IDW 0018: Steampunk Submersible

[Flip]

http://davivsjapan.com/IDW.jpg

Topic: Steampunk Submersible

Background: The depths of the sea are uncharted, only a few dare go beneath the ocean waves.
Design a vehicle that does just that.

Captain Nemo's Nautilus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nautilus_%28Verne%29) is a good starting point.


Brief:

1. Design a submersible vehicle for exploring the depths of the ocean

2. No modern or futuristic technology, make it steampunk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk).


Deadline: Friday 13th October (I'll close it on Saturday)

[D-Holme]

Bother - another awfully tempting subject. I shall curse IDW for my loss of sleep.

-------------
Scans of a couple of sketches I worked with over the weekend. I think I shall do another model but this time limit my details and work out the camera angle in advance to save on some work - hopefully produce some fair competition.
http://www.milecastle.com/sub02_2.jpg
http://www.milecastle.com/sub01_2.jpg

[Dragonspit]

Never did a steampunk thing before and not really up on it. I have been attempting to simply get involved lately so thought I would participate. Will do it as a wip. I tend to over paint things and it always looks to "thick" or flat, so any cnc's are appreciated.

"Davy Jones's pirate submersible was responsible for a handful of legends. When he popped up out of know where, it was like a ghost ship appearing from no where. There was a coating of a whitish phospherous film on a lot of the top. It came from the caves where repairs where done out of site. The bullnose looked a lot like a whale and from afar looked as such. One thing was certain, you didn't want to see this, up close".

http://pixelsnpaper.com/Gallery/albums/Concept-Art-and-Sketches/steampsuba.jpg

[PianoForte]

I have to admit that i'm not sure i really understand the whole "steampunk" idea, i've googled it but all it seems to come up with is anime, does it revolve around an industrial revolution styled design astheic but with more modern technological functions?

[D-Holme]

Pretty much, 'original' steam punk might be Jules Vern stories, the time machine or Nautilus.

The name comes from a similar combination as cyber-punk, with advanced technology in a gothic-punk setting, steam-punk sees industrial revolution=>American Civil War=>Victorian (Brunnel & Stevenson & Armstrong) technology working to produce modern effects in a gothic-punk setting.

The mix of big machines, Gothicism and imperial British imagery do help to make it popular in Japan.

References from western-film would be, Wild-Wild-West, Legal of Extraordinary Gentlemen {- and comic}. For real world examples the Great-Eastern is practically fictional in its conception and Armstrong's Cragside (Northumbria) could be considered to be wonderfully strange and advanced beyond its time.

http://www.greatoceanliners.net/greateastern.html
http://www.north-country.co.uk/cragside.htm
http://www.ejr.ndo.co.uk/crag.html - couldn't find much better for Cragside.

[Johnnyhorse]

Wow, thanks for the information. I knew what steampunk is and I still found it interesting! The Great Eastern is a really great example (especially in use with this topic).
I just can't get that computer game Arcanum out of my head--while the designs aren't too inspiring, the atmosphere of the game is (it's steampunk)

[invinciblewombat]

completly unrelated but very amusing example of steampunk: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5434666681046246946&q=the+amazing+screw+on+head

[Eric Gerhard]

I'll give it a try.... I've never done this before...... so, crits will be mostly welcome!!!

Final

Crits will do fine! :D

http://www.gerhardarts.com/desenhos/steampunksub4.jpg

The Deep Dive I was built during the Industrial Revolution, in the middle of the XVIII century. Using mineral coal as its main source of fuel, the DD - I, could go deeper than the imagination would go and its captain, Arthur Dylan, was the first man to go underwater more than 1000 meters.

[Flake]

I'll have a go if I have time over the next couple of days, never done one of these either.

[Eric Gerhard]

WIP above!

[Johnnyhorse]

Eric - Nice and colorful start! Crit time though...
First of all, too noticable repeated brushes (though I'm sure you planned on cleaning it up more). Along the same lines, it's a good idea to use a brush for quick fish, but those fish look much too similar to sharks/mammals to be in groups that large. Also, it's probably better to make the silhouette as simple as possible if you're repeating, and make it a mix of about 2 shapes.
And, most importantly, the dynamics of your ship are a little awkward. I didn't know which side was the front initially, and the propulsion is a little strange--for instance, there is no way for it to turn left or right... it would just push/strafe left and right rather than turning in the intended direction.
Try to incorporate some more steampunk stylings. As of right now, the shape and some features do look good, but a lot of it just looks futuristic.

Sorry if I was a little harsh, I got carried away.

Maybe I can slip in an entry as well.

[D-Holme]

I thought that people might find these references useful for some more marine inspiration.
http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/plans/SM_Wespe_1894/
http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/plans/SM_V1-9_1894/
This site has many good (and detailed) references for 19th to 20th century vessel design although for this project the above two are likely most relevant (chronologically).

[Eric Gerhard]

Johnnyhorse - Thanks for the C&C a lot! I'll do my best to make it better and more steampunk.

Peace!

[osaeck]

I'll have one up either today or tomorrow... first time here btw, these forums seems like a lot of fun :D
Anyway, mostly posting this to put some pressure on me to finish what I've started :P

--

I don't have any more time to work on this... So here's my final one:

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k191/osaeck/royal_scout_sub.jpg

Since the king has such high standards of the design of his fleet (he really likes gold and bronze details)
even his scout ships can't carry out their orders properly since the design is slowing them down significally in speed.

[Eric Gerhard]

Thanks, D-Holme for the inspirative support you're giving us!

[cesaraguilar]

My submarine sails in the surface with coal and under the water with air turbine
http://img474.imageshack.us/img474/3356/cesarqy5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Eric Gerhard]

WIP update.

[goran]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/smogyboy/CA%20sketchbook/Steampunk-Submersible.jpg
I think I am done.

[Dragonspit]

Goran, very nice, proffessionally done.

[Flip]

Some great entries so far!

Finalish (could do with some more work, fixing the foreshortening, etc.):
http://users.bigpond.net.au/laing/phil/comps/idw-submersible.jpg
Phallus II, designed by Captain Wang and first mate Johnson, has been highly successful in ploughing the depths of the ocean. The ship is kept in good condition by a team of engineers - Mrs. Palmer and her 5 daughters. The sack at the base of the ship works much like a standard pair of bellows and is used for propulsion - in general vigorous movement of the sack results in the ship rising, when left alone, the ship goes down. Phallus II is believed to dock in an underwater cavern in the vicinity of the island of Clitoris, which many believe to be a myth.

[Johnnyhorse]

Ahah, ahh... that's wonderful Flip. I'd like you to further explore the mechanics that allow this vessel to ascend/descend... and also flesh it out some more

;)

Goran - Very nice, organic, and steampunk. You should differentiate the exhaust/bubbles on the top from the swooshes that the fins make. I too was looking towards train engines for some inspiration/foundation

[Eric Gerhard]

Haha.... very funny Flip....

[Tyranx]

Goran - Sweet!
Flip - Lol

[goran]

@ D-Holme- There is some really nice ideas there.The details are really
interesting.Now can we see that machine in action ?

@Dragonspit- Nice shape, can you try to push mechanical details
further ?
Some rivets, play little bit with back and front
stabilizers,
In some steamboat way. And thank you.
@Eric Gerhard- I like the shapes ,maybe some perspective
adjustments .
The elements are there , just “build” them in more
eighteen century way.
@cesaraguilar- Cool shape ,reduce the size of the air bubbles please.
@Jonhnyhorse-Thank you and nice catch ,you are right.
@Tyranx -Thank you Sir
@Flip - Lol ,more details please

[Johnnyhorse]

Here's a cool "steampunk" typewriter which could lead to a nice use of lines/gadgets and dynamics for the submersible:
http://ironwork.jp/monkey_farm/computer/pc2.html
(I have no idea what it says)

[D-Holme]

Here we go then a bit (alot)of a WIP still, better show that I am up to something.
WIP:
http://www.milecastle.com/idw_tst.jpg
Busy night ahead of me tonight.

Goran - excellent piece there.

Edit 13.10.06
WIP Updated - stacks added and bow window frames sub-divided.

[Dragonspit]

D-Holm, hope this doesnt come across wrong. When I saw your sketch, knowing what you put out for the last IDW, I thought. Thats a little rough. Now that I see your post with your modeling, I realize how clear your vision was. Great work on modeling from your idea. When you model like this, do you finish? I only saw the last IDW which ended up not skinned or anything. I would like to see some, finished. Just interested.

Goran, yeah, I am no where near done. just hadnt gotten back to it. Kidsnworknotherstuff...... ya know. But I expect to add plenty more.

[D-Holme]

Dragonspit - thank you, I find I model much better than I draw. With any luck you will be able to see a finished result for this contest.

Looking at the WIP I can see (or not) that a lot of details aren't showing up - it would appear that I have again produce some detail too fine. The lighting is also well out for this image.

[Flake]

Here's the initial scribbles, renders to follow.
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/6448/idwsubaj0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2162/regionfogaw9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/5206/regionfog2ie3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Not as detailed as I was shooting for and I think I landed closer to "Wacky Races" than "Steampunk", but unless I can make time tomorrow I'll have to leave it. Great entries everyone btw.
I enjoyed doing this so I'll have to try more of these community thingies I think.

[PianoForte]

damnit, i'm going to miss it again, i've yet to make it into an IDW, oh well, there's always next week

[Flip]

You've got till Saturday or Sunday, I'll try to post the next topic soon.

So PianoForte, you've probably got 48hrs if you want them, to put in an entry. Otherwise you should have the entire weekend to get started on next week's topic.

[Piru]

goran = ace!

[Eric Gerhard]

Hey, Goran, thanks!

Thanks for the C&Cs but unfortunately I'm overrun here..... too busy.....

Very nice work you did there! I like it too much! Congrats!

[goran]

OK guys ,now I am done.
@D-Holme-That is one mighty ship.Cool modelling and thank you.

[D-Holme]

Flip - that extension is most welcome.
Flake - good to see an other 3D entry.

WIP updated (above) - lighting is still completely out and I need to go in an add in all the details. Basic level of textures are also now in place.

[Flake]

D-Holme, yeah, I wasn't sure if 3d was cool in here but I figured if there's anywhere on CA that 3d or CAD stuff fits, it's gotta be "Industrial design" and I need the practice.

Yours is coming along great, look forward to seeing the final.

[Flip]

Image and description updated, not quite finished (I hope).

[Johnnyhorse]

Truly remarkable, Flip... truly

[Dragonspit]

updated a couple of times, but dont think I will get anything else done so thats it for me this round.

Goran, liked your updates, the presentation,now matches the quality of the design, great job.

D-Holme, that will look great when the lighting is adjust some. looking forward to seeing that.

Eric, like your changes but I still am confused about some of the twists and turns of your design.

Flake, at first, I didnt realize that was a model, I really like seeing the 3d stuff.

Flip, lol, what is to say.

good entries all.

[D-Holme]

WIP
http://www.milecastle.com/IDW18-DHolme.jpg
Well that's the lighting rig and textures sorted, final render is started, the final image will be ready tomorrow morning.

EDIT 15.10.06 Final image

[Dragonspit]

WIP
http://www.milecastle.com/final_tst03.jpg
Well that's the lighting rig and textures sorted, final render is started, the final image will be ready tomorrow morning.

From what I can see though, the details look awesome.

[Flip]

Ok, I'll close this up and post the poll when D-Holme posts his final render, or is anyone else in need of a bit more time?

[PianoForte]

hmmmm, the verts on the front of the sub look a bit boxy, seeing as its only a single frame render i think you could afford to do some subdivision there, plus thats a whole lot of glass on a sub? its a damned cool design, don't get me wrong, just subs tend to be less glass more metal, nice design though.

[D-Holme]

Finished finally sorry to hold everything up.

Updated in the last post.

As a note the flag at the stern is designed to be made as a solid steel sheet - couldn't have a ship of the empire without the white-ensign.

PianoForte - yes your right, it could have done with a slightly softer curve. The 'conservatory bridge' was just far too tempting to resist - a miniature-crystal palace from which to explore the ocean depths whilst sipping tea.