Orbiter's Payload 3D Model

Managed to get a hour to model the Orbiter Docking System. A bit more detail needs to be added. Then I'll move onto the camera system.

Projects to date...

Just had the evening to myself to find out how far along my current projects have progressed. So far I have the current projects in 'live' status.

• Project <Blank> - 1 out of 4 models complete. Texturing in progress on that first 3D model. Two other 3D models will be adaptions of the first 3D model. Interior model complete, but needs to go through a polygon reduction process. The forth model is a different 3D model and that is a work in progress. No interior model required for the time being.
• Shuttle project - External model complete and textured. Payload now being modelled with configurable options. Flight deck almost complete and awaiting the UV map to be created for the textures. Both the old (CRT) and new (MEDS) cockpit configurations will be done. Mid-deck model and textures completed. The 3D models for the External Tanks and SRBs complete. Creating the UV maps for Texturing has started.
• International Space Station - Halfway through 3D modelling the modules. One third complete on the Truss sections. Not started on the textures.
• SCA - very basic 3D model completed. Will add details to it later.
• Kennedy Space Center - VAB fully complete. LC-39 drawings and information obtained, and modelling to start soon(ish). Crawler and MLP started, but at a very basic phase. All these models will be low polygon 3D models.

Projects on indefinite hold:

• F-35 A, B and C - On hold due to lack of information, mainly good reference drawings. Also Project <blank>, Shuttle and ISS projects have taken priority.
• WASP Carrier - Project <blank>, Shuttle and ISS projects have taken priority.
• Alien dropship UD-4L - sadly left in a neglected state. Interior needs to be modelled, but there is no good reference drawings to get a 'good' model of the cockpit and APC bay. No textures created, but I aim to create various camouflage types.
• Aliens APC - As with all movies models, I find that the interior rarely fits in the exterior. So placed on the project on hold.

Projects complete:

• Low polygon version of the Orbiter for F-Sim Space Shuttle.
• Mir Space Station.

 

"Open the cargo bay doors, HAL!"

I've started to work on the Orbiter's payload bay. In the previous 3D Model, this was not required for F-Sim Shuttle, as it was just a landing simulator.
Now, I have to stress, this is purely a test model to see how little (or much) I've got to modify the current 3D model to make the payload bay 'fit'. So far, the payload bay and test objects such ad ISS Modules fit perfectly.

ISS Low Res Model (Part 2)

I've managed to get a couple of free lunch breaks to work on the ISS. The Truss structure is a complex thing to simplify. What do I keep, what do I delete? I've got an idea...

The JEM Module is complete. Destiny Lab, Nodes and Columbus just need arm grapple points, the Orbiter Grapple Trunnions and Astronaut Handles adding

ISS Low Res Model

Been busy with working on the 3D for the 'BLANK' Project and that is now in the texture phase of the project. Screen shots to appear later after official news release.

However, a side project I've just started on is a low res model of the International Space Station. This took a matter of hours:

I'll be building one module/truss section at a time.

Space Shuttle External Tank and Solid Rocket Booster (part 3)

Just a bit of detailing around the rear section, then it's time to break out the crayons and start texturing!

Space Shuttle External Tank and Solid Rocket Booster (part 2)

Currently I'm working a new project, which a NDA prevents me from saying what the project is. I'll be able to show you more at a later date when I'm permitted to do so. However, every once in a while I have to step back, take a breather from projects because I don't want to start hating something that I like doing.... and a break is good.

Anyway I digress. One minor project I'm working on is the Solid Rocket Booster and External Tank for the Space Shuttle. I've neglected them for a while, maybe too long, so I spent the last couple of nights working on the 'plumbing and structure' that is between the rear of External Tank and Orbiter done. Here are some updates:

I need to complete the attachment/bases of the structure that holds the Orbiter to the External tank, but that should take a couple of hours to do, then the SRB will need a tweak or two.

LHD-1 Wasp-class amphibious assault ship and F-35B Lightning II

I've been working on and off over the past few months on a couple 3D models, potentially for a take off and landing simulator. I've started on creating the carrier (The Wasp) and for the aircraft I was going to create the AV-8B Harrier, but I decided to swap to the F-35B. I'll probably still do the Harrier and maybe the V-22 Osprey, but this I'll probably do in the future.

Mir Bump

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

Mir!

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!

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

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

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)

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.