]

Petruding corner on the lip of the forward window. Ridge along the secondary hull because of the lower window. distortions around the upper saucer sensor array. Ridges above the secondary deflector. All because I'm having to cut the low poly mesh

 

[kjc733]

UV mapping of the base mesh is now complete
Next up, making a set of textures for it. Once that's done I'll need to upscale the mesh and realign the uvs with the textures
However, once the base textures are done it should just be a case of poly reduction to get a mesh suitable for A2 export (the base mesh is about 18k polygons - but that includes all the upscale prep and physical greebles).

 

[kjc733]

And first look with textures. I'm pleasantly surprised by how much of the Flight II textures I've been able to reuse so far.
If anyone has anything they'd like me to try feel free to post ideas.
(Aads Intrepid for comparison as usual.)

 

[Chiletrek]

Hello:
It is interesting how the new design is more closely resembling the Sovereign class, so it fits the new family of Starfleet ships nicely.

 

[kjc733]

Thank you. Yes, Flight II was definitely intended to drag the Intrepid to be more in line with the Sovereign. Flight III is to bring it into line with the Seeker and Midway.

 

[Majestic]

Oh my, wow! Simply awesome. I love the Intrepid and this is surpassing it. I can't wait to see it completed and in scenes.

 

[kjc733]

Then you may like this. I discovered that the Intrepid II texture I was using as my basis predated my new method for doing aztecs and paneling - so I've redone them.
I've also discovered that the new nacelle position actually prevents me from using some of the Intrepid (and Intrepid II surprisingly) phasers positions. So a rethink of some of the secondary arrays has been required.

 

[Chiletrek]

Hello:
That is one of the perks that come when designing a new class of ship, that you can make all he changes you want or need . I guess there is no need to remind you the Intrepid are meant to be very maneuvrable, so there is no need to fill it with phaser arrays.

 

[kjc733]

Yes, I went there...

 

[Majestic]

I like the blue, the grey not so much. But I will withhold judgement until the texture is close to complete.

 

[Jetfreak]

You continue to surprise kjc, the Vesta scheme sorta works, but as you know, I'm always 50/50 on these markings.

PS
When you release the ship, I might play around with the deflector coloration. Give it the Gold Sovereign treatment.

 

[Hellkite]

LOL

When they work they work when they don't they don't

 

[kjc733]

Had to take a step back and remap parts of the lower hull. I've also the bar that used to wraparound the forward base of the spine - not sure if I want to keep it yet.
More additions to the textures. Shield grids are more or less done. Secondary hull windows have been put back on. All sorts of other details added. I need to think about what to do about the external ribbing that Voyager has, whether or not to include it or my own version. I also need to add more windows to the aft of the saucer (and possibly realign some on the forward saucer).
I've removed the Vesta markings for the time being, it was making it hard to work on the detailing. I'll probably release two sets of textures for it.
I don't want to go back to work tomorrow - I want to finish this