Since the site is starting over, I'm going to pretend that I haven't shared any of this stuff with you guys before.
My background is in mathematics and physics. My main areas of interest are differential topology (immersions of manifolds and homotopy theory) and general relativity. What some people find odd is that I'm actually not that good at
math... I'm barely passible in most cases. What I was good at was visualization of geometric and topological concepts. I could see (mentally) things that were happening in complex immersions/embeddings, even beyond 3 dimensions. And in a lot of cases, I would work backwards from what I was visualizing to putting down the mathematical expressions because it was easier for me.
But that was years (decades) ago. I still practice visualization because it is good exercise and fun (and sometimes produces stuff that is esthetically pleasing... at least to me). Every few years or so I'll sit down with pencil and paper and draw out an immersion of the Real Projective Plane into Euclidean three-space.
Here are a few examples...
Click images to enlarge
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/math/surface_001s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/math/surface_001.jpg)
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/math/surface_002s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/math/surface_002.jpg)
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/math/surface_003s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/math/surface_003.jpg)
There are other ways to do this. Back when I was at the National Science Foundation's Geometry Center we had an application that let us do it with a polyhedral version...
Click images to enlarge
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/math/dc-rpr-1-s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/math/dc-rpr-1.jpg)
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/math/dc-rp2-2-s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/math/dc-rp2-2.jpg)
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/math/dc-rp2-3-s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/math/dc-rp2-3.jpg)
Which is why I keep some pretty old computers around (for example, I can't afford a current version of Mathematica, and for me there is nothing wrong with the copy of version 3.0 that I own).
And there are nicer generic smooth versions of this immersion, like this one...
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/math/RP2_in_E3.gif)
But the problem with computer generated versions is that it takes the work out of visualizing the surface. Passively looking at something isn't the same as being personally responsible for every aspect of a surface.
Okay, enough of the math stuff...
I don't think I recall sharing some of my more recent art, like the start of my 2243 plans of the Enterprise.
Click images to enlarge
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/1701_2243_plans-test-1s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/1701_2243_plans-test-1.jpg)
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/1701_2243_plans-test-2s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/1701_2243_plans-test-2s.jpg)
And my rank braids and insignias.
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/uniform-elements-2s.jpg)
Click to enlarge (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/uniform-elements-2.jpg)
It is all just stuff I was playing around with.
Quote from: Shaw on May 29, 2019, 01:14 pmIt is all just stuff I was playing around with.
Holy mackerel! That's fantastic! I don't remember ever seeing you do Rank and Insignia! Plus the Enterprise, and of course, the multi-dimensional visualizations.
Very cool.
Some very cool stuff Shaw, Nice work!
Great work on everything. I especially like those 2243 plans.
Thanks guys!
I'm hoping to get back to the 2243 plans eventually... along with 2235 plans of the Eagle (NCC-956) that use an earlier variation on the secondary hull. The idea is that the starship class is the equivalent of a Coast Guard Cutter. And the main difference between the Enterprise and Eagle would be similar to the difference between, say, the first couple versions of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers (which had landing pads but no hangar storage) and later versions which could maintain two helicopters in their hangars. The Enterprise (with the undercut below the hangar deck) wasn't originally meant to maintain shuttlecraft onboard, where as the Eagle (with no undercut) had a small compliment of shuttlecraft. Of course sometime in the mid 2260s the Enterprise was modified to support her own compliment of shuttlecraft (which maybe hadn't arrived by the episode "The Enemy Within").
The rank and insignia stuff is for that far off goal of doing a technical manual someday... as if I don't already have enough unfinished projects.
I love it when fans put that much thought into what they are doing. Awesome!
I had been under the weather recently, so I couldn't work on any model stuff. What I could do was play in Photoshop, so I started in on a set of calendar desktops for 2020. Here are some of the images I'm considering...
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal_art_2020t-index-s.jpg)
Click to enlarge (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal_art_2020t-index.jpg)
And here are the few that I'm pretty sure are done...
Click images to enlarge
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-01-2020s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-01-2020.jpg)
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-03-2020s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-03-2020.jpg)
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-04-2020s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-04-2020.jpg)
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-08-2020s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-08-2020.jpg)
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-09-2020s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-09-2020.jpg)
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-10-2020s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-10-2020.jpg)
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-12-2020s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-12-2020.jpg)
Nice
I'm sorry to hear you haven't been feeling well, Shaw. The images look great, though.
Quote from: Shaw on Aug 15, 2019, 01:36 pmI had been under the weather recently, so I couldn't work on any model stuff. What I could do was play in Photoshop, so I started in on a set of calendar desktops for 2020. Here are some of the images I'm considering...
And here are the few that I'm pretty sure are done...
Shaw! Those are BEAUTIFUL!
I'm sorry you haven't been feeling well. I hope you feel better and soon.
Thank you for sharing your work with us. Absolutely splendid.
Thanks guys!
I was looking for some of the older images of my models (my camera isn't very reliable right now) and came across some of my early notes on how I planned to build my 33 inch Enterprise replica from 2012. The notes included my future plans... after finishing the 33 inch replica I was going to start in on the Phase II Enterprise.
If you guys know me, you know how nuts I am for the TOS Enterprise in general and the 33 inch model specifically. So you might be wondering what could have happen to make me shelve the 33 inch replica until after the Phase II Enterprise.
Brick Price contacted me. Yeah, right out of the blue. That was enough to move the Phase II Enterprise to the front of the line.
And the 33 inch replica almost got further delayed when I nearly got some parts (primary hull, secondary hull and nacelles) cast from the original molds for the 5.5 foot Phase II studio model. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) I wasn't able to get together the funds to acquire those parts.
Anyways, if I get my camera working well enough again, I might try taking some new images of my Phase II Enterprise to replace the ones for the months that are using that model now.
The 2020 finalists!
Click image to enlarge
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal_art_2020-index-s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal_art_2020-index.jpg)
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-01-2020s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-01-2020.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-02-2020s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-02-2020.jpg)
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-03-2020s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-03-2020.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-04-2020s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-04-2020.jpg)
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-05-2020s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-05-2020.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-06-2020s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-06-2020.jpg)
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-07-2020s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-07-2020.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-08-2020s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-08-2020.jpg)
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-09-2020s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-09-2020.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-10-2020s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-10-2020.jpg)
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-11-2020s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-11-2020.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-12-2020s.jpg) (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/cal_art/2020/cal-12-2020.jpg)
Quote from: Shaw on Aug 18, 2019, 10:46 pmBrick Price contacted me. Yeah, right out of the blue. That was enough to move the Phase II Enterprise to the front of the line.
Quote from: Shaw on Sep 07, 2019, 12:21 pmThe 2020 finalists!
Brick Price?!?! Wow!
That's awesome! And your images are spectacular!
So I was thinking about the fact that, even though I recreated illustrations of Jefferies' original plans of the Enterprise (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/1964_plans/index.html), I hadn't copied his layout or included his notations. So, for the fun of it, here is a recreation of the layout with readable versions of the notations.
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/jefferies-11-64-layout-s.jpg)
Click to enlarge (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/jefferies-11-64-layout.jpg) (1.7 MB)
I included the windows (some of which were later added to Datin's copy of the plans), and sections of the original sheet were missing (cut out for use while building the 33 inch model), but I think this replicates the
feel of how the plans looked.
Shaw, this is EXQUISITE! Thank you for sharing it with us!
Very Cool!
I love coming back and looking at your work, Shaw. Excellent.
Thanks a ton!
When I can get online I do check in to see what you guys are putting up (which is always motivational/inspirational), but I can only post when I'm able to get my computer connected.
To go along with the November layout, here is the October layout...
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/jefferies-10-64-layout-s.jpg)
Click to enlarge (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/jefferies-10-64-layout.jpg) (1.4 MB)
Something to note is that the sheets are 30" x 48", and yes, the drawing on the October plans is larger than the November plans. I know that the October plans had been given to Datin so that he could see what he was
going to build, but you couldn't start building any parts for the final model based on the October plans. Anything based on those drawings would have been oversized for the final model based on the November plans.
Datin got the October plans on November 4th 1964, and the November plans were finished on the 7th (And Datin most likely got them a day or two later)... so I'm guessing that he hadn't started the actual fabricating of parts until he had the final plans in hand.
Another outstanding set of drawings!
Can you tell us what that "Do not build this nose" section is all about? Why is that baby-bottle-nipple shape drawn there? I had thought that they had intended to build the model that way and that it was some sort of housing for the deflector. I know Matt Jefferies reasoned that no equipment would be put on the exterior of the ship because it would be dangerous to go out in space to make repairs.
Great job and keep it up!
Yes, the secondary hull included that nose on the original sketches and renderings that Roddenberry approved.
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/history/jefferies-oct1964-skecthes-s.jpg)
Click to enlarge (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/history/jefferies-oct1964-skecthes.jpg)
And Jefferies saw that feature as acting like the nose cone of an aircraft...
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/jefferies/1701-sensors-1964.jpg)
... but it appears that Roddenberry was having second thoughts on it and Jefferies included the alternate dome design on the plans. Even then, it wasn't finalized as he noted that it should be kept wild.
This was all happening in a period in which Roddenberry was asking for ever increasing levels of detail added to the design. Removing the nose to expose a dish was only part of it, the dish was originally intended to move to help bring life to the model (though this was never done in the series).
And because the dish never moved in the series, Jefferies merged it back into the housing on the Phase II design (which was more in keeping with his philosophy of making things accessible from within the ship).
I don't believe these were the only drawings drafted by Jefferies of this early design. Neither of these sets of plans include hull markings, but we know that there was a set which included them, and that set included callouts of positions of key elements along the secondary hull (in inches at the early versions' scale) which Datin erroneously added to the 33 inch model (which Roddenberry liked, and were included on the 11 foot model).
Those callouts match the October plans...
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/models/tos_11/jefferies-secondary_hull-s.jpg)
Click to enlarge (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/models/tos_11/jefferies-secondary_hull.jpg)
... yet aren't part of those plans. So there must have been another version of the early design drawings that included more or different information.
Very cool. Thank you!
This is very cool!
That's some cool stuff, Shaw.
Thank heavens they got rid of the baby bottle nipple.
I was playing with elements of my revise 33 inch model plans and thought I'd share it with you guys...
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/models/tos_33/33in_color-s.jpg)
Click to enlarge (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/models/tos_33/33in_color.jpg)
I still don't think the plans are (overall) ready for public consumption, and I'm more likely to attempt to finish off my 11 foot plans (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/site_demo/11ft_plans/index.html) first (so that I can apply that info to my one-sixth studio scale model).
Generally I don't deal with color, but I figured I'd apply some along with shading to this one. I had done the same (minus the shading) to some views of my 11 foot drawings, but painted features play a more significant role on the non-filming side of that model.
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/scifieric-preview/03-02s.jpg)
Click to enlarge (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/scifieric-preview/03-02.jpg)
And even that illustration is missing a number of important painted on features.
Of course it is sometimes hard to keep motivated to finish this stuff when it is hard to imagine that there is an audience for any of it.
Nice
Quote from: Shaw on Dec 20, 2019, 07:29 amOf course it is sometimes hard to keep motivated to finish this stuff when it is hard to imagine that there is an audience for any of it.
I don't know about anyone else, but you have me riveted. I admire your work. I would look at everything you turn out and marvel over it.
If you keep making art, I will ABSOLUTELY pay attention.
Excellent work, Sir. Please keep at it!
It looks great, Shaw. :)
I had been thinking about replicating some of the props from
The Cage for quite some time (I had started a Hand Laser back in 2009 (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/models/handlaser-007.jpg) before I had access to any good references), and I figured I needed to draw up some plans before starting in on the endeavor.
Here is were I'm at with the Hand Laser so far...
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/cage/handlaser-plans-1s.jpg)
Click to enlarge (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/cage/handlaser-plans-1.jpg)
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/cage/handlaser-plans-2s.jpg)
Click to enlarge (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/cage/handlaser-plans-2.jpg)
And here is my study of the internal elements of the Communicator...
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/cage/cage_comm-01s.jpg)
Click to enlarge (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/cage/cage_comm-01.jpg)
Even if I don't get around to building them right away, I figured I'd share my progress on researching them.
I love the laser pistols. It's a shame they only appeared in a few episodes.
That was a cool Phaser, but I always loved the commutator and seeing inside it.
Shaw, that is absolutely top notch work.
Dean, you saw the communicator more than once! It was also the remote control for Spock in the episode Spock's Brain!
Sure, because everyone fondly remembers "Spock's Brain." :P
Quote from: scifidude79 on Jan 09, 2020, 07:46 amSure, because everyone fondly remembers "Spock's Brain." :P
Well ... they SHOULD! LOL! That made me laugh!
Thanks guys!
Quote from: scifidude79 on Jan 09, 2020, 07:46 amSure, because everyone fondly remembers "Spock's Brain." :P
Quote from: scifieric on Jan 09, 2020, 01:45 pmWell ... they SHOULD! LOL! That made me laugh!
So here is the interesting thing...there were at least two communicators made for
The Cage. One was altered for use in
Spock's Brain (and is the one I know survived), and the other was altered for use in
That Which Survives.
While both had a set of 10 buttons added to their face, they were painted quite differently. Fortunately the
Spock's Brain version wasn't painted on the back side, which let me view most of the internal components.
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/pilot_comms.jpg)
And no, I didn't re-watch
Spock's Brain while doing this research.
Thanks Shaw. I was trying to remember the other episode it appeared in with all of the buttons like it had in "Spock's Brain."
I made a little more progress on the communicator...
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/cage/cage_comm-02s.jpg)
Click to enlarge (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/cage/cage_comm-02.jpg)
And I've been putting together an inventory of
The Cage props. Right now it seems (to me) that there were 2 communicators and 4 hand lasers.
The communicators were repurposed during the third season, one for
Spock's Brain and the other for
That Which Survives.
The two
hero hand lasers had the recesses for the flip up sights, the background two were missing this feature. The main hero hand laser had the two rectangular features on one side, the other was missing them. Both were redressed for
WNMHGB, but even though the secondary hero was missing those rectangular features, no typewriter keys were added to that side.
Quote from: Shaw on Jan 18, 2020, 12:00 pmI made a little more progress on the communicator...
Shaw ... that's just BEAUTIFUL!
EXCELLENT WORK!
Thanks!
So I think this is about as far as I'm going to go on this for now...
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/cage/cage_comm-03s.jpg)
Click to enlarge (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/cage/cage_comm-03.jpg)
I'll put some more effort into both props once I start making physical versions of them.
Quote from: Shaw on Jan 21, 2020, 11:35 amThanks!
So I think this is about as far as I'm going to go on this for now...
I'll put some more effort into both props once I start making physical versions of them.
I've seen first hand your skill at making models. If you make more than one of these communicators, I'm certainly willing to purchase one from you!
I can't wait to see what you make!
That sheet on the communicator looks fantastic.
Thanks guys!
Quote from: scifieric on Jan 21, 2020, 10:45 pmI've seen first hand your skill at making models. If you make more than one of these communicators, I'm certainly willing to purchase one from you!
Well, the last time I looked into buying the vintage rotary electroswitches they were being sold in boxes of six to ten, so the odds are that I'd make more than one (if I get around to making them).
Here are updated versions of the landing party equipment from
The Cage (on 11"x17" sheets)...
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/updates/cage-comm-01s.jpg)
Click to enlarge (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/updates/cage-comm-01p.jpg)
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/updates/cage-handlaser-01s.jpg)
Click to enlarge (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/updates/cage-handlaser-01p.jpg)
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/updates/cage-handlaser-02s.jpg)
Click to enlarge (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/updates/cage-handlaser-02p.jpg)
I also spent a bit more time recently on the original plans of the Enterprise, these are 11"x17" representations...
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/updates/jefferies-10-64-layout-ps.jpg)
Click to enlarge (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/updates/jefferies-10-64-layout-prev.jpg)
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/updates/jefferies-11-64-layout-ps.jpg)
Click to enlarge (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/updates/jefferies-11-64-layout-prev.jpg)
And for those wanting something
bigger, here are large scale versions (actual size when printed at 150 dpi)...
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/cage/jefferies-10-64-layout-s.jpg)
Click to enlarge (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/cage/jefferies-10-64-layout.jpg) (1.7 MB)
(http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/cage/jefferies-11-64-layout-s.jpg)
Click to enlarge (http://www.shawcomputing.net/racerx/trek_stuff/plans/cage/jefferies-11-64-layout.jpg) (1.8 MB)
I left the
paper aspect out on these.
SPECTACULAR work, Shaw!
By the way, this almost never happens, but my wife was looking at your shuttle craft on my desk (I'm working on a shuttle craft project at the moment) and she complimented your skills. She knows these pieces are all yours.
She NEVER does that. Well done!