I haven't started the texturing yet (just a few different colors to keep areas of the model visually easy to manage while assembling everything).

This is about 1300 object and about 30 hours into the project.  I've only had to build about 90 indifidual unique parts.  There's a lot of parts setup into groups (like the blades in the turbine intakes, etc.) which bumps up the parts count.

As an example, there's over 200 parts in the skids alone but probably only about 20 unique individual pieces.

The main body is a smoothed vertex object as well as the cockpit.  Other than a few other sundry pieces, the rest of the model is built out of either primitives or splines.

Texturing is the next order of the day here.  It's going to take probably another 15 to 20 hours.  I hope it will come out alright.  Modeling is only half of the effort, texturing is a whole separate set of challenges.  Of the many things I've learned about building computer models of stuff, 2D image/painting is as much of the construction process as the modeling is.

I wrote an 18 page article for C3DExpo on my Enterprise model which summarizes the techniques I use to make models like the one here (inclusive of some of the texturing process).  I haven't heard what the delay is concerning issue 10 of C3DExpo and I also have not heard any hard conclusion if they will include my article.  However, if C3DExpo doesn't publish it, I'll figure a way to put the article here at Rendo.

Stay tuned for the conclusion of this Colonial Viper.  I've had a good time building it.  An old school Cylon Raider is also on my list of things to do.

Hey, Kixum. I'm editing the article for C3DE right now. As soon as Jetbird gets it, I'm sure it won't be long after that the magazine will be out. We are doing this in our own time and real life does tend to push its way into things from time to time.

I'll have it ready and emailed to Jetbird by this evening.

That Viper looks cool, btw.:)

Great looking Viper and the other models you have been doing.

I am looking forward to the article as I am lost putting things together.

Hello booksbydavid,

Thanks for the update on C3DExpo.  I completely understand about life taking over things.

i had only heard that my article was being reviewed at the editorial level and didn't know if it had been accepted 100% yet so thanks for that bit of info as well!

Like so many other things I've done, once I finish this model, then what do I do with it!  I built it for the fun of building it.  I didn't have any particular render idea for it.  I have always wanted a cool picture of a Colonial Viper and that will happen for certain!

But, it would seem that if I put 40 some odd hours into a model, a dude would want more than just a plain space render of it.  Certainly, some Cylon Raiders need to be blown up!

Could I do the Galactica?  No.  Too much.  I did a Star Destroyer a while ago and the surface detailing about killed me!  We will see.

Very inspiring to see our work and equally impressive is the time it really takes to make a great model and equally hard to texture. I believe it. I haven't done much modelling in Carrara comparitively. Still need to get the hang of unwrappign the texture for export to photoshop.

Can't wait to see the final image!

Here's after a couple hours of texturing.  It's amazing how just this little bit makes a significant difference.  I have chosen an off color tan because I don't want this thing to be so black and white (or gray).  I may change it to be little less "colorful" but so far, I like it.

Restif, thanks for the comments.  The hours of work are fun for me.  It's a hobby which I enjoy and the fact that I get essentially instant gratification helps too (I get to see the results as fast as I produce them).