September-October Challenge: USS New York

[RecklessEnthusiasm]

Okay, I think I am very nearly finished with this (I always hesitate to say I actually am finished). This may very well be the fastest I've ever completed a work, and the most fun I've had on one as well. I guess I have no excuse (except for my ten other projects) but to do another map of two before this competition closes. Anyway, I would love to know what people think, and if there are any glaring problems that, as the artist, my eyes slide over without noting. I think I incorporated all the C&C that people left: fixed up the issues with the star field that people commented on, added the bumps and gnarly 'bumpy' textures that tilt recommended. I decided they mined all the metal from the asteroid belt to come up with all the raw materials (not that anyone was likely to ask). This is my second attempt at using 3D elements in my mapping. Also, this has really given me an appetite to try and design more ships. I think I might give that awesome Deviant-art spaceship design contest for EVE online a shot. Anyway, The ship was designed in Sketchup, textures from Genetica, layouts and effects added in Photoshop. I really really want to learn to use other, more 'professional' 3D software packages, but Sketchup is so dang easy and does about 70% of what I want it to do that it is hard to find the motivation.

I was kind of trying to go for a slightly "retro" look with the screen on the bottom half, I hope it came across and looks nice without looking cheesy or out of place. I also hope I didn't overdo it with the implied back story bio--it is a lot of space to use for flavor text, but I wanted it to sort of look like a schematic crossed with a Wikipedia entry.

I would really love to hear what people think!