I added vents to the scoops (previously called protectors). The vents on the front scoop face forward, while the ones on the back scoop face backward. I'm probably done with actually designing the pod, so I went ahead and exported it to iClone, so I can begin texturing it. I could've textured it in Max, but exporting a textured model to iClone might have messed up the textures a bit, so it's better to just texture it in iClone.

 I decided to just get rid of the interior and darken the window, so details of the inside wouldn't really be visible from the outside. The interior was just causing too many problems and was taking too long to make. I'll probably make the window "transparent-able" when I have a scene that shows the inside from the outside and do a workaround, when needed.

I also added a couple of protectors to the hull to help protect the pod from collisions. I'll probably edit them so that they can double as scoops.

 

 I made the ceiling of the pod and extended it and the floor into the cockpit. I tried to extend the cockpit area of the ceiling downward to make the walls next to the window, but the way I did it didn't work out. I'll probably just add separate objects to make those walls.

I really want to get the interior done, so I can start adding the controls and seat(s). That'll probably happen soon-ish.

The new version of the pod is less ship-like and more pod-like. Initially, it probably won't have thrusters. I think I'll have those as something that will need to be fabricated as modules in a later episode.

I'm currently trying to decide how I want the interior walls, ceiling and floor to be. I'd like for them to not be part of the inner hull, so they could form a rectangular room, leaving space behind the walls and floor for unseen circuitry and mechanical parts, to give the pod a more-realistic design.

Things haven't really been progressing quickly, but everything will start to come together eventually.

I'm going to see if I can record and export podLife at 1280x720, which I'm hoping Corel VideoStudio can do fairly quickly. I saw a comparison chart and it was the fastest at rendering, so I ordered a physical copy which should arrive on Wednesday. It had a downloadable version, but the activation code wouldn't work with the last downloadable editing software I bought, so I'm not going to risk it again. Hopefully, VideoStudio will work out. Premiere Elements was listed as one of the slowest at rendering and my ancient version of Premiere probably wouldn't cut it.

 I think I'm going to redesign the pod in order to support modular expansion, meaning the pod would gather raw materials with a scoop until it had enough to fabricate an extra compartment, like a sleeping area. I'm probably just going to scrap the current design.

 I downloaded some textures for the pod and edited them, so that they would mirror seamlessly. I wanted to capture my own textures from various things I have, but downloading was more convenient. I still might capture my own, if the ones I now have don't work out, but it will probably be a mix of downloaded and original.