Desktopsimmer's 3D Models

Mir Bump

2011-09-09T23:17:00.001+01:00

Started on the Progress 'Bump'. I wonder if they pulled over to swap insurance details?

Mir!

2011-09-04T22:52:00.000+01:00

First draft finally completed! I would of liked to have more information regarding the more complex elements of the structure, maybe in the future I'll add them. More screenshots to follow as I've not setup the render completely.

The Flight Deck Lives!

2011-06-27T23:31:00.001+01:00

I've managed to pull some of my old data together. Been a bit of a jigsaw getting all of basic elements of the Flight Deck together, but here it is:

I've still got a long way to go to have the Flight Deck completely modelled, but a low detail version could feature in a popular Space Shuttle landing simulator... ;)

Space Shuttle External Tank and Solid Rocket Booster

2011-04-30T00:14:00.003+01:00

To compliment the 3D Orbiter, I've started on the External Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters. I've just created a simple model for now, and it will need a series of tweaks to get to look right, especially around the umbilical feeds on the External Tank. The Solid Rocket Boosters are almost complete and only need to have the texture creating. However, I might have to tone down the details on the Solid Rocket Boosters as the polygon count is a little higher than anticipated.

I'm not too sure which design of the External Tank to do (Original , LWT or SLWT), probably all, but there's probably not going to be too much visible difference as the model is only going to have a low/medium number of polygons. Probably :)

Oh, before anyone asks, is this going in a certain iPhone/iPad Space Shuttle Simulator, I can't possibly comment on that ;)

An Old Version of My Space Shuttle Project

2011-04-03T06:15:00.001+01:00

Many years ago, using a dailup connection, I created this site to show my first Space Shuttle Project.

http://www.stsintrepid.freeuk.com

This is as far as I got with this project as my hard drive died. I had no backups and had lost all 3D models and source data. My only choice was to abandon the project. I do have an early backup on a CD-ROM containing some data and some rough 3D work. It might be useful, but the main core is lost, forever. This is the only 3D model remaining:

This is the last render of the cockpit, which I found online in an old forum post:

Another element of the project was to create a paper model of the Flight Deck. Luckily an early version was saved on the CD-ROM. I've uploaded the PDF file to the old site and is available here:

The moral of the story: backup every night and backup off site...

Space Shuttle for iPhone/iPad (Part 2)

2011-03-03T13:43:00.000Z

The 3D model has now been added to the development version of F-Sim Space shuttle, is now progressing well. The 3D model is now 90% aninmated. Control Surfaces and basic gear deployment are animated, apart from the basic strut assembly which will be aninmated in the next development version.

Several View Points have been created; External, Runway Ends, Mid Runway and Tower view, which are shown in this video.

Space Shuttle for iPhone/iPad

2011-02-12T10:00:00.001Z

Another project I'm working on is an external model of the Space Shuttle for an iphone/ipad app called F-Sim Space Shuttle. The external model is only 6000 polygons and took only a few weekends to get a the 3D complete. The texturing process is taking a little longer. However, I've managed to get a working draft version of the texture complete, it just a case of getting those pesky tiles to look right :)

The model has now been imported into development version of F-Sim Space Shuttle the it look great from these early screen shots:

Mir Space Station

2011-01-16T15:19:00.001Z

This project I started a while back, and it's been a difficult one. Getting hold of and decent drawings of the modules has been the a royal pain in the neck... To get around most of the 'missing' details, I've had to make educated guesses from pictures of Mir. However I've knuckled down and got on with it.

The Core and Kvant-1 modules are now complete.

I'm now working on the Docking Module.

Version 1 complete

2009-03-22T11:46:00.004Z

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

2009-03-09T20:24:00.003Z

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...

2009-03-07T19:26:00.003Z

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

On-Orbit Configuration

2009-03-01T17:45:00.003Z

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...

2009-03-01T12:21:00.008Z

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...

2009-02-23T15:30:00.005Z

Special Edition Bonus Movie :)

Escape Pole and Rear Middeck

2009-02-23T15:12:00.005Z

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

2009-02-16T03:58:00.002Z

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

2009-02-14T14:13:00.004Z

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

Celling Complete? no...

2009-02-05T15:39:00.003Z

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

2009-02-02T13:57:00.003Z

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

2009-02-02T08:05:00.002Z

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

2009-01-30T15:03:00.002Z

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

2009-01-22T15:18:00.003Z

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

2009-01-19T19:48:00.007Z

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...

2009-01-17T21:34:00.006Z

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

2009-01-16T22:00:00.003Z

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

2009-01-14T12:58:00.002Z

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

2009-01-12T13:47:00.004Z

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

2009-01-12T10:10:00.006Z

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.

More Texturing...

2008-12-20T19:54:00.002Z

Draft completed for the middeck main floor, and started on the Middeck Lockers.

So far so good...

Floor Texturing Process Started

2008-12-19T15:56:00.003Z

I've started to texture the floor. I've played about with some ideas on the base colour and I'm almost satisfied that this is the best texture for the job. I've also added some of the floor compartments. Maybe in a later version, they be accessible.

Space Shuttle Middeck - Escape Pole 3 & Middeck Locker, Centre Position

2008-12-05T18:35:00.006Z

The basic shape of the Escape Pole is final, however, I'll be revisiting hookup end. Two additional jobs to do before the Escape Pole is complete:

Brackets for both un-stowed and stowed locations of the escape pole
Release mechanism, which I'll look at next week.

Centre Lockers complete. It may need a tweak or two when texturing. Not too sure if to have more 3D detail on them or let the textures take care of them problem.

Space Shuttle Middeck - Escape Pole 2

2008-11-28T22:02:00.004Z

Quick update: Re-created the Escape pole housing, as it was warped. This should now reflect the shape correctly. The Pole and 'End' to be modelled next.

Space Shuttle Middeck - Escape Pole

2008-11-26T15:45:00.005Z

Bit of a difficult object to model, as I have only one 'good' diagram of the Escape Pole, a view from the front. Another view from above would of been great, as I could easily work out the path the Escape Pole takes. I have also found the patent for the Escape Pole, which details the components.

Antares 18S Model

2008-11-21T20:16:00.003Z

This was created for Condor: The Competition Soaring Simulator, which is one of the finest glider simulations available today.

Here is a draft model that I posted on Youtube

I'll update this post with some screen shot later :)

Space Shuttle Middeck

2008-11-21T19:10:00.005Z

The First entry is the Middeck Model of the Space shuttle I'm creating. So far I have a basic model, which is as close I can get to the real thing, without the use of scaled technical diagrams. It has been created from various pictures from NASA's web site and various books I have. The model is based on the basic current layout of the Real Space Shuttle, which does not have the internal airlock now, as that is now part of the ODS assembly.

The Story so far.....

Main 'Body/Shape' of the Middeck created, not textured. The celling is being worked on.
Many Panels still missing and research is in progress to get accurate images/diagrams (SCOM.pdf).
Seats created and textured.
Side Hatch Created, not textured. Having difficulty with modelling the mechanism around the hatch, it's three distinct bulges.
Internal Hatch created, not textured. It will need 'tweaking'.
Ladder created, not textured. It might need 'tweaking'.
Middeck Lockers, front texture, rear untextured.
50% handrails included with the model, not textured.
Galley Created, needs more tweaking. (ML85E above with draft texture)
Waste Collection System, lots of work to be done, no real info about size or shape.

Welcome

2008-11-21T19:04:00.005Z

Welcome one and all.

This is not going to be a blog containing my life and such things you find in many other blogs. I'm just using it to record progress with some of my 3D models.

Most of my Models have been created in Wings3D available free, yes free, at www.wings3d.com

Please do leave constructive technical input or the general thumbs up/down comments.

Any abusive comments, well I think you know what will happen ;)