Orca Assault VTOL

So, I've decided to take on a little project of my own. Something some people probably don't know about me is that I am a fan of the Command and Conquer series. My favorite aircraft is the GDI orca. So I've started on my own custom model for the orca and will do some research and extra work to try and bring this to life. This is my first attempt at modeling since I left architecture school (and I didn't do much there), so please be gentle. I plan on doing this in phases, working in my spare time (around my college courses) to try and work on this. Right now, the phase system looks something like this (along with completion status):

1. Modeling=75%
   
2. Animation=0%
   
3. Texturing=0%
   
4. Config=0%
   
5. Sounds and effects=0%
   
6. Debugging=0%
   

Right now, sounds and effects come after the main config. This is so that I can concentrate on getting this in game before messing around with custom sounds and the sort. Here's some WIP screens:

http://i.imgur.com/3ZV981B.png (105 kB) OLD engin model (no longer in use)

Main Fuselage with with engines [WIP]

http://i.imgur.com/XR62V1B.png (190 kB)

http://i.imgur.com/lrLhAkI.png (145 kB)

http://i.imgur.com/ikxNdRe.png (171 kB)

http://i.imgur.com/eoRdr5y.png (159 kB)

So here's a little bit of info about the addon. First off, it won't be entirely cannonical to the Tiberian Dawn Orca, as that has the potential to pose issues with the pilot trying to pilot and gun (i'm sure it could be done, but for the sake of time, I don't feel it's neccesary). This also means that my modeling skills (or lack there off) will probably show. You can probably tell that just by looking at the fuselage. I don't do this for a living, and it's pretty much the first time I've done something other than a few walls for a room or 2. That being said, I like putting my own twist on things anyway. Also, I'm planning on utilizing Anti-air Missles, Anti-ground missles, and Guided DAGR rockets. It will (hopefully, if John_spartan and Saul are willing to help with this as well) include an option to have a optional fuel-tanks in order to allow it sustain itself on longer recon missions. This aircraft will be a capacity assault gunship, a AA fighter, or a recon aircraft. However, I don't want it to be overpowered, so obviously you'll have to either choose between more fuel, or more weaponry depending on your mission. I should also point out that this craft will be shot down easily, about as easily as a vanilla littlebird (minus the lack of flares).

UPDATE 9/30/2014

The fuselage, wings, and tail are done. 30mm gatling cannon is done. Still have one more rotor to do, and the 2 weapon pylons. Then, we'll get some landing gear going.

UPDATE 10/1/2014

NEW screens of the model! A bit of an update on the status here today: I'm getting the easy stuff done sooner. I expect to be working on the interior soon, but it'll probably have to wait until the 10th or so when I can really start grinding into it. I can promise you, as a novice modeler, that the detailed interior is the part I dread the most as far as modeling. Regardless, today I fixed up some landing gear and finished the rear rotor. I also added some ventilation along the spine of the aircraft. I thought about re-doing the rear wings, but with the rear rotor the way it is, and the amount of control the rear rotor plays into I feel like the rear wings are fine. I also added collision light spheres and a radar disc. Enjoy!

http://i.imgur.com/EvZPeXE.png

http://i.imgur.com/myGWFG8.png

http://i.imgur.com/XTaSgkB.png

http://i.imgur.com/8HxtxKN.png

http://i.imgur.com/SnqFGL7.png

Update 10/20/2014

Modeling update. I've started doing some interioring. I finished the hardpoints as well. I've been a bit busy with school lately, but hopefully things should pick back up soon. I redid the 30mm turret to be a bit more viable (it's old placement was relatively unrealistic) and I added a laser designator to the turret itself. The camera is now positioned on the nose as well. I still need to add the spotlight on the cannon's box and I may do some edits to box itself as well. Enjoy the new screens

http://i.imgur.com/xdspPZW.png

http://i.imgur.com/uOHx4QP.png

http://i.imgur.com/kunWNZk.png

http://i.imgur.com/UZv5b1x.png

http://i.imgur.com/yRlX54y.png

Great news. You should reach out to these guys

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?183165-WIP-AV-22-LSOC-Ghost

They've been working on a VTOL craft for a while now.

Reading the title I thought you were making an A3 CSAT Orca vtol, but after reading more I saw you mentioned C&C and I've got to say good luck with this as I was always a big fan of C&C as well. What era are these going to be? It looks like the first tiberium version.

@Mustangdelta I wll definitely do so after I make the model. Hopefully they have a texture artist who can help me as well, as I'm already aware that I'm lacking that department.

@deltagamer Ha, I should've been a bit more clear on the title, I guess. Also, this will be a first Tiberium War era Orca. I'll be doing my own edits to it, such as making it a 2 seater gunship, and hopefully adding the service menu so you can choose between certain loadouts. All of this will be explained in the orignal post when I finish the fuselage.

Also, my pc froze while blender was open, so I lost all my work. good thing I didn't have to much to begin with. I'm much happier with the new engine model I created, anyway. :D

---------- Post added at 01:17 ---------- Previous post was at 00:34 ----------

On an off-topic note, I may have found some images for an orca for ArmA 1. http://members.tripod.com/c_t_f_mods/stusofpaddons/id59.html

Config-wise I'd be happy to take a look, but John_Spartan and Saul are the​ recognized community members when it comes to the service menu concept.

Thank you, Chortles. We'll be in touch.

---------- Post added at 02:47 ---------- Previous post was at 02:28 ----------

Also! New WIP screen! Enjoy. The fuselage is mostly done. I just have a few tweaks to do which include adding the cannon, and armament wings. Then I'll do some work on the tail.

First step as far as thinking of the service menu I'd say would be to determine whether or not what choices of armament you want represented (that is, all combinations that you'd represent)... i.e. on my F-35B port, there's currently short-range air-to-air missiles on the outermost pylons, longer-range AAMs and laser-guided bombs inside the jet's weapon bays, and then on the middle and innermost pylons it's either either four more LGBs, longer-range AAMs, or air-to-ground missiles.

Not sure how well the same system works with a "modular" cannon (i.e. a gun pod instead of a fixed or turret-mounted gun) but at the very least, John_Spartan/Saul's system is usable for bombs, missiles, and even rocket pods.

maybe you can go mor in that direction:

http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/200/7/6/SA_04_Orca_by_lady_die.jpg

it looks more "real" in a way

@Gunny24. That was actually one of my references. However, my model ends up being a mix of a lack of modeling skills and a desire to not copy anyone else. Plus I wanted to expand on the original idea of the orca.

Employing a set of twin articulated jet engines as propulsion in place of the classic rotary wing, the ORCA has incredible maneuverability. These advantages came at the expense of armour, allowing the Orca to withstand only a few missile hits, provided it didn't outrun these missiles first.

Its compact design allows it to fit in small passages such as canyons with ease, as well as be transported and deployed from freight trucks or specially designed resupply and transportation trucks. The fuselage dimensions limit the crew size to only a single pilot, limiting the craft's performance in combat somewhat.

I feel as though that artist took a bit too much from the apache, where as this one is going a bit more for an AH-1 profile. Plus, the modeling's not finished at all.

However, I did note, after reviewing your comment, that there were some serious flaws in the overall design of the fuselage in terms of being at least semi-realistic. So I do appreciate the feedback.

Do you mean like VTOL from black ops 2 or halo? Lol sorry.

@Tristen2NT I mean VTOL as purely as it can mean. This is what I'm basing it off of. It is from neither of those games you mentioned.

@devilslayersbane Oh my.... only two words "CANT WAIT" :)

Looking at this VTOL and its name ORCA its reminiscent of the C&C Tiberium Wars....

Looking at this VTOL and its name ORCA its reminiscent of the C&C Tiberium Wars....

I couldn't imagine why ;) I'm not basing it off that or anything. Not at all... :D:D:D:D:D

NEW screens of the model! A bit of an update on the status here today: I'm getting the easy stuff done sooner. I expect to be working on the interior soon, but it'll probably have to wait until the 10th or so when I can really start grinding into it. I can promise you, as a novice modeler, that the detailed interior is the part I dread the most as far as modeling. Regardless, today I fixed up some landing gear and finished the rear rotor. I also added some ventilation along the spine of the aircraft. I thought about re-doing the rear wings, but with the rear rotor the way it is, and the amount of control the rear rotor plays into I feel like the rear wings are fine. I also added collision light spheres and a radar disc. Enjoy!

http://i.imgur.com/EvZPeXE.png

http://i.imgur.com/myGWFG8.png

http://i.imgur.com/XTaSgkB.png

http://i.imgur.com/8HxtxKN.png

http://i.imgur.com/SnqFGL7.png

Modeling update. I've started doing some interioring. I finished the hardpoints as well. I've been a bit busy with school lately, but hopefully things should pick back up soon. I redid the 30mm turret to be a bit more viable (it's old placement was relatively unrealistic) and I added a laser designator to the turret itself. The camera is now positioned on the nose as well. I still need to add the spotlight on the cannon's box and I may do some edits to box itself as well. Enjoy the new screens :)

http://i.imgur.com/xdspPZW.png

http://i.imgur.com/uOHx4QP.png

http://i.imgur.com/kunWNZk.png

http://i.imgur.com/UZv5b1x.png

http://i.imgur.com/yRlX54y.png