Steam Ferries, Anyone?

[airman15 4,113]

Following the (somewhat) success of my Titanic project, I considered making steam ferries of the same time period. I have one to serve as a passenger ferry finished and another to serve as a car ferry that is almost finished. Here are some screenshots showing the models as they are right now:

 

This is the passenger ferry. It was inspired by a model I saw on Google Sketchup.

 

 

 

 

And this is the car ferry loosely based on the SS Berkeley from San Francisco. I still need to work on the textures and do some more modelling before I can say its done.

 

 

 

 

 

Are the textures realistic? Should I make more of these? Let me know what you think.

[SimCoug 5,976]

I, for one, am very interested in these. Will you release a sc4model file so these can become ploppable lots, or will they just be automata?

[airman15 4,113]

These will be automata. However, I can hand over the model file and textures upon request.

[SimCoug 5,976]

consider this an early request

 

Have you thought about any paddle ships from a slightly earlier era?

 

http://home.vicnet.net.au/~bmbg/Images/Blockade%20Runner.jpg

 

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/peter.stoddard/whippingham.jpg

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xS7U9xDYDBo/UJ8g7AY1h1I/AAAAAAAAaIw/4A8WEXCUtaQ/s1600/PS+Victoria+Waitemata+Harbur.jpg

 

http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/CosensPCs/Duke_of_Devonshire-05_b.jpg

[airman15 4,113]

These look like easy ones I can make. Perhaps once I am finished with the car ferry, I'll add these to the list

[airman15 4,113]

Update 5/15/2013:

 

I started on a 3rd ship, based on one of the images posted by SimCoug. It is roughly the same length as the 1st ferry I have shown. I still have to add the paddle wheels and texture the ship, but this is what I have so far-

 

 

[SimCoug 5,976]

Awesome!

[airman15 4,113]

Update 5/18:

 

Started texturing the 3rd ship. This is what it looks like now-

 

 

I really like the way the red, white and blue funnels turned out.

 

 

 

Still some work to do, hoping I can finish this weekend.

[Titanicbuff 1,262]

WOW 

[Cougar2004 128]

These are amazing looking.  I definitely look forward to your upcoming release of these boats for automata.  Will they be UDI-capable? 

 

Something I haven't seen done yet, is an authentic full US Navy Battle Fleet set for use in cities with the Air force, Army Base, and Missile Silo. It would be nice to have a full range of automata and UDI Military vessels on the waters there.

[airman15 4,113]

These are amazing looking.  I definitely look forward to your upcoming release of these boats for automata.  Will they be UDI-capable? 

 

Something I haven't seen done yet, is an authentic full US Navy Battle Fleet set for use in cities with the Air force, Army Base, and Missile Silo. It would be nice to have a full range of automata and UDI Military vessels on the waters there.

 

 

Thank you, and yes these will be UDI capable. These ships will replace the default ferries and add some new ships as well. So far, I have the 3 ships done and they just need to be tested. 

 

As for the fully functioning USN battleships, Its possible to make something like that. I am aware of some naval ships already on the STEX that are UDI enabled. One of them has the USS Iowa and the other one was based on a Virginia Class submarine. I attempted an aircraft carrier some time ago, but I put on hiatus. Because I would have to work within limits on how many polys I can have in a single model, it would be tricky if I were to include aircraft. Unless if the carrier was made as a BAT, then all that would be needed is putting UDI jets on the deck.

[Cougar2004 128]

 

These are amazing looking.  I definitely look forward to your upcoming release of these boats for automata.  Will they be UDI-capable? 

 

Something I haven't seen done yet, is an authentic full US Navy Battle Fleet set for use in cities with the Air force, Army Base, and Missile Silo. It would be nice to have a full range of automata and UDI Military vessels on the waters there.

 

 

Thank you, and yes these will be UDI capable. These ships will replace the default ferries and add some new ships as well. So far, I have the 3 ships done and they just need to be tested. 

 

As for the fully functioning USN battleships, Its possible to make something like that. I am aware of some naval ships already on the STEX that are UDI enabled. One of them has the USS Iowa and the other one was based on a Virginia Class submarine. I attempted an aircraft carrier some time ago, but I put on hiatus. Because I would have to work within limits on how many polys I can have in a single model, it would be tricky if I were to include aircraft. Unless if the carrier was made as a BAT, then all that would be needed is putting UDI jets on the deck.

 

 

What about a UDI Battleship that would actually fire projectiles like the Tank?  Possible? 

 

Will you have a release version that does not eliminate the original ferries, but instead adds for more on-water variety?

 

And as far as the Aircraft Carrier, perhaps a version of it could have both planes take off and land, as well as helicopters.

[airman15 4,113]

 

 

These are amazing looking.  I definitely look forward to your upcoming release of these boats for automata.  Will they be UDI-capable? 

 

Something I haven't seen done yet, is an authentic full US Navy Battle Fleet set for use in cities with the Air force, Army Base, and Missile Silo. It would be nice to have a full range of automata and UDI Military vessels on the waters there.

 

 

Thank you, and yes these will be UDI capable. These ships will replace the default ferries and add some new ships as well. So far, I have the 3 ships done and they just need to be tested. 

 

As for the fully functioning USN battleships, Its possible to make something like that. I am aware of some naval ships already on the STEX that are UDI enabled. One of them has the USS Iowa and the other one was based on a Virginia Class submarine. I attempted an aircraft carrier some time ago, but I put on hiatus. Because I would have to work within limits on how many polys I can have in a single model, it would be tricky if I were to include aircraft. Unless if the carrier was made as a BAT, then all that would be needed is putting UDI jets on the deck.

 

 

What about a UDI Battleship that would actually fire projectiles like the Tank?  Possible? 

 

Will you have a release version that does not eliminate the original ferries, but instead adds for more on-water variety?

 

And as far as the Aircraft Carrier, perhaps a version of it could have both planes take off and land, as well as helicopters.

 

 

I believe its possible. But that would involve messing with the exemplar files, something which i'm not too familiar with.

 

Yes, but it will all be released in one package. Much like the fighter jets I released, you can pick and choose which files you want to keep and which ones you would like to get rid of. When I am finished, I will have to figure out how to package the files 

 

There could be. But I think I would have to tweak the settings to have both jets and helicopters fly from it. Certain vehicles can only be unlocked by certain buildings like the fighter jet can only be unlocked by Area 51. I will have to figure out how to get around that if I try to make a carrier. Unfortunately my BAT refuses to open so it probably won't happen until much later.

[airman15 4,113]

It seems this thread has gone silent. But now that I have graduation over with, I can finally sit down and post some updates.

 

The first update I have is that I have given the ships names! I gave them each a name to make them easier to identify. The second update has to do with the modelling. I am considering adding railing to each ship to make them appear safer. However, for the paddler ships, I will not add the wheels to save on polys. The only trade-off would be if you sink the ship, the wheels won't be visible. Lastly, I have started testing each ship in the game. Only problem is, I haven't had time for capturing screenshots  .

 

And now, allow me to introduce you to each ship:

 

This one is named the SS Warrior II. Named after a BAT titanicbuff made last year.

 

The car ferry is named the SS Hornet. It is named after the USS Hornet in Alameda. The SC/PA on the side stands for Sim City Port Authority. I wanted to keep it generic so it can fit in with most cities.

 

This ferry is named the SS Union. I named it the union because the black hull and red, white and blue funnels reminded me of the SS United States in Philadelphia.

 

This ferry is still being worked on. I decided to name it the SS Karma because I have a few friends who go to Reddit. I even added the upvote/downvote (or is it upboat and downboat in this case?) arrows on the stack. I would like to keep the hull grey, but I might retexture that part. And I might even redo the superstructure and bridge since it looks a lot like the Warrior.

[jlt122 46]

These are spectacular! I am very impressed with your work and can't wait till you release them.

[Swordmaster 50]

consider this an early request

 

Second request

Great project!

 

 

 

Cheers

Willy

[SimCoug 5,976]

Still looking great 

[airman15 4,113]

Update 6/17-

 

I made several big changes to the SS Karma. Here are pictures showing what she currently looks like:

 

I overhauled the bridge and superstructure. Rather than being flat and edgy, it is now smooth, rounded and just one piece. I also redid the paddlewheels so it blends in with the rest of the hull better. I added cargo hatches, vents, lifeboats and a smoking room on the stern.

 

Stern shot, showing the smoking room.

 

Detail of the crest on the funnel. This is the inspiration behind the name.

[KonstantinII 1,106]

they are too old fashioned, could you make them futuristic?

[airman15 4,113]

they are too old fashioned, could you make them futuristic?

 

That's the idea. I want to make them look like the old steamships so they give cities a 'historical' feel. I only plan to make four of them and they are all based on ships from the late 1800s and early 1900s. 

[Sloonei 25]

I love it so far. Can't wait for them to be released!

 

Are you also taking requests fo future ferry projects you may wanna do in the future also?

[airman15 4,113]

I love it so far. Can't wait for them to be released!

 

Are you also taking requests fo future ferry projects you may wanna do in the future also?

 

So far I plan to only do these four ferries. I could make another set of modern ferries. But this would be a project for later as I have other projects I have been wanting to get to.

[airman15 4,113]

New updates on the Karma- I got the bridge and superstructure textured.

 

 

[SimCoug 5,976]

Looking good!  It's really coming together nicely. 

[airman15 4,113]

Next step is to test them in the game. Screenshots will be coming soon.

[airman15 4,113]

After a busy month- I can now bring you some screenshots from the game!

This is the Karma..

 

..the Hornet..

 

..the Union..

 

..and the Warrior II

 

After testing these babies out, I want to see if I can improve upon all four ships. To do so, I plan to make the following changes:

• Play with the textures. There are some parts of the ship that seem a little flat and others that need to be retextured altogether For example, i'm not really satisfied with the way the lifeboats on the Hornet or the roof textures on the Warrior. The textures will be my #1 priority.
• Add railings around the decks. I am confident the models can still have changes added to them without having too many polys on them. I am debating whether to make the rails as flat walls or more like the rails that use bars.
• Resize some of the ships. To me, it seems the Union is undersized and disproportional compared to the other ships. This should be an easy fix.

[SimCoug 5,976]

Very nice!  Railing would be a neat detail if you could add it.  One thing that jumped out at me was the texture of the 'Union' deck blends right in with the superstructure - I would change the superstructure texture so there is more definition between the two.  I can't really comment on the proportions of the ships without comparing them side by side.  

 

Great work!  

[airman15 4,113]

I noticed that too, and its one of the changes I would like to make. I originally wanted to make the Union's superstructure different than the rest, but since that part does blend in with the deck, i'll make it white.

 

I also intend to completely redo the Hornet's textures. I'll keep the black funnel, windows and SC/PA as they are, I just want to see if I can spruce up the hull and see if I can add definition to each deck (notice how the upper decks blend in with the lower decks).

 

The sizing i'll look into later. I want to make the Karma, Union and Warrior the same length with the Hornet being the largest.

[Metalpuritan 161]

These look fantastic!  I cannot criticize out loud at people's creations here for the most part as I have trouble even re-lotting simple things like parks.  I cannot even silently critique these, not even remotely.  These are absolutely amazing.  And for them to be fully functional...it is just too much...

[airman15 4,113]

These look fantastic!  I cannot criticize out loud at people's creations here for the most part as I have trouble even re-lotting simple things like parks.  I cannot even silently critique these, not even remotely.  These are absolutely amazing.  And for them to be fully functional...it is just too much...

 

I want to put as much quality into this project as I possibly can. My goal is to add that 'wow' factor into my uploads. My only problem is I criticize my own work all the time. Certain projects like the Jet Fighter MMPs I uploaded a few months back was one of my best examples while others like the RS Gigantic (which I pulled) were projects I wish I could have done better.

This is the Gigantic which somehow found itself onto Google images: