Its been so long since I used this model, it’s a terrible thing spending weeks or in my case months designing and building models and after the first test renders and a renders I take a little more seriously, the model is forgotten.
I have taken this out of mothballs and with the wonderful Spawn Nebula art by Ali Ries and have set 3 Ranger Class Destroyers deployed on patrol
The model is available for sale royalty free on my Gumroad page
Hello and welcome, my name is Gerard Duffy and around the web I go by the user-name of gmd3d a mix of my name and interest, not very inventive, but easy to remember. In the past I went by the user-name of Taranis on modelling and fan forums alike. but over time I grew tired of the name.
Feel free to look around and check out the number of designs I have worked on over the years and you can find my first and only tutorial of how to build the USS Enterprise from Star Trek The Original Series 1966-69 in Lightwave3d by Newtek it’s a tutorial aimed for beginners, check under Lightwave Tutorial in the menu above, its is downloadable in PDF format and is free, the blog features a mixed bag of designs and interests,
I am also adding a subscribed members section for a yearly fee giving members access to many of the designs I have worked on over the years. you can navigate to the designs via the Categories on the right side of your screen.
I have made some very good friends over the years through forums, listed below, its a sad to see that over the last few years that many of these forums have closed, with those closers (due in part to Facebook and other social media sites) most of my models went with them, never to be seen again.
Foundation3d
Foundation3d, I have been a member since 2007
3dscifi
A very nice forum with a mix of programs in use
My CGI program of choice as mentioned above is Lightwave3D by Newtek, which is an excellent 3D modelling and rendering program and I’ve used it since 2006, Lightwave3d was first seen used very effectively in Babylon 5 (1994) where the producers took a bold step with this new CGI visual effect approach and has since went on to make a name for itself in the entertainment industry, going from strength to strength and has featured in other franchise like Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Star Wars, James Bond, Spider-Man, Stargate, Firefly and many more besides, there are too many to name here, while people do complain about the over use of CGI in film, and for good cause I think, its not the tools, its the use and over use.
I have always been a science fiction/fantasy fan, from as far back as I can remember, I mainly enjoy Science fiction for its ability to shows us possible futures where humanity has grown up and explores not only the universe we live in but also humanity as a whole, with a little action thrown in for good measure, for me that’s best kind of science fiction.
The original Star Trek series (1960s) fulfilled that very well showing us a possible and a very positive future for humanity in general where we reached a kind of maturity that we surly need.
I also enjoy the original Battlestar Galactica (1970s), & original Star Wars (1970s) the latter shows and films are more far forgettable for me sad to say, long on awesome VFX but short on story and character development, I really think films now are more forgettable after the first viewings once you get past the visuals, I am also big fan of the early Science-Fiction films from the 1950’s and on into the 1980’s and perhaps 1990’s.
Best Gerard Duffy
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“no infringement is intended”
I hold the copyright for my design work in progress artwork, art and tutorials
Please do not use my artwork, images, tutorial for any commercial attempt without first contacting me
I am always happy to see comments or suggestions
on any of the artwork or designs.
They are not textured and only available in Lightwave3d for now, if I texture them would equal more time, greater the cost.
Of course there is also the early version of the Ranger that I may rework the engines, or maybe I won’t and Pathfinder Class Interplanetary ship and the McCall design but limited amount per engagement with McCall’s Daughter.. once they are gone that’s it.. and of course my Nautilus all in Lightwave3d 9.61..
First project for 2017, a design I am calling the Halcyon (a mythical bird, usually identified with the kingfisher), a support craft for a larger ship but is capable of hyper-light speeds, I will have more details later as the design develops, I will design the larger ship later as time allows and a land craft.
I am also thinking of designing the interior, cockpit, hatch and the landing craft bay and perhaps a simple corridor. I was a little influenced by Space 1999 for the cockpit windows and I think that might continue into the internal design.
This is also part of my Pathfinder series of designs, a later design with artificial gravity
Additional images with the scale I have given it and the scale of a Land craft
I will be releasing this design for sale in Lightwave3d only, very soon,, I had some interest in it and that is gratifying
I am continuing to work on the Pathfinder design, and here are my latest WIPs for the Ranger design,, am hoping to do a lot more with this in the months ahead..
Thanks for viewing
Gerard
Last update before holidays really kick in but I have made some changes, mainly I removed the main outrigger connection (3) to the external pods and moved the access to the central access tube.
This is something I have asked and been asked a number of times, my answer has always been conditional, “I have to place them into difference classes, capital ships, fighter ship and freighter ships and so on”. I will share what my top 10 designs are and I have picked the designs based on how they look, how versatile they are so some designs that I like just did not make it into my top 10 designs. I won’t say what ones they are, some mystery in life is good for you. 🙂
I will also be using film or TV screen-caps where possible, instead of using fan made designs
These are my choice’s of capital ship designs that have Long Range abilities and that can transport a large crews over great distances, Interstellar or better, having hyper-light speeds or warp speeds and large cargo carrying abilities.
Click on thumbnails to enlarge
TOS USS Enterprise as originally designed and screened in the 1960s, The Enterprise was designed by Walter “Matt” Jefferies for Star Trek, and become an Icon from the moment it appeared changing how science fiction was perceived and is still as popular as ever.
The new USS Enterprise Refit for its transition to the big screen,in 1979 giving a new glorious look by Mike Minor, Joe Jennings, Douglas Trumbull, Harold Michaelson, Richard Taylor and Andrew Probert. One of my favourite Star Trek films to this day.
Both these ship share my 1st place in my list due to design legacy.
Colonial Battlestar Galactica designed by Ralph McQuarrie and built by John Dykstra and his team at Apogee Inc.
Over 1 nautical mile long or 1852 meters and for those who like it in feet (6076.1 ft) (its a scale supported by John Dykstra) and I found via my own work in cgi anything smaller does not work, as the launch tubes are to small for the Vipers to fit!. Containing at least 150 Vipers in my estimation when at peak fighting condition and a large number of colonial shuttle-craft which are between 85 ft and 110 ft long, and a unknown number of ground support units called Landrams.
As a battleship it is the equal of Star Wars Imperial Star-destroyers in my view, but perhaps having no where near the same crew compliment as the ISDs or the range, but in a toe to toe battle more or less equal. Ion Cannons and Tie Bombers could give the IMPs the advantage if the Viper screen fell.
but it does have more of a predator look than the ISD, always a fan favourite
2nd place on my list down to the design.
The Imperial Star-destroyer, One of the most imposing designs to appear on screen, designed by Ralph McQuarrie and Joe Johnston among other ships for Star Wars. just under 1 terrestrial mile long 1,600 meters (5,200 ft) and has an impressive crew compliment Imperial-class Star Destroyers had over 37,000 crew on board— 9,253 officers and 27,850 enlisted personnel. The complement of 9,700 Storm-troopers added to a total of 46,803 crew and passengers.
While shorter in length than the Colonial Battlestar’s, The ISD is wider and taller and its over all design giving it more internal volume,
I think it should also be around 1 Nautical mile long like the Galactica, I know fans will disagree with my ideas here, but that’s all they are and I like both BSG and Star Wars with equal measure.
The ISD makes it to 3rd place in my list.
The DSV Liberator was an abandoned spacecraft found drifting in the second episode of Blakes7 TV series, The Liberator (originally called simply DSV 2) was created by the “System” an alien race that look very like young women in very tight outfits, so no complaint there. The design I estimate to be around 780 meters or 2559.06 feet long
The Liberator was not designed by a model or special effects unit but by the set designer Roger Murray-Leach, due to poor funding the effects where never stellar but the design is interesting and in my mind worthy of inclusion in my top 10 / 12 but never fully explored or as I think the show if redone should, its one of the few shows that should be remade and by the BBC.
4th place in my list
The Star of Disney’s The Black Hole has to be the USS Cygnus designed by Peter Ellenshaw
This is a stunning design and beautifully presented design from the film and I look forward to its appearance each time I watch it. I have no idea what its scale is.
5TH on my list
Ulysses 31 cartoon from the 1980s has a massive space craft Odyssey, controlled by a ship’s computer “Shyrka” and commanded by Ulysses. Ulysses is accompanied by his son “Telemachus” and his robot toy “Nono”, they are joined later by Yumi a blue-skinned girl and her brother Numinor. All the other crew and later Numinor are kept in suspended animation for much of the adventures, a curse by the Greek god Zeus and the crew only appearing from time to time under the control or others, a very good soundtrack by Denny Crockett and Ike Egan
Scale length 1224 m, width: 3125 m, height: 2005 m
6th on my list
Designed by the renowned Walter “Matt” Jefferies for Star Trek and is a fantastic design, more visually interesting than the season one Romulan Bird of Prey, The Klingon D7 was an instant hit and in my mind was not seen enough in Star Trek. . another Icon.
A remake of the classic, the D7, making it a K’t’inga class. and like the D7 not seen enough.
7th on my list
ROGER YOUNG Impressive battle design in my view, At this time I have very little information about the design and who worked on the models and props.. I will fix this once I do have the info.
8th on my list
IAS Excalibur, The Excalibur is a big ship, a mile and a quarter long 2012 meters or 6,600 ft, powerful but with some limitations, when it fires itsbig guns they ship is powered down, power depleted unable to manoeuvre or fire back relaying on its resistant hull design to keep them safe.
I think it was based on the Liberator from Blake’s 7 and its a very elegant design and its a pity the series never reached its potential,
9th on my list
Cylon Basestar, is the main adversary for the Colonial Battlestars, in the Battlestar Galactica universe,
“Col Tigh: [Pointing at the model of a Cylon basestar] She has 300 fighters, carries two long-range megapulsars, here and here, and over a hundred defensive laser turrets. She’s an orbiting killer, capable of destroying every ship we have, including the Galactica”.
from the episode “The Hand of God” I cannot see Colonial Battlestar commanders going against Basestars with anything less than 150 vipers to fight those odds (2 to 1)
10th on my list
Check Out
My Top 10 Enemy Fighters
Note: I have removed the Event Horizon in favour of the Excalibur for the
9th position.
