I'm well into the build. There are a few details that I've been ignoring. Time to do a crit where I stand back and try to tear down the build and find all the faults.
Critique 1
- More breakup of the outline on the command cone, which someone has already pointed out, looks a lot like a traffic cone.
- The Midjourney texture output interpreted the dark area at the top of the squashed sphere as a fabric sheet. It looks great. I think I'll update the model to include this element so long as test results look good enough to make the high polygon cost worthwhile.
- The Hab (squashed sphere) needs a lot of fine detail. I will get all this done using decals and a good normal map.
- The open framework around the two mission packs/winglets needs some detailing. I'll incorporate one or two sub-crafts. I have a "pod" that would be perfect for this if I can finish its modelling.
- Cargo modules are space opera-ish (these were actually these were stolen from my Shift Carrier design, as was the fuel bladder). I will keep the outline and the 3x2 stack arrangement but make them look more "NASA". Again, this is partly inspired by the Midjourney output.
- Generally, there needs to be more detail in many areas, but not too much. Making the design overcluttered will work against its effectiveness.
- I'd like to add tension cables that hold the fuel tanks and connect them to the main bracing rings. A problem is that the cargo modules, as they are placed, would get in the way of the cables. I'd need to attach them to extended arms to clear the cargo pods, but this will look messy. I'll have a play.
There's less going on at the back. Maybe I'll add a fold-out emergency solar array and a small ordnance rail, specifically for decoy drones. The most pressing change is for improvements to the main propulsion thruster.
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