Creating Your Own Everything VI [No Advertising]

[Anglomir]

you can just trace over real pictures at the same scale, it requires about as much skill as copying and editing some junior general templates but you get something that feels a bit less like stealing (copyright of the photos aside)

This. Doing something on your own, even if it's just redrawing a photo or something of an RL item, feels a bit more "official" to me. I tend to do that with some stuff, and then carve out and redraw the original trace to get something that stands out.

On that note, smol tank.

Also made the flamethrower tank shoot flamey flames.

I still do occasionally edit other stuff, usually if I know I can't do it on my own. Did that with a shipbucket scale naval vessel, since I've never done a ship before, and I'm not really familiar with the scale.



I have trouble with cables, so I removed them for now until I can get a layout that works. Anyways, for a mash-up of some other ships, it's not too bad, is it?

After messing around with them some, I think I got the basics of Shipbucket scale down now, so I intend to make an original ship from scratch for my next naval vessel - either a destroyer, light cruiser, or submarine. I just figured it would be best to try an edit/frankenstein for the first ship, since it's literally my first attempt at an actual ship, and not a Star Trek vessel.

What programs y'all use to do this? I assume you use tablets and stylus?

[Crookfur]

This. Doing something on your own, even if it's just redrawing a photo or something of an RL item, feels a bit more "official" to me. I tend to do that with some stuff, and then carve out and redraw the original trace to get something that stands out.

On that note, smol tank.

Also made the flamethrower tank shoot flamey flames.

I still do occasionally edit other stuff, usually if I know I can't do it on my own. Did that with a shipbucket scale naval vessel, since I've never done a ship before, and I'm not really familiar with the scale.



I have trouble with cables, so I removed them for now until I can get a layout that works. Anyways, for a mash-up of some other ships, it's not too bad, is it?

After messing around with them some, I think I got the basics of Shipbucket scale down now, so I intend to make an original ship from scratch for my next naval vessel - either a destroyer, light cruiser, or submarine. I just figured it would be best to try an edit/frankenstein for the first ship, since it's literally my first attempt at an actual ship, and not a Star Trek vessel.

What programs y'all use to do this? I assume you use tablets and stylus?

People us a variety of methods but the most common is ms paint and an ordinary mouse. For the shipbucket stuff people just draw it pixel by pixel.

Using anything else is either a sign of laziness or very high skill levels.

[Anglomir]

Jesus christ, pixel by pixel? Godamn, that must take ages...

[Anemos Major]

Jesus christ, pixel by pixel? Godamn, that must take ages...

Alas, indeed it does.

[Kassaran]

I'm personally looking at developing in conjunction with a certain artist I'm commissioning, making a bunch of lego versions in LDD, and then having them model it as appropriate.

[Rostavykhan]

Jesus christ, pixel by pixel? Godamn, that must take ages...

I use MS Paint and Paint.NET.

Paint.NET makes things way easier. I can create multiple layers, easily copy-paste similar parts, and make edits that would take forever in MS Paint. I prefer MS paint for finer details like colouring and shading.

I also use Paint.NET to make easy part sheets when I make stuff. It's how I make Star Trek type ships for my FT puppet - keep a sheet of finished, undetailed saucers and engines, and put them into a general shape before using MS paint to draw and add detail over them, or using a sheet of accessories like shovels and bags to add to tanks. It simplifies the processes greatly.

[Alteran Republics]

Horrah for drawing planes in JG scale, because I'm mad like that.









A few new drawings, a few repaints.

Bonus round: a laptop.

[Norcourt]

Updated my rifle, made it less thicc and more realistic to scale

[Dothrakia]

Horrah for drawing planes in JG scale, because I'm mad like that.

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A few new drawings, a few repaints.

Bonus round: a laptop.

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what planes did you use as models for the last 2?

[Crookfur]

Horrah for drawing planes in JG scale, because I'm mad like that.

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A few new drawings, a few repaints.

Bonus round: a laptop.

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what planes did you use as models for the last 2?

YC-15 and the shorts Belfast from the looks of it

[New Frenco Empire]

Wayyy too big.

The current weapon sheet for my canon. Scale is SLB, meant to be paired with figures drawn in the scale. Vistora and I have done the lion's share (most of mine are funky retrofuturistic ones with the wood furniture, most of his are the green tacticool), but with notable contributions from Lunar Union and Blakullar.

[Gallia-]

he has t700 so he fastboi

other than that it's really just Strikehawk with the addition of a air search/targeting radar for attacking low altitude missiles

because sea king (KING of the SEA) has enough actual room to do that

normally carries a quartet of ESSM, AIM-7R, or AMRAAM in the air to air role

can carry a quartet of LWTs or a pair of LWTs and a pair of mission pods (sonobuoy dispensers, chaff/kinematic RF decoy/active protection interceptor dispensers, air launched decoys, whatever) and two 175 gal external tanks between the sponson and fuselage

stub wings have sufficient strength to support up to 1000 kg per inner pylon, 500 kg per outer pylon, and 150 kg on the tip mount

ferry range with all optional fuel economy measures taken (mission equipment offloaded, fuel tanks filled, and externals fitted) in optimal weather, speed, and altitude is about 1500 nmi

[Valkiir]

A light Blaster pistol For villainous scum, Smugglers, Nerfherders, Rebels, and FT Nations, across some distant galaxy

[Atlantica]

Horrah for drawing planes in JG scale, because I'm mad like that.

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A few new drawings, a few repaints.

Bonus round: a laptop.

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Any reason I'm seeing Hangul markings on the planes?

[Rostavykhan]

Gun! Gun! Gun! For my puppet, like the other guns/ship/tank. A copy of an MP-28/Lanchester (or, rather, an MP-18, given the time period.), and probably my best gun so far.

Also, comfy foregrip uwu

[Taihei Tengoku]

digging the top view

[Alteran Republics]

what planes did you use as models for the last 2?

Hawker Siddeley HS.681 and, as mentioned, Bristol Belfast.
Top aircraft is a custom made re-imagining of a De Havilland Comet in the 21st Century (region-mates have commented on its unintended similarity to the Boeing 787) and the second aircraft is a BAC 1-11 with a "top hat" radar configuration.

Any reason I'm seeing Hangul markings on the planes?

My nation uses that as its native language and text.

[Rostavykhan]

digging the top view

Gracias. Top view was needed IMO, since otherwise the magazine would be obscured, and that would ruin its side-loaded magnificence.

On another note, unsure whether to forge ahead with a new, all-original ship, or a tank, or maybe some new uniforms. I might do the tank next. Maybe.

[Gallia-]

tanque or trupr is gud choice

[Jadid]

Hey everyone!

New again to nationstates and was wondering if anyone could offer some pointers on making my flag better



My state is supposed to be a kind of Scandinavian based crusader state in central Asia where the original Islamic culture and the culture of the conquering Scandinavian like groups has merged together. Its not supposed to be a real world state as I'm hoping to find a good region to set up in before I flesh out my country but thats the easiest way to explain what I'm sort of going for vibe wise

[New Visegrad]

Hey everyone!

New again to nationstates and was wondering if anyone could offer some pointers on making my flag better

(Image)

My state is supposed to be a kind of Scandinavian based crusader state in central Asia where the original Islamic culture and the culture of the conquering Scandinavian like groups has merged together. Its not supposed to be a real world state as I'm hoping to find a good region to set up in before I flesh out my country but thats the easiest way to explain what I'm sort of going for vibe wise

This seems like a perfectly fine flag to me.

If you were to make any changes, I might suggest messing with the diamond pattern to make it interlock more, like one of these. These sorts of patterns are common in both Nordic and Islamic decoration and would be a neat way to bring out the cultural background. Also, depending on the degree to which Islam has become part of the culture (i.e. if it's a majority religion or if there has been an Islamic government for any length of time) I might replace the star with an Islamic symbol like a crescent or something.

But as I said, it's perfectly fine as it is.

[Manokan Republic]

(Image)

Gun! Gun! Gun! For my puppet, like the other guns/ship/tank. A copy of an MP-28/Lanchester (or, rather, an MP-18, given the time period.), and probably my best gun so far.

Also, comfy foregrip uwu

It's a really well done drawing

I like the detail, and it is always nice to see a cool WWII style gun. Drawing the different angles must have been hard, getting all the little details right O.O


Do you make a model first and trace it, or what is your process?

[Rostavykhan]

Tonk. Smol tonk. "Medium" tonk.

I had to take a break all day, since I spent most of last night on it. My wrist was killing me. It was worth it. Now I just need to work on smaller details, like gear and accessories on the chassis, or maybe some mud and scratched paint.

Used a Chi-Ha as reference for the majority of the tank. The turret was mostly done looking at an M13/40 though. The gun was all original, though it kind of reminds me of some Russian tank for some reason. I dunno. Chassis is a bit wider and taller than a Chi-Ha's, though. I figured a Chi-Ha would be a good general basis for a small light/medium tank that would be used in urban/jungle/island settings.

Well, that, and I think Chi-Ha's are adorable.

(Image)

Gun! Gun! Gun! For my puppet, like the other guns/ship/tank. A copy of an MP-28/Lanchester (or, rather, an MP-18, given the time period.), and probably my best gun so far.

Also, comfy foregrip uwu

It's a really well done drawing

I like the detail, and it is always nice to see a cool WWII style gun. Drawing the different angles must have been hard, getting all the little details right O.O


Do you make a model first and trace it, or what is your process?

A fusion of copy-pasting older stuff, tracing references, and editing everything together.

It takes a bit, but it's not too hard. I usually make the general outline from either using and tracing a reference, or copy-pasting a gun I've already done free-hand. I also copy-paste stuff I've done in the past, like the front sight ring or the bayonet, and modifying them as needed to fit on the new gun. It makes it a lot simpler than making a totally new sight or stock or bayonet for every weapon, and the way I see it, it also makes more sense if I'm trying to make a weapon for an army with all the same equipment. I can handwave it as being easier to make with existing machinery in canon, I guess.

For example, the sights, barrel shroud, bayonet lug, bayonet, and trigger were modified from older stuff, the stock was traced from a blueprint, and resized to match the size of my other rifles, and the rear sights were done the same way. Everything else was really simple to make on my own, like the top receiver/buttons/screws, magazine/etc., since they're all pretty simple shapes that can be chopped up/copy-pasted and fit together easily. Colouring is also easy, since I use the colours I already made for older guns, apply them to the new one in MS Paint, and use Paint.NET for quick outlines and shading. The colouring and shading for this one was pretty much the same as for a Shotgun I did a few months back.

It's pretty much legos as this point IMO. If there's a part I don't have already drawn, or have trouble carving out of some older stuff of mine, I just look at a blueprint or photo and use that for the shape....it's usually a stock, though, or a bolt or rear sights. Everything else is pretty simple.

Only downside it that I don't really use a scale for everything anymore, like Gunbucket or JG. I should do it, but...I don't...

[Jadid]

This seems like a perfectly fine flag to me.

If you were to make any changes, I might suggest messing with the diamond pattern to make it interlock more, like one of these. These sorts of patterns are common in both Nordic and Islamic decoration and would be a neat way to bring out the cultural background. Also, depending on the degree to which Islam has become part of the culture (i.e. if it's a majority religion or if there has been an Islamic government for any length of time) I might replace the star with an Islamic symbol like a crescent or something.

But as I said, it's perfectly fine as it is.

Good suggestions, I'll play around with it a bit and see what I can come up with!

The star is actually a fairly common islamic symbol from central Asia called the Rub el Hizb, its two overlapping squares sometimes stylized by removing the internally overlapping sections to make a star

[New Visegrad]

Hi again gang! Time for S W O R D S


I am aware it's too small to read, but that's the biggest it gets on NS. Click on it to get a bigger one.
(And click here for Part Uno)

"What sort of fool brings a gun to a swordfight? How impolite."
-- Sai La Mer

While a knight's sword spends most of its time being a symbolic prop, it's still a useful tool. It's effective in close quarters without risking collateral damage (you never miss with a Bugorski gun, you just hit something else), and a sharp edge has many non-combat applications. It's also quite intimidating to any adversary short of an actual soldier. Falyyr Kanavoyal is entirely good-natured, but most muggers don't stop to discover that when they see a 10-foot alien from a 2G world, wearing armour, carrying a sword approximately the size of an adult human.

Blades are the preferred weapon for recreational and honour-related duels; it's much harder to engage in non-lethal combat with a Bugorski gun capable of putting a hole in one side of you, out the other, and in and out of the next 3 people behind you.

The monomolecular edge of a Quiet Era vectal blade is capable of penetrating most infantry combat armour with a well-struck blow. It is less effective against energy shields and can be damaged by a hard impact against a shield or hardfield.

edit: pic not unrelated