Designing ships [possible BFG scale]

[Islacrusez]

Right. Basically all the battleships share the same hull pieces, and the cruisers share the same ones too. The only real variation is in the escorts.







If you want, I can pull out the unassembled chaos cruisers I have so you can see the second recess, but there's not much to see, just more of the same.

Personally I'd have gone with what you had, but added detailing inside and out. For detailing inside, some of the work I did is suitable, but as I'm working at a much smaller scale, there's so much more you can do.





If I could have, I'd have used references from modern military jet engines, and done a ring or two, like the burner/ignition rings.





Perhaps some reference could also be taken from the Sulaco engines?

(More detail shots of this one available, just need some digging. They're from a guy making the Sulaco out of paper, from scratch, as papercraft)

One thing that might also be worth considering is going back to the engine pattern you had, then removing the centre engine, and adding two larger ones arranged vertically, breaching the top and bottom. It might help break the monotonous shape, but it could ruin the aesthetic if it's specifically the shape you're after.

[Malika]

I need to brainstorm a bit more about it. I might also need to add some thrusters to the sides, top and bottom. I got some interesting feedback on this and . A bit more brainstorming perhaps...

By the way....I really love those Chaos designs. It's that I'm so 'hostile' towards GW's prices, otherwise I would have really tried to get my hands on the BFG boxed set...hmm...Chaos cruisers and escorts...

[Malika]

In the meantime...

[Islacrusez]

A little bit of running commentary would be appreciated

[Malika]

I've updated the distortion engine. Also, some of the smaller details, which were 0.2mm, have been enlarged to 0.4mm.

Currently the ship's dimensions are: 24mm wide, 11mm high (haven't counted the turrets in this) and 98mm long.

[mangozac]

[Malika]

[Malika]

Tried a few things with the propulsion, none of them worked. So I 'procrastinated' by working on the turrets.




I made them slightly chunkier, made the barrels longer and changed the shape somewhat. Primary reason is to make them more 'workable' at the scale we're dealing with (major details on that thing are 0.4mm). If stuff becomes too small you won't be able to see it.

[Malika]

A tiny update. I've hollowed out a lot of parts of the ship. I've kept the walls rather thick (at least 2.4mm) to keep the print throughout the entire model.

Also, I've cut the ship up in components. This will allow me to make variants of the prow and main weapon system:



Green = Distortion engine + back thrusters
Blue = Lance turrets
Red = Main weapon system (in this case launch bays)
Yellow = Prow

[Deadmeat30]

Keep the model solid, at that size it wont affect the price much at all.... Where you gonna get it printed at?

[Malika]

I was thinking of Shapeways, but there it's like $3.50 per m3, I calculated that a model like this would then cost almost $200. (24mm wide, 11mm high 98mm long). So if I can cut stuff out that would be great I think.

[Islacrusez]

Yeeeah, I'm not seeing your math add up. I assume it's not actually m^3, because otherwise it'll cost pennies, and that it also isn't mm^3 because otherwise it'll cost thousands. By my estimates it couldn't cost more than $90?

[mangozac]

Just upload the design to get a proper quote rather than try estimating yourself.

[Islacrusez]

Estimates have an important role. Besides, gotta remember that sketchup won't export directly to a shapeways compatible format, and I would bet it's full of leaks. I know mine is, despite my best efforts.

[Malika]