New M4 Fightercraft "Dactyl" (low poly model)

[WQP]

Here's something I came up with that might conceiveably work in X2 - it's about 500 polys (about 950 triangles), the texture is a 256x256 map (single channel only).

[ external image ]

It's a very quick and very lightly armoured, lightly shielded craft. It will have 3 weapons mounts - one on each wing tip, and one under the nose. It will carry some missiles (maybe mosquitos only, or maybe one level up)

It is from a little known alien race, which developed from a predatory bird species. Beware a fighter that comes from a race where air to air combat prowess determines breeding rights! They can be a bit overbold, don't work particularily well in groups, and have excellent bearings in 3D combat. Evolving to fight in atmospheric conditions means they sometimes make tactical mistakes in space to space combats and most of their spacecraft are rough upconverts from atmospheric fighters.

[WQP]

Here's some more views:

http://preik.net/c4d/wip/dactyl_side.jpg
http://preik.net/c4d/wip/dactyl_top.jpg
http://preik.net/c4d/wip/dactyl_front.jpg
http://preik.net/c4d/wip/dactyl_back.jpg
http://preik.net/c4d/wip/dactyl_bottom.jpg

I think it turned out not too bad!

[Moss]

Nice avian looking ship except for the colours, and the background info that goes with it adds extra intrest too, tho if this species were in the current game and not too cooperative with each other they wouldn't last too long!

So how long will it be before you create a sector or two for them with the galaxy editor?

[WQP]

lol no one seems to like the colours...might have to try something different

[veelad]

HMMM well WQP, no one can detract that yet again there are some more great models , but yeh, i have to say this time, those colours are just a wee bit LOUD for my liking.

Ive always like deep dark sinister colours, but that can sometimes be a problem in dark space

[Schlumpf]

very cool model, but the colors... like hillibilli lol

[emiltod]

you know I always wondered whats with the space simulators and winged ships it's not like there's air or anything

- you know what will look cool - asymmetric fighter - all the good space ships are asymmetric:B-wing, that cool fighter from lost in space - when defending the gate, hell even the YT-1300 has the thing on one side - and look at all the cool ships from homeworld.

Anyway - have you seen the pirate ships from up close - the skin is metalic grey mirrorlike - reflecting colour. That's a cool effect and also it's not completely invisible and on the other side it's not real bright either. Very apropriate for spaceships in games I think

[Goumindong]

you know I always wondered whats with the space simulators and winged ships it's not like there's air or anything

- you know what will look cool - asymmetric fighter - all the good space ships are asymmetric:B-wing, that cool fighter from lost in space - when defending the gate, hell even the YT-1300 has the thing on one side - and look at all the cool ships from homeworld.

Anyway - have you seen the pirate ships from up close - the skin is metalic grey mirrorlike - reflecting colour. That's a cool effect and also it's not completely invisible and on the other side it's not real bright either. Very apropriate for spaceships in games I think

Well...

Wings provide a reference point for rotation, they also allow a designer to increase the size of a ship(so more weapons, and shields can be mounted) without increasing its crossection by the same amount, which for more advanced pilots allows them to rotate their shit as to present the smallest crossection to fire at, inexperienced pilots... well that is why we have the Nova. They allow a space ship to land in an atmospheric enviornment, so ship with wings serves two functions. It flys in space and it flys on a planet. A ship without wings doesnt fly so well on a planet, some may say that ships might want re-entry capability, if soley in space this doesnt matter. Secondly, they look cool, and that takes precident over everything else. We will hear no more arguments on the issue.

Asymmetry has some problems, i for one wonder all the time how the Boron Mako moves in a staight line, considering all of the force is applied left of its center mass(well i think so, considering how it turns and all). any ship must produce equal thrust on each side of its center mass (or it will spin, its one of the ways to control the space ship, reduce thrust on one side and it turns). Symmetry makes this process easier, though not impossible. I mean, we could make asymmetrical aircraft, they would fly but it would be a might challange of design.

Btw there are many asymmertical fighters in the game.

[Goumindong]

oh yea, and i like the colors. Dont know where it mounts weapons though...

[veelad]

Anyway - have you seen the pirate ships from up close - the skin is metalic grey mirrorlike - reflecting colour. That's a cool effect and also it's not completely invisible and on the other side it's not real bright either. Very apropriate for spaceships in games I think

EH, what a good idea, a CHROMED pirate ship , it would make it invisible to the naked eye, or totally blind the enemy if sunlight were reflected from it

[gerrythegremlin]

lol no one seems to like the colours...might have to try something different

never make the count until the quotes are all in!

i usually hate loud colours, but on this model they seem so totally natural, and effective that i would be upset if you changed them

it has to be said that not everyone chooses the same race, and part of this decision is colour/design-related, so don't be upset when someone is uncomfortable with one design, these guys (unlikely to be split or Teladi) would likely go for your M1, for example...

[WQP]

Here's a bit of a redesign - still keep the old version - it can be like the commander's ship or like a ship that a member of royalty would fly.

Here's a variant (painting no where near done)

[ external image ]

Here's a non-symmetrical ship I was messing with - also no aerodynamics to speak of...I think wings are on spacefighters for one reason alone - they look cool oh and one argument *for* aerodynamic shapes - rounded shapes typicall make for better armour.

[ external image ]

[gerrythegremlin]

aaarggg - how can thissss beee . Redesignof bird-fighters fantastic too

also cool assymmetrics

[WQP]

Here's the variant...need to tone down the yellow (with dirt and wear etc.)

[ external image ]

[WQP]

Here's a quick scene with both ships:

[ external image ]

[AalaarDB]

Looks very nice. Are you gonna release it to the public or are you just teasing us? I might someday be able to include it in a mod me and some others are working on but I dunno, just considering my options.

[KnightLight]

Bah, the nova looks better!

Seriously, though, I like the styling, and the new color scheme is nice. If you have a "super" version for a commander, the added red wouls serve as an indication of rank... possibly the head chief/leader of this avian race traditionally paints some feathers red?

[Corsair114]

Reminds me of a Z-95 Headhunter.

[WQP]

Well if someone could actually get this in game for me I'd let them have a crack at it and then release it...I could deliver the texture file and a .obj, or .x file (I supposed I could do .3ds, but there's often UVW issues with that accursed format).

If someone can actually import it they could PM me...

[Nanook]

Very nice models, remind me a little of the Xenon L in X-Tension. Now there was a sleek and deadly looking fighter. Much better than the current crop of Xenon fighters, aka garbage disposal units. The Xenon must have gone from trying to scare us to death to making us laugh to death.

BTW on the subject of colors, matte black is the best color for combat craft in space. With passive ECM and ECCM, a matte black fighter could only be detected by its occlusion of the background stars. Chrome would not work, as it would still be detectable by its reflection of starlight.