Virtual Nautilus

Fun & Games
Virtual Nautilus
nautilus1.jpg
nautilus2.jpg
nautilus3.jpg

While the renders look a little dated, it’s hard not to appreciate the passion put into this recreation of Jules Verne’s iconic submarine. Even the boring rooms are mapped out and recreated in 3D!

I began the effort to develop a complete set of detailed source files for the Nautilus in 2001, when I acquired my first computer, and my first copy of modeling software, Bryce4, followed by the addition of 3dStudio in 2003…I would estimate conservatively that to date I have invested a minimum of 5000 hours in the project over the past 9 years; not all of that on creating the basic file sets, but rather a lions’ share spent on constantly updating/improving/adding detail to the original files, which took roughly three years to create. It’s a labor of love, inspired by the Disney movie 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and nurtured over the decades since by repeated readings of Verne’s novel to glean every nuance possible of the vessel’s design and construction, along with insights into Nemo’s personality and motivations.

16 thoughts on “Virtual Nautilus

  1. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kc-bike says:

    Jules Verne, not H.G. Wells.

  2. Bob A. says:

    “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” was by Jules Verne, not H.G. Wells.

  3. John Baichtal says:

    DOH

  4. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kc-bike says:

    It’s okay, we all make mistakes. I loved playing with Bryce 3 back in the day. I can only imagine how long it took to render all these shots.

  5. brianmars says:

    The 90’s called. They want their texture maps back.

    1. Carnes says:

      I don’t think you remember the 90’s graphics very well. I think the renderings are good but the lighting is off. There is some ambient type shadows on everything but no local shadows.

      The fountain in the middle of the room is too funny.. to be surrounded by water and then invite some of it in. The sound of trickling water in a submarine would keep me up at night, hah. Veat neat

  6. https://me.yahoo.com/a/dRIwpuUEgv8AF5d1Co_6ifQ8h.pzC.w-#88088 says:

    A friend of mine has done a very good 3D representation of the Nautilus at his site scifisteve.com.

    Bit of a pain to navigate, but once you get to the pictures it’s worth it.

    1. Steve says:

      Hi, I am Scifisteve, and I appreciate the above comment.

      My Nautilus is based on a combination of Disney’s movie and of course the book by Jules Vern. There is some scale to the ship, Its some 26 feet in diameter, a 10 sided cigar shaped ship and approx. 260 feet in length. My favorite room is the pump room because I have animated the movement on the pumps.

      Hope you visit soon, enjoy and leave E-Mails.

      Scifisteve

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My interests include writing, electronics, RPGs, scifi, hackers & hackerspaces, 3D printing, building sets & toys. @johnbaichtal nerdage.net

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