I was actually hoping that the space station for the TEC in the new expansion would have looked like Babylon 5.  That would have been sick.

,,, sorry.  double post/

These are a few of my favorites (cause I made em from scratch  ).  Now, before you professional graphic artists start critisizing my lack of texturing and polygons you should know that 95% of these designs were created for a custom Freelancer mod I did.  Freelancer only supported a very low number of polygons, textures were "coded", and weaponry was added by the game using simple location mapping.  Unfortunately that leaves the models looking rather "1st Grader"-ish.  Also, yes a couple are based on "famous" designs that I liked...  Descriptions below the pictures;

Small Cargo Transport

• Weapons:  1 Medium Turret Hardport (centered on top)
• Armor:  Light
• Use:  Short runs between close planets
• Specials:  Atmospheric Flight

Large Cargo Transport

• Weapons:  4 Medium Turret Hardports (80% coverage)
• Armor:  Light
• Use:  Long distance cargo runs
• Specials:  Small shuttle bay

Small Support Fighter

• Weapons:  2 Stationary Forward Hardports
• Armor:  Light
• Use:  Short-Range fighter to fighter combat
• Specials:  Atmospheric flight

Heavy Support Fighter

• Weapons:  8 Small Turret Hardports (100% coverage), 2 Forward Missile Launchers
• Armor:  Medium
• Use:  Fighter vs Fighter or Fighter vs Cruiser combat
• Specials:  Atmospheric Flight, Faster-than-light (FTL) travel

Light Support Crusier

• Weapons:  3 Heavy Turret Hardports (70% coverage). 2 Forward Torpedo Launchers
• Armor:  Medium
• Use:  Destroier Support
• Specials:  Medium shuttle bay, FTL Travel

Heavy Destroier

• Weapons:  8 Heavy Turret Hardports (80% coverage), 4 Torpedo Turrets (80% coverage, see below)
• Armor:  Heavy
• Use:  Carrier Support
• Specials:  1 Large fighter bay, Communication hub, FTL Travel

Heavy Battleship

• Weapons:  12 Turret Hardports (100% coverage), 10 Torpedo Turrets (80% coverage, see below), "Main Guns"
• Armor:  Heavy
• Use:  Heavy Combat vs Battleships, Carriers, or Planets
• Specials:  2 Large fighter bays, FTL Travel
• Main Gun: 2 High-Powered Laser Cannons, each roughly 2x the power of a "Galaxy Class" phaser.

"Planet Killer" Battleship

• Weapons:  12 Heavy Turret Hardports (100% coverage), "Main Gun"
• Armor:  Heavy
• Use:  Planetary Desimation
• Specials:  1 Medium fighter bay
• Main Gun: Plasma beam generator, roughly 1/4 the power of the Death Star laser.

Well, that does it for the ships... Still with me?  Well, it's time that I reveal the mysterous "Torpedo Turrets" that I've been listing.  I did them up as a "dream", since I'll never be able to put them into any of the games that I could use my models in.  So, without further adue, here it is;

Heavy Torpedo Turret

• Weapons:  4 Torpedo Launchers
• Crew:  2
• Coverage:  360-degrees on X/Y axis, 90-degrees on Z axis
• Modes:  Single or Multiple fire modes
• Special:  Retractable (stored under armored hull plating)

Hope you all enjoied!

Light Support Cruiser's fore looks like ED 209

Good eye!  I actually took apart my ED209 model (low poly one I used for Mechwarrior 4) to make that front end... *LOL*  That was one of "based on" models, another was the heavy support fighter, loosely based on a Star Wars B-Wing.

The one I figured most people might pick out was the Planet Killer, which I made by heavily modifying a Krenim Time Ship (Star Trek Voyager) model I made years ago.

Although, out of all the ships I've posted I think I have to change my vote to the following...

I didn't make this model, simply because I'm great at modeling but suck at texturing.  I did, however, make the modifications and simple lighting to it for a Star Trek RPG I used to play.  It was capable of going 1 on 1 with a Galaxy Class.... *LOL*

Here's a couple shots after I added some more advanced lighting, effects & a basic starfield.

I think it looks better from the back angle, can't put my finger on what's wrong with the front lighting.

Actually IIRC he Imperium is half the size of the first Death Star.

well I think Ill go with this

mooninites ships are to advance for your brain

Mooninites for the win!  *LOL*

can't figure what is wrong, since you light source is from under the ship, the underside of the saucer section needs to be lighted too

What kind of programs are you all using to make these ships? I can't find any sort of good open source programs. I tried Google SketchUp, but it's hard to understand. I'll give uber karma to anyone who can help me find a good open source 3d modeler. And karma to anyone who at least tries.

Wings3D?
http://www.wings3d.com/

SketchUp is supposed to be used for, you know, just sketching up. Not detailed models or stuff...

SSAF

I used skecth up to model my ships. U just need to get use to it, try making like a cube first. Plus this is standard u need to know the tool in each modeling software u get no matter which one in order easly make some compex polygon shapes and, models. I sugest u give skecth up a second go. This happen to me too so trust me just learn and follow the guides provided.

Akkan117

My top choices are Maya 2008, and Pro-Engineer 3.0 (CAD Program, not great with curves).

Well pic what u want what suit you best me its sketch up . Anyhow lets get back to topic with shipp. I have finished a new ship here a pic

akkan117

Thnx, i think i'll try out Wings3D. And i suppose i will give SketchUp a second go. I just can't figure out how to make any sort of more advanced shapes than a circle square and hexagon.

Studica.com has cheap student versions of Maya/Maya Bundle Packs if you are real into it, that's where I got mine, and I need it for my classes but not required.

I'm really loving all these designs and how everyone has been mixing ideas and sharing experiences with 3d modelling. This is exactly what this post is ment to do. Excellent work all of you, not only for the ships but working as a community.

Well this is what I want to do once I get out of college. Design space games (futur games too). And no I did not copy from sins, more like sins copied from me, but they would not of known about my ideas when I was just a ninth grader.  Spaceships ftw

HEY! everyone im sure yall know about halo wars well i modeled the spirit of fire not perfect but im still working on it.Akkan117

I'm working on a spaceship right now, taking a while!!! My teacher instructed us to make a red blood cell so I didn't and turned it into a spaceship.  Really curvy and sleek and HAWT, not sure if I'm uploading it though...depends how it comes out.

-Phalnax

I don't know about a dream ship, but this is something I did aaaaages ago with Wings3D.  I was messing around with modular stuff so you could swap out front and weapons sections.  Anyway I'm a musician, not a modeller but it's still fun once in a while!

In fact, just found these...even older.  Some of the first things I did with Wings in fact.  Again, modular and what not.  But not textured or anything.

Aaaand lastly my first attempt at UV mapping - quite old again.  But not like I've gotten much better!  Yup.  It's modular.  And really utilitarian in design.  No sleek curves.  Just..chunks Enjoy!

Awsome, great work on details.

Thanks man I may have gone a little antenna-happy on that last ship but hey...pokey-outy things look cool.  First rule of sci fi!

**Edit: no...bevels look cool.  That's the first rule...

I've had these on my computer for ages, although they look rather pithy compared to The ones Chimpspanner did.

Capital Ship

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x60/thoth17/Capital1.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x60/thoth17/Capital2.jpg

Carrier

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x60/thoth17/Carrier1.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x60/thoth17/Carrier2.jpg

Dreadnought (a ship built around one big gun)

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x60/thoth17/Dreadnought1.jpg

Cruser

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x60/thoth17/Cruser1.jpg

Quoting chimpspanner, reply 21

Every time I think of the early days of the Federation my brain always come up with an image similar to the one you posted (IE: Spaceships that look like submarines flying through space).