HARDCORE MODELING! 80's Cartoon: STARBLAZERS

[TheRazorsEdge]

Very cool! Looking forward to see where you'll take this.

Cheers!

[MarioGuillermo]

Very cool! Looking forward to see where you'll take this.

Cheers!

I finally started modeling the ship, beginning with the hardest part, which is the hull. Here are some images.

[MarioGuillermo]

Well here's my first major update, I think it's starting to look like the cartoon "Argo". The wave motion gun chamber at the bow was tricky, because there are different versions in different reference sources. I tried to capture the "typical" shape most fans of the show remember.

I will post more references soon.

[MarioGuillermo]

An update on the references. I noticed that some of the kits of the Yamato/Argo had certain inconsistencies with the TV version, such as a lack of details in certain areas. I intend to correct these errors as I continue working on this project.

[LMG]

... comming up nice! Keep it up with the good work.

Hope you can make it to the challenge as its hard work on that model to get it complete, very detailed.

[FICTIS]

Wow. Looking very good so far.

This is gonna be nice! Maybe we could put up a diorama of both our battleships when we're done... The Argo is a fantastic Battleship indeed.

[MarioGuillermo]

I was trying to insert the links to the WIP images, but for some reason it didn't work. I must be doing something wrong, not too internet savvy. But here are the links, sorry for the inconvenience.

Can't wait to model the main armament, the big gun turrets will make it looks so much better. Thanks to everyone for your kind comments.
http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/WIP_3_01.JPG

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/WIP_3_02.JPG

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/WIP_3_03.JPG

[MarioGuillermo]

That is a great idea, the Yamato and the Arcadia in the same scene, very cool.

[MarioGuillermo]

Copyrights belong to Voyager Entertainment, as far as I know.

[MarioGuillermo]

GUNS! Finally we have guns! It is ironic that the "real" Yamato's anti-aircraft batteries were not as effective as the cartoon spaceship version's laser armament, since US Navy planes were able to put several torpedoes and bombs into her. This ended the age of the giant battleship forever. Or did it...?
Anyway, here you can see the different types of artillery I have added, there will be more in the superstructure, which I plan to deal with next. In later versions of the Yamato the anime spaceship designers came to their senses and added gun turrets to the underside of the ship, as seen in Harlock's Arcadia.

I still need to add some details to the big turrets, but I will leave them alone for now. My goal is to finish the modeling part of the project within a week, so I can start texture mapping it.


Here are some WIP images.



http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/WIP_5_01.JPG

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/WIP_5_03.JPG


http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/WIP_5_04.JPG


http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/WIP_5_05.JPG

[FICTIS]

Wow, just wow.

It looks good, very good indeed. A friend of mine has the toy, I,ll have him take a couple of shots, it might help (though you are very accurate as is ;)

Keep it up, I can't wait for a diorama matchup... Side to side... FIRE!!

[MarioGuillermo]

Thanks FICTIS, glad you like it. Any pics of the toy would be great, no such thing as too much reference material, right? The bridge/supersructure is next. I think it's going to be the hardest part to model because there are so many versions of it. From what I have seen, there are many differences between the original first season bridge and later drawings, toys and diagrams. Since my objective is a version that is "true" to the TV series this is going to be interesting. I will post more reference images soon.

Later.

[TheRazorsEdge]

Very sweet modeling! :)
Not much more to say at this point, other than if the images were to be directly seen in the tread, it would be even more of a pleasure to observe you progress. Does the "insert image" button (little yellow square with simplified mountains) not work when you enter the direct link in the dialog box? I don't mean to be patronizing mentioning this, just asking since you made a remark about internet-savvyness.

Cheers!

[MarioGuillermo]

Thanks TheRazorsEdge, I followed your advice and figured out what I was doing wrong. Now the images are in the thread. I have also updated the previous WIP images.

Thanks again.

Mario

[MarioGuillermo]

The superstructure was by far the hardest thing to model, mainly because of the inconsistencies between the reference materials available. I really had to study my options and find a level of detail that would be faithful to the cartoon Argo. Except for a few minor details the model is pretty much ready for texturing, I still need to make some changes to the main gun batteries and anti-aircraft guns.

The Argo looks red and blue in the cartoon, but most toys and scale models of it show a weathered grey and red paint scheme. I have decided on a bluish-grey and red paint scheme, since the ship is reffered to as "the blue and red battleship" by one of the villains in the TV show.

Here are some WIP images, the colors are only temporary:

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/WIP_6_01.JPG

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/WIP_6_02.JPG

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/WIP_6_03.JPG

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/WIP_6_04.JPG

[TheRazorsEdge]

Jeez, this is sweet work!
Are you aiming to fully texture it as well?

Cheers!

[mcteapot]

Looks Great! It would be crazy to see a illustrated cut away shot of it.

[FICTIS]

Looking very good Mario!

The tower part is a lot of work allright. It looks awesome!

[MarioGuillermo]

Thanks everyone, glad you are liking it so far. Texture mapping is not my strength, but I am definitely going to give it a shot. It would be nice to get it looking used and weathered, without overdoing it of course. I plan to add many details with the textures too.

[KeithDemele]

Wow Mario! Looks great!

Cool concept, its coming along nicely, I had never heard of this show till you mentioned it. Can't wait to see what you come up with! Good luck!

[MarioGuillermo]

Thanks Keith, glad you like it. The show was very popular in the early 80's. The animation was not so good, but the story, ship designs, and music made it a favorite cartoon. The movies were much better, and Disney was seriously thinking about doing a live action Star Blazers motion picture.

[razeverius]

wow cool thats alota detail. Are you gonna add some cool textures?:bounce:

[MarioGuillermo]

I am going to do my best on the textures, I am not so experienced in Photoshop. At this point I just have to give it my best shot. It's going to take me a while.

[japetus]

I never watched the show, but I have definately seen this guy around model shops and whatnot. Great job!! Looks ready to blow something up real good!

[MarioGuillermo]

Thanks, trying to get it textured on time. They haven't shown Star Blazers on US TV in years, due to variety of excuses. It's a shame, because despite the dated and clunky animation the plot was very interesting and the science fiction aspect of it very imaginative.

[MarioGuillermo]

Here are the six orthographic renderings of the Argo space battleship from Star Blazers, originally Space Cruiser Yamato in Japan. Since the last WIP's I have done some minor modeling changes, especially to the main guns. Textures are done too. Beauty shot is next!

Front view:


http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/Argo_FRONT_Ortho.jpg

Back view:

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/Argo_BACK_Ortho.jpg

Right view:

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/Argo_RIGHT_Ortho.jpg

Left view:

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/Argo_LEFT_Ortho.jpg

Top view:

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/Argo_TOP_Ortho.jpg

Bottom view:

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/Argo_BOTTOM_Ortho.jpg

[FICTIS]

Well done dude, modeling is very sharp. Congrats on finishing before the deadline!

[MarioGuillermo]

Thanks man, almost there. Still working on my lighting on the beauty shot. Space scenes are a bit tricky to light. Will post tomorrow or Tuesday at the latest.

[TheRazorsEdge]

Looking very cool! Cant wait to see what your beauty shot will look like.

Cheers and Happy Easter!

[T0BER]

Nice work here, really looking forward to seeing your beauty shot.

Apparently there will be a new Yamato movie released in Japan this year, set 21 years after the origional series concluded.

[MarioGuillermo]

Nice work here, really looking forward to seeing your beauty shot.

Apparently there will be a new Yamato movie released in Japan this year, set 21 years after the origional series concluded.

I hope it's a good one, they keep doing sequels, it would be nice if they re-did the first one with updated CG animation.

Here are some wires:

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/Argo_wire_01.jpg

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/Argo_wire_02.JPG

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/Argo_wire_03.jpg

Still working on that beauty render!

[MarioGuillermo]

Here's the link to the turntable animation.


http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/argo_turntable_02.mov (http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/argo_turntable_02.mov)

[MarioGuillermo]

Here's a small version of the Beauty Shot. At the front of the ship the Wave Motion Gun starts to charge up before the blinding discharge that is about to vaporize the enemy. The crew had to wear very dark shades to protect their eyes, very dramatic eh?


http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/Small_Beauty_Render.jpg

[MarioGuillermo]

Here are some renderings to show the ship from a variety of angles. This has been a lot of fun.


http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/add_shot_02.jpg

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/add_shot_01.jpg

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/add_shot_04.jpg

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/add_shot_03.jpg

[FICTIS]

Hey Mario!

Congrats on making it on time! This one has been quite a model!

The ship looks wonderful, exactly as I remembered. :D

Next step will be a diorama right?

[MarioGuillermo]

Hey Eric,
Good to hear from you. Thanks for your comments on the Argo. I was looking at your Arcadia this morning, a very impressive model, congratulations to you too. We made it!Definitely, let's do a diorama next.

[FICTIS]

Mario.

Do you want me to fully texture your model for the Diorama? I can read LWO files just fine.

[theKid123]

congrats on finishing the model on time...
looks amazing.....

it would be cool if you and FICTIS's Arcadia together ... it would be amazing ...
Good Job !!:D

[MarioGuillermo]

Thanks theKid123, glad you like the model. I really enjoyed working on it. We are definitely going to render them together, I guess they are both Leiji Matsumoto designs after all.

Back in 1980 I never imagined I would some day do a 3D model of the Argo, strange eh?

[MarioGuillermo]

I almost forgot to add the customary TV show stills of the ship, plus a picture of the crew.
All copyrights belong to Voyager Entertainment, just in case.

Cheers

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/YamatoArgo.JPG

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/StarForce.JPG

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/308daysleft.JPG

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/SpaceBattleshipYamato.JPG

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/StarBlazers.JPG

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoilt/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/Argowater.JPG

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