Aliens UD-4L "Cheyenne" Dropship - Ramp Details (part4)

I've now added more details to the 3D model of the ramp system on the UD-4L "Cheyenne" Dropship. Whilst watching the Aliens film (again) for the APC loading sequence, I've noticed that I needed to make modifications to the payload bay floor of the dropship. By making it 'thicker', it has removed some of the issues I was having with the location of the chairs in the payload bay, with respect to having the APC in the payload bay.

Aliens UD-4L "Cheyenne" Dropship - Payload Bay (part3)

This is a very cramped space. Once the M577 APC was added to the 3D model of the UD-4L "Cheyenne" Dropship, I immediately noticed that the space in the payload / cargo bay for the chairs was going to be a challenge. I've taken a few 'liberties' on exact location of the chairs. The chair Hicks was sat in appears to be on the ramp on the Aliens film set. However, after a bit of creative tweaking, I've got it to fit.

Next: add a door to the Cockpit/Flight Deck and to add equipment details to the interior.

Space Shuttle Orbiter Umbilicals

As requested here is some screen shots without the External Tank:

This is one of my Drawing Resources for the Orbiter Umbilicals

USS Sulaco - Hangar Bay (Part 2)

I've 'refined' the walls of  the 3D model of USS Sulaco's hangar and adjusted the number of 'side-support' structures to match the film set. I have been using the "Aliens - Definitive Edition" DVD as my main source of information for the hangar layout., as it has multiple views of the hangar and the UD-4L 'Cheyenne' Dropship.

The 3D model hangar is still far 'perfect', but it starting to get the look of the USS Sulaco's hangar. I've added a 'basic' crane in the hangar and have 'loosely' positioned the crane components. The four main vertical components that run down the Dropship's centre fuselage, I have no idea what their exact purpose is; fuel transfer, grapple, who knows. I'll model these better after watching the film, again :)

I have also discovered that in the pressure chamber that is under the primary Dropship, it has at least three supports that hold the Dropship in place prior to launch. Two under the forward weapon pylons, a third at the rear of the craft. Must remember to model these

USS Sulaco - Hangar Bay

It very rough 3D model, with no dimensional reference. I'm just basing it on complete best guess from the movie and photographs that where taken on the set.

Downloadable Resources - Addition

I've added some technical drawings of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft to the Downloadable Resources page.

USS Sulaco (Part 2)

Last night I had trouble getting to sleep, so I thought do a quick hour of 3D modelling on the USS Sulaco to tire me out. At 4am I decided that I should really get some sleep. In those early hours of the morning, I tidied up the Engine and Fusion Torus sections, re-sized and positioned the Particle Beam weapons and eventually connected the four sections together.
Job outstanding:

• The IR Mast is still not attached to the main hull.
• The Rail Cannons need to be created. 
• For the forward antenna array, I need some better drawings to clarify positions
• Complete the detailing on the underside as well as a basic hangar bay.

In the lower image you can get a sense of scale of the USS Sulaco. The  few pixels below it are an UD-4L Cheyenne Dropship, measuring at 26.5 meters. If the antenna array was complete, the over all length is 731 meters.

USS Sulaco - Challenge!

Every once in a while I set myself little 3D challenges. Basically, I have one weekend (Friday evening to Sunday 9pm), to build a basic 3D model that is good enough to represent what is supposed to be. In this case to create the 3D model the USS Sulaco from the film Aliens. By late Sunday afternoon it definitely looked like I was going to completely miss the deadline. I think in total, I've actually spent only 8-10 hours creating the 3D Model.

For reference materials, I've used the excellent blueprint drawings by Space Jockey, which are available on his website hydride-ion.com. Another source I've used is the huge paper model of the USS Sulaco, which is available at http://www.sulaco.cz/ Created by Jan RuKr (a.k.a. Alien99), this is an impressive project and if I get hold of a decent inkjet printer that can print on card, I'll have a go...

So, whilst sitting here, writing this blog and drinking my 'L-oser' coffee, I'm going to place this project back-burner and continue on... ;)

Aliens UD-4L "Cheyenne" Dropship - Weapons (part2)

Just finished creating 3D models of the missiles for the UD-4L Cheyenne Dropship. Previous they were just 'dummy' objects, so I could visualise the space they took up when creating the weapon pods . The missiles that the dropship can carry are:

• Mk. 16 150mm Banshee 70
• Mk. 10 Zeus
• Mk. 88 SGW
• AGM-220C Hellhound II
• AGM-20A TSAM
• AIM-90E Headlock

Now that I've got the missiles it was time to correct the geometry of the weapon pods as they were very rough 3D models.

To get the scale and size of the objects I've been bouncing between my Aoshima Diecast model and the "Aliens Colonial Marines Technical Manual".

I'm struggling to make fit and act correctly are the two ramps; one for the APC and one for the personnel ramp/stairs to the rear of the APC ramp. Maybe Dropship 01 and Dropship 02 are different?

One thing I still find odd about the weapon systems on the UD-4L is that it is very comparable to modern day weapon systems. I would of expected energy weapons that could of been delivered by disposable 'drones'.

Aliens UD-4L "Cheyenne" Dropship and M577 APC Scene

Quick post to show the 3D scene I'm working on. Its part of the landing and deployment of the UD-4L "Cheyenne" Dropship and M577 Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) 3D Models. I'll be adding more ground objects and some how add a rain effect. I'll probably use GIMP to alter the final render. 

Lighting still needs tweaks and there is still a lot of 3D modelling for the two main objects: Dropship and APC. 

I'll be working on the weapon pod on the dropship in the next days. 

Aliens M577 Armoured Personnel Carrier 3D Model (Part2)

I've done some work on the rear section: lights, ladder, external storage units, engine vents. Also, I've made the door as a separate object so it can be moved in to the open position.

Odd discovery last night, originally the aircraft tug that the M577 APC was created from was made by Hunslet Engines. This is based near one of the places where I work in Leeds. 

Aliens M577 Armoured Personnel Carrier 3D Model

I've picked up were I left the Aliens M577 Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) 3D model project, which was some significant time ago! Now that I have several production photos of the APC, I can focus on the details.

I'm doing this project on my lunch breaks, as it helpd pass the time. Next, I'm going toadd the details that you can see in the first image.Then I'm going to attempt the inside, which maybe fun as the drawings I have of the interior don't quite match the exterior, kinda a TARDIS effect going on...

Pre-Production version of the Dropship

After doing a bit more research, I've discovered one of Ron Cobb's early designs blueprints of the UD-4L Dropship. In my opinion, this looks better than the film version of the Dropship.

The mid 'hover' engines appear in the middle of the craft, which make more sense. They are just under the rear weapon pods which would indicate that the pod splits with the lower section staying in location and the top half rotates away. In the film version, the pod fully rotates over.

The APC looks more maneuverable, higher off the ground and just looks more 'bad-ass' futuristic as compared to the film version.

 

I would like to make both these, however, I can't fit it in with current projects, but I will attempt these later this year. Maybe call the Dropship UD-4M or UD-5.

Aliens UD-4L "Cheyenne" Dropship Cockpit

During my lunch breaks, I try to fill the downtime by researching 3D models, I know it's sad :) Sometimes I get lucky with finding good scans of blueprints or 2D CAD drawings. Sometimes I even find good photos taken at precise angles.

I've been trying to looking for decent drawings of the UD-4L "Cheyenne" Dropship's cockpit for the last 5 years, without much success. Last week, I have eventually found something that I use:

I also found a bunch of good movie stills, including photos of Dropship interior. This one of the 'cargo bay' has been very useful.

However, in the image below I spotted something that looked very wrong, guess what it is:

The HUD. It's too low and would make it totally impractical to use! I've watched this film many, many times and I missed this detail.

Anyway, I've made improvements to the cockpit and the next stage is to add the consoles and that useless HUD...