Author Topic: STS-133/ISS Flyabout Artistic Impressions (Read 43946 times)

saturnapollo · « **on:** 03/17/2011 11:35 am »

Bubbinski · « **Reply #1 on:** 03/17/2011 12:20 pm »

Sweet, Keith! Great job on the complex. The HTV just jumps out at you.

When I do get re-started on my ISS-Shuttle project (which I started but then stopped as I ran into setbacks) I doubt I'd be able to make it as realistic but I'd like to try.

Lee Jay · « **Reply #2 on:** 03/17/2011 12:22 pm »

Cool!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #3 on:** 03/17/2011 12:48 pm »

Quick housekeeping on the thread title, references, as this has pre-empted what we're working on for another story (STS-134, with some STS-133 photoshop rather than artistic).

Very, very nice work of course!

saturnapollo · « **Reply #4 on:** 03/17/2011 01:03 pm »

Thanks very much everyone and to Chris for reorganising to a better thread. Much appreciated.

One I've just this minute finished. Two or three more will complete it.

Keith

missinglink · « **Reply #5 on:** 03/17/2011 01:22 pm »

Please tell us about the software you used to produce these stunning images.

parham55 · « **Reply #6 on:** 03/17/2011 02:02 pm »

Keith,
These are absolutely amazing! Thank you so much for doing this and also sharing!!
Rob

e of pi · « **Reply #7 on:** 03/17/2011 02:06 pm »

These images are astounding--astoundingly good-looking. I love the angles, and the model itself is an amazing piece of work. Definitely going into my desktop rotation.

emerrill · « **Reply #8 on:** 03/17/2011 02:08 pm »

Quote from: saturnapollo on 03/17/2011 01:03 pm

Thanks very much everyone and to Chris for reorganising to a better thread. Much appreciated.

One I've just this minute finished. Two or three more will complete it.

Keith

Amazing!

Is this the native resolution you made them in, or will you release them in a higher res?

Thanks!

Peter NASA · « **Reply #9 on:** 03/17/2011 02:21 pm »

I love the use of the unreleased stock photo footage from STS-133 on L2, where it was used to create actual photos of a flyabout, but these are fantastic too.

Great work.

JayP · « **Reply #10 on:** 03/17/2011 02:25 pm »

I love the orbiter shadow in the first image! Nice work.

JosephB · « **Reply #11 on:** 03/17/2011 02:51 pm »

Beautiful work!

Space Pete · « **Reply #12 on:** 03/17/2011 04:09 pm »

Oh. My. Word.

Absolutely stunning. Thanks!

Pheogh · « **Reply #13 on:** 03/17/2011 04:14 pm »

These are amazing!! Are these photographs of physical models?

astrobrian · « **Reply #14 on:** 03/17/2011 04:24 pm »

4d and 3a are outstanding

saturnapollo · « **Reply #15 on:** 03/17/2011 05:19 pm »

Again, many thanks to everyone for your most gracious comments.

Quote

Are these photographs of physical models?

Yes, they are 1/144 scale models, kits on the main, though the HTV, ATV and various other modules are scratchbuilt.

The ISS is the Inter Mountain Railways kit and I've been working on it since 1999, only building the parts as they are launched, hence my need to get as many inflight photos as possible, as often components look different once in orbit due to thermal blankets, cabling etc.

Quote

Please tell us about the software you used to produce these stunning images.

Mainly Photoshop to cut out the model from a plain blue background. Unfortunately as it gets more complex with lots of tiny detail, I am ending up having to do a lot of the selection manually.

Quote

Is this the native resolution you made them in, or will you release them in a higher res?

I hadn't considered higher res as I've had a lot of my model photography ripped off in the past, such as e-bay sellers using images to sell their models. Don't mean to imply anyone on this forum would do that so I may reconsider if PMd.

Hope to post another few over the next few days. Because it is a somewhat laborious task, it takes a few hours to do each.

Keith

More space model photography at
http://www.keithmcneill.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

kirghizstan · « **Reply #16 on:** 03/17/2011 05:25 pm »

have you modified the solar arrays for the "rip"

edfishel · « **Reply #17 on:** 03/17/2011 05:43 pm »

Saturnapollo - I looked at your web site photos and your models are astonishing. Great work.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #18 on:** 03/17/2011 06:12 pm »

Concur! Love this:

http://www.keithmcneill.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/1.html

Just the way it looks, as if she's straining to complete the burn

Jason1701 · « **Reply #19 on:** 03/17/2011 07:08 pm »

That's some of the best model work I've ever seen. Has your work ever been in a TV program or movie?

Namechange User · « **Reply #20 on:** 03/17/2011 07:14 pm »

It is quite good and realistic looking! Very well done!

robertross · « **Reply #21 on:** 03/17/2011 07:25 pm »

Quote from: saturnapollo on 03/17/2011 05:19 pm

More space model photography at
http://www.keithmcneill.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

Some of the best models I've ever seen made. Stunning, absolutely stunning!

Thanks for sharing your work!

saturnapollo · « **Reply #22 on:** 03/17/2011 10:17 pm »

Yet, again, many thanks for all your kind comments.

Just glad you like the photography.

Quote

have you modified the solar arrays for the "rip"

At one point I did. Over the years the arrays have been redone several times in attempts to improve them. And I noticed that the rip is not obvious in most photos of the real thing and my attempt was way too obvious as even using the finest of threads could not replicate the fine "fix". So my latest version of the array does not have the rip repair.

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Has your work ever been in a TV program or movie?

With the exception of my 1/72 Mir which featured on the UK Channel 5 news programme in 1997, no is the answer. Most of my models would not stand up to the rigour of TV or film work. In fact this ISS model is too fragile to even take it to shows. Every time I touch it something breaks off as it is almost impossible to handle with all the tiny detail.

Keith

vt_hokie · « **Reply #23 on:** 03/17/2011 10:33 pm »

Outstanding! Thanks for sharing!

JMS · « **Reply #24 on:** 03/17/2011 10:34 pm »

Really fine work.

saturnapollo · « **Reply #25 on:** 03/18/2011 07:01 pm »

Job finished!

Keith

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #26 on:** 04/02/2011 06:15 pm »

Bump for use and reference in the STS-134 potential flyabout:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/04/high-hopes-soyuz-flyabout-sts-134-positive-planning/

sdsds · « **Reply #27 on:** 04/02/2011 11:32 pm »

Quote from: saturnapollo on 03/18/2011 07:01 pm

Job finished!

These are awesome. STS-133 (9l).jpg, which shows the approaching Russian vehicle over the limb of the Earth, is particularly fine! The lighting of the models is truly incredible. Thanks for sharing!

nethegauner · « **Reply #28 on:** 04/11/2011 11:39 am »

Oh ... my ... God ..!

These must be among the most beautiful model kit shots I've ever seen in my life ...

saturnapollo · « **Reply #29 on:** 04/13/2011 09:42 am »

Thank you very much indeed folks. Glad to hear that they have been of interest.

Keith

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #30 on:** 05/23/2011 03:22 pm »

Bump due to epicness and as much as these are better angles than what the event actually will result in, they are still great.

saturnapollo · « **Reply #31 on:** 05/23/2011 04:03 pm »

I'll be interested to see how close they match up. 7g and 12 are slight possibilities albeit without the HTV (and different orbiter of course).

I'll be happy with whatever we get!

Keith

glanmor05 · « **Reply #32 on:** 05/23/2011 07:53 pm »

I know EVERYONE is saying it, but these are fantastic!

I love the attention to detail, the SRMS under the shuttle as planned etc. etc. etc. etc.....

I can only hope that we're as lucky with the STS 134 "flyaround" (or whatever the correct term is now) pictures with regard to angles and lighting.

Thanks again.

J

Mark Dave · « **Reply #33 on:** 05/25/2011 12:13 pm »

This one is close to what 134 saw.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=24502.0;attach=282054;image

Jason Davies · « **Reply #34 on:** 05/31/2011 03:47 am »

Can't wait to see how this compares with the real thing.

Ronsmytheiii · « **Reply #35 on:** 06/08/2011 12:22 am »

Very close to the real thing, amazing

Ronsmytheiii · « **Reply #36 on:** 06/08/2011 12:26 am »

saturnapollo · « **Reply #37 on:** 06/08/2011 01:21 am »

Thanks very much, Ron.

Keith

vt_hokie · « **Reply #38 on:** 06/08/2011 03:18 am »

Can barely tell 'em apart!

Amazingly realistic indeed...

bidptl · « **Reply #39 on:** 06/08/2011 09:23 am »

I like Keith's work's better, it's kind of having a "closer view" ...

of cos I would not underminded the effort of all those people who make the fly about work and the three who took the real pictures ....

saturnapollo · « **Reply #40 on:** 06/09/2011 11:13 pm »

Thanks guys.

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it's kind of having a "closer view" ...

I was slightly surprised myself that most of the images were long shots rather than tighter closeups. However because they are of such a high resolution you an crop them to get the much same results.

Keith