Probably not. I’m going for a cleaner look.
1/1000 NX-0002
- Thread starter Gregatron
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Probably not. I’m going for a cleaner look.
genZOD
Sr Member
In the early 2000’s John Byrne posted on a forum for Strata 3D. At that time, he made models of the ships & other vehicles in his artwork & would use them as direct reference. I believe his Enterprise was modeled in Blitz & rendered in a Strata with some line work baked into the texture. His artwork on the form is still around, but the discussions are all missing. Anyway, there may be 3D models/renderings of the version you’re building floating around the web.
Unlikely. Some of the other (original design) ships appearing in his comics were indeed modeled in Strata, but, for the Enterprise and her sisters, he took photos of his personal Master Replicas 33” model and traced them. With modifications, in this case.
genZOD
Sr Member
I found the image. The discussions are gone, but I do remember him talking about his process..
He probably used more than one technique or his technique evolved over time. I wish I could remember the discussions better, there was another artist on the site who made really beautiful Star Trek renderings. I think they interacted a bit.
Yeah, that was a few years before IDW hired him to do their licensed comics. His very first professional art of a Constitution class ship (outside of DC's 1987 WHO'S WHO IN STAR TREK) was a single panel in the ALIEN SPOTLIGHT: ROMULANS one-shot. It was drawn freehand, and looked a little wonky.
Shortly thereafter, he began using the MR model as reference, and, for the ROMULANS trade paperback reprints, he even went back and replaced that wonky ROMULANS panel with a similar angle of the Enterprise from CREW (complete with that pre-Pike-era B/C deck piece I just modeled).
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genZOD
Sr Member
Interesting. IIRC, he spent quite a bit of time on the forum working out a rendering technique to create “pencils” that he would ink over. Step one was a Strata feature called a “Toon” render. Step two was a normal raytrace with line work cooked as a texture map. Step 3 was blending the renders in Photoshop. He shared a few non Star Trek pages (Ultron maybe?) where he inked over his real and CGI pencils. I thought he shared a Romulan Splash page, but I couldn’t find it. Anyway these are old memories… accuracy isn’t guaranteed.
Anyway, I love the way you’re translating the artwork.
Yeah, for some of the other ships (such as the Ventura, from CREW # 3, which I scratchbuilt as a model, years ago) were done with that technique, as I recall.
But the Enterprise is notoriously difficult for comic artists to get right when drawn freehand, so using the MR makes sense. A few photos of the actual MR model even made it into his NEW VISIONS photomontage series. And so did my Ventura model!
genZOD
Sr Member
I didn’t realize that he ever tried to draw the ship freehand or even from photo reference. Based on the forum, I just assumed he used the technique he demonstrated there.
I might be in the minority, but I actually like artistic interpretations of the ship. I remember a series of paperback novels with wild interpretations of the big E on the covers.
I might be in the minority, but I actually like artistic interpretations of the ship. I remember a series of paperback novels with wild interpretations of the big E on the covers.
Here’s the artwork from the original printing of the ROMULANS one-shot.
And here’s the similar image (drawn using the MR model as reference) from CREW, which later replaced the ROMULANS artwork for the trade paperback reprints.
Byrne is a master artist, and his freehand work is an admirable effort. There are far, FAR worse drawings of the ship in the older Gold Key, Marvel, and DC comics. But using the MR model as a reference just makes it look right. Trying to get all of the shapes and proportions correct AND drawing the ship in perspective—and freehand—is not easy.
Meanwhile, the later issues of the CREW series depicted the now-commissioned Enterprise under the command of Robert April. I appreciate the fact that this was essentially the “Cage” version of the ship, but still with some leftover traces of the clunkier NX-0002 look, as well as yet another nacelle rear endcap design, which is consistent with the endcaps being different from pilot to pilot and then the series proper.
As an aside, I find it somewhat fitting that Byrne used Jeffrey Hunter as his model for Reed Richards in his legendary 1980s FANTASTIC FOUR run, and then ended up drawing Hunter as Pike 20 years later in CREW, but managed to make him not look like Reed.
As an aside, I find it somewhat fitting that Byrne used Jeffrey Hunter as his model for Reed Richards in his legendary 1980s FANTASTIC FOUR run, and then ended up drawing Hunter as Pike 20 years later in CREW, but managed to make him not look like Reed.
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Began construction, and the modifications to convert the kit into the first pilot version. I’m going to wait until the printed parts arrive before gluing the main assemblies together, so I can make sure the custom parts all fit correctly.
And, despite taking care when degreasing the parts, I somehow lost the clear beacon dome that sits above the hangar doors. Sent off a part replacement request to Round 2.
And, despite taking care when degreasing the parts, I somehow lost the clear beacon dome that sits above the hangar doors. Sent off a part replacement request to Round 2.
That happened to me on one of my builds; I ended up making a new one from some clear sprue.
I thought about it, but I might as well do it by the book, for consistency with my other models.
Parts came in. I’m very pleased. Already modified the kit’s inner nacelle parts to remove the rectangular, molded-in reactor loop front pieces. The printed parts slot right into place.
I also Dremeled out the Production-style rear nacelle endcaps to accomdate the printed parts. Once they’re glued in and filled/sanded, they’ll be one solid part.
The new intercoolers just needed a bit of widening of the mounting holes on the nacelles with a hobby knife to slot right in. I also cut out the slot in the B/C deck to accommodate the printed insert.
Now that the preliminary surgery is done, I’ll clean the printed parts and hit them with a shot of filler primer to help remove any print lines. Then I can install the parts and clean up the blends with putty and sanding.
I also Dremeled out the Production-style rear nacelle endcaps to accomdate the printed parts. Once they’re glued in and filled/sanded, they’ll be one solid part.
The new intercoolers just needed a bit of widening of the mounting holes on the nacelles with a hobby knife to slot right in. I also cut out the slot in the B/C deck to accommodate the printed insert.
Now that the preliminary surgery is done, I’ll clean the printed parts and hit them with a shot of filler primer to help remove any print lines. Then I can install the parts and clean up the blends with putty and sanding.
Good news, bad news:
The good news is that I glued the inner nacelle endcaps cores into the nacelles, each half of which I then glued together. I also glued the endcap inserts into the reamed-out kit endcaps, and filled the seams.
The bad news is that, during the modeling stage, I completely forgot to rotate the asymmetric, raised details (circled below) 180 degrees so as to create both starboard AND port nacelle trench pieces. So, as a result I have two starboard pieces. It’s a small detail, but enough to make me resolve to go back, modify one of the parts, and reorder the print.
The good news is that I glued the inner nacelle endcaps cores into the nacelles, each half of which I then glued together. I also glued the endcap inserts into the reamed-out kit endcaps, and filled the seams.
The bad news is that, during the modeling stage, I completely forgot to rotate the asymmetric, raised details (circled below) 180 degrees so as to create both starboard AND port nacelle trench pieces. So, as a result I have two starboard pieces. It’s a small detail, but enough to make me resolve to go back, modify one of the parts, and reorder the print.
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Glued the starboard trench piece onto the nacelle.
Here’s the first test assembly of the nacelle. The parts fit perfectly, aside from a large gap between the rectangular front end-piece of the reactor loop. I figured there would be a gap, and already planned on filling and shaping the gap with putty.
Here’s the first test assembly of the nacelle. The parts fit perfectly, aside from a large gap between the rectangular front end-piece of the reactor loop. I figured there would be a gap, and already planned on filling and shaping the gap with putty.
