Star Trek Deep Space Nine:
Welcome to my Deep Space Nine project. I started building this as a break from doing
the Occupation project but DS9 took a bit longer to build than I thought. I am posting
the build on 2 3D forums Sci_Fi
Meshes and Foundation 3D.
The 3D artists on these forums have proved a great inspiration and motivation for
me to get this project done. Thanks for coming by to check my project out and I hope
you enjoy it.
~gp~
<=
I started this mesh putting together the habitat ring first. My decision
to use geometry instead of UV's for the hull plating came out of the need to build
a highly detailed DS9 model. Because DS9 is symetrical and sectional, all I needed
to build was one hull section, then duplicate them as needed.
=>
Adding the details to the hull section was easy, The access to good reference materials made the process fairly easy.
<=
My thinking in adding detail was that I wanted to add items that made sence to the
building process. I didn't want to add detail for the sake of detail. The window sections
were a classic example.
=>
The original DS9 model had no strut supports around the windows however I thought the additions made the protruding window sections look more filled out.
<=
Once one sections was done I duplicated and arrayed that sections to make the final
ring. Each section duplicated had minor differences added to the detail in order to
keep them from showing obvious repeating.
=>
This far shot willshow how the stagering detail makes the station look more natural.
<=
Some items were added to the mesh to make it more mine so to speak but in looking at the reference mats, I decided to make details that were implied like this pertryding hatch section.
=>
The outer docking ring was built in very much the same manor, one section mirrored and arrayed with alternating details . . . .
<=
The defense sails were a hard item to build due to the design shape. I must have built 4 versions of the sail until I decided on this final version.
=>
Friends of mine from the various forums I hang out on promted me to build DS9 with
the weapons upgrade featured later in the T.V. series run . . . I did find some good
ref mats on the weapons so the construction was easy.
<=
I would have to say that building the Opps section was the most fun, the design flow was easy and the details were straight forward. Plus it looks cool.
=>
Here is a wire frame shot of the inner core section, as you can see the build is very clean . . . .
little to no waist of poly's . . . . AL
<=
The outer docking ring sensor pallets were hard to build as the idea was to keep the poly count low. The trick to building this was to make it look like something functional rather than the generic detail used in the T.V. series model.
=>
As it stands right now the building portion of the mesh is 80% done, all that is left to do is the Docking Pylons.
