Star Trek 3D Obsession

Since I started using SketchUp, I've been getting more and more obsessed with what I can do with it.  As some may or may not know, I created a 1:10th scale model of the original USS Enterprise bridge.  With lights and everything.  I'm still really proud of it.  Here's a pic!

Anyway, I've been playing around with creating the same bridge using SketchUp 3D.  Then realized I could do the next deck under that.  And the next.  I whipped out basic outlines of three decks in an hour and a half.  I had to stop myself because I was going to just keep going with no references or research; just with what little I could remember from seeing the blueprints once.  Here's what I've done thus far...

Roof to the bridge

Deck 1 - Main Bridge

Deck 2

Deck 3

All the pieces in a row

Should I fill in the details on each deck and keep going?

It's been a while. What's new? Cylons!!!

I've been pretty busy with other things for the last few months.  I have been working a lot with Pepakura and learning how to work around in the program; mostly trying to teach myself how to resize armor to fit me. I really am interested in printing up my sized Cylon armor from the original series.  I've started by sizing up pieces of Cylon armor I found at BazookaJoe's website.  But it only has the helmet, chest and backpack. 

So, I decided that I'd try my hand at 3D modeling the rest of the armor pieces (belt, gauntlets, bicep armor, boot tops, etc.).  First problem ... I have no money for any of the more popular 3D programs.  Plus, I'm not that 3D savvy.  I tried using quite a few of the free programs, but they were too confusing for me.  The truth is that some people just get it.  They see it and understand the mechanics of 3D creation - the God bless 'em!  I have a mental break trying to make more than a square. 

However, I ended up finding a free program called SketchUp, and for whatever reasons I understood it.  It's very basic and easy to us.  I was able to create a 1-to-1 scale 3D model of my house right of the gate.  It measure things in inches and feet, or metric.  So making size-appropriate 3D models is very simple and understandable.  So I've started using SketchUp to make the additional armor pieces for my Cylon armor.  Then I open it up in Pepakura, then get it ready to print. 

Here's some pics of my progress.

Gauntlets and arm bands

Boot topper

Shoulder armor

 I'll update when I get more done.