[SoNE Episode VII] Always Be Ready

[Kodan Black]

I've been very frustrated since getting my posting. I never envisioned the monotony when I joined up, I had visions of constant battles and being the pilot that made the difference in a fight. Instead all I've done since graduating and getting my ship assignment is patrols and visual flybys of freighters. I know that combat means losing good people, but another flight full of nothing has me feeling like I'm wasting my skills. The combat veterans call me nugget or new guy and tell me they'll learn my name when I've come under fire and proven myself. Not even the officers use my name, I'm just "pilot".

It helps me to focus on what my grandfather said as he handed me his knife that day I left for flight school: "Always be ready." You never know when things will happen and that is why I keep his knife in my boot every time I suit up. I try to be patient and know that what the Empire is doing is larger than 1 pilot. Feeling that metal in my boot helps keep my attention on every detail on patrol and keeps me alert every time we are sent out to inspect a ship. I know one of these days that awareness will pay off like it did for my grandfather that one late night so long ago.

I don't know if the whole story is true, he always was a good story teller; but as he told it he was heading home late one night after drinking with some friends in the city. I'm pretty certain that drinking part is true! He'd missed a shuttle and didn't want to wait around for another so he decided to walk home. He got a bit lost, apparently the drinks had impacted his sense of direction somehow, but he knew the rough direction he needed to go. As he was walking down a side street near the Space Parrot he sensed footsteps behind him. As he turned to look he saw 2 men coming at him and then heard footsteps coming at him from the direction he had just been headed in.

Luckily he had his knife with him and was able to put his back against the wall and quickly pull his knife on his attackers and strike one before they could swarm him. They'd thought he was just an unarmed drunk, and once they realized he had a knife and wouldn't be an easy mark they grabbed their injured friend and ran away. After that he never went out without that knife hidden somewhere on his person. He even told me that he'd hid it away on his wedding day, I promised never to tell grandmother that!

OoC: Views of the builds for both size and overall judging purposes below.

Edited December 1, 2014 by Kodan Black

[goatman461]

Great job. I know how hard it can be to build with 20 year old parts, but you've got some excellent part usage and techniques. Lighting could use some work; try taking it outside on a cloudy day. Also, good job keeping that naked guy strategically covered up.

[Mr Greeble]

Nice builds, but you could use some better lighting!

[Kodan Black]

Yeah, I apologize for the lighting. I wanted the builds to both be dark to match the tone. Unfortunately that isn't that conducive to picture taking. Next time I may have to break out the tripod and set for a long exposure. Apologies for poor lighting. If I hadn't already broken them down for freebuilds I'd reshoot.

[MKJoshA]

I couldn't have put it better than Goatman! You've done a fantastic job with your parts! I love those showers and you have some great details on your street scene. All of the studs are a bit of a distraction, but I know what it's like to not have enough plates! Maybe try experimenting with some SNOT work? Keep up the great builds!

[Dapper-D2]

The story is very good, but I can't tell the difference between the past and present scenes?

[Kodan Black]

The story is very good, but I can't tell the difference between the past and present scenes?

Sorry, I pulled the past scenes because the photography and lighting were awful. I should have new ones up later today.

[Kodan Black]

Ok, new photos are up.

[markus1984]

Wow, you have done a really good work with the "old" parts.

The MOC`s looking great, but i must also say that the photos cant be better .

markus

[Kodan Black]

Hoping my photography is getting better... http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=103298

Still working on it and the lighting and all. Glad to see another Empire builder taking up the challenge.

[OHarra]

This mix of old and new pieces is a bit allegorical. Very nice builds and story!

[LucasLaughing]

I like your story so far - it's always tough being the new guy! The ship looks properly cramped, and I dig the 'Classic Space' feel of the bar from the past scene. Glad to have you building for the Empire!

[Jacob Nion]

You made the maximum with your parts and the result is great. I like the street scenery of the second build.

[BEAVeR]

I hope it's never too late to say how awesome a MOC is, because that's exactly what I'm going to do.

To start off, I think it's pretty amazing what you did with the parts at your disposal. It's a pity that you can so clearly see how beaten up they are, but it is very satisfying to see some of the creative parts usages you came up with. In the present scene, for instance, I like how you used those bricks with a 45° angle to evoke what would be a stand for shampoo in our galaxy. And I think I haven't seen a Technic pin look better than here as a tap. Apart from the little details, the present scene as a whole is good as well. I like how you didn't aim too high and made something small but worthwhile. One could argue that duplicating elements makes for a waste of space in such a challenge, but I think it adds just the right atmosphere of some quarters on a ship. It's a pity though that we never get a good look at the build as a whole. I appreciate your efforts to take 'in universe' pictures, as if we were viewing things from the standpoint of a minifig. If you'd shoot a bit lower and make sure we don't see the studs on the roof (or just make those walls a bit higher), that effect will only be increased, so that we can take in the build better. Also, you haven't made it easy for yourself to photograph the creation, with very tight corridors and only small gaps to the outside world. So don't be afraid to take bits apart that are standing in your way. And maybe you could use a small mirror to shoot angles where your camera can't fit. The studs on the floor also distract a bit from the in universe thought, but until you have some more parts, maybe a SNOTted floor is the only solution I see. Another small thing is that the water is very blue. Having just the white floor could have been better. And maybe you have some trans clear (or trans light blue) 1x1 bricks/plates/round bricks/crystals lying around, that could evoke the water falling down from the shower.

It's also a bit strange that there is nowhere a place to leave clothes/the uniform while taking a shower, while there is a tap that seem less useful. Maybe you could have used the extra 2 studs room that you had on the side to make some nice lockers. That would also have been a good opportunity to give the build more of a scifi feel. Right now, it feels very much like what we know. It's recognizable, but doesn't feature anything 'new'. Those lights and speakers (?) are a step in the right direction, but I think there could be some more additions that would fit in better. Those lockers could have some control panels for instance, or instead of a regular tab there could be more advanced controls (if they have lightsabers, I imagine they have waterproof electronics as well!), or there could be a cleaning droid (maybe just like a mouse droid but with some mops etc.) waiting in some corner, or there could be a giant blower, making towels obsolete (maybe some trans red bars and lamps in that corridor?). It's great to see your 'everyday life in the Empire' style, but have fun building the future (or rather, a very distant past) as well: let your imagination run free.

Some of those tips can be applied to the past build as well. You could have shot it so that you don't see the end of the street, an din some shots you could even have omitted the studs on the floor and the awkwardly fallen gentleman. I do like how you played with nighttime shadows and depth of field in your pictures. Maybe you could have given it some extra puch by shining a blacklight (if you have something similar) on that transparent cockpit piece, because trans pieces get some nice effects then, very suitable for a pub, I imagine. About the build itself, there are many little details I like, like that space parrot sign with creative parts usage, that little sewer grill/vent hidden in a little corner, antenna and even the use of those big 45° angled pieces so that we see no gaps there. But sadly, all of those nice details don't work together very well to make a great scene as a whole. It's already very good that you kept the design of the two buildings apart, with a lot of greebles on one and the sign central on the other. The angled column separating the two is great as well. Maybe it's the fact that both buildings have about the same color scheme, undecided if they want to be grey or blue. Maybe it's because the building on the right doesn't have a visible entrance or purpose. I have to admit I don't really know what makes me feel like those buildings aren't finished as one beautiful scene, despite their amazing details. I think the build could use some more depth though. The two facades (or at least, their respective floors) are on the same depth, and there is nothing in front of the buildings, not even some details like streetlights, sidewalks, garbage cans... So it all stays 'behind the screen'. Or you could try to introduce more angles, like an overhanging balcony, or more angles like on the far right. Just to make the architecture more interesting and existing more in 3d space. Or you could raise the entrance to one of the buildings, creating steps and even more levels.

It does me a great pleasure, however, to see that you already implemented small parts of what I suggested above. There are small angles, there is some depth... I only want to encourage you to experiment some more with different elements. Try something more extreme, something distinctive, without overdoing it. And while doing all that, don't loose aesthetics out of sight. Don't let your builds become a clutter of half finished techniques and elements, but have a clear vision of what you want to build to please our eyes. And to be honest, when looking at what you've presented us since this build, things are only getting better. So I hope you now have some extra inspiration!

Finally a small word on the story. I absolutely love it. It isn't anything spectacular, Hollywood sized... but it feels real. Even though I'm generally against the kind of military people you are portraying, I can honestly say I'm beginning to sympathize with your character, even after just those few (well, according to my measures at least) lines. I love your very personal take on Star Wars, and know that I eagerly read and watch what you come up with, even though I don't have the time to write something about it. It's great to have you here!

[Kodan Black]

My first BEAVeR post, it is like Christmas morning!

Always happy to get feedback!

Admittedly I do tend to worry more about the build and less about the photos until I need to take the photos. I've been trying to work more on thinking about the photography as I build, but I'm not always successful. I'm glad you noticed the shelf for the shampoo/soap. I admit I did think about the place for the towel/clothing but I failed to come up with a good solution so I sort of just barreled ahead with it as is. I tend to like my builds "complete" so I often struggle to do only part of a room. I like your suggestions on the heating lights for drying off, that would have been good. The red lights/speakers were meant to be warning klaxons in case of attack.

I agree with you on the past build, the building ended up lackluster. I wanted windows and felt that of my window parts those blue ones were the best choice, but admittedly it wasn't a good integration of the blue. I'm glad you noticed my little grate though, that was a bit of a hidden element that I thought was cool but it ended up being pretty much invisible. The photography ended up being a let down, I tried to make it a night scene but it most just came out being hard to see. Next time I'd photograph it in full light and post-process it into night time. I definitely needed more "clutter" to make it come off as a street scene in a city, it is far too clean.

I'm trying to progress my builds as I do more building and see more of all the great stuff in SoNE. I have a pretty clear vision of at least 2 episode's worth of freebuilds at this point, so hopefully my story progression is cohesive and builds into people connecting with my character.

Thanks for the well though out feedback, it really is amazing the effort you put into your posts. You notice all the smallest details and really go over the builds with a fine toothed comb! Your posts are always worth the wait.