Attemping Starship Enterprise Model Creation In Cool 3D

[Jerry Jones]

I got curious about whether I could create a Cool 3D model of the Starship Enterprise.

Well, my skills just aren't as developed in the art of creating shapes in Cool 3D Production Studio.

So I hunted around on the Web and found a mesh that a Blender user created over the period of one year.

I then exported that mesh from Blender in DirectX format and then imported it into Cool 3D.

I then used the "resize" tool in Cool 3D to adjust the shape so that it closely reflected the shape of the ship in Star Trek.

It's pretty amazing:

http://tinyurl.com/2kepbu

But, of course, the colors aren't right and that's the problem, it would seem, with DirectX models.

So I'd love to be able to create the Starship Enterprise shapes in Cool 3D.

Unfortunately, I've found no training manual or whatever that might help me do so.

Has anybody attempted to create a Starship Enterprise from scratch in Cool 3D?

Success?

Failure?

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[dnavarrojr]

I haven't tried creating any objects in C3D beyond fairly simple stuff. If I need anything more complex, I'll look for a 3DS or other object on the Net and use that.

If you want more Star Trek ships, let me know. I've got a pretty good collection I can export to DirectX.

--Dave

[Jerry Jones]

Thanks, Dave.

I'm fine with this model, but I really would like to know if it's even possible to create such a model from scratch in Cool 3D Production Studio.

I suspect the shapes may be too complex.

On the other hand, I'm not an expert in Cool 3D so I might be unaware of what some tools will do.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Jerry Jones]

Actually, it would seem possible.

Check out the complexity of those grouped objects in Cool 3D Production Studio.

The person who created those knows how to get the most out of this program.

Anybody know who created those grouped objects?

Was it Vladimir Popov?

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Jerry Jones]

I've been studying the grouped objects.

They hold the key.

To study them, I've been ungrouping them.

Then I apply the "edit" command to each object and it's teaching me that even seemingly complex shapes begin as relatively simple 2D vector drawings.

Then textures can be added to adjust the colors.

I'm beginning to understand how each elemental object is created.

I think a person could gradually unravel the mystery of how to build a Starship Enterprise from scratch.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[sjj1805]

Is this link of any use?

http://www.trekmeshes.ch/

There are a few thousand Star Trek 3D models there including several of the Starship Enterprise - Various different classes of the ship available

[Jerry Jones]

Thanks, I'll check into these.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net