Grand Space Opera 2D Entry: Neal Holman

#1

Neal Holman has entered the Grand Space Opera 2D.

#2

this is sort of my first idea for it. The concept is sort of Patrick O’Brian’s “Master and Commander” but set in space, with much, much larger ships that carry fighters as well as artillery. The thinking is that these ships will utilize solar sails for the majority of their journey, as the supplies to power the other engines are finite and precious.

So basically, spaceships +19th century warfare + artillery/technology of the future =my entry.

Neal

#3

messed around a bit to see if I still like this idea. It’s okay, it’s not great. I can’t decide on what solar sails would look like, and went for a sort of energy/plasma sail look that really doesn’t work at all. I like the idea of a plasma, sort of ethereal sail.

I do like the fighter though.

#4

man, those sails… yikes. Garrish doesn’t even cut it.

neal

#5

One of my favorite inturpretations of a solar sail comes from Disney’s Treasure Planet. Real good dvd, you should give it a look.

#6

So to expound on the whole concept/story of this thing, this is what I’m thinking.

What we’re seeing is an ambush of a merchant ship by two Man O’ War frigates, one in the foreground and one emerging in the background. This is sort of the opening volley between the two ships, as the merchant, at the moment, is unaware of the second frigate behind him.

Why are they fighting, why do the two ships have sails and the merchant none? Space travel is not a cheap endeavour. Fuel for those giant drives is not exactly available at the Quickie Mart around the corner, so for those few who live beyond the law… mercenaries, thieves, pirates, whatever you want to call them, you must find other means to travel.

Thus the energy sails, which are incredibly quick when they catch a stream, but also incredibly slow when they don’t. So those ships also carry lighter drives to help out inthe slow times, and in order to power those drives they need fuel.

And if you’re a pirate, especially a Space Pirate, you certianly do not PAY for fuel. Certainly not! No, you must pillage and plunder… cause that’s what pirates do.

So down yer rum, beat yer chest, and man yer guns, mates, thar’s work to be doin’ and fair maidens to be scr… okay too much pirate talk.

Neal

#7

Treasure Island, really? I never did see it, and after the less than kind reviews it received, never picked up when it came out on Dvd. I’ll check that out this weekend, thanks!

neal

#8

So, just in case anybody was curious, it turns out solar sails do not harness the solar wind, go figure. This is from the NASA site:

“Solar sailing is a method of converting light energy from the sun into a source of propulsion for spacecraft. In essence, a solar sail is a giant mirror that reflects sunlight in order to transfer the momentum from light particles (photons) to the object one is interested in propelling. Since the phrase “solar sails” is often confused with “solar cells”, which is a technology for converting solar light into electrical energy, we will use the term “light sail” for the purpose of this discussion.”

and in big highlighted text:

for all your other solar sail, or I should say Light Sail, needs, go here:
http://solarsails.jpl.nasa.gov/

Neal

#9

So now that I’ve read up a little bit on how solar sails work, I’ve done some redesigning. The idea here is to get as much sail as possible without one sail blocking the other from the light/power source.

Problem: I have this nagging feeling I’m ripping something off. Does this look familiar to anybody? Because I can’t place it, but it feels like it resembles somthing…

The front square thing is a hangar entry of sorts where the fighters deploy and return.

Neal

#10

Just doing some quick tests on a background. I kind of like the palette, with greens and pinks being the base, but… meh… it’s just okay. Seems to be a theme with this concept.

Neal

Ps uh, yeah those stars, ignore them if you can. they were done in about two seconds and boy do they show it.

#11

Going with a different concept here. Something with a little more personal feel/emotion to it rather than just a spaceship. I like the layout of it, though the figure standing beside the pair is out of proportion.

neal

#12

Hi Neal!

Thanks for your comment! Yeah, your absolutely right about the ship-trail thing. But since I won’t continue to develop this concept I won’t change it.

If I were you, I’d definitely go with the last concept. solar sails are nice, but this seems somehow more interesting to me. (don’t ask why, I don’t know)

good luck,
igino

#13

I like the shape of your ships, they really are different

#14

total different approach, a much more possible real future, with personal ships that more resemble today’s cars. Old Space Shuttles have been recommissioned and adapted into supersonic subway cars that zip by on billboard laden tracks. In the faint background, you can see the pirate ship either docking or getting ready to launch its initial attack.

The scene is much less operatic, and I like it much, much less than the previous sketches. Though the subway car/shuttle thing is kind of neat.

neal

#15

Igino and Moondragon - thanks for the feedback! I think right now, unless I come up with some brilliant concept/design/composition idea for the pirate thing, the lead contender for the final piece is the cityscape with the people in the foreground. It might be a tad bit cheesy, but … it IS a space opera afterall. … maybe I should just do a full on opera??? Complete with fat space lady! … well, I know what I’m doing tonight.

neal

#16

Hi
Your sketch;" New concept" is good perhaps to go further with him.

#17

Hey thanks, hopefully I’m going to have a chance to flesh it out a little more. Although thinking of “The Grand Space Opera” as an actual Opera, with the big fat space lady, and space valkyrie has got my mind racing with ideas.

neal

Ps on a side note to the moderators/judges/people in charge, you mispelled “Civilization” in your title.

#18

Hiya, I wanted to say that you were going well with the first Idea :thumbsup: But it comes down to what you feel like doing…good work :slight_smile:

#19

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