Hyperion (quick 'n dirty WIP)

[Charles Adams]

After seeing the studio blueprint (http://www.airshipmodeler.com/forums/showthread.php?p=87#post87) of the Hyperion from Disney's The Island at the Top of the World I couldn't resist having a go at it. I don't plan to build this anytime soon (too many other things to do) but I love creating patterns for obscure subjects.

I spent the better part of the afternoon working up a side, top, front and rear views of the hull. I then quickly turned that into a study model of the hull to see if the shape was right.

As is typical with studio drawings, the model as built was slightly different than the drawings. I tweaked a few details to better match the appearance of the airship on screen.

This is, of course, only the beginning of the process. But this sort of project can be greatly accelerated by the proper use of good 3D tools.

Building this particular ship in 3D will be quite a challenge. The netting creates a "quilted" effect of the fabric envelope. Anyone know best how to represent that? I was thinking that, after the hull was done, it could be split into the diamond pattern. Then each section would have to be grabbed and pulled outward in the center. Yikes, that sounds like a lot of work!!

Enjoy! :D

[Joe Brown]

I've thought about building this airship for years, and my plan (when I finally get a round tuwit, of course) is to carve the envelope from pink foam, cover that with a uniform layer of Magicsculpt (or Aves) putty, and then, duplicate the 'netted' indentations with sculpting tools. Join the halves together, and then spend a year or so doing the rigging. :eek:

[Charles Adams]

I was thinking foam for the hull shape as well. But then cover that with a thin layer of batting and then a fabric outer cover, and weave the netting over it. That is how they built the original and sounds easier than trying to sculpt it.

BUT, if a good enough 3D model could be made, the "grooves" where the strings would go could be cut out of the foam. That would then make a perfect "jig" to weave the netting. Time consuming, yes, but what a unique project! :cheers:

[Wbnemo1]

Howdy,
here's the way this is going to be done by my buddy. Note, only a few being done though, at a length of 4 feet. We will be doing or needing a 3d mesh of the hull with bellows and and crevises for the "rope" then a foam master tool will be struck using a 4 axsis cnc router. Once this is completed, fiberglass castings will be made. The little details I'll be laser cutting, minus the rigging. which will be done by hand...Hmm Ok Charles lets talk..
Best,
Will

[Charles Adams]

Alright, I'm up for that! But someone needs to recreate the actual studio miniature one of these days -- all 9 feet of it!

My CG hull looks pretty good so far, not perfect but the shape seems pretty good. Making one with all the "bellows," as you put it, is going to be very challenging and probably a little beyond my skillset at the moment since I have little experience working with meshes (I do mostly spline modeling).

But let's chat more about this!! :cheers:

[Larry Decker]

What Happened to the Hyperion??? Anyone still interested?

[Charles Adams]

Will, who has the original studio plans, lost his father earlier this year. Once things start to get back to "normal" (as normal as can be expected after a tragedy like that), I'm sure he'll feel like getting back to work on some of these projects.

[Bill Akins]

Has anything further been done on this project?


.

[Charles Adams]

Sorry, no. This is on the back burner but I really want a replica of the original filming model. Once I get some other projects out of the way, I'll get back to it eventually.