IDW #44: Galaxy Grand Prix

[yoitisi]

Topic: Galaxy Grand Prix

Edit: Changed the name from Galaxy Grand Prize to Galaxy Grand Prix as some people said it would be better and more clear :P Feel free to keep the old name though.

Background:

Galaxy Grand Prix

3000 years in the future, mankind is well under way of spreading out over the universe. Although Empire Earth has always been the main conglomerate of planets, little Kingdoms, Federations and Republics have already been formed on the outer edges of known space. Still, brave volunteers set out from their home to explore and colonize new worlds.

Trade routes between worlds are bustling with activity. However, traveling between the stars is still far from being fast and comfortable, let alone safe. Communications and supply lines are being maintained by brave pilots that travel through the vacuum of space in spacecrafts of all shapes and sizes. They are regarded as heroes and a pilot will always find a warm welcome on even the smallest of colonies. They are the pioneers of space travel not unlike the heroic figures of the past who meddled with puffing and smoking engines in airplanes not much more than wood and fabric, held together by sheer madness to fulfill an old dream: to fly.

One effort to push the boundaries of technology is the Galaxy Grand Prix. This race is founded (and funded) by Lord Baston, a man who became rich by setting up the first mining operation in an asteroid field. The winner has to complete a tour along the 6 main planets of Empire earth (it ends on earth itself) within a month’s time. In the twelve years of running no pilot has been able to claim the prize yet, but this year rumor says it is bound to happen.

Pilots from all over human controlled space have come to compete. Their spacecrafts vary from sleek yachts to large custom build freighters, all painted with personal crests or national colors to show where they come from or who they race for. They are all build for speed, but some have also included the latest luxuries to make the journey as comfortable as possible.

Brief:
1. Design one of the spacecrafts that competes in the Galaxy Grand Prix.
2. Descripiton is needed. One of the things to think about is where the pilot comes from, as anyone rich enough to enter this race will of course have a spacecraft that is custom build to fulfill the likes and needs of the pilot. Remember, it has to be human made as their has not yet been alien contact :)
3. Show where the pilot comes from by including national colors/crests/whatever. If anything, the race is a mather of national pride.

Deadline: Tuesday September 11 2007

[yoitisi]

Hmm I might get back to the description tomorrow to check the spelling again. Some people made comments about a little more background in earlier topics, so here you are. Hope you all like the topic :)

[grenogs]

this looks pretty interesting, could turn out to be realy good, lots of scope for imagination, with plenty of rich colours, great topic yoitisi, hopefully ill have time to enter this one

[ScaryPotato]

~Final~
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k35/BigScaryPotato/IDW44ScaryPotato-EspertianVoyage-1.jpg

From the small ocean planet of Espertia, the Espertian Voyager and its crew of two have entered the Galaxy Grand Prize since its inception. Although the ship has never won the race, the Espertians take honour and pride knowing that their isolated world can unite and cheer for one cause.

[Legato]

i read the thread title and i thought "i hope this isn't some lame something or other"

i than read the description... and this will be epic!

[invinciblewombat]

okay, final final, thanks for the crits along the way guys

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j254/invinciblewombat/shhhhipnewscopy2copy-1.jpg

The Canadian Protectorate Systems' entry into the Galaxy Grand Prize race is an experimental state funded craft, designation HRM 7113. Although it may not appear as sleek or sporty as some private craft in the race it more than makes up for it with the best hardware available to the resources of its government.

[grenogs]

i like the design, and i dont see anything wrong with your ship, but i think you need to work on your picture itself, at the moment it looks lifeless, i know space is black, but maybe add some colour to its, some reds or purples, etc.... omaybe give the ship some lights , like most planes do.

[yoitisi]

Legato: Is the title that bad? :P

invinceblewombat: I agree with Grenogs, it looks a little basic still, it just begs for more detail (although it is fit for the poll so no worries there :) but with a little more effort it would look that much better I think)

Time for some thumbnails of my own :) I'm trying to get the feeling I get when looking at photographs of old biplanes into my design. Also, as probably most of the spacecraft consists of machines, engines etc. (because it has to go very fast instead of being comfortable) I don't want to make the pilots cockpit and living space too big.

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t291/yoitisi/Thumbssmall.jpg

I think I'll go for nr. 12, as I like the idea of having three engines like the Junkers 52 and Savoia Marchetti from WW2. The big ring-like structure should represent some sort of hyperspace-coil...and I still have to think how to include some personal crest and/or flags and banners on it...

[grenogs]

i like your roughs yoitisi, some bizar looking ships you got there, :)

[brian_h]

I've never done this before so why not...sounds like a fun topic. Here is my initial sketch for a Japanese corvette converted to freighter called the JMS Rodan. The front will have the rodan stylized head and the rising sun on the sides all tied together is a spiffy paintjob. Reading the description it reminded me of bomber crews during WWII, so I would imagine some inventive and stylized paintjobs on these...to make them unique and show off a bit.

http://www.box.net/shared/ppf7eq5noy

I was influenced by the design of late 19th century steamships and early 20th century warships. Simple but dominant shapes...like a knife blade cutting through the water...again thought this fit the Japanese motiff. I'll have a final up soon. Great stuff on here so far.

B

[comixink]

Do you mean "Galaxy Grand Prix" because a prize would be something you win, and from the description it sounds like you want a race, and a Grand Prix would be just that.

[Legato]

I've never done this before so why not...sounds like a fun topic. Here is my initial sketch for a Japanese corvette converted to freighter called the JMS Rodan. The front will have the rodan stylized head and the rising sun on the sides all tied together is a spiffy paintjob. Reading the description it reminded me of bomber crews during WWII, so I would imagine some inventive and stylized paintjobs on these...to make them unique and show off a bit.

http://www.box.net/shared/ppf7eq5noy

I was influenced by the design of late 19th century steamships and early 20th century warships. Simple but dominant shapes...like a knife blade cutting through the water...again thought this fit the Japanese motiff. I'll have a final up soon. Great stuff on here so far.

Bi'd love to see your entry, but alas! your link is messed ;_;

and yeah... grand prix makes MUCH more sense and "prize" is what made me start worrying when i read the topic :P

[brian_h]

Here lets try this link...

http://www.artofhagan.com/JMSRodan.jpg

[Adi.]

heya all :)

awesome topic yoitisi.. and you have some really nice sketches, the mass of engines in no. 12 is kewl but i really like the front end of no. 10 and the shape of what i guess is no. 13, it just looks faster hehe.


I did some rndm vehicle thumbs in ps, trying to come up with a design that i want to take further.. running out of time...

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u211/ArtOfAdi/Adi_GalaxyGrandPrizeThumbs.jpg

[Legato]

so... im pretty sure my ship is fairly larger than most of your guys' :P

[Jonas Heirwegh]

Hey yoitisi, I didnt know you were from the netherlands. Do you have msn or something, I would like to talk to you about some project.

Send me a pm if you will..

on topic: really interesting subject, if I have some time I'll try something.

[yoitisi]

Comixink, Legato: Hmm I think I'll change it just so everyone gets it first time around.Actually, the word 'prix' is just French for 'prize'. I thought it would fit the topic better to make the name a bit different from 'grand prix' because in my mind it is too much connected to some sort of formula 1 (which thinking about it isn't bad at all...). Still, for people who want to keep the old name it's no big deal :D

Epias: As dutch as can be :P I'll send a pm although I have to say I'm rather busy at the moment.

Adi.: Thanks for the input. I'm going to incorporate some elements of the others in nr. 12 I think. As for your thumbs I like the second from the right in the top row. It looks sort of... sharp :) One thing, your thumbs are rather abstract with little recognizable bits like engines and stuff which makes it hard to read. Also adding just a few shadows here and there really helps to make them more 3d I think. Still, they're only thumbs yet.

Brian H: I like were you're going with the Japanese boat-like design. However, the perspective in your drawing seems to change from one place to the other. The bow for example seems to have a completly different point of view than the wing and engine.

Invinciblewombat: Cheers! Good to see you spend some more time on the topic, I like the last version better. I looks a lot more interesting now :)

[comixink]

Adi. man those are sick, but remember it's a space race! They need not be so aerodynamic, there is no gravity/air/inertia in space so you can pretty much play with any shape/size.

[Migsta]

Ok i'm in on this one...

Some quick thumbnails...went with a 2 - 3 person ship, then decided to try the freighter ship.
http://www.miguellleras.com/images/Migsta_idw44_galaxygrandprix.jpg

[cycletronic]

Rats, I just saw this thread yesterday. I don't think I'll have enough time to work out a good rendering by Tuesday, especially since I'm new and slow, but if I do get a chance I'll at least post a sketch here.

[ScaryPotato]

Man, I just can't get into my big and clunky idea. SO boring. I'm going to rework some of my boat ideas and try getting something done quickly...
There are some really outsdanting thumbnails and sketches going on, man alive!

[Legato]

well, not as refined as i would have liked, but i think i stretched myself a bit in ways i haven't stretched before in terms of color and light... and failed... couldn't get the lights to go the way i was aiming for, in regards to the two forward main engines ;_;

i was going for the large flying engine concept, and between having played my fair share of EVE online, reading "the forever war" over the past 2 days, and listening to hacked parts of the "sunshine" soundtrack it wasn't always easy to keep on a fairly uninspired track, but i think i managed :D

colors used were just random in that they don't represent any country in particular. in fact it started off orange and blue, but that caused death in a few test subjects so i just changed it :P

wasn't sure on the presence of jump drive technology or FTL drives, so i was going for a fairly generic looking engine system, however the rear engine would probably serve in regards of the "super go fast speed" needed to get from A to B

rabble rabble rabble

http://incolor.inetnebr.com/legato/IDotW/IDotW044-FinalREDUCED.jpg

[Hiddnfox]

Here is my 3D rendering so far. Been re-learning Maya (its been over 4 years!) so I decided to build one of my thumbnails into a model for good practice.

Anyway here is a quick render, hope to get a sketch done in time for the deadline!

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/1462/flatt1fj2.jpg

not entirely sure about the japanese translation of Orange Fish. I'll have top get a better one from someone at work. And obviously, the ship will be orange :blah:

[D-Holme]

FINAL
http://www.milecastle.com/HOLME_SITE/2D/IDW44_DHOLME.jpg
The craft wasn't working so I finished the background first and I'm pleased with how it has come out - the ship itself still isn't playing.

invinceblewombat - like both designs I think the first had some potential but needed to be brought together a bit more, the revamp looks interesting but I think that you'd need to be careful to avoid what has been done before.

legato - I had similar thoughts about how to handle propulsion, I think that the background of your current image needs some work as it distracts from the rest of the piece.

yoitisi - I like the strong style to the designs, nicely out of the ordinary.

[Legato]

WIP

The craft wasn't working so I finished the background first and I'm pleased with how it has come out - the ship itself still isn't playing.

invinceblewombat - like both designs I think the first had some potential but needed to be brought together a bit more, the revamp looks interesting but I think that you'd need to be careful to avoid what has been done before.

legato - I had similar thoughts about how to handle propulsion, I think that the background of your current image needs some work as it distracts from the rest of the piece.

yoitisi - I like the strong style to the designs, nicely out of the ordinary.

never done a space background before... and i prolly don't have much time to learn how... should i just do my patented "grey background of awesome"?

[Ringo]

First post :^^;:

Only saw this one today and this time decided to have a go :D

I gave the ship a solar sail, looks a bit wrong right now? is pretty plain right now.. I'll try to sort to it out tomorrow+ add some more details and colour if I can :)

errmm little things at the bottom sticking out will be solar panels.. the sail folds out from the front.. andd the circle things will be simple engines. I added a little logo too :D

there we go
http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/8092/shipvu9.gif

[D-Holme]

WIP updated - trying to maintain everything in perspective. My aim is to include the stylings as livery over the top rather than too strongly influence the design-form in a particular aesthetic.

Legato - always good practice, but at the moment I can't find any direction within the image, my eye just wanders across it without finding any point to lock on to - I wondered whether perhaps tweaking the levels of the fore and background (taking the tone of the blue-clouds down a bit) might bring out better definition.


yoitisi (and everyone else) - work has really ramped up for the next day or so would there be any chance of a bit of an extension? If everyone one else finishes on time then forget about it.

[Legato]

WIP updated - trying to maintain everything in perspective. My aim is to include the stylings as livery over the top rather than too strongly influence the design-form in a particular aesthetic.

Legato - always good practice, but at the moment I can't find any direction within the image, my eye just wanders across it without finding any point to lock on to - I wondered whether perhaps tweaking the levels of the fore and background (taking the tone of the blue-clouds down a bit) might bring out better definition.


yoitisi (and everyone else) - work has really ramped up for the next day or so would there be any chance of a bit of an extension? If everyone one else finishes on time then forget about it.
meh.. how is it now?

[Jason Strutz]

This is the entry from the NU.S.S.R. It contains a mass drive powered by asteroids ground up through the front port and expelled electromagnetically from the rear or the craft. Small living quarters are above. Its a bumpy ride, but no pit stops for gas.
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd155/strutzillustration/spaceship.jpg

[cycletronic]

Alright, all I had time for was a thumbnail. Not much compared to some of the excellent work here, but I'm a hobbyist with little experience. I'm growing. I think.

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/7502/galaxycruiserzu3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Callisto Dragonfly team is a return entry to the Galaxy Grand Prix. Last year they completed the circuit in 2 months, 1 week. This year they boast several critical improvements that will allow them to win the race.

They will launch from their home moon, Callisto, and quickly mount their ship to one of the larger Trojan asteroids. Once stabilized, they capture a smaller asteroid using their gravitation ray, then send it hurtling into space at extreme velocity along the path the ship will soon follow.

They repeat this process several times, each time launching the asteroid at a slower velocity. All this time, the ship is consuming the large asteroid it sits on to fill its large fuel tanks with mass that will eventually break apart into energy. This pre-launch process takes a few days, and then the vessel disembarks along the newly-created path dotted with refueling asteroids. Because of this abundance of fuel, the ship is able to accelerate for longer periods of time than the other teams.

Last year the team mis-launched several asteroids and lost precious time chasing after the off-course asteroids.

[Diphallia]

Legato: Inspired by LEGO?
So far, all the entries all looking neat :Da

[yoitisi]

D-Holme: I was thinking of adding an extra day or so as well, because things are busy on this end of the wire as well :(

Ringo, Cycletronic: Not to discourage you, but at the moment I will not take either of yours to the poll. Ringo, unless you come up with an impressive update yours is just not defined enough. Shapes have a certain volume and depth, and I'm missing this in your drawing. It looks very flat, and when the sketch already looks flat, coloring ain't going to help much I'm afraid. At the moment there's also a lot of white space which isn't being used in your image. Cycletronic, your concept is thought out well, but the drawing itself just doesn't do it for me. It looks like a mix of a small pencilsketch and photoshop, but the overall effect is that it looks a bit smudgy. I suggest making a bigger drawing of it (which also allows for more detail :) ) and then when you imported it in PS, copy the layer and put the layer on multiply. Then make a new layer under it and try to put in the shades etc. on that layer, so you don't mess with the original sketch.

Jason Strutz: While I like the overall look of the image, I think as a design it isn't very special or thought out. Maybe because the style you choose isn't very handy when presenting a design, but just an engine-casing with a little wing and cockpit slammed on isn't much of a design. Mind you, if your image was for anything else it would be good, but this is Industrial Design of the Week: it's about the design of the subject you were supposed to design. Next time spend more time on the design, then think about a way to present this. I'm sorry, but I won't take it to poll right now.

Sorry to you all if I sound a bit like an arse, but I want to maintain some sort of quality in here if possible. These weekly activities are about learning and practising, so don't feel bad when you're not taken to poll but try to do better next week. Progress will be rewarded :P

Legato: I think the problem with your background is the saturation (or tone) of your background. Right now the colors are very saturated, which make them screem for attention. A good idea is to check you drawing in b&w once in while to see if the tones still work well throughout the drawing. I think you'll see that the background is very bright compared to the spacecraft itself. Also, the lighting and colors on the craft itself do not really differ with the distance it's supposed to have to the viewer. Atmospheric perspective (colors get lighter further away from the viewer) often helps to create more depth in the drawing, and makes it easier to create a focuspoint in the drawing.

[Legato]

Legato: I think the problem with your background is the saturation (or tone) of your background. Right now the colors are very saturated, which make them screem for attention. A good idea is to check you drawing in b&w once in while to see if the tones still work well throughout the drawing. I think you'll see that the background is very bright compared to the spacecraft itself. Also, the lighting and colors on the craft itself do not really differ with the distance it's supposed to have to the viewer. Atmospheric perspective (colors get lighter further away from the viewer) often helps to create more depth in the drawing, and makes it easier to create a focuspoint in the drawing.
thanks for the continued crit - i'll try puling up from my nose dive today and see what i come up with... this whole background thing is why i tend to just slap it on grey and focus on the design :P

[fughi from yuggoth]

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t21/funghi_from_yuggoth/idw44.jpg

Now, look my Boy!Up There,that's where your Grand Uncle comes down from hyperspace.
He made the hole way from Europa out of Saturn's shadow to the good old Earth in just 25 days.
When I was young , we need 25 Years for the distance...I cannot really believe that the science became so fast, but who could knew what the radiation out there made out of us.
My brother and everybody out there next to the Gas Giant became like hyper-intelligent, they even want to start that old idea of a grand prix again.I think it is kind of senseless,but it is better than slave humankind on the earth for entertainment, and i believe ,they could do that, if they want to.
so better be gentle to your grand Uncle ,my son

[Legato]

*edit*
link still works, but image has been re-uploaded and appears above

ok, here is my latest attempt... school is blocking my ftp client, so heres a link to it in flickr

http://flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=1360126711&size=o

in retrospect, i had everything in the background super bright... and i blame it on eve online

[daveneale]

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1170/1362021898_8a4ff11848_o.jpg

Count Von Finchenstein, the eccentric poultry baron, inherited the exclusive rights to own, breed and distribute clucks in all the known universe from his forefathers, who had fought for decades in a bloody underworld battle to claim this lucrative niche in the intergalactic market-after it was decided by the powers that be to allow only one market player in each sector of production. With the bloody war of Eg over, and with little else to amuse himself, the eccentric Count spends his days fulfilling a boyhood dream-racing galaxy grand prix ships.

[cycletronic]

@yoitisi:

I'm glad you're not taking my thumbnail sketch to poll... it shouldn't be there. And you're right, it is a combination of pencil sketch and photoshop smearing. I just wanted to tack on some shading real quick to look at the form. With more time spent on this I would clean up the lines first, then start on the shading as you say. One day I hope to be able to spend the time I would need to get a good image in the poll.

[Jason Strutz]

im down with not taking mine to the poll for those reasons, i still like the pic tho so thatll be it. Thought process equalled - what more do you need than an engine and a place to sit?

[yoitisi]

Jason Strutz: If it was just a Grand Prix like in Formule 1 I would agree with the just-an-engine-and-place-to-sit, but to make things a little more interesting I put some more requirements and clues in the background story and brief. Things that each need a sollution. How would the pilot live for a month? The craft would need more than just a canopy as cockpit. Also, in your case: how does the spacecraft actually collect the astroids? Because just colliding with them would damage the ship severely I'd think, especially at that speed. Would it use some sort of tractor beams or whatever? All these things and considerations should make up the design of your entry for IDW. Just an engine and a place to sit doesn't say enough.

[Adi.]

heya all :)

i have a really late entry here.. will type a description tomorrow.. need sleeeep.
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u211/ArtOfAdi/Adi_GalaxyGrandPrize.jpg

a detail shot of the pilot, actual size..
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u211/ArtOfAdi/Adi_GalaxyGrandPrizeDetail.jpg

[D-Holme]

WIP updated - managed to get some time in post work today, will try to get some more done before this all closes. Trying to capture that looser (un-detailed) style that others make look so easy - not succeeding, keep getting tied up in detail if nothing else.

Adi - Looks good, not sure whether I'd fancy being cooped up in it for a month but I could see it as a space version of the Britain>Australia racers from the 40s-50s - which worked in hops. The wear and tear fits in nicely.

Legato - I think the tone (cross over of dark areas) still confuses the focal point but the work done has helped it. Maybe a line of highlights (or lettering) on the ship might direct the eye better - not sure.

[D-Holme]

Finished version up.

[Jorge Gecov]

Hello all!
It's my first entry in IDW, hope to do many stuff here.
Description soon!

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o68/Jorge_Gecov/concept%20art%20site/idw_44.jpg

[yoitisi]

I'll close the thread and put up a poll hopefully in a couple of hours, but I'm afraid it'll be tomorrowmorning. I won't make it a habit I promise :)

Daveneale: I like the image but could you please make a description? The image alone is a bit marginal I think as far as information goes, specially since it is in b&w as well.

[yoitisi]

Fulcrum919: Erm..is this a joke? Or are you and Brian_H the same? If you're him: I saw this sketch already 4 or 5 days ago in this state, but at that time I thought it wasn't finished so I put up some critique. Since I see no improvement I am afraid I'm not taking it to poll.

[daveneale]

Description changed….sorry its not more finished, feel free not to take it to pole…just didn’t have time to have a proper go at it

[KuJo]

Lol I finally got a chance to check out this IDW today; I'm retardedly late, but here's my entry - I couldn't pass up such a cool topic

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/8469/sputnik42fo7pk6.jpg

Lt. Colonel Viktor Demetrov of the Luna NeoSoviet State couldn't help but pay homage to antiquity when he named the Sputnik 42; the last of the former USSR's probes had flown in centuries past around Terra, captivating the entire planet during the 20th century moonrace. How fitting that the new motherland is the moon these days, terraformed into an eden.

Sputnik 42 is built around the chassis of a now ancient Vladimir Alpha-Mig Combat Suit from the first Luna Revolution, where it became legendary-the hammer and sickle of the NeoSoviet state- the epitome of technology in bipedal warfare. It was the hope that one could be removed from the Luna Prime Historical Museum and serve in some way to inspire the state's next Grand Prix ship, but noone ever expected that the Lt. Colonel would ever want to actually useit.

And so, Sputnik 42's extremities are heavily modified / replaced, as can be seen in the EVA accessible supply bays where the forearms / hands once were. The legs are completely removed, as well as the entire primary drive system in place of flight surfaces and thrusters. The entire reactor system had to be gutted, but was replaced with a Microburst Quantum Core from a Yuri-class star frigate.

The back however, is where the Sputnik 42 really shines. Outfitted with the largest Nova-III class booster system the chassis could accomidate on its back, its top speed rivals even the most modern racing ships. Two racks of Sepa-Fuel spheres can be jettisoned as the outer-most sphere is exhausted from the chain. And boy do the Nova-III's love to eat Sepa-fuel...

The almost tragically outdated manuvering verniers throughout the body were returned to the museum in place of modern controlpods, and a new nav system was put into the head so Viktor wouldn't have to worry (as much) about inadvertently veering out of the system during the many burns he'll have to make during the race.

Still, the Alpha-Migs were never meant to fly, but rather just fall with a bit of grace during high-orbit deployments. Never has one been used for such a purpose, let alone been subjected to the incredible stresses modern power systems can produce. And if that weren't bad enough, race officials consider the notion of stepping outside a craft to retrieve supplies an act of insanity, especially in a craft built around a several hundred year old robot. Still, despite the odds, Viktor hopes to bring the state pride by being the first to win the Grand Prix in the once again beating heart of an Alpha-Mig; once again all eyes will be on Sputnik.

[Fulcrum919]

Yoitisi...never mind then...don't know why I wasted my time with this. Guess I need to find another forum for fun, thanks for the disregard. As for the critique, I read it but all critiques should be taken with a grain of salt.

B

[yoitisi]

Fulcrum919: You have to admit that posting the same image under two different names without a single word of explanation is suspicious to say the least. Next time it might be advisable to let people know who you are. As for the last sentence in your post above: if you take all critiques like that you might find it quite hard to actually learn anything. Also, you had a lot of time to take your image a step further from just a pencilsketch to something more refined and finished so I stand by what I said. If you have any further problems with that, send me a pm and we'll sort it out.

And now, I think it's time to close this thread :)

Poll is on: IDW #44: Galaxy Grand Prix - Voting! (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=106371)