The Nadesico A

Mike Amos · 24 Mar 2022, 12:32

Nice mate, on a roll.

Bryan K · 24 Mar 2022, 22:10

Started with this shape.

Then +Push/Pull and resized each face along the profiles. Now need to do the indents. Still needs some tweaking on the shape. I see one profile out of alignment.

Bryan K · 26 Mar 2022, 04:48

Thanks Mike!

Same technique for rear half of the front nacelles. Started with the same shape, +Push/Pull following the profile working backwards. Make component, then mirror the copies.

Tweaked the front a bit more. Will stop here and and reference the images and tweak before building more shapes.

The issue I'm seeing is the drawings are just slightly different from the actual model kit, so I'm going to end up with a hybrid because each reference offers details the other doesn't. The shape and scale will be exact, but minor detail like curves and angles are going to differ. So I'm going to have to find a middle ground. But I'm going to default to the drawing and anime references when in doubt. Hence, the nose is more rounded than the model kit, yet more angular than the drawing.

LOL. No wonder I've only seen one CG model of this ship and references were hard to find. It's a crazy design!

Bryan K · 27 Mar 2022, 01:36

Coming along.

I tweaked the nose some more. Slightly flattened the curve and made it slightly wider again toward the point.

I +Push/Pull'd the vertical profile through the component and then intersected (Selection ONLY). Had to erase a LOT of hidden lines after. Then copy and cut the lines I wanted and pasted into nacelle component and then closed some small gaps, but this worked out as I wanted.

tuna1957 · 27 Mar 2022, 18:36

Great progress

Mike Amos · 28 Mar 2022, 11:25

^ Agreed mate, he knocks out great product.

Bryan K · 29 Mar 2022, 20:00

Thanks tuna. Thanks Mike.

Bryan K · 3 Apr 2022, 00:10

Overview to date.

Bryan K · 3 Apr 2022, 03:39

2 more views. And one of the geometry. The crazy, crazy geometry.

Bryan K · 3 Apr 2022, 03:43

Some minor tweaking and detail left and the forward nacelles are done.

Bryan K · 3 Apr 2022, 07:50

Details completed. I'm happy with it.

I had to fiddle with the vertex lines, swapping one point to point for the reverse to flip the triangles and smoothing out other faces as best as possible.

Also had to make the rear section with the holes a unique component as the other three quarter sections do not have those holes. Drew the holes with Tools on Surface, then indented push/push with Joint Push/Pull tool.

HornOxx · 3 Apr 2022, 12:17

Bryan, these kind of procedural stories are your brand here and I love them!

Bryan K · 3 Apr 2022, 18:49

Again, not much to look at, but the details are tough on this one.

Rounded the leading face of the crest/ridge. This took days to figure out because it's narrow at the top and wide at the bottom AND the profile has a slight curve. WHEW!

Changed the nose detail. There were several different versions, but this was the most common one used.

Now for the issue that will NOT be fixed. The outer edges of all the main shapes have a slight beveled/rounded edge to them. This will not be included. I cannot be done on this model due to many of the faces having 3 vertex points. I will still do edge breaks where possible.

The reason for the 3 vertices on a single point is the old "twisted trapezoid" shape so many designers like to use. Take a trapezoid, then slightly twist one edge. This causes triangle faces to be created to fill in the outline with a face. This prevents ANY type of "follow me" or edge modifications without a ridiculous number of more lines and connecting vertices. Which of course, makes the model bigger and does not guarantee a better look at the smaller scales.

So I'm skipping it unless absolutely necessary. It should still look good. After all, this is a hybrid model to begin with and will make the fifth version in existence.

Bryan K · 3 Apr 2022, 18:59

@l i am said:

I generally am not so interested in anything other than Architecture or Landscape. But I am looking forward to seeing the progress on this project

Thanks L i am! Sorry I didn't reply earlier. I was busy with my new job and my spring time allergies have been kicking my but. Sorry I missed your post.

Bryan K · 3 Apr 2022, 19:02

Not much to look at but I had to narrow the top crest/ridge and then adjust each section to curve smoothly. I scaled the top rectangle and then used the move tool to adjust each vertices intersection to flow into the lower wider sections. (remember, I'm using components so I only have to do one to get the other three to match. This model now has 8 quarter panels. 4 for the front section and 4 for the rear)

I also had to narrow the very back faces as well and make them more square.

Tedious, but I have to get the proportions perfect before I commit to the phase of push out of the sides or I'll be push/pulling vertices for ages later on. (update: which I ended up doing anyway)

Still more tweaking before I do the side push out.

Bryan K · 3 Apr 2022, 19:06

Thanks HornOxx! It was something I picked up from previous members years ago and it helped me to improve my modeling ability, so I do it hoping it helps others.

Gah! Almost one month to make just this section. To be fair, I have a new job, and my pollen allergies have been bad as well, so there is that.

On to the next section!