WIP Thunderbolt IV

[BillS]

I was toying with something to do for this and started browsing concept drawings and found this.

http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/general/2010/09/8-12-345614_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/general/2010/09/8-12-345614.jpg)

I liked it a lot and started using it as a base reference for the basic shape. Well I've got enough done that its worth showing. Its basically going to be an orbital dropped assault ship. In the back there would be a dozen troopers that the ship can deploy once its area is subdued. The basic shape of the ship is done there are still lots of little bits and empty space to fill in. The "landing gear" are basically going to be like Mech legs, jump jets and all. They fold aft when in flight and deploy to land and deploy its troops. It could then "Stand" on them to guard the area or hover to move low over rough terrain.

Its not a lot yet but you can get an idea where its going.

http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/general/2010/09/8-12-345955_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/general/2010/09/8-12-345955.jpg) http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/general/2010/09/8-12-345980_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/general/2010/09/8-12-345980.jpg)

[Andrew March]

That's cool looking design Bill, I think the wings should be bigger though mate, looking at the concept image the outboard set of underwing storage should be just on the outside of the large grill dohickeys.

[bmckain]

Very neat, I have to agree with AM though. Would like to see those wings a little bigger.

[TheMightySpud]

I'm liking that so far.

If I had one crit, it'd be that the main body of the fusilage (engine intakes etc.) looks a little too 'boxy' and sort of contradicts the nice flowing lines of the top half of the fusilage, and I don't know if it's because i've only just got out of bed and my brain isn't working properly yet, but it makes it look a little 'unweildly' in regards to atmospheric flight. (if you get my meaning)

I agree with Andrew that the wings should be longer, it looks on the concept image as though the outermost 'bend' in the wings is 'further out' from the center than the edges of the intakes and that the outer most section of the wing continues outward for quite a distance.

TheMightySpud

[Escelce]

Great start Bills and cool design to work from. Agree with the others but all easy fixes. Can't wait to see more.

-Steve

[BillS]

Yeah that comes from me trying to make it to a certain scale... and failing. I thought it would be about the size of the B-25 so went with that as a ref. Still a simple fix as you said. I also discovered that I have some kind of genetic defect when it comes to boxing things out. I start with that as the intention but the next thing that I know I'm putting on fillets and rounding edges, detail is getting added.... Still.. this one is a kinda fun sort of crossover for me. Still plane like but just a touch more advanced than I normally do :)

[Tony Gardner]

It's definitely a cool design you've chosen there Bill.

[tangster]

Yeah that comes from me trying to make it to a certain scale... and failing. I thought it would be about the size of the B-25 so went with that as a ref. Still a simple fix as you said. I also discovered that I have some kind of genetic defect when it comes to boxing things out. I start with that as the intention but the next thing that I know I'm putting on fillets and rounding edges, detail is getting added.... Still.. this one is a kinda fun sort of crossover for me. Still plane like but just a touch more advanced than I normally do :)

Don't worry Bill, I do this.;)

[BillS]

Finally got a few hours off to play with it. Here is where I'm at so far.

http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/general/2010/09/8-19-918001_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/general/2010/09/8-19-918001.jpg)

A modo render since that was the app I was currently in. This thing has been through Modo, LW and XSI so many times that I don't know where it is being built. :D

[Rigel]

Aggressive looking beast.

[Escelce]

coming on nicely Bills and great modeling in there. Isn't the vent at the top a little big though? Love the design you're working to. Very menacing:)

-Steve

[DigitalOrigami]

I like it. Looks really solid, like a futuristic A-10 descendent.

[James April]

Looks good so far.

[bmckain]

Nice update. :)

[Rotorhead]

I'm really liking this as well. I was thinking after the "A-10" like comment, that maybe you should think about scrapping the dropping troops part, change the top center vent to a cockpit and now you've got a real rock and roll killin machine! Just a thought though, I really like what you have and where you are going.

Bryan

[BillS]

I thought about it. But I came back to the idea that it would be like the drop ship from alien or starship troopers. Fight to the ground, drop the troops and then support them. It just seems more utilitarian for a space faring race.

@Escelce: Yeah its a bit on the large side. I haven't really worked on the cabin area on it. I did take the size down some though in height. It looks a bit better now. That is one of those "blocked in" area's that I ended up beveling and adding detail to before I actually finalized it. It should be workable though ... I hope. :D

[BillS]

Wow... I think a snail just passed me.

No its not forgotten, just back to back to back to back etc, 50-60 hour weeks at work are kicking the snot out of me. By the time Sunday ( my one day off ) arrives and I get all the chores and tasks out of the way that I haven't done all week... well it doesn't leave a load of time to play with it. Still plugging along though.



http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/general/2010/11/-01-6588874_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/general/2010/11/-01-6588874.jpg) http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/general/2010/11/-01-6588873_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/general/2010/11/-01-6588873.jpg)
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/general/2010/11/-01-6588872_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/general/2010/11/-01-6588872.jpg) http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/general/2010/11/-01-6588871_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/general/2010/11/-01-6588871.jpg)

[Escelce]

He's alive everyone:)

Great update Bills and worth the wait. The colours are very clever too, you think its a friendly clown ship until it gets closer:) hahahaha I crack (only) myself up!

-Steve

[Rigel]

Looking good Bill.

I hear you on those 60 hour work weeks. I remember those from my trucking days.

[Adam]

Looking good.

[Freak]

That a great looking fighter.

[JTech]

nice, but I'm just curious how you would texture something that complex.

[szutowave]

This spring I was working 75-96 hours a week, plus all the crap i had to do around the house. You asked me in another thread where have I been, working, so others can stay home and do nothing!

Model looks great!:cool:

[BillS]

nice, but I'm just curious how you would texture something that complex.

Just about all of it is UV'd. So step one for me is baking an occlusion map the res I want that map to be. The fuselage for example will be 4096x4096. I've broken the area up and assigned it different surfaces. That is just to make it easy to select and UV. Once I'm happy with the UV's. I'll change all the different surfaces back to one so its easier to assign maps to.

http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/general/2010/11/8-02-745545_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/general/2010/11/8-02-745545.jpg)

Then I'll add in the AO map. That shows where all the little bits are hanging off of so I can add chips smears etc.

http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/general/2010/11/8-02-745696_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/general/2010/11/8-02-745696.jpg)

From there its just keep painting until you're done :)