For the past 4 months or so I have been working on some images for the 2023 Blakes 7 Annual.
What started out as just needing new 3D models of the Liberator and a Pursuit Ship developed into requiring 10 separate ships and structures to be modelled. The detailing on the ship hulls probably took at least half the time I spent. Although I wont be posting the annual images online until after it is published is published, I have been working on some images using the models for my own purposes. There are also some video animations of the models which are rendering at the moment and will be online when complete.
A few notes:
1) The choice of 3D model was dictated by what I needed for the annual images and also what I thought I could complete before the deadline. I consider the Blakes 7 3D modelling a work in progress and although I’m going to have a break while the rendering is taking place, there is a lot more I want to do including some slightly unusual ideas.
2) All the models are based on the best available reference material such as production photos or screencaps. These are however my takes on these models and I have had to be creative where details are indistinct or not visible.
3) The rear view of Space World is entirely my own idea as we never see the back. I figured it would be interesting for it to have some kind of way of moving if necessary. I’ve also made the model more detailed and a bit bigger because I always felt like it didn’t have the capacity to hold many ships.
4) All the models are produced in Blender and the detailing is physical modelling with procedural materials applied.
5) The Christmas 1977 Radio times article main image has always slightly annoyed me because the eyeline of the cast doesn’t meet with the Liberator. I’ve fixed this and also made my own version.