Alien: Narcissus project

Satka said:
Thank you Zathros, this is helpful, and goes exactly in the direction I'm going now

Indeed, the drawing I posted earlier were nothing but a draft to check that I could validate the 2D layout - to 3D model - to PDO chain, even if the 2D layout was inaccurate (or worse, not symmetrical :p)
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If you need anymore help like that, let me know. :)
 
josej said:
Nice project.

Are you planning to build a landing gear or just put the model in a stand?
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Well the plan is to release
- first a fully textured but simple model (with a stand, no landing gear, not too many 3D details)
- then a model with more depth (recessed panels, hollow reactors)
- then a fully detailed model, with landing gear, and maybe clamping mechanism
 
Satka said:
I'm light years from his level of course, but if I can add a little contribution to the "Alien" paper scenery, I'd be more than happy :)
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Don't worry, I'm sure you will create a nice model. I'm using SketchUp, too. There is a Narcissus on the SketchUp Warehouse site. The texture is not quite correct, but it could be used for reference:
http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=c4ff6a1871e23e1630a81e41b3b6ffd&prevstart=0
I once tried to unfold it but somehow the texture shifted, so I gave it up.
Good luck!:wave:
 
I am also watching this thread. Hmm . . . . somewhere I might have the "Book of Alien" from 1979, it might have some useful pics.
 
Looks like a fun project. I recall reading somewhere that one of the prop models was created as a "fore-shortened" version of the lifeboat, so it would look right in some of the shots. You might be cautious about that when looking at pix from the film for reference.
 
Project update

I finished the reference work, and decided to use the best "Halcyon model" pics I could find.

I had to use them to create perfectly symmetrical views.
This required some perspective tweaking.

Now I'm going to start 3D modelling ;)

Layout_Work_2.png
 
Satka said:
Project update

I finished the reference work, and decided to use the best "Halcyon model" pics I could find.

I had to use them to create perfectly symmetrical views.
This required some perspective tweaking.

Now I'm going to start 3D modelling ;)

Layout_Work_2.png
Click to expand...

Satka, that's a nice picture, is that the biggest one you have? Would you be willing to share it? Just curious. Excellent work! :)
 
That was very nice of you to share that. I will remember your generosity! Thanks! :)
 
Satka said:
Project updateI had to use them to create perfectly symmetrical views.
This required some perspective tweaking.
Click to expand...

Its easier to model it just a half of the model and then mirror it.

Thouse you don't need to think about some possible symetric errors .......
And its in summary just a little over half the work.
 
Thanks for the advice ;)

Actually, that is exactly what I did: even using the best frontal/side/upper pics available, the symmetry can't possibly be perfect

So I halved the pics, mirrored them, and made tweaks for the center part, whenever necessary (some central parts contained asymmetrical texture, for example)

Nosports said:
Its easier to model it just a half of the model and then mirror it.

Thouse you don't need to think about some possible symetric errors .......
And its in summary just a little over half the work.
Click to expand...
 
Project update

After some more MS modelling based on the photo layout pictures I posted earlier, I decided to draw the layout myself, and not use the model photos as is, even after mirroring them.

This is mainly due to the fact that working with photographic pictures means working with the way the camera optics distort the object, and that you cannot picture the perfect "front", "side" or "top" view of an object with a real camera, unless this object is at an infinite distance from the lens.

So I preferred the painful but more accurate approach, which is designing the ship from scratch.

Here are the completed front hull views
Project update

After some more MS modelling based on the photo layout pictures I posted earlier, I decided to draw the layout myself, and not use the model photos as is, even after mirroring them.

This is mainly due to the fact that working on photographic pictures means working with the way the camera optics distort the object, and that you cannot picture the perfect "front", "side" or "top" view of an object with a real camera, unless this object is at an infinite distance from the lens.

So I preferred the painful but more accurate approach, which is designing the ship from scratch.

Here are the completed front hull views (big version here)

Layout_Work_Front_Hull.png



This is a minor setback, but a needed one, since I'm now more confident with this new starting point :)

Edit: To be honest, I still haven't sealed the model yet, so some proportions could still change ... ;)
 
Glade to see you are still working on it. What are you using to model this? :)
 
I know there are not many updates ... the project isn't going as fast as I'd like, but real life doesn't offer free time that easily ;)

I'm using Inkscape for 2d modelling, since it handles layers, packs all the align/transform tools I need, and manipulates all objects in vector-based form, which I couldn't do without

Zathros said:
Glade to see you are still working on it. What are you using to model this? :)
Click to expand...
 
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