So here are the comparison images. Mine is always the blue line overlay. There is the original photo. One done with Maya I found on the web. The Red Admiral's 1701A.

So what do you all think? Is the movie model pic distorted? One observation I have is that the front deflector cone on the noble Red Admiral's Enterprise is short compared to the original. My engines and booms still need some correction. Makes you wonder what is correct? Scale Crazy Bashir

This is not CAD so what looks right is right. Great work. It looks right.

Thanks, but do you see what I am talking about regarding the movie model on the bottom image? BIG ENGINES. More power Bashir

Nothing the scale feature will not fix.

But DUDE. Do you think the bigger engines would look dumb or better?

Below is progress on clearance lights and the deflector and the bridge. (small engines)

Bashir

*Waits patiently for an animation mimicking the long flyby from TMP*

*drools* (Unanimated since the emoticons are broke)

I consider the movie version of it as the standard but in the end people will really not notice. That leaves it is up to you.

Yeah, it's up to you. The current version is beautiful.

I'm actually really building a warp core (since I have them already) below the impulse engine dome at the back of the saucer. I'm going to light it up and there is now glass in the dome so that you will see the light. You can barely see it in the above top view image. The core will of course extend down into the main hull.

I will try a bigger engine 1701 on all of you. I tried it for myself and am not too sure. I do have a large AMT model of the ship that I can take measurements off of. But I wonder if the modeling company reduced the engine size to fit the whole thing into a smaller box. Then how many people wrote books and gave the 1701 A dimensions as those that they got off the model.

BTW this Enterprise started with over 88,000 polygons in the saucer and main hull and I now have the whole thing just under 40,000.

Oh and thanks for the feedback.

Bashir

I might also mention that I am getting good enough with Lightwave that most of the parts you see on this model except for the saucer and main hull, have been done 3 - 5 x using different techniques to see which gets me the closest to the real thing. I may redo the saucer and hull at some point too. That's the trick with Lightwave. There is always a "BEST" way to do it. You just have to figure out what that is.

Learning Learning Bashir - the genetically altered manual laborer.

This update has the ribbing on the main engines that exists in the real movie model. Actual photo included. Haven't done the ribbing on the forward clam shaped things yet. I also did the front Photon Torpedo tubes (picture later). Captain Bashir

Here is a closeup of the engine ribbing. CB

I'd say make it glow, but you already have! Good work mate! *thumbsup*

Very nice. When you get to it a little normal map and or spec and or whatever might make the hull plating look more real. It is overly perfect at this point.

Here's the tall ship with a warp core installed. Engine Room Bashir

I have been trying to perfect the 1701 A engines. I redid the forward side detail closer to the movie model. The warp intercooler (forward clamshell shaped thingy) is now ribbed too. Bashir

Scotty would be proud of your work, Bashir. And so should you.

She's a beauty.

Thanks, after this much time, you can't imagine how many backups I have. Engineer Bashir

It is looking good. After the Diplomatic and Espionage backgrounds I will animate it with some close-ups on the detail.

I still have to do the 3 detail pieces that border the deflector and of course a paint job. I will probably also redo the bridge module.

Here is the engine detail on the ribbed warp intercooler (Bronze colored). The first picture is again the physical movie model. As you can see in the Lightwave Version, the side blue photonic spill vents are also ribbed. Today I redid the saucer section and dropped the model's poly count from just under 40,000 to 24,870. If I redid the main hull it would probably drop another 4,000 or so. Both the FIRST saucer AND existing hull were done with the "Lathe tool" which gives you no control over the poly count.

As promised here is the lady with engines sized as per movie model. For me, takes a little getting used to (the booms need to be moved back and resized - this is just a quickie). I also added early side detail to the deflector cone and the small light at the back under the shuttle bay area. CB

It looks better that way. It looks better every day.

You're probably right Kenneth - thanks for the input. I'm trying to get used to the bigger engines. The image below still uses the smaller ones. Bashir

Is there a slight smoothing error just above the torpedo tubes? I can see a vertical line on the beautiful ladies' neck.

Other than that, Scotty would be proud.

Oh, she's a beauty.

Very good. Some small issue in the mesh of the neck but no real issues. It will look better with the final render lighting as well. That also will follow and we know you can pull it off.

You all are so kind. Of course I know of a 100 problems with it. I'm working on the mesh issues. I actually have a couple other mesh problems that I am stumped on. One arose when I put in the vents at the base of the neck structure (The ones at the back toward the booms just above the photon torpedo launcher). All in all I am working on it being VERY VERY close to the movie model.

Mesh problems fixed. I'm working on a new hull that is 4000 Polys lighter. The raised section on top of the saucer below the bridge is greatly improved (I redid it) and I added a shuttle pod portal / dock on the torpedo launcher. I was looking that the DREX file version. His torpedo tube is not right. Captain Bashir