Project
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Zombite Fighter Aircraft - Thunderbirds
Year
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2022
Category
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Industrial Designer
Set designer
3D Artist
Synopsis
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The final project to an advanced CAD course, Using Fusion and Blender I recreated the Zombite Jet Fighters from 1965's Thunderbirds, crafting environments around them.
Telling a story
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A window to a world
My goal was not just to recreate the original jets from Thunderbirds, but to also offer a glimpse into their world and tell a story through them. These vehicles are intricately designed, both in form and finish, which reflects their intended function. In the episode "The Uninvited", the jets emerge from the desert and attack Thunderbird 1 as a warning. Their environment contrasts sharply with their sleek appearance, and I wanted to emphasize this by making the aircraft appear weathered and aged—covered in sand and dust, with faded paint and streaked intakes. My aim was to ensure these models embodied the gritty, worn aesthetic of the original Thunderbirds series.
Process
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Tackling A miniature
in 3D
I approached this project as a miniature diorama, first constructing the jets and then building an environment around them to provide context and place them within a scene. All modeling was done in Fusion 360, and the models were then imported into Blender, where I applied custom texture nodes. I carefully considered not only the environmental effects on the jets but also how they would wear over time, matching textures and finishes to the panels and components. The hanger bay was designed using a similar process, with attention to detail in recreating the gritty, worn environments seen in Thunderbirds.
