StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Finished a major reworking of a Ticonderoga VLS model that came with the Global Conflict Blue distribution into something vaguely workable for the game.

As provided, it was 30,000 polys (!!!), with the two CIWS systems on it taking up 10,000(!!!) polys.

I ended up completely redoing the superstructure from scratch using the line drawings from Norman Friedman's US Cruisers, and the assistance of an uncompleted USS Bunker Hill CG-52 1:700 waterline model; the only superstructure that's original is the illuminators and the mast supports.

The revised version ended up clocking in at 7,318 Polys, and being actually more detailed and accurate than the 30k version.




I've already begun producing variants based off the basic SpruCan/Tico hull and parts for GCB.

I present to you DDX 3!



Basically, a real ship proposed by the USN OpNav Bureau from guidelines set in May 1978 for an affordable surface combatant to complement the Ticonderoga class; part of the design process that led to DDG-51:

The requirements were:

Create a battle force capable surface combattant ranging from 3,500 tons ($200m in FY79) to 8,900 tons ($650m in FY79).

DDX 3 was one of the designs with AEGIS, and it was basically taking a Ticonderoga, deleting the Helicopter Hangar, Aft 5" Gun, and two illuminators for the missiles.

The design either carried 2 x 60 Cell VLS magazines, one fore and aft.; or various inclined ABLs for TLAMs/TASMs.

You can read more about it in Norm Friedman's US Destroyers, Revised Edition

Do you have pictures of the proposed carrier version of the Spruance?

I think you got some of dem ebol smoothing errors in the mesh.

salm wrote:I think you got some of dem ebol smoothing errors in the mesh.

Huh?

dem ebol?

Speak english Damn itl

The Albany/Chicago double-ended total conversions of BALTIMORE heavy cruisers into guided missile cruisers.



3D hull rendering...

I can use this hull for the single ended CA conversions as well; since they were the same class - Baltimore.

Quick, guess this one!

Looks like Long Beach.

On another note, I don't see how that model is 7000-something polys. Doesn't quite look detailed enough.

Julhelm wrote:Looks like Long Beach.

Almost certainly not. Long beaches had the big billboard arrays with the cubical bridge module.

That being said, I have no idea.

Look again on the reference drawing. You can easily make out the Terrier and Talos launchers as well as the whole cubic superstructure.

Julhelm wrote:On another note, I don't see how that model is 7000-something polys. Doesn't quite look detailed enough.

The original model was 30,000 polys. I'm getting it down to 6,000 or so now...blame the original model designer he used 288~ polys for gun barrels alone.

Julhelm wrote:Look again on the reference drawing. You can easily make out the Terrier and Talos launchers as well as the whole cubic superstructure.

It's Long Beach all right. Shep should have picked a less-obvious filename .

Cheater.



Tico as she is now.

USS Albany, CG-10

Now with launchers and directors for the TALOS system!

Finished DDX 3


Finished Ticonderoga

Missile Work; with the background reference from "The World's Missile Systems: 7th Edition" by General Dynamics.

Each Stage on a missile is a different color. Apologies for the poor rendering and shadows; I reduced the shadow level to get it to render fast.

From Left to right:

Spartan ABM
Standard MR
Tartar
Patriot
Talos
Standard ER (Booster not yet in)
Terrier (Booster not yet in)
Sprint ABM

Wow, those are pretty awesome. How long did it take to model the Albany, if you don't mind my asking? And what software did you use?

Cool. Can we see its robot mode?