Version 1 complete

The basic version 1 is complete. There will be add-ons and improvements in the near future, as I'll be increasing the polygon count by added little features that will just blow the 17,000 polycount right out of the window.



But before version 1.1, short a break :)

Aliens: Dropship and APC

Another 'project' I'm working on is a Rendering of the Aliens vehicles. It all started off 4 years ago with creating the Dropship model. It's kind of on hold as I'm missing good information on the interior. The Movie, doesn't really give accurate information. I do have some drawings of the interior that was use to create the sets in the film, but they simply do not fit.


I started the APC last year when I was stuck in a rut due to lack of information on the Shuttle Flight and Mid decks. The Film set interior definitely does not fit at all. The 'commander' console and the 'platoon' seats just don't fit. At least half of the platoon would be in the engine bay! The wheel axels also presents a huge problem...

Internal Airlock Hatch...

Update on the update... Internal Hatch complete, if only the instructions were clear ;)

On-Orbit Configuration

Just a quick post, showing Seats & Escape Pole stowed, plus the completed Floor Storage Pallets


...and I'm running out of day :(

Escape Pole Complete...

Just a couple pictures of the completed escape pole, which I'll be doing a minor colour modification to the end section.



With only a couple of panels to do, thankfully these have only a few switches, the panel texturing process should be completed with the hour. The images below shows completed panels that took a little longer to do than normal (half a day, each), as the UV map of the model I had completely messed up:



Right enough of typing, more texturing...

Middeck so far...

Special Edition Bonus Movie :)

Escape Pole and Rear Middeck

After many hours of hair ripping sections, screaming new found swear words at the computer and an expensive session with my psychologist, I have finally finished modelling the Escape Pole. Thank God. I'm so glad I've got to a point where I can just get on with texturing it.






As a bonus I've also completed (for now, upgrades later) modelling the rear section, complete with floor storage and lighting. I've going to tweak the textures a bit, and add 'on-orbit' configuration, model stored seats, laptops with graphics, etc.

Rear Middeck

I had a spare hour or two today, which gave me sometime to do a little research on the rear section of the middeck. The rear most wall of the middeck never looked right, It was either too far back or too far forward. This morning (Sunday), I came across a few images that allowed me to make 'best guess' , which I'm pleased with the results. However, I ran out of time to complete the texture for the rear middeck, but the 'base-texture' is down, just need to refine it a little.

I've also added more details on the rear wall, which originally where going to be 'textured', but having them in 3D looks better.

The storage bags model need to be re-created, as they had far too many ploygons. I'll have an image of the 'default storage bag in the next few days.

Celling update

Just a quick one, Found a nice effect for the celling, it gives the celling the 'perspex look'

Celling Complete? no...

I was hoping today to have the celling complete, alas, as Douglas Adams once said "I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." Two Reasons why it's been delayed by almost three days. I've had to 'study' for my new job, which I'm playing catch up on the the latest CAD systems (CATIA), and secondly, I lost all the celling and wall panels, so I've spent the last day or so recreating them... Upside to recreating them is they look better then what I originally did.

Celling textures

Celling is being worked on in Sub-zero temperatures. I'm staring drawing the on panels that are in the celling. Next I'll start celling/lighting itself.



Brr it's cold.

Draft Texture complete :) Port and Starboard Walls

Draft Texturing process complete. I say draft as I might come back to the port and starboard walls at a later date (maybe sooner) just to had more details and shadows. On the Starboard wall I've left the sleeping bags out, as I've always had trouble doing fabric textures



Working on the celling now. Hopefully I'll have some screen shots later today/tomorrow.

Texturing Port and Starboard walls

Today, I've started to texture the Starboard wall of the middeck. What I'm doing is quite simple, create a generic wall consisting of the pattern you see above. Then take away any parts of the pattern that are not needed. Finally, add additional graphics/parts.

Galley progress

Just a quick one about the Galley, it's almost textured :) I did want to complete it today, but I've run out of time. It will be a few days before I can get back to working on it. Hopefully, during the weekend I'll get an hour or two to finish it.

The Big Picture

I've been asked what does it look like so far, with all parts in the same screenshot. Well, always happy to oblige :)This is a view from near the Side Hatch. As you can see the Escape Pole is not textured. In the near future, I'll be making alterations to the 'Hook-ups' on the left, as they take up too many polygons. I'm not sure whether to combine them, or keep them separate. The release mechanism is finished at long last. After the 'Hook-ups' are modelled, I'll be adding the brackets, which I've just got some data this morning, which shows the size and locations of all the brackets, both for the stowed and Launch/landing positions.

Good side view above. I have started texturing the galley, starting of the RHC. The Galley should take another day or so. I'm also experimenting with a low Polygon Switch on the galley model. The base of the switch will be a textured to the main model (galley) and the switch and guards with be very low polygon model. The rest of the panels will be 100% textures for now, but I'll look at upgrading them later.


After the Galley, I'll be looking at texturing the Left and Right Sides of the Mid-deck walls. However, I'll be leaving the actual panels textures to last.

Side Hatch Complete, for now...

Side Hatch completed, well kind of. I've got a temporary solution by colouring in the sides of the side hatch in shaded grey, as i'm not sure what is actually there.

Side Hatch Texturing

Texturing now started on the side hatch. The inside and outside should be easy. The edges, well no good info on how that looks, so a lot of guess work on my part.

Left Middeck Lockers

Slowly but surely there almost and end in sight. I'll probably tweak the texture, but that's for later. Next, I'm going to work on the side hatch.

Left Middeck Lockers, texturing at long last

I've started on the texturing process for the Middeck lockers located to the left side. in theory, it should be finished with the next 24hrs or so.

Guillow's Space Shuttle Columbia - Balsa Wood Model

A Break from the Middeck...

Many year's ago in 1982, a modelling company called Guillow's created a balsa wood model of the Space Shuttle Columbia (Kit No. 1201). I happened to find by complete chance an un-assembled kit on e-bay. The instructions, parts and box are still in extremely good condition and I've been tempted to assemble it. However, this is probably the last un-assembled kit, so I'm going to make a CAD copy of the parts to that I can reproduce the kit for myself.

Above is some of the parts from the kit plan.