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Taldrenites => Starfleet Command Models => WIPs => Topic started by: Captain Pierce on February 23, 2005, 10:00:34 pm

Title: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Captain Pierce on February 23, 2005, 10:00:34 pm
There's a bit of history to get through before I get to the pics; those who don't care about the history, feel free to just scroll down.  :D

This ship was originally designed for a game called Homeworld.  It was designed to be a ship called a Drone Frigate, which couldn't have any guns, but which launched a "fighter screen" of 24 "drones" as its only weaponry.  (Unlike the SFC games, in Homeworld you're very limited in what attributes of a ship you can change.)  TheStressPuppy (the leader of this particular TOS-era HW mod) had originally had a model of the SFC Condor in the game, but just wasn't quite happy with it.  He wanted the model updated, and so a good friend of mine who goes by the name of CommanderJones on the Internet and I designed and built (well, technically he built it all by himself ;) ) this original verison of the ship:

(http://www.thegamingunion.co.uk/users/forumusers/condor11.jpg)

The idea was that the 12 feathers you see on either side of the ship were the hatches that the drones launched from.  In-game, it looked something like this (http://www.thegamingunion.co.uk/users/forumusers/hlaigame2.jpg) if you're interested.  We created a backstory for the ship that played into the non-canon idea that Romulan warp ships during the Earth/Romulan war had had to use all their power for warp drive, and thus had none left over for weaponry; the Hlai, we imagined, had been originally designed near the end of the war--and had been originally designed without the "boom" and "command" pod you see it with.  (Those, our story went, were added in a 2260's refit.)  Even the name "Hlai" is based around this--it comes from Diane Duane's "Rihannsu" novels, in which a hlai is a flightless bird native to ch'Rihan (Romulus) and ch'Havran (Remus), and is famous in both domesticated and wild varieties for its meat.

Well, TSP's HW mod has unfortunately died out, but CJ and I liked the Hlai enough to try and take it to a new level; and, after taking some time to learn some new modelling and texturing techniques, he's finally ready to let people see the first WIP of the SFC (and possibly other games ;) ) version of the Hlai

(http://img206.exs.cx/img206/1462/hlai27yl.jpg)

(http://img79.exs.cx/img79/315/hlai39kd.jpg)

(http://img79.exs.cx/img79/3928/hlai48nn.jpg)

We plan to release it both with and without the boom/pod assembly; given our history with the ship, I tend to see it as a PF tender in SFC terms, but I've not yet decided exactly where to design its hardpoints for...
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Bernard Guignard on February 24, 2005, 05:52:45 am
Nice work there looking forward to seeing the final Results.
Keep it up ;D
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: ModelsPlease on February 24, 2005, 12:53:20 pm
That's HOT !!!!!!!!!! Great work ! Please keep us posted on the progress of this one. Ooooooooo a new TOS rommie  ;D
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Azel on February 24, 2005, 02:52:00 pm
Awesome work mate!!!
I await her arival with impatience :)
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Captain Pierce on March 09, 2005, 07:25:22 pm
Das Update!

(http://img10.exs.cx/img10/2897/hlai51dc.th.jpg) (http://img10.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img10&image=hlai51dc.jpg)
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Captain Pierce on March 09, 2005, 10:24:46 pm
And Das Further Update!

(http://img80.exs.cx/img80/3050/hlai60wh.th.jpg) (http://img80.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img80&image=hlai60wh.jpg)
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Starforce2 on March 09, 2005, 10:46:30 pm
looking good.

FYI fotopic.net has free image hosting without the popups if you are annoyed by that little detail.
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Captain Pierce on March 10, 2005, 01:16:02 pm
Heh, I never even noticed that there were popups...  I love Firefox...  :D
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Starforce2 on March 10, 2005, 05:40:46 pm
oh I don't get them either, but I here the bubble poping noise of my browser killing them...
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: TheStressPuppy on March 11, 2005, 02:02:46 am
Thats an outstanding transition from low poly HW to SFC modelling. She will make a fine addition to the shipyards once shes done.
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Captain Pierce on March 30, 2005, 10:07:23 pm
Here's the first take on what it would have looked like in its "original" configuration:

 (http://img199.exs.cx/img199/2047/hlai79qz.th.jpg) (http://img199.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img199&image=hlai79qz.jpg)

 (http://img11.exs.cx/img11/7647/hlai88al.th.jpg) (http://img11.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img11&image=hlai88al.jpg)

Obviously, the idea that it's unarmed won't fly in SFC :D ; so now the question is, what exactly would you arm a late- or post- Earth/Romulan War era ship with?  Can Roms have missiles in SFC?  What would you use to represent lasers?
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Bernard Guignard on March 31, 2005, 05:33:22 am
There's no reason that for early roms drones cannot be used. for lasers I'd suggest Phaser 3's  they are the lowest power phasers.
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Garath9 on March 31, 2005, 12:35:00 pm
  Nice work we need more early rommies :).
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: markyd on March 31, 2005, 12:47:58 pm
Certainly fitts the bill.... nice model.. textures look great.
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: ModelsPlease on April 01, 2005, 10:29:32 pm
Here's the first take on what it would have looked like in its "original" configuration:

 ([url]http://img199.exs.cx/img199/2047/hlai79qz.th.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://img199.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img199&image=hlai79qz.jpg[/url])

 ([url]http://img11.exs.cx/img11/7647/hlai88al.th.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://img11.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img11&image=hlai88al.jpg[/url])

Obviously, the idea that it's unarmed won't fly in SFC :D ; so now the question is, what exactly would you arm a late- or post- Earth/Romulan War era ship with?  Can Roms have missiles in SFC?  What would you use to represent lasers?


How about this ?

HP 1 = 1 X Plasma S, FWD (or 4 X Dis3)
HP 13 = 2 X Ph2, FLL
HP 12 = 2 X Ph2, FRR
HP 19 = 1 X Ph2, RA
HP 20 = 1 X Ph2, RA

Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Captain Pierce on April 02, 2005, 07:47:45 am
Well, personally, I'm not planning on putting plasmas on anything, as "Balance of Terror" indicates that it was a brand-new weapon at the time...
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: ModelsPlease on April 03, 2005, 04:29:15 am
Well, personally, I'm not planning on putting plasmas on anything, as "Balance of Terror" indicates that it was a brand-new weapon at the time...

Okie dokie.

HP 1 = 1 X Plasma S, FWD (or 4 X Dis3)
HP 13 = 2 X Ph2, FLL
HP 12 = 2 X Ph2, FRR
HP 19 = 1 X Ph2, RA
HP 20 = 1 X Ph2, RA

So I guess the 4 X Dis3, FWD works better for ya
 ;)
-MP
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Captain Pierce on April 08, 2005, 10:01:28 pm
That would probably work; personally, I don't believe the Roms had disruptors during the E/R War either, but I'd imagine most people won't go along me on that one...  ;)

Quick update of the bottom mapping:

(http://img235.exs.cx/img235/5515/hlai91jh.th.jpg) (http://img235.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img235&image=hlai91jh.jpg)
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Starforce2 on April 15, 2005, 07:20:31 am
I sometimes throw plasma cannons on my rom bop's in BC...think the enterprise weapons on the shuttlecraft or before they used phase cannons. Those plasma thingys make sense for roms.


BTW, are any of these done to enough of a degree that I could use them? I may be getting some manpower help on the BC tos mod and I could use another rom class or 2. Probablem is I'm actualy developing a klingon shortage...ugh..
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Captain Pierce on April 15, 2005, 07:34:04 am
The "original" Hlai is actually done, and just waiting for me to get off my lazy ass and convert it...  :D  Hopefully the "refit" version will be done reasonably soon, and from there it's onto the "King Condor..."  ;)
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Starforce2 on April 15, 2005, 10:50:29 pm
What formatt are they currently in, out of curiosity? Good to hear there will be more like these, though I'm not sure what shape you'll be using for the king condor, if it's the same basicly theme as the 2 in here it should be great.
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Captain Pierce on April 16, 2005, 06:37:34 am
They're being modelled in Maya, and then converted to .3ds for conversion purposes.

Just for you, Starforce, here's a sneak peek at what we call the Aen'rhien-class Warbird.  (Translates as "Bloodwing.")  Please note that this is a concept model only, one that CJ put together just to get the shape down for StressPuppy's approval (the whip-cracking tyrant :p ).  This model will almost certainly be rebuilt from scratch.

(http://www.thegamingunion.co.uk/users/forumusers/kc750m1.jpg)
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Starforce2 on April 17, 2005, 09:38:55 am
what is that little thing flying up it's ass?
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Captain Pierce on April 17, 2005, 09:53:30 am
It's a fighter design we were working on to be carried by this ship...  it will probably wind up as a PF at some point...  ;)
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: ModelsPlease on May 03, 2005, 05:20:54 am
what is that little thing flying up it's ass?

It's called The bird of Paradise  :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: sorry old joke !

-MP
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Captain Pierce on May 03, 2005, 06:11:29 am
I thought that was just supposed to fly up your nose...  ;)
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Captain Pierce on May 26, 2005, 07:01:19 pm
The "refit" version is nearly done:

(http://img74.echo.cx/img74/8997/hlairefit12kg.th.jpg) (http://img74.echo.cx/my.php?image=hlairefit12kg.jpg)

(http://img74.echo.cx/img74/7397/hlairefit24wk.th.jpg) (http://img74.echo.cx/my.php?image=hlairefit24wk.jpg)

(http://img74.echo.cx/img74/5526/hlairefit33oc.th.jpg) (http://img74.echo.cx/my.php?image=hlairefit33oc.jpg)

Needs a bit of texture tweaking yet according to CJ, but I'm going to start hardpointing without them...  ;) 

(Oh, excuse teh crappy renders, I did them.  :D )
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Rhaz on May 26, 2005, 08:01:59 pm
Very nice looking!  I've been waiting for this ever since you first posted.
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: ModelsPlease on May 26, 2005, 08:09:20 pm
Looks great !!!!!!!!!!!!
-MP
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Starforce2 on June 19, 2005, 01:27:52 am
bumpage. nearly a month since the last post...time to harass you for another update ;D
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Captain Pierce on June 20, 2005, 06:31:02 am
CommanderJones has switched over to modelling mode, and has been busy rebuilding the Aen'rrhien--I hope to have some WIP's of that sometime soon.  Once he's got that done, he'll switch back over to texturing mode, and do those tweaks to the Hlai before starting in on the Aen'rrhien.
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Starforce2 on August 24, 2005, 10:12:34 pm
bump
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Captain Pierce on August 25, 2005, 07:43:19 pm
Bump this.  :p

(http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/2926/hlairefit10wh.th.jpg) (http://img151.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hlairefit10wh.jpg)

(http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/3379/hlairefit27ae.th.jpg) (http://img151.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hlairefit27ae.jpg)

(http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/7259/hlairefit38eh.th.jpg) (http://img151.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hlairefit38eh.jpg)

Yeah, I finally got around to hardpointing the Hlai Refit.  :D

If I can track down Stress to brk it (and the original), we might have some new releases here...  ;)
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Rhaz on August 25, 2005, 09:58:32 pm
woot!

Looking sweet.

Rhaz
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Starforce2 on August 26, 2005, 06:20:41 am
now that is a nice warbird. What are the things under the nacelles? Pulse cannon?
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Captain Pierce on August 26, 2005, 05:45:30 pm
Plasma torps.  We decided we didn't like the way that most nacelle-mounted torps just appear out of nowhere...  :)
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Starforce2 on August 26, 2005, 11:13:19 pm
so then whats the traditional tube in the bow used for?
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Captain Pierce on August 27, 2005, 08:24:39 am
More plasma torpedoes.  :D  The Condor in SFC2 has one torpedo in the bow and one on each nacelle, if I'm reading the hardpoints right...  the CON+ has an extra one on each nacelle...
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Starforce2 on October 09, 2005, 06:52:50 pm
bumpity ;D
Title: Re: Romulan Hlai-class Warbird WIP
Post by: Captain Pierce on October 09, 2005, 08:22:12 pm
Still waiting on the brk's from Stress...  he's been busy as hell lately, but hopefully he'll have a chance here soonish...  :)