Attack Formation! by RodS
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Just a quick little experiment tonight....
You know, it's funny how one thing leads to another sometimes. First, I uploaded a render of a hot girl in a space station with an old airbrush painting of a spaceship in the background. Then Mike (mrestey) says 'I had a model of that ship.' Then Bill (bmac62) says he'd like to see the original painting. So I uploaded a scan of the painting, and mentioned that I also had that model, but don't remember what the ship was called.
Then along comes Colin, with the name of the ship - the Lief Erikson! Sweet! Then, just for the heck of it, I Google 'Lief Erikson Model' and shazam! I find a goldmine of information, plus a nice OBJ file and textures at This website!
I imported the OBJs into Poser, and applied the textures. And here's the result. The ships were rendered at 3360 X 2100 with IDL.
Here, three Lief Erikson class Star Cruisers assume attack formation. The Lief Erikson, McArthur, and James T. Kirk are preparing to defend thier quadrant from hostile ships. Who are they preparing to engage? Klingons? Romulans? Borg? Perhaps Cylons? Maybe those nasty critters from Independence Day?
I slightly modified the texture files in Photoshop for the three ships. Since - unlike Dave Archer - I don't have a million-volt Tesla coil in my basement, I relied on my old friend Photoshop for the space background.
This is one of the many things about this community I just love - the interaction among so many talented artists! Hope you like my little experiment!
The TNA Girls will be back in action very soon! Working on Chapter 2 now!
Thanks again for all the great comments, and support! You folks ROCK!!

Comments (32)
Excellent work! COOL!! love the classical and manly spaceship which you depict.:)
Beautiful job. I adore that space background.
outstanding work !!!!
Fantastic image!
Fatabulous iamge and great story about it! thanks for the link!
Stunning sci-fi scene and amazing background!!! I wish you a great new week, hug’s Ute
fantastic Rod these three together look amazing.. Lovely BG too.. What with all those insulators you collect you mean to say you don't have a million-volt Tesla coil in your basement??? :-O
I know my best friend had a model of this ship when we were kid, I'm even thinking it was purple plastic.... but for the life of me, I can't picture what it's tide in with - I guess I'll have to go check out that link. cool post.
Oh Rod im so glad you found them this is an amazing sci fi scene superb work !!
fantastic the road this all went considering how it started.i followed of course all 3 uploads. very good job on texturing and importing.a fine scene rod.
Excellent.
Great names, Rod. And with PS nothing is impossible. Outstanding work!
superb work rod, love that bd, magnificnet looking image, steve
nice scene, excelent render, well done
Very cool, I like seeing how you guys all teamed up to find the necessary info, and then the models to use in your own work! It's great how everyone helps each other out around here. On that note, I've been singing his praises for a while, now, but here's a Youtube tutorial video from the guy who showed me how to do space scenery in Photoshop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DOTsFAJSoQ I tend to take liberties with his techniques, and I use Flaming Pear's "Glitterato" plugin for my stars, but he did show me the best way to get very striking nebulae effects.
I think I know why the ship looked so familiar. Mote In God's Eye is one of my favorites.
Wow Awesome Rod, The ships and Textures look Cool! And Your back groun Rocks!! Theres no Place like this!! Peace Johnny 5
I had the ship as well-complete with the fighter in the landing bay and the grain of wheat bulbs that glowed.(GRIN)
Oh love the bg and awesome work Rod! You did a fine job on this creation my friend!
What a great experiment Rod! I love projects like this where unexpected things just keep coming together, and before you know it ...viola...a fantastic image!Super!!!
WOW Rod! This is pretty cool! I like the lighting and the names you assigned your vessels. Yes, it is interesting how things develop sometimes. "Be careful stepping out your door Frodo ...", LOL! Nice work my friend.
Don't you just love it when something old and 3/4s forgotten comes back to life! So glad you've got digits working for you now on these great old space ships. Be good or be safe, just don't be impressed into service by any of the host of aliens you listed above. :-)))
WOW...Amazing space scene Rod, the colors are marvelous, great atmosphere, very well done!
Lovcely work Rod
Great space scene, love the colors and stars.
Rod, that`s an excellent render !!!!!!!!!
Day late, dollar short... Haven't kept up with the galleries this week. What a pleasant surprise to see the 'resurrected' Lief Erikson and its sister-ships boldly standing between us and the forces of chaos! Nice job on the stellar background, too!
Excellent space scene! Great! ;o)
nice spacecraft.
"Wow"!! This is amazing....I love that beautiful background, and the space ships are awesome! Excellent image!!!