I need to try and remember to post more here.
Anyway, thanks Meaker. I've actually seen that site before. I'm trying to strike a careful balance, by taking as few liberties with the science aspect of the series as possible, while still doing some of the specific ideas I want to see in the series. So, I want it to be more realistic then the average sci-fi you see on tv and film, but at the same time not get so bogged down by the science that the story I want to tell gets lost. So when I do step outside the bounds of science, I try to take very small steps.

This is equally true for the military aspect of the series as well. I often tend to think of this as more of a story about the military then I do it being science fiction, so in that regard I want it to be respectful of the military and not just mindless sci-fi violence.

So here's something new.
Triple Threat Defense.



From left to right

The Bulwark Long Range Missile Interception Laser Turret
The Aeroram Medium Range Missile Interception System
The Type 73 Short Range Railgun Turret

I've started work on a standard Solar Positioning System & Data-Communications satellite. The idea being that there is one large general wireless service in use by almost everyone on both sides of the conflict, which is maintained by decent sized, relatively unmanned (can support engineers and maintenance crews for short times, but doesn't need a dedicated crew to operate) satellites. By allowing everyone to use one the same system, each faction doesn't have to maintain it's own system of communications satellites, but also because everyone uses the same satellites, they have to be able to handle a lot of traffic. Also, if they were faction specific, they would be clear and open targets but since everyone uses the same system, no one will dare risk taking them out because then you lose them as well.

So I'm going for a more modular look, with a definite mechanical feel, with every major component having a purpose and an actual specific function.
I've included a few sensor spikes, one main sensor dome, and a series of RCS thrusters. I'll be adding a set of solar panels in addition to the main communications antenna. I'll probably some storage tanks as well. I thought about including a small fusion reactor for power but decided the solar panels should be enough to handle the power requirements.

I finally got around to redoing the AeroRam design, using everything I've learned over the past year, and I think it's safe to say the new version is much improved. I tried to stick with as close to my original concept art as possible this time, rather then taking it off in some other direction once I got it started in 3-d.

Original Concept

Old

New

Most of the major work is done, but I still have some details to add and need to clean up a few spots. I also need to work on the missile itself. Unlike the old version, this one doesn't contain the entire launch system inside each cell. I might do one for illustration purposes, but that's it.

Some new WIP's.





The Type 19 freighter in it's many variants, is the most widely used cargo transport by both the UN and the Allied Corporations. The most recent version, the H-III variant features a larger radiation shield to help protect the cargo containers and the crew, from the newly upgraded engines while operating in extended over drive. While the Over Drive function is terrible fuel inefficient, the increased performance allows for significantly shorter travel times.

First draft WIP, for a dry-dock.

I started working on a corridor this evening, and included some temp lighting. I'm going for a rather simple framed box, exposed piping, and equipment lockers.

I only rendered a cross section to make it easier to see.

I've started working on the Mine Plow & Upgraded Armor Kit, for the Titan MBT. And because both the Centurion Tank Support Fighting Vehicle and the Gladiator Infantry Support Vehicle both use the main body of the Titan as their base, the Kit will fit those vehicles as well.

I'm still working out exactly how the plow is going to work, so it's a bit rough at the moment.

Well I'm building it for someone who wants to use it to build a Pepakura model with it, so it would be up to them. I'll suggest it though.

But yeah, I agree. With an ammo box that small on a gun that size, even if it were firing bb's, a user would eat through the ammo in no time flat. And forget about laying down cover fire. You'd have to be so ammo conscious about what you're actually shooting at and firing controlled short bursts, that it would remove much of the benefit of having a squad based support weapon.

It would likely have to fire the exact same round as the battle/assault rifle and DMR, (in the same way that the M249 fires the same round as the m4 and m16) so the user could benefit from borrowing ammo from their squad mates, on top of the extra ammo normally carried. Good thing I guess Spartans can carry a lot of weight, cause realistically Jorge should be loaded down with extra ammo pouches.

It also helps that in the game, you find ammo every couple of feet, but then we begin to spiral even deeper into the whole realism versus video game combat, and that's a rather large discussion best left for its own thread.

Any Halo fans out there? If so, then this should look familiar. For everyone else, I suppose it's just a big frakkin gun.
Note, this is unrelated to the New Haven project, just something I'm doing on the side for someone over at SFM. I didn't feel like starting a whole new thread for something I might not post any more of.

Nice work on the different versions of the Samson. I'm not sure which one I like best, but they're all pretty cool.

I've taken a bit of a break over the holidays, but I did manage to start work on the Kirov class, a heavy guided missile cruiser. This pic shows the Kirov docked with the Essex. Both are still very much WIP's.

I've never been much of a fan of the Avengers (I prefer the Justice League) but I've always liked the Shield Carrier concept. You're version is certainly one of the better ones I've seen. Nice work.

Thanks James. I took a look at Karl's King Tiger, and it definitely helped me get a handle on how to tackle the tracks...as well as a few ideas for other details.

I've started working on a set of tracks for the Titan, based on the Abrams tracks. This is what I have so far.

I've been working on the turret for the Titan MBT, the UN's front line tank. I still need to work on the Tank Commander's hatch, making it a little bigger and probably moving it back a bit. I like where it is currently, but internally, the CO would be sitting right in the middle of the autoloader for the main gun. And I need to work on the main gun (a 140mm railgun) as well as some of the detailing on various pieces, but overall I'm very pleased with how it's turned out so far.

The turret is still missing one major component however, the ROWS (Remotely Operated Weapons System) turret. The ROWS turret can be mounted on a variety of vehicles and allows a manned gunner station to engage enemy threats from within the safety of the vehicle.
I have various versions/WIPS of the ROWS turret, but none I'm really pleased with yet. It's a common feature found on most every armored vehicle, so I need to get it right and so because I'm not happy with it yet, I haven't included it here.

This is one of the few times so far, when I have felt that my 3d skills have allowed me to surpass the quality and style of the original 2d concept. All attempts at making any realistic looking tracks/treads has proven disastrous though and the main body of the tank, obviously not pictured here, still needs a lot of work, so I probably shouldn't toot my own too much yet.

As always, comments, questions, and criticism is welcome.

Thanks Ken.

Here's another WIP, this time the project/series namesake, New Haven Island. The island, located in the North Atlantic off the coast of Newfoundland above the Flemish Cap, was established by the Pax Tecum Corporation as a place to conduct scientific research beyond the reach of any nation's law. The island also served as the location of the first commercial fusion reactors, capable of providing viable electricity to the island and eventually much of Canada. The Pax Tecum model of fusion reactor became the global standard, cementing their economic supremacy.
The smaller island in the distance is a direct ground to space launch site, eventually serving as a runway for single stage spacecraft...craft of taking off like a plane and achieving orbit without the use of large booster engines.
At its peak, the island was home to some hundred thousand employees of the Pax corporation and their families, until the great exodus when the entire corporate entity was relocated to Luna and Mars. The United Nations now controls the Island, overseeing a joint military and civilian population.

I don't recall if all these shots were taken at the same time, so there might be a few discrepancies between various parts; it's also not entirely up to date. I've done some more work on it, but haven't done any new renders.
Much like the UN Headquarters Complex posted above, the island is an entirely self sufficient community; built upon a principal of highly advanced technology, supplemented by carefully tended green environments such as parks, lakes, and both closed and open gardens.

He's around somewhere I think. Probably busy with school, and hopefully at work on something awesome to share with us.

I'm going to say upfront, that I'm notoriously bad at finishing anything before I move on to something else. I tend to jump from one model to the next and back again, really just focusing on whatever I feel like working on that particular day. And at this stage, much of this project, at least visually, is still a work in progress, so I don't it matters much.

As I mentioned previously, the Essex class has a number of missile launch cells, so here is a WIP of the missile it fires. Each Viper Missile, contains 12 independently targetable thermonuclear warheads, with each warhead powering an x-ray laser, though a number of other warheads can also be accommodated.

This is a WIP for the UN Complex, which serves as the headquarters for the United Nations....the military headquarters was going to be located here as well, however I was reminded that it's not wise to place all your eggs in one basket.



In this version, the background city is a bit filled in with random buildings, which are currently just for show at this point. I needed to see how far back I might need to fill in the city, so I just stuck in some random buildings. Eventually, there will be a more unique looking city back there.

Thanks. I know Liam from SFM already; he was the one who suggested I come here and post my work after I asked him about Google Basecamp. So I'm already well versed in the awesome work he's doing. I don't know Ken though, but I'll definitely check out his stuff.

So, as I said in my introduction post, my work in Sketchup thus far, has been directly related to an original universe science fiction project. This project, the New Haven Chronicles, is a military war drama, set around 2165. Humanity hasn't ventured beyond Mars, there are no aliens, and no FTL. The conflict arises between the United Nations (most of earth) and the Allied Corporations which are responsible for most of the technology and infrastructure currently used in space. The majority of the Allied Corporations are located on Mars.

It's not hard science fiction, but I do try and play things with as much realism as I can. So that being said, most of what I'll be posting has a definite military slant; tanks, guns, and bombs....and the occasional space ship, like this one:

The Essex Class UNV – Ticonderoga



Missile Launch Cells



Solar Panels

An earlier shot, showing the drop bay:

I've got more, but don't want to overwhelm the post with tons of pics. Feedback is welcome and appreciated and I'm more then happy to answer any questions.

I've decided to finally stop lurking and join in. I've met a few members around the web at different places, like SFM & Deviant Art, so hello to them and everyone else as well.

I've been using Sketchup for almost a year now....wow, has it really been that long. I guess it has. Man, time flies when you're modeling.

Anyway, I wanted to learn 3d (cheaply) for a an original universe sci-fi project I'm working on and I've been really impressed by some of the results I've seen with Sketchup so I decided to jump in with both feet. I was really surprised by how easy it was to pick up, however with that being said, I realize I still have much to learn. I really enjoy it though so it's all good.

I'll be posting some work in the gallery shortly. See you around the forum.