Egg Shaped Models - Aliens Dropship Egg (Part 1)

I've been thinking about creating a series of 3D  models to be made available on Shapeways. Three models have sprung to mind (Aliens UD-4L Dropship, Aliens APC and the Space Shuttle on the launch pad). However I wanted them to be slightly unique. Since it's almost Easter, I've thought about egg shaped models!

The first model I'm working on is the Aliens UD-4L Dropship. Here is an early concept of the Dropship.

The rear folding Weapon Pods have not been added to the model, as I'm not happy with them.

Aliens M577 Armoured Personnel Carrier 3D Model (Part3)

I've been working on the interior 3D model of Aliens M577 APC using hoto Stills from the film and the blueprints of the APC from Hydride-ion. The interior has a lot of objects in it, which I'll use some of them. This is mainly because creating renders of other high detail projects takes sometimes a few hours to render.

This is one of a number of back burner projects that I return to when I need to elevate stress from my main projects. Often when I'm stuck for information or struggling how to create the 3D model. I also use these back burners to try materials and lighting effects.

Aliens UD-4L Cheyenne Dropship - Cockpit layout

On my lunch break, I've managed to add some cockpit details to the UD-4L

Using a basic ejector seat and a HUD from another project. I've started to add objects to the cockpit. From watching the film several times, I've managed to create a basic console for the Co-Pilot and a large console / display screen for the Pilot. 

I'll probably be able to add a bit more detail, however I'll probably make up the rest of the cockpit, based upon best guess work. 

Aliens UD-4L Cheyenne Dropship

The Aliens UD-4L Cheyenne Dropship, in my mind, should be multi-role. So, I've altered the ramp position, created a pallet, cargo, and drogue chutes. This make the Dropship able to deliver cargo to the battlefield. 

These are simple renders of the UD-4L Dropship deploying cargo, at speed, with drogue chutes dragging the cargo from the ramp. 

Aliens UD-4L Cheyenne Dropship - Rear Landing Gear

For years, actually decades, I've been thinking about the Alien Queen fitting into the rear landing gear bay of the UD-4L Cheyenne Dropship. Sorry for the plot spoil!

I've semi accurately 3D modelled the mechanism of the landing gear, but when I've attempted to animate it into the landing gear bay, nothing fitted. So I've re-modelled it to something that actually works.

Exended

Retracted

The void where the Alien Queen would to had to get in is so small, her head would not of fitted. In fact a Alien drone would of only just fitted. So, plot fail!

I've still got a few modifications to make so that gear nicely fits into each other, but at long last I've got something that actually works!

North American Aviation X-15 - Update: Pilot, Third Skid and Wing Pods

In the North American Aviation X-15 Cockpit, the pilot has had an update to the texture. I'm not the best when it comes to creating a 3D model & texture of the human body, but this one is just a functional 3D model for the external X-15 3D model.

The Third Skid is now textured. However, I'll be altering the 'Aircraft green primer' as I'm not happy about it. Also, from the pictures I have, the animation doesn't 'work'. So,  I'll be altering parts of the third skid to make it 'work'.

I've added the the wing pods for experiments on the X-15, both wing pods are different. The wing pod on the Starboard side (near) has cameras pointing forward and aft of the X-15. The port wing pod (far) has an experiment mounted in the forward section of the wing pod.

North American Aviation X-15 - Third Skid Gear

I've now added the third skid gear to the North American Aviation X-15 3D Model. It was flown on X-15-1 for it's last 12 flights and on X-15-3 for it's last 14 flights. This is a very approximate 3D model.

There is a reason why it's a very approximate 3D model, I've only got two images to work with. One image is from a book titled "Hypersonic: The Story of the North American X-15" by Dennis R. Jenkins & Tony R. Landis. The other image is from an accompanying book called  "X-15 Photo Scrapbook" by the same authors. However I don't have the second book, but luckily found an image from the book.

I've asked Santa/Father Christmas for this book, but the elves haven't reprinted this book in years. If you have this book and have no requirement for it, I would be happy to purchase it from you.

[Edit]
This is one of the images:

North American Aviation X-15A-2 - Canopy

The 3D model of the North American Aviation X-15A-2 now has the oval windows for the canopy, complete with port side eye-lid. Tomorrow I'll add the hinges and opening mechanism for the eye-lid.

North American Aviation X-15A-2 - Rear Textured

Long day re-creating the UV map for the North American Aviation X-15A-2 3D model. When I added the rear fuselage extensions to be flush the the nozzle, it screwed up the UV map for the rear section. I've repositioned the UV map manually, because if I did it automatically, it would completely reset the UV map for the fuselage and re-positioning all of the fuselage parts would of taken longer. Guess it's a limitation of Wings 3D, but I can live with it. I've also added 'improved' vents and jettison pipe on the rear too.

Defiantly next, I'll do the canopy. :)

North American Aviation X-15A-2 - Rear Details

The rear of the North American Aviation X-15A-2 is now modelled. I've omitted the the texture as when I added the new parts around the XLR-99 engine, as the UV map lost some of it's mapping around the rear and look very distorted and psychedelic. I'll look at this when I've re-modelled the two trailing vents pipes

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The Canopy I'll deal with later,

North American Aviation X-15A-2 - X-15 to X-15A-2 Modification (Pimp up my Rocket plane!)

I've stretched limo'ed the North American Aviation X-15 into the X15A-2. Noticeable modifications are:

• Add 29 inches to the fuselage. Done, see picture below :).
• Add 6.75 inches to the Skid Gear. Not to sure where it is added to. It appears to be on the main section. If this is the case, it's an easy modification.
• Canopy to have the oval windows and 'Eye-lid' on the Port side. 
• Finally some modifications to the rear section of the fuselage for the additional H2O2 / Helium tanks.

The hardest part will be to modify the cramped texture file for the extensiosn, but there *should* be enough room. Fingers crossed...

I know I've got the wrong texture file, this is just for illustration purposes.

ISS Renders with 3D models of the Space Shuttle, Soyuz and SpaceX Dragon

I been experimenting renders using Kerkythea. I've created renders of the International Space Station (ISS) 3D model. I've added the Space Shuttle, Soyuz and SpaceX Dragon to the renders. The Iss is not complete as it's missing some Russian modules and Solar Arrays.

Please tell me what you think.

Battlestar Galactica Viper MkII - Part 6 Cockpit, Final details

The 3D model of cockpit for the Viper MkII is almost complete. All the main switches, dials, instruments and screens are in. This cockpit is based upon the second version of the Viper MkII cockpit in the TV series. The biggest difference between the first version and this one is the addition of a small screen in the lower right of the centre section of the forward panel. The third version removes the three centre engine dials near the centre joystick/yoke. 

 

The last item to add to the cockpit is an ejector seat. I'm going to use a mixture of a real ejector seat and the headrest section of the seat used in Battlestar Galactica. This is because the one used in Battlestar Galactica wouldn't fit a parachute behind the pilot and it looked like it needed to be comfortable for filming ;)

Battlestar Galactica Viper MkII - Part 5 Cockpit and External movie

Couple of movie clips showing the 3D models of the Colonial Viper MkII.