HMS Astute 1/200

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using the plans graciously provided by Paulbell,(thank you again:)) i started modeling. and this has been a tough one to do.
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a bit more work
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propulsor done
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[Krzychu74]

Hello!
Another very interesting project. I`ll observe your work. :)
Good luck!

Best regards.
Krzychu74

[cgutzmer]

oooohhhhh nice :)
Chris

[elliott]

Whoa, that's got some intriguing lines!

Time to show my design ignorance (yes, again). Do you draw each line in these graphics, or do you create the shape(s) and then the computer creates all the lines? Are all the resulting triangles and things what y'all refer to as polygons (as in polygon counts)?

Inquiring minds want to know......

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thank you:)
elliott- a polygon is a face of 3 or more conected vertices or points. most objects are create from a basic shape ie- cylinder,square etc. faces can also be "drawn" by creating a path of vertices. i use both methods. once you get the basic shape you want you can them "mold" the shape by moving individual vertices or faces around. the hull for example is actually made up of 6 differnt parts that were edited and combined and manipulated.

[doctormax]

She is looking good,

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thanks doctormax:)

even though im not done modeling ive started picking out my base textures.
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[elliott]

cool beans! and thanks for the explanation too! :)

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she sure has a prickly sail, dont she?
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[elliott]

I do believe you have the plans for Astute's sister ship HMS Porcupine (or is that the other one, HMS Hedgehog?). :D

[doctormax]

notice on the artist impression it has nothing on top of the sail at all so i put that down to lazy graphic designer :)

http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/astute/astute8.html

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elliot- good one-lol

doctormax- artist impression not nesicarily wrong when the sub is submerged everything on top is retracted.

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slowly getting texture prelims done while i build the lcs2.
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the hull will take a bit of time to do so im saving that for last.

[elliott]

Looks good so far Trent! Why will the hull take more time? Is it because of the size or is there more to it than that?

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i try to get the basics done in the 3d phase so when i go to paint i am assured of proper alignment. the hull shape is fairly complex so making a uv map will be somewhat tedious.

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started testing. heres the nightmare i created for the skeleton.as you can see im not real good at these types of frameworks.
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[elliott]

Mebbe I'm just unschooled but I see nothing wrong with the hull skeleton.

[doctormax]

it can look scary when you see the formers and nothing else trent. just don't look right but when you start putting the skin on then you see if it is working. Not an expert on building that way but that is what I have noticed on lots of builds of ships. I am sure barry feels the same when he is doing his ships that they just look wrong before he puts on the layers.

[paulhbell]

I also think the shape looks good. The Astutes have a humped back that looks like the missile tube areas of SSBN subs, although these are SSN's and have no Balistic missiles. And I think you got that shape really good.

Am hopeing to get to see one of these for real in June, I have family not far from where they are being built and HMS Ambush is being launched in June.

[JT Fox]

Stay with nothing. Your build skills will overcome any issues I'm sure.

Cheers JTF

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well this will be a somewaht difficult build as for a modern sub it has some complex shapes in areas.
started skinning beginning with the spine.
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and started at the nose where one of the distinctive complex contours are.
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[airdave]

looks to me like you might need to break the "skin" into smaller panels?
it might give you the complex shapes but still retain a smoother transition
and less sharp angles.

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the sharp angles are supposed to be there on the nose. then it blends smooth going aft.

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ive decided to redesign this. some thought process that worked on the Lafyette are need on this one.

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redesign done. just need to do formers. this should be a much easier build.
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[paulhbell]

Nice redesign Trent. I hope after all the work you are putting into this that I'm not the only one to buy the model.

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thanks Paul, prelim textures done ready for re-unfold.
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[cgutzmer]

looks like that nose should post some interesting challenges :) up where the stabalizers are :) cant wait to see it!

[Barry]

Looking good mate

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build going ok. i made a crucial blunder. i overlooked some very important formers. i stared blankly at them for awhile but i thought i didnt need them right now. i did. any way a sloppy build without them. with them the spine will end up smooth.
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lesson for today-- wait till the kids are napping to test build!!

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nose went together good and retained the distinctive shape. sorry for the crappy build but quite frankly im getting tired of looking at the Astute.lol
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[doctormax]

think that is crappy you got to see my cutty sark

[paulhbell]

Keep your chin up Trent, nearly there.

[cgutzmer]

just testing for fit - thats whats important here - plus it looks nothing like any of the banana subs I have built :P

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ok so aside from the poor build i am quite happy with the results. i have 1 tweak to do on the textures and then instructions.
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[cgutzmer]

Thats quite the array on top of that thing! All paper or some wire in there? :) I think it turned out pretty good!
Chris

[paulhbell]

Looks fine to me. Are you using a different type card for the arrays on the side. I find when trying to print 2 different types of black, there isn't a lot of difference between the 2 shades. But the arrays on this stand out really well.

Also printing black on white paper is nightmare, white edges and all. This would be a good build using black coloured card. You have made a good job with the edgeing though.

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@Chris- yes i used rod and wire. i just cant roll small tubes like that.

@Paul- i generally use card in the 65lbs range for all my builds. the hull color is actually a very dark gray and the arrays are actually black. at scale true black tends to not look realistic enough.(same goes with white) to dull out the "gray" edging i used titanium buffing metalizer. painted and not buffed it comes out more as a dark gray and is hard to notice the metallic in it. send me an e-mail addy.

[Barry]

Looks great yet again

[doctormax]

trent did you see it was in the news last week the HMS Astute about the Astute,

http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/astute-s-health-check-up-at-base-1.772926?referrerPath=/evening_mail_news_round-up_1_118665

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i heard about the crash but didnt know it was the astute. it is odd indeed. will be interested to see the cause.