Multi-Purpose Drone Mk-2 by NefariousDrO
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
During the last decade before "Humanity's First Interstellar War" the nations with access to the Rephi Portals raced to survey every new star and planetary system they could. The sheer size of these systems and the cost and dangers of sending humans to a relatively unknown system meant that there was a surge in the development of autonomous and semi-autonomous drones, etc. These could be built and operated for far less than a human-supporting vessel, and could be placed in far more dangerous settings as well. They did the bulk of the work, while the humans concentrated on the more interesting places.
When the war broke out, these drones were often adapted to serve as scouts and even weapons. The Vanguard Industries' Mark-2 drone appeared just before the war broke out, but in the later stages of the war could be found in nearly every engagement.
-Excerpt from "The less exciting parts of space" by Lawrence Lidstrom
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I've been itching to re-examine my basic missile and remote probe ideas for a good while, and after 3 days of tinkering feel like I've finally got something I like.
As always, the model is my own creation, assembled in Bryce 6.5 out of primitives. Most of the textures are my own, as is the texture on the planet in the background.
The stars, composting and other post-work all done in Photoshop.
And comments/critiques are encouraged!

Comments (13)
Very wicked and deadly looking device
One of your bests model, planet and starscape! ;)
Awesome creation !
Excellent image!
Nice! I like the non-streamlined utilitarian look. How does it work as a weapon? Equipped with lasers or just ram speed ahead?
That's the great thing, depends upon where/when in the "ecosphere" it happened. During the war the manufacturer added a warhead by expanding the front module. People doing it on the side either used it like a "javelin" to ram a target or strapped a warhead on the front. The central concept I had was making it modular and adaptable.
Great sci-fi scene!
Neat! Looks quite practical and realistic.
It's a fabulous creation and composition... Outstandingly done !!!
As always, I'm amazed at what you pull out of Bryce - this is fantastic, Mike! Awesome work on the modeling and the textures - superb in every way!
Great looking model and background!
Exceptional modelling as always,and the textures are great too!
Great model and nicely put in scene.
Hyde-Dynamics, hmm? Traveller: 2300, perhaps?