ii think that the problems occur because of the way sketchup handles their models. and the picture i took from sketchup here was actually pretty bad… i could have put shadows from the faces to pit shadows on the model. the downside is that you cant have multiple lightsources, atleast as far as i know.
i think im gonna stick to sketchup for now, since the extra effort that is needed isnt really worth it…
I forgot, of course to tell u to use TEXTURES, not only the base materials of sketch up.
If u are working on very high resolution (as it seems) the sketchup direct output with base materials may will look better. But u will not be able to create reflections, lights, etc (only translucent materials).
And as i said, u cant get a decent render with just 1 or 2 tries. U need to learn how to get the best values of the rendering parameters, cuz it affects the final image.
And of course, u need to use textures, if u use a rusty iron texture for the hull, u should be interested in adding reflection to that surface, for example.
If u use a orange basic material in sketchup, and u use the same in kerkythea, the result, for obvious reasons is almost the same. The render engine is designed to apply realistic light proyections on the model, so its intended for use with textured models and models that have very specific type of materials (reflectoin materials, refraction materials, emissive materials, etc). For example, if i want a power generator , it will be great that the 3d model of the generator should emit some type of light, i cant do that with only sketchup, i need a render engine, that makes the lights pass inside-out trhough that specific material and create a emissive effect. Well, the vanilla races are rendered using a render engine, for example.
BTW Wat about a in-game top view screen?? that will be by far more accurate -.-
ive uploaded the destroyer in xml. and the textures, should work in the rendering program you use.
cuz, seriusly… im too lazy to get into it right now…
if you want, you can try and see what you can do with it 
Hmm, since as i said i dont use kerkythea, i cant make a render of the xml file. VRAY doesnt handle xml files. BTW, if the top view looks great, u can just avoid to using a render engine.
Or, you could make your models more complex and high polly…
they are going to be more complex… thats just a shot from a work in progress…
besides, like layers, its not the poly count that matters. its what you do with it…
I’m curious if any other players are considering following in ponyus’ footsteps with additional wallpapers to trumpet the achievements and camaraderie of the Friendly Community Mod Squad? This idea kinda got overshadowed by other topics and I think it deserves a second look.
just found out that there are a lot of renders on the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/album.php?id=150716033342&aid=147373
should help people get started on some more wallpapers 
But all of them are low-res…
Blast! didnt notice that -.-
Offtopic:
Winner of the 2011 community made mod contest (let the bragging begin >:D)
[size=200]LOL![/size]
darkstars idea… just sayin…
made another one out of boredom…
“There is nothing better then the smell of a newly crushed bug in the morning.”
everything is from sketchup. the terrain is actually in 3d! and then i experimented with effects in paint.net
turned out pretty good.
it also shows a style that im experimenting with the USSN.
heres the big one http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/5336/bughuntinthemorning.jpg
EDIT: made annother one
“sometimes you dont know why you do it, you just do it.”
OMG OMG OMG OMG!! orgasm
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW, I LOVE THEM!!! EPIC, just EPIC!! 
GW!!!
anothe one done 
“because sometimes you need someone bigger then you to finnish the job.”
i am thinking of splitting the USSN into sub-nodes too.
USSN (United systems star navy) white-orange
USMD (United systems mars defence) red -ish camo and orange. (image 1)
USSF (United systems special forces) black camo
USMF (United systems marine force)(unshure about name :/) green camo and brighter green (image 2 and 3)
and more…
ditto
if you want, you can add text to them. like “FCMS” at the top and then something catchy or cool at the bottom.
like for the 1st image you can add the name and then in small letters “theres nothing better then the smell of a newly crushed bug”
Nice idea, if i have time, i will do it later ^^
Can i be a chair-leader for TFCMS
