Thanks!
i think i could use some help for detecting problems. i did some work myself, i converted the ship for virtual sailor...
let me optimize the model so i can send it to you, to you only.
what filetype must it be?
Thanks for the reply and I'm honoured you think about sending the model to me. I'll then be glad to do an extensive (and long) beta testing process in order to track some defaults like the ones you've just discovered in your above screenshots (If I remember well, I 've seen another one in vertical frames of some windows not connecting properly to the ceiling in one of your previous screenshots a few pages ago I think).
But for now, I'd like to put aside the pure modeling/texturing aspect of the model and in my previous post, I had in mind to concentrate on the design of the ship itslef.
But first, now you've completed it, I'd like to send again my congatulations to you. It is quite an achievement to build such a model and I value the work involved for the details there.
At the risk of being hated by all the admirers here, I've a few observations to put here. From your above post, it seems you've understood it is meant to be constructive observations, so don't be impressed by sometimes the direct tone of my words.
For a change, I won't really comment on the quality of the modeling and texturing themselves now (we'll see later when you'll send me the model from which I'd help you finding flaws), but rather on some architectural and technical issues with your model (since you said becoming a naval architecte is one of your objectives). It is my technical background, years to study ships (and a few to sail them) and a dose of common sense that speaks there.
- First, the "glass wings":
Please tell me how these glasses are held together? Can you imagine the vibrations on the top of these high, large and thin glass surfaces? Believe me, a ship vibrates quite a lot, even with the smoothest machinery and glasses in the middle or on the top of these surfaces have virtually no chance to survive without breaking. The vibrations on the top of these glass wings were the amplitude is the biggest would be enormous and unsustainable. Besides, the structure of a ship works a lot and the deformations (and dilatation) there will break your numerous glasses. On top of that, it would be a nightmare of maintainance and cost when some glasses break because they're nearly all different and you can't really have a standard stock of them.
I think the above is a case where the aesthetic is too much prominent, far more than the practicality and feasibility (actually I don't aesthetically like them, but that's another story and I respect your tastes).
- Another part where the aesthetic is done to the detriment of practicallity and cost is the eccessive slanting of the aft decks. You lose too much space (more than a row of deckchairs or tables) there and, even if it's a fantasy design, you must keep practicality (and somewhat cost and revenue makers) in the picture if you want your design to be more credible.
- I would relocate the two aft little mast on the highest deck (or near the highest) instead of the second one, in order to be able to deploy lighting bulbs lines or wires without danger for the passengers on these aft decks. Remember, on a ship, even a large one, everything move and vibrate and everything has to be able to sustain dynamic contrainsts, as much as possible and flexible objects like bulb lines are to be kept as far from passengers areas as possible.
- The radar on the top of your main mast need to be fixed on a less high thin pilar. You'd need some tripode base there or the vibrations may be too big for the radar to works properly.
- For an oceanliner that could encounter adverse weather during a crossing, all these large glass windows on the fore part of the superstucture may well be a big problem even with a break-water there. Several ships have had glasses damaged there, even smaller ones. All these rooms there would have to be forbidden to passengers access in case of strong weather.
- The pillars of the extension of the roof of the observation lounge (or whatever room it is there, like spa...) above the bridge seem a bit too thin. Same thing or even more necessary for the ones supporting the sundeck around the amidship pool, it seems to be necessary to strenghten them to avoid buckle.
- Due to wing, the tables and chairs at the base of the fore superstructure will be completely unusable, even at moderate speed. Same thing for all the deckchairs on the above decks of that fore part of the superstructures. You'd need windscreens for being able to use the tables around the circular observation lounge above the bridge as well.
- On your below shot, I don't see why the seats need to translate on a so long distance?
- On the below screenshot, you have 1+1+4=6 stairs along the flowrider to go to the superior half deck when in the same time you have 8 stairs on starboard to directly do that half deck height. So it's 6 vs 8 stairs for the same height, that's wh I think you should add 1 intermediate sair for the two smallest ones, near the flowrider:
- It is not clear from the below screenshot so I'm not 100% sure you have it wrong but it looks like your shuffleboards are not true standard.
Indeed, they musn't be placed like it seems you did but by pairs. Players send the puck from one to the other and back to continue the play. There usually (not always though) is a dead line near the numbers grid to not go beyond with your feet when you send the puck. If you allow me, please see sceenshots below for how they were onboard the SS FRANCE and Big U for instance:
So here are the few things I can immediately see from your design, although I'm sure some other ones would need rework or improvements but I hope you will take the above ones in a constructive way and you still have plenty of time to improve your design.
To conclude, I'd say I rather like the overall profile, aesthetic and phylosophy of the ship, some ideas are nice (among other things, I like the track idea behind the funnel...), some others I don't really like (the glass wings, the funnel...) and some others would deserve more distance from existing ships (or from movies). Anyway, and although I think more planning and thoughts (use of space, structural and economic constrainsts...), must be spent on such a large ship, I know you've spent quite some time by working and improving during the past 2 years from the starting of this thread.
Feel free to send me the VS model when you'll be ready, if you want to do so as I think it will be the quickest and easiest way for me to efficiently explore it and detect flaws. Again, I'll be glad to offer help with beta testing. Don't worry, I'll of course not redistribute it and I won't request anything in case you win a prize at the contest.
DVOMarineDesign (Dom).