Yet another starship: Normandy SR-2

Ok, so I’ve started yet another WIP thread. It’s surprisingly hard to recreate, so in first part I’m using only curves. Anyone, will try to guess what is it? :slight_smile:

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That would be the wonderful Normandy SR2 from Mass Effect 2, this was one of my very first models and i have to say was not very good but it was great for learning. You already seem to have a better start then when i finished so im looking forward to when this is done!

Aye, Normandy SR2. I think, beautiful ship, especially in Cereberus colours… Although I’m not a fan of Cereberus itself :slight_smile:

@GJAnders, thanks for the kind words. Mind You send me a link to Your work?

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OMG, i found this wonderful blueprint at http://imageshack.us/f/714/mesr2orthos.jpg/
I might have to model this myself.

How are you aproaching the modelling process? Seems like you making key outlines with curves and are probably going to connect them.

I was thinking that subdividing a cylinder and using a lattice modifier to get the shape might be a nice approach. What are your thoughts?

I’ve tried with cylinder, shaping it and squeezing (By hand, not using lattice), and it has good shape… But fatal topology. So now I’m creating topology with curves, and then it should be piece of cake - I’ll be filling hull easily thanks to the BMesh. Second thing that convinced me to use curves (Honestly, first time using them like that) is that Normandy is pretty streamlined in design - so… Curves naturally fit. But the hard part are the concave parts of hull, not distinguishable on orthos… Also, colour schematics is beautiful but it is driving me mad - spotting topology lines with black-on-black is painstaking process.

Anyway, the Normandy project is only Phase one of my summer break exercise. I mean, modelling is done before summer break, so I could focus on second one without stress. Basically, after I create decent 3D representation, I’ll use blender to create scale model blueprints and cut-outs, and then learn whole bunch of new things trying to make scale model ;p …As my closest encounter with scale modelling was glueing and painting prefabricated plastic models, trying to make whole construction and hull… Will be fun :slight_smile:

Normandy SR-2… Is probably the only ship in which I felt like it is mine - SSV ships, Normandy and Normandy SR-2 Retrofitted… Are limited by Alliance administration. In Cerberus one I felt like lone wolf ;p And because of that, half meter or so model on the desk, should look… Good.

looks good, almost want to try it myself:yes:
looking forward to updates.

Looks very cool Venthe. Mix that with Adamant and you would get something like the Polyxum. =)

Venthe, there might be a better alternative to BMesh. You know when you press shift-A to get the add menu? You have the option to use the traditional curves under “Curves”. If you use the “NURBS curve” under “surface”, it will automatically fill in the surfaces with quads when you convert it to a mesh. You can make surfaces by simply extracting the curve or extracting edges of an already existing curve surface. This should allow you to get a more smooth surface without eye-balling the vertices that aren’t near landmarks.

As a Mass Effect fanatic! I say keep it up! :slight_smile:

I wouldn’t have started with curves thou, I’d approach it more like modeling a airplane.

Anyways, here are the “BluePrints”

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/5290/mesr2orthos.jpg

http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/9334/normandysr1sr2sizechart.jpg

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/9334/normandysr1sr2sizechart.jpg

If you want sizes aswell :wink:

I think curve surfaces would be great for modelling a base mesh for airplanes.
A person could model the nose cone, engines, fuelsalage, and wings pretty quickly as seperate curve surfaces. If they pay attention to each surfaces’ resolution, it should be pretty easy to combine them into a single mesh.

Thanks Anuga :slight_smile: I could use these measurements!

Macktruck, I’ve tried NURBS surfaes… And I cant get them precise enough for me. Maybe I’m doing something wrong, but…

I like to do as much as i can by hand - to have best control

Anyways, little progress on the mesh

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I thought I would post my work and maybe it will help you. If you don’t want me to post my renders here just give me the word.

This is me using curve surfaces. This was more of a test then a serious render. I was just trying the technique, setting up some lighting and a node setup. A cylinder unwrap while in the top view of my model gave me a great unwrap so I could easily add straight lines across the hull.

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Macktruck, post as much as You want :slight_smile:

Here’s some progress. And curves still are the best for me… But, as I’m more into curving areas, I’m still extruding shapes.

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Progress. Any comments?

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Today I’ve sat before blender for the first time since last post

Brace Yourselves, finals are coming…

…Here. :wink:

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Second pair of engines are only arrayed and scaled copy of first (As opposed to little diffrent ones on real ship)

Its harder than it looks :wink:

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Slow but steady. Co C&C? :frowning:

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That is very good looking :RocknRoll:

I am currently playing ME1, so hopefully after finishing first part I will have a chance to fly Normandy SR-2.

Awaiting for new screenshots and updates :slight_smile:

@Anuga: thx for blueprints :slight_smile:

Basically, Normandy SR-2 low poly is done. Now the main fun, and cumbersome part… Make it as real as possible! :slight_smile:

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