the conningtower/bridge is still way too small, it makes the ship look bigger than it is (you have to consider there are probably 4-5 people inside that bridge... which almost places the rest of the ship by contrast at destroyer or cruiser size).
I'd also move the 'wings' up to the front of the ship, instead of at the back. Most subs, both ww2 and modern, have larger diving planes at the front of the ship, and some dont even have rear planes - the ship manuvers better underwater with them at the front, while the engines push the sub through the water.
I'm a pretty big U-boat enthusiast as well, so I love that look (and it's logical for a spacecraft to be designed in much the same way as a submarine is).
i'd suggest making the fins a little shorter and wider (looka t the 'wing' in the middle of the liberty navy gunboat) - that way four turret mounts can be put on those wings, one on top and one on bottom for each side of the ship.
EDIT:
And move the wings upward vertically some, they should be closer to the top of the ship, not directly in the center.
The first place I put them was at the front, it honestly looked too much like a U-Boat, likewise with moving them upward it looks odd. I'll post renders of the other options if you're interested.
The scale on the command centre is bugging me, if its too large it overwhelms but if its too small it underwhelms and make it seem bigger than it actually is.
' Wrote:the conningtower/bridge is still way too small, it makes the ship look bigger than it is (you have to consider there are probably 4-5 people inside that bridge... which almost places the rest of the ship by contrast at destroyer or cruiser size).
I'd also move the 'wings' up to the front of the ship, instead of at the back. Most subs, both ww2 and modern, have larger diving planes at the front of the ship, and some dont even have rear planes - the ship manuvers better underwater with them at the front, while the engines push the sub through the water.
I'm a pretty big U-boat enthusiast as well, so I love that look (and it's logical for a spacecraft to be designed in much the same way as a submarine is).
i'd suggest making the fins a little shorter and wider (looka t the 'wing' in the middle of the liberty navy gunboat) - that way four turret mounts can be put on those wings, one on top and one on bottom for each side of the ship.
EDIT:
And move the wings upward vertically some, they should be closer to the top of the ship, not directly in the center.
I agree that the "diving planes" are too thin. They'd never stand up to combat. Not enough "beef" to them. When I suggested it I imagined it with stub-style hardpoints like on an Apache helicopter/Russian Hind/Blackhawk too.
I think 2 sets.. one fore and one rear are needed for both design stability and hard point/wep distribution.
They could also double as thruster locations for meneuvering this lil beauty in tight places .. like asteroid fields!
oh.. another thing.. PLEASE keep the torpedo launchers internal.. IMO it would totally screw it up if they were external turrets! Would make it a bit more of a challenge to fight/rp it.. but why not?
Well, at a certain point you need to sacrifice realism for stylist and design elements that can't ignored. Example being the waffey diving planes, while they may seem unstable and insecure they add design element that creates a more flowing ship in the end.
Likewise with the conning tower/cockpit, its all about finding the balance between inspiration and practical design.
I don't know what the practical use of the torpedo tubes would be really, it would create balance issues to equip it with four torpedoes. Maybe a missile or CD slot, but then what is to be done with the final two? Thats what I need this thread for *laughs*
Oh well, here is another updated model with a larger command centre.
I didnt mean make the wings bigger for sturdiness or looks... but for hardpoint application. The liberty gunboat has some pretty hefty wings (well, one wing that goes through the body actually) that can hold turrets on them.
And I agree with two sets - Put one set of wings on the front and one on the back, and put 4 weapon hardpoints for each set (total of 8 turrets), it'd end up being a decent well-rounded gunboat. That's more of a balancing issue than modelling though... personally I think a lot of the gunboats need to be bumped up to 8 turrets from 6. With six turrets you have less room for a balanced loadout, whereas eight hardpoints gives you enough room for anti-cap weapons, standard turrets, and a couple missile turrets for anti-fighter use.
EDIT:
As for the 'torpedo tubes' on the front... perhaps forward guns? If the ship was given several forward gun hardpoints (one on each side of the ship, so only two tubes would actually be used but it wouldnt be visually noticeable), it could be dropped to 4 or 6 turret hardpoints, since the forward guns provide anti-capship firepower.
Ultimately hardpoints are Igiss's call, but I can make a test version and see how it runs:)As for the remark about the diving planes? I was addressing Hammer's critique of it being weak, oh well though.
I'm feeling good and comfortable about this version, I may move onto texturing it soon, I may not however. I just hope I don't need to make any mesh changes at the last minute.
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