I’ve had a go at designing some kind of sci-fi vehicle and would love feedback on it’s design. Here’s a clay render:
I’d like the final image to show the vehicle parked, getting refuelled. It’s pretty big at eight metres high but I don’t feel the scale is being clearly shown yet. Lots of work to do on just about everything.
(3ds Max 2013 and mental ray)
nice concept, like it!
for your render I would say we don’t feel the scale of the model… Feel like a miniature right now: maybe you need the scale it up so 3dsmax do a light falloff more natural.
for better sense of scale, I would put camera near ground, and vehicle will automatically look bigger
then put tons of well known scale props near that vehicle (like phrase: banana for scale )
still lighting is really nice as well as color scheme of vehicle
Thanks guys. Just a small update:
Getting the light falloff correct is a great idea. Right now the scale of the 3D scene is enormous because I find Max will clip the camera view when I’m working which is a problem… When modelling is finished I’ll scale everything back to ‘real size’ and redo the lighting. I’m not ignoring your suggestion, just delaying it!
The railings help with communicating scale and the (temporary) people also help. Getting things to look ‘big’ or ‘small’ is not a skill of mine, I need all the help available so if there’s anything else I could do please suggest it. :bowdown:
Camera view - I’ll have a go at other camera views. I would rather show off the space ship design instead of it’s scale so I reckon the current view is okay though.
Another concern! The spaceship is hovering. Somehow?! There are so many sci-fi vehicle that magically fly with little or no suggestion as to how they do so. Does it look weird to anyone?
This looks awesome Miked, love all the details you got in there. Will you add this ship into your sci fi city scene, would have been nice to see it taking off somewere close in the foreground 
The floating doesnt look wierd imo, but it would be nice to see some kind of effect from the engines to suggest that its actually turned on and not just floating due to lack of gravity or because of invisible wires 
Railings definitely did the job for me
Also If you want to be hoovering a bit more realistic, delete those stairs between vehicle and floor and create some kind of flexible bridge that will tolerate slight movements while vehicle hoovers
The best way to increase the sense of scale is to add a lot of small details, both in the model and in the texture maps, to the vehicle.
I would also add that the small details should be something people generally know the size of. Like another person, or a fire extinguisher, or a box of hand tools on one of the thrusters, this would also serve to let us know it was made by people like us, but possibly a little more advanced, thus adding to believability, and narrative, as well as scale.In line with leighs suggestion, textured elements like warning stencils are also generally a certain size.
Unique design, like it and the texturing so far is adding a certain realism overall.
Plus a random thought perhaps is too google some Sci-Fi hanger compositions that suggest scale at various camera views.
Cheers 
Thanks everyone, really appreciate the advice. Over the next couple of weeks I shall…
Elgstrom: that’s a great idea, I should put this ship in the city scene!
I like the design of the ship and texturing dude! I would love to see an air to air shot:-)
Thanks Jonathan. An air shot would be great yeah, with a streaked and blurred city background perhaps and the thrusters turned on.
An update - quite alot of effort has gone into the texturing. What do people think? (Link to 1080px high version)
I wonder if I could leave the texturing as it is and add the really small details once the final render’s been done. Painting over the final render can be easier than figuring out things on a flat UV file. And alas, there are no bump or reflection maps yet, just diffuse maps. I reckon there needs to be some work done to the ‘wings’ and cockpit areas - a few more sticker decals and small bolts. Eventually there will be small glowing lights on the hull, that will be done in Photoshop as it’s quicker for me.
The human 3D models are basic, right now I’m planning to digitally paint over the render at the end and add extra detail. I probably could model each person but reckon doing some kind of paint over will be less painful. The little person who is opening up a floor panel should be given more prominence as it’s quite a nice detail - she’s using Paul’s toolbox idea!
And there’s no background yet. Right now I’m thinking of having clear ‘lines’ that point down to the vehicle, their main function will be to aid the composition.
Opinions and tips are very welcome, thanks!
Awesome re-imagining of a Homeworld ship! Looks like a Taiidan Destroyer! Very cool
How long did this take you if i may ask?
Oh dear, I’d never heard of a Taiidan Destroyer until you posted that image. I decided to 3D model an old black and white line drawingand figured it was my own concept. They even do it in yellow, I honestly had no idea! When I finish this piece I’m going to, like you said, say something like ‘Based on a Taiidan Destroyer from Homeworld’. Thank you for pointing it out, nicking someone’s design and calling it my own was never the plan.
Would you mind looking at these line drawings, I did them recently and they were also based
off old sketches. Have I copied any Homeworld designs here? I’m fairly paranoid now :surprised
:applause:
Great work Miked, it looks very nice. Dont have any real critique, looking forward to the coming updates. Nice drawings, will you make any of them in 3D as well?
