[WIP] Majestic's Babylon 5 Modelling

[kjc733]

Needs more guns
That's a nice rendition of the Nova. Most would think that a brick with guns wouldn't have a high poly count but it's easy to get carried away, 12k is good going.

 

[Majestic]

Needs more guns
That's a nice rendition of the Nova. Most would think that a brick with guns wouldn't have a high poly count but it's easy to get carried away, 12k is good going.

Yeah once you start putting detail in it jumps up pretty fast, it was a little un 10k before the guns went on hahaha. The guns were as low poly as possible without ruining the ship with the other detail I had already put in. So a 12 slice cylinder for the guns was the lowest I'd go.

Working on another popular design now. Started it last night. Hopefully It'll stay under the 10k mark but not worry if it doesn't. lol

 

[Majestic]

This one I think everyone will recognise, she ended up only about 100 poly's lower than the Nova. I took some liberties with the design, a few minor changes that made more sense to me but tried to stick close to the screen design as possible.

Hyperion Class


Manufactured by KaraTech for the Earthforce, this 1,025m long capital ship class lead Earthforce to success during the Dilgar war and utter defeat during the Minbari war. Several variants on this design were put into service for more specific roles, this however is the standard mass produced Hyperion. After the Minbari war, many of the surviving Hyperion's were upgraded with newer weapon systems purchased from the Narn during the war. Hyperion's were considered on par and in some cases superior to Dilgar designs and often able to go engage with a small wing of Dilgar warships of similar tonnage and still emerge victorious.

 

[kjc733]

Like you I discovered that this "simple" design can consume a huge number of polies if you let it, so again good job
As for minor changes, there are lots of variations of the Hyperion (and Nova). Even finding consistent source material is difficult (just wait until you try the Warlock ). I'm guessing you used the EagleMesh EAS Antares as your baseline for the Nova?

 

[Majestic]

Like you I discovered that this "simple" design can consume a huge number of polies if you let it, so again good job
As for minor changes, there are lots of variations of the Hyperion (and Nova). Even finding consistent source material is difficult (just wait until you try the Warlock ). I'm guessing you used the EagleMesh EAS Antares as your baseline for the Nova?

Yeah it's all the curves and ball turrets that make her jump up in the old poly count. Thanks mate. Quite happy with how she turned out.

I ended up using a number of sources to be honest. For both the Nova and Hyperion, including some renders from artists who had made high poly versions of the designs. EagleMesh's Antares was one of the main sources yes, especially when it came to texturing her.

 

[Majestic]

First of the fan designs and based loosely on this design by GAT-X139

Orion Class


As old as the Sagittarius class, the Orion, is a workhorse of Earthforce and before the launch of the Nova, the primary means of transporting Earth Alliance Ground Pounders across Earth space. Used extensively during the Dilgar war, the Orion is a solid and robust design. Able to take multiple hits and keep on going. The class was in the stages of retirement when the Minbari war broke out, none survived the conflict, however they were essential during the earlier Dilgar war where they performed extremely well.

 

[Majestic]

SA-23 Nova Starfury

Successor to the Tiger and predecessor to the Aurora, the Nova Starfury, or Novafury as it's known amongst Earthforce pilots, is a vast improvement over the older Tiger and was brought into service onboard the Nova Dreadnaughts during the late 2220's. They preformed well against Dilgar Thorn Dartfighters that were unmatched during the Dilgar expansion into League space during the first few years of the war.

They were eventually replaced after over 15 years as Earth's foremost fighter after the Minbari war with the updated Aurora model.

 

[Terra_Inc]

It's all good stuff

 

[Majestic]

Another fan design inspired by a fan design, this one is based on this image https://www.deviantart.com/marcusstarkiller/art/Mjolnir-Class-Destroyer-540266869


Mjolnir Class

An alternative sister design to the Hyperion, the Mjolnir, named after the mythical hammer of the Norse god Thor, was ably named. Able to take a significant punishment, they were used regularly in combat with the Dilgar during the war. While not as common as the Hyperion due to the lack of the heavy particle guns, the Mjolnir, still served a vital role within the fleet. During the Minbari war, many were used as battering rams against Minbari command cruisers, destroying both ships in the hopes of disrupting Minbari fleet coercion giving the remaining Earth forces a chance. No Mjolnir's survived the Minbari war.

 

[Archonon]

These look great Maj, if you are doing the Dilgar/Minbari eras from B5 Wars, are you thinking of doing the Avenger Carrier and the Artemis Heavy Frigate?

The Artemis was an excellent concept being designated as the only ship in EA that did any significant damage to Minbari Warcruisers due to their exclusive weapons being all Railguns, not sure I remember the lore too much but I recall that somehow they managed to succeed where most EA ships failed at targeting.

The Avenger isn't pretty, but it's the only Carrier the EA had at the time, since the Poseidon wouldn't roll around until the age of the Omega Destroyer.

It's also funny to see the freighter being called Saturn, didn't we name either the Freighter or the Fuel Freighter the Majestic Class in B5A2? I could be wrong but I thought one ship had your same nickname in the mod. In any case, you sure make our ships feel like last gen, excellent work!

 

[Majestic]

These look great Maj, if you are doing the Dilgar/Minbari eras from B5 Wars, are you thinking of doing the Avenger Carrier and the Artemis Heavy Frigate?

The Artemis was an excellent concept being designated as the only ship in EA that did any significant damage to Minbari Warcruisers due to their exclusive weapons being all Railguns, not sure I remember the lore too much but I recall that somehow they managed to succeed where most EA ships failed at targeting.

The Avenger isn't pretty, but it's the only Carrier the EA had at the time, since the Poseidon wouldn't roll around until the age of the Omega Destroyer.

It's also funny to see the freighter being called Saturn, didn't we name either the Freighter or the Fuel Freighter the Majestic Class in B5A2? I could be wrong but I thought one ship had your same nickname in the mod. In any case, you sure make our ships feel like last gen, excellent work!

I'm pretty sure it was named the Saturn in behind the scenes or in fan circles I could be wrong but saw it named Saturn in a number of places so just went with it. Mallacore and Azel are named after our own RJB due to it being his original design and Azel for the artist that inspired me with that design.

Well lets be honest, B5A2 was made in what 2002, that's 20 years ago. Using a game that lets be honest has been outdated for over 15 years with very limited abilities on poly count. I am building mine with Sins in mind so a 10k freighter isn't going to harm the frame-rate in that game. So I can add more detail which you guys never could 20 years ago. Still B5A2 was such a fun mod back in the day, I used to play it so much on A2, loved having a fleet of Omega's and building Babylon 4.

Now as for the Avenger and Artemis, the simple answer is no, reason being is that neither fit in with the design style of EA, even early EA if you use the Sagittarius as the base which I did. So I decided to not use either design. I had thought of redesigning both, but with 1 frigate spot let to fill, I don't like Artemis' chances, the Avenger might, emphasis on that word, might make it in with a massive redesign. I am not entirely sure yet. Still undecided if I am going to do a carrier cruiser design, already got a carrier capital design in mind.

But I am considering giving the EA a break for now, attention is wandering and I am finding them getting stale. I am thinking of heading back and finishing off a few YY Klingon ships and stations or maybe try my hand at a Narn or Dilgar design. Before returning in what I hope will be a final push in finishing the EA fleet off. I only have 10 ships to do including the envoy, bomber, 1 frigate, 2 capitals and a bunch of cruisers. I've already done 14 so over half way to giving the EA a full ship roster.

 

[Archonon]

Yeah, I have no idea where the names that we used came from, if they weren't specifically mentioned in the show or another source, such as B5 Wars. Nonetheless, I find it a funny coincidence if we did have a Majestic Freighter...I haven't installed B5A2 in a long time so I can't recall off my head.

Yeah, the mod was great for its time and I had a great time supporting it also, Matthew Ting remained a friend for nearly a decade after we finished the mod. Yeah, the restrictions in polies are wide but we used other tricks such as alpha channels and textures to simulate more poly heavy things such as cannons, shame they were flat in some angles but they looked pretty good from the top view; it'd be great if they allowed for full 3D rendering so polies hadn't been as much an issue.

Gotcha, I see your point of view. I didn't love the Avenger's design, though I suppose it's alright as a dedicated Carrier. I'm curious to learn what it was that you thought about the Artemis that didn't fit in with early EA designs. I think that there were several smaller EA ships which fit with a smaller frame between Cutter and Frigate borne from that general aesthetic including the Tethys Cutter, the Artemis Heavy Frigate and even the larger Orpheus Battleship seemed to be cut from the same cloth. Not requesting you make them mind you, just saying I viewed them fitting in with the aesthetic chosen for B5 Wars personally. That all said, I can't wait to see what you do come up with yourself!

For sure, always go with what is motivating you in the moment, you can always come back to the EA later. It'd be awesome to see some Dilgar designs.

 

[Majestic]

Yeah, I have no idea where the names that we used came from, if they weren't specifically mentioned in the show or another source, such as B5 Wars. Nonetheless, I find it a funny coincidence if we did have a Majestic Freighter...I haven't installed B5A2 in a long time so I can't recall off my head.

Yeah, the mod was great for its time and I had a great time supporting it also, Matthew Ting remained a friend for nearly a decade after we finished the mod. Yeah, the restrictions in polies are wide but we used other tricks such as alpha channels and textures to simulate more poly heavy things such as cannons, shame they were flat in some angles but they looked pretty good from the top view; it'd be great if they allowed for full 3D rendering so polies hadn't been as much an issue.

Yeah you guys did an amazing job with the limitations you had. Seriously getting the organic Vorlons and Shadows in was brilliant not to mention the Minbari. Reason I chose the Dilgar era, I'm no good at organic modelling, doing a Bakiri ship is going to be a huge challenge for me I'd hate to tackle the Minbari. I am still a novice in modelling.

Gotcha, I see your point of view. I didn't love the Avenger's design, though I suppose it's alright as a dedicated Carrier. I'm curious to learn what it was that you thought about the Artemis that didn't fit in with early EA designs. I think that there were several smaller EA ships which fit with a smaller frame between Cutter and Frigate borne from that general aesthetic including the Tethys Cutter, the Artemis Heavy Frigate and even the larger Orpheus Battleship seemed to be cut from the same cloth. Not requesting you make them mind you, just saying I viewed them fitting in with the aesthetic chosen for B5 Wars personally. That all said, I can't wait to see what you do come up with yourself!

For sure, always go with what is motivating you in the moment, you can always come back to the EA later. It'd be awesome to see some Dilgar designs.

This will be interesting, the Artemis really didn't appeal to me, too blockish as a design (I know blockish is the EA speciality), tip it up 90 degrees and yes it'd make sense and fit in with the oracle and saggy better but with the way it is, it just doesn't appeal with me nor imo fits in with the design feel of the era. I mean yes the Olympus doesn't either when you think about it, I almost didn't do that design for similar reasons. I have thought about redesigning it, the Artemis, but I haven't made the final decision if I should or shouldn't and go with a different design. I suppose I could go a different design and call it Artemis lol. The Tethys is another design that feels a tad out of place. Just the smooth lines etc. Reason I have ignored her hahaha.

Now the Orpheus, that's a different animal, I plan to downsize her to a standard capital along the lines of the Hyperion, turn her into a carrier capital with a few very minor and I mean very minor design changes. So she'll be coming at some point.

 

[Archonon]

Thanks for expanding on your plans, it will be interesting to see how you choose to redesign some of the classic pre-show ships. A more compact Orpheus is an interesting concept, though shouldn't Carriers be bigger than Heavy Cruisers? Unless it's a Fast Assault Carrier. Very intrigued to see what you come up with when you return to the EA, great stuff!

 

[Majestic]

Thanks for expanding on your plans, it will be interesting to see how you choose to redesign some of the classic pre-show ships. A more compact Orpheus is an interesting concept, though shouldn't Carriers be bigger than Heavy Cruisers? Unless it's a Fast Assault Carrier. Very intrigued to see what you come up with when you return to the EA, great stuff!

Thanks, I don't know how long that'll take tbh, been hit with a lack of confidence smack over the last couple of days. That along with going off my anti-depressants for my own health (was giving me extremely high blood pressure), which I had been on for 7 years, means that the old depression had returned in full swing along with withdrawal side effects so I don't feel my work is any good at the moment. Hell I even left the discord, closing it with no intention of returning.

While I had a Dilgar ship almost complete in the modelling sense I don't really want to work on anything anymore. Don't feel my work is any good when looking at what others can produce in comparison. Good thing I didn't make any mod promises to disappoint everyone like I did with Yesteryears.

 

[Hellkite]

And there you would be wrong my friend .. You are highly talented my friend

 

[kjc733]

Firstly, if you need to take a break then take a break. This is a hobby, something you are supposed to enjoy in your free time. If you're not feeling it right now then so be it, go find something else that you want to do. But whatever you do, don't be thinking about disappointing us.
All that said...

Don't feel my work is any good when looking at what others can produce in comparison.

you're talking [redacted] *cough* nonsense.
You are working within very tight constraints with software that is barely up to the task and outputting models that still look like what you intend them to be. If I were working with just MS3D I'd have given up long ago! Anyone can produce a multi-million polygon Starfury that looks nice, not everyone can do it with just a few thousand. On top of that you've been rolling stuff out every couple of days, that's a hell of a rate.
Now yes, some people have this disgusting ability to output quantity and quality at a stupid rate that make the rest of us mere mortals look bad (yes RJB, I'm looking at you ), but that does nothing to detract from the fine work that you put out.

 

[Hellkite]

That is the truth ..there are some studios that can't keep up with that Canadian power house of high poly models .

But Maj. that is not what you do my friend you are the master of the low poly models .. That is not nothing that is a art form unto it's self and takes high degree of discipline. Do not sell yourself short

 

[CptBenSisko]

hey man... breaks are needed in all things.. your health, your mind, your body, all take precedence over modelling/modding/misc stuff for video games that we make ZERO dollars on.. this kind of stuff is for personal enjoyment only.. I, for one, am extremely satisfied/happy/thrilled/ecstatic with what you put together for me over the last two weeks... you were the only one, and no offense intended to anyone else i asked, that actually took interest in working on my request.. and then to top it all off... you banged out a second request, in a ridiculously short time i might add, the same day I asked for it.. sooo you are the GOAT in my book, as you could have simply taken your time and done other projects ahead of my request(s).

Basically, take all the time you want.. hopefully we are all here still when you decide to come back and hang out with us.. and as far as what transpired the other day on the Discord, I genuinely do not believe that any ill-will was intended on the other party's behalf.. he/they have always been blunt, but never, in my experience, ever intentionally has any malice in mind.. you need to feel how you feel however, and I just hope that you feel better in time.

LONG LIVE MAJESTIC!!!!

 

[Chiletrek]

Hello:
I don't think I can say much without repeating other people's words because it may sound redundant, but your health takes priority so you can get your life back on track as it should be. The internet will be there for when you feel better and we will be waiting for your return.

 

[Hath]

Majestic take care of yourself. Your health takes priority. Btw your models are BADASS!!!!! and stand up to anything anyone else has done. Get well soon.

 

[Archonon]

As others here have already stated, you are absolutely talented with your skills at modeling. However the main focus should always be on your own health and happiness. So follow your own interests, model whatever you want whenever you want. No disappointments here, any model you choose to continue sharing in the future is just a delight for us all.

 

[-RJB-]

Still impressed with how many ships you got done.

Great work.

 

[Chiletrek]

Hello:
Majestic, would you make some of the Babylon stations? Perhaps for fun since those are totally out of your mod's timeline .

 

[Majestic]

Thank you all. I am still not better yet, still facing the double ear infection symptoms (dizziness) which can take 3 months to fix I discovered so still limping around with a walking stick and wobbly.
Also still fighting the depression, been given something new to try. I had to go off the old stuff (Cymbalta), as it was likely to eventually kill me giving me high blood pressure (200/160) was my blood pressure when I was tested several times. It's still rather high at (170/100) but has been falling as the cymbalta has been leaving my system. I guess that is good, still after 7 years fighting this condition has been extremely hard and many things have been triggering me and so I have withdrawn from most online activities.

Anyway, to keep this post here of mine at least relevant to the topic. I have been trying to get back into modelling since there is little else one can do. One can only play Sins of a Solar Empire and watch Youtube so much before going stir crazy. This is the first model I have actually been able to make and finish. Several totally incomplete models still sit on my harddrive as I have been unable to motivate myself enough to complete them.

While I wasn't overly fussed on the Artemis design, I decided to give it a go, with a re-design. I tried to stick to it as much as possible but bring in elements from other designs. Plus I also tried to make it make more sense, like having hangars from crew shuttles and some missile launchers. I imagine it as an older design, dating back to around the time of the Sagittarius and Oracle in many ways, not as old as the Olympic but still a rather dated design.



@Archonon you might not notice (not sure if you can make it out on the full image) but the text on the Artemis says Archonon FF-13977 which I am sure means something to you. Since you brought it up I thought it was right to put your name on it and number.

I also updated some of the older ships with turrets today.

 

[CptBenSisko]

one day at a time sir... one day at a time... very nicely done however.

 

[Chiletrek]

Hello:
It is good you are finally starting to return to 3d modelling, and I hope the new medicaments will serve you better so what happened before won't happen again.

The ships look very good! and the addition of turrets make them sooooo much the better . Keep up the great work!

 

[Archonon]

Thank you all. I am still not better yet, still facing the double ear infection symptoms (dizziness) which can take 3 months to fix I discovered so still limping around with a walking stick and wobbly.
Also still fighting the depression, been given something new to try. I had to go off the old stuff (Cymbalta), as it was likely to eventually kill me giving me high blood pressure (200/160) was my blood pressure when I was tested several times. It's still rather high at (170/100) but has been falling as the cymbalta has been leaving my system. I guess that is good, still after 7 years fighting this condition has been extremely hard and many things have been triggering me and so I have withdrawn from most online activities.

Anyway, to keep this post here of mine at least relevant to the topic. I have been trying to get back into modelling since there is little else one can do. One can only play Sins of a Solar Empire and watch Youtube so much before going stir crazy. This is the first model I have actually been able to make and finish. Several totally incomplete models still sit on my harddrive as I have been unable to motivate myself enough to complete them.

While I wasn't overly fussed on the Artemis design, I decided to give it a go, with a re-design. I tried to stick to it as much as possible but bring in elements from other designs. Plus I also tried to make it make more sense, like having hangars from crew shuttles and some missile launchers. I imagine it as an older design, dating back to around the time of the Sagittarius and Oracle in many ways, not as old as the Olympic but still a rather dated design.

View attachment 21149

@Archonon you might not notice (not sure if you can make it out on the full image) but the text on the Artemis says Archonon FF-13977 which I am sure means something to you. Since you brought it up I thought it was right to put your name on it and number.

I also updated some of the older ships with turrets today.

View attachment 21152View attachment 21151View attachment 21150

Maj, I am so humbled by the name given to this beauty of a model, I am speechless. The refit looks spectacular and it looks to me like a true upgrade from the original version.

Day by day, one at a time, Maj. Find your outlet in whatever moves your passions, whether it is modeling or working on vehicles or anything else. Whenever you can share this unique work you create or you just want to hang out with the fam, we are all here for you.

Thank you again.

PS. The updates are looking sharp, this is one helluva awesome fleet list for the EA.

 

[Jetfreak]

Welcome back to the saddle boss, I know its tough some days we've all been there and a creative outlet is the best way to cool off stress in my experience.