HMS Captain

[Martocticvs]

This is the start of a somewhat different project for me. I'm building this ship to a different philosophy to my normal one. I'm not going to go bananas on detail I don't need for the scenes I have in mind - and yes, I do have scenes in mind for this. The other reason is that this ship will not be alone in these scenes, so I need to keep in mind the ability to quickly alter the base models to suit different ships. So this ship, the 'Canada class' HMS Captain is serving as my test-bed to see how this will all work out. I can't skimp on the rigging of course, but once set up for the first ship (using a slew of expressions to afford me easy control) it should hopefully not be too much of a task to modify for the other ships. I won't give too much away about the scenes yet, although as the project progresses it will become apparent what it will be depicting.

Anyway, this is the start to the hull so far - the general shape is pretty much there now. The oddness up at the bow is just to get the right shape at the beakhead, which I'll cut out manually later on. I'll be focusing attention on the stern tomorrow, as well as ironing out a few minor irregularities in the hull.

[Samurai]

Looks like a good start mate- if only I could get my mesh as silky smooth at both ends.

[Lukem]

As Samurai said - good start. Looking forward to seeing more!

[Martocticvs]

Thanks mate. I'll post a wireframe of the control mesh when I have it done... it's not exactly the promised tutorial, but it should help some people at least!

[Lukem]

Yes please!

[Samurai]

handy- I'm pondering a wee boat to go with the sub when its done.

[Martocticvs]

I look forward to that...

OK here's a little bit more on this. I've decided to make the beakhead part of the control mesh rather than cutting it afterwards - I wasn't really getting the right shape anyway using the other method, and although there is a slight bit of pinching at the corner of the cut-out, the head rails will pretty much completely conceal it so it doesn't signify. Still ironing out a few lumpy bits here and there but you don't really see them in renders so its nothing too problematic - these plans were unusually good, actually.

[Lukem]

Looks good like that - you've got it very smooth, looking at the render.

[Skyraider3D]

Originally Posted by Martocticvs

This is the start of a somewhat different project for me.

Different? Looks like another boat to me! A Walrus amphibian airplane... now that would be different!
Seriously though, that's an interesting looking project. Will keep an eye on your progress

[Martocticvs]

Well, the thing that makes it different is that I actually intend to do something with these... it is the very reason for their being built - see, a fundamental shift for me!