In the last few weeks I have been working on some ship models based on Battlefleet Gothic. These images are all made using Google's Sketchup program. Feedback, critiques, and suggestions for future images all welcome.

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt86/Shadow-Viper/3D%20Art/ImperialStrike.jpg

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt86/Shadow-Viper/3D%20Art/ImperialStrike2.jpg

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt86/Shadow-Viper/3D%20Art/ImperialStrike3.jpg

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt86/Shadow-Viper/3D%20Art/ImperialStrike4.jpg

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt86/Shadow-Viper/3D%20Art/ImperialStrike5.jpg

All five images are from the same situation, an Imperial Lunar Class beating up on a Chaos Murder Class. You will need to cut and paste the links to your address bar to view the images.

That bad that no one even wants to comment? At least I know that I need more practice .

I've never heard of google sketchup program but it looks kinda limited. One thing is the explosions looks like bath bubbles, perhaps if it wasn't so round but maybe more bumpy like a cloud?

As for the ships themselves they look very nice and definately look like their respective battle fleet gothic counter-part. Colors are a little bit too bright but simple shading could fix that.

Thanks for sharing

They're story-board quality. They show the details of each ship, and in each scene you can clearly understand what's going on, but they're unpolished, and as whiskeycharlie said, the explosions are very basic.

The next step would be to work out some proper textures, and figure out how to make the explosions look right. It's good work, but don't stop there. I've looked back on 3D models I've made before that I have been quite happy with at the time, but when I look back, I wish I had taken the time to round off edges, or give it anything more than rudimentary shading, etc.

Sketchup has some very serious limitations when it comes to explosion effects, and also for making things look organic (I am not even planning on trying any Eldar Ships). As for shading I will be trying some things to get some ship shadows and using darker colors on future images.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can give Blender a shot. It's more robust then sketchup, but the learning curve is a lot steeper though it'll do the explosion effects or most other things you can do with particles or creative texture mapping, organic forms, etc. Best of all, like sketchup, it's free, though i don't know if you'd be able to port your models over or not...

Graver said:

I downloaded it and will look at the program over the weekend. Until I start to feel confident about my skill with the program I am going to keep working with Sketchup, and posting the better looking pics here when I am happy with them.

img532.imageshack.us/img532/2314/miserichord.png

Nice art work, reminds me of some of the 80's series in its style.

If google sketchup is too limiting for you then i would defiantly recommend a different program. You don't really need detailed models, but better textures (like video game quality from the late 90's/think N64) and for better explosions. Can you save your models as .obj's? If so, then you can easily transfer them to many other 3d programs.

Rawrz said:

I don't think so. But a little while ago I found a way to make better explosion effects. I will try and load some new pics sometime this week.

T-800 said:

Yeah, I've been tinkering with the export option and in order to export the object as an OBJ you have to buy the Sketch up pro. Maya says it can import COLLADA files, but I'm having trouble getting anything into maya. I'll be tinkering at it though.

Can't wait for the better explosion effects :3

I've noticed that sketchup exports jacked up OBJ files (normals flipped randomly and other weirdness) but it exports 3DS files perfectly. My experience has been with 3ds studio max so the OBJs may work find in other programs, I don't know.

I wonder why that is? Maybe export to 3D studio max first then export it as an obj?