New to 3D modeling, need all the help I can get

[hamishdean]

Hi all,

I'll being by saying I am new to the world of 3D. It's always been a dream of mine to create model cars after salivating at some of the brilliant models I've seen on the web over the years. Well, this is the year I have finally said to myself, "Time to learn Max".

I've only played around with Max a few times over the years but have recently downloaded, sat down and watched a heap load of tutorials on modeling, rendering, etc.

I'd like to think I know most of the basics already and have attempted for a third time , my first car model. Smoothing really seems to get me though and I find it sometimes a little tricky.

I'm currently modeling an 86 Mazda RX-7 due to the squarish body, which I felt more comfortable with as opposed to some of the other highly detailed vehicles out there.

So far, I've started with the bonnet and the front headlight - set up for symmetry later on. As you will see from the pictures, there is a slightly extruded line popping up on the side of the bonnet (took me ages to get right) and rounded corners where applicable.

Anyway, my first question is, have I modeled the bonnet correctly? Have I gone about the extrusion in the right way? and what is the "Correct" way to sharpen smoothed areas/corners with chamfer?

I always seem to get myself stuck when chamfering an edge to make it shaper because I end up with 5-sided polygons! I find that if I chamfer a complete "looped" line, any height difference between those lines will show up. How the hell are you supposed to do it??

I'd love you guys to help me out with some tips, tricks and general rules.
Thank you!

[minimus]

OK let see if we can help you out.

First of al i dont know much about cars but some about max ^^

you say you know the basics.

butt i tell you som anyways ^^

When you are modeling with polys try always keep it square. (4 sided) you are alowed to have some (3sided) but if you can get away without using it that would be the best.

with car modeling its nice to use the NURMS smoothing under the Subdivison surface inn the editable poly tabs.

the most used tools when your modeling cars is:

-weld and target weld

-Chamfer

-Conect

-Cut

- and "shift move edges" makes an extrution on that edge.

and it is two ways to gett sharp edges the best way is to chamfer så the edges lies close to eachother. the other way is to putt inn smoothing groups. (if you knpw what that is)

1 tip when using chamfer: always after chamfering, go over the corners to see if there have bin made any 3 sided polygons if it have then just weld them togheter and that problem solwed.

I hope some one with car modeling experience can help out to but what i know about car modeling is that its really importatnt that the bluprints stands corectly, and it's always smart to putt that on a separat layer and free them so you dont select them and move them.

tips:
1- freeze the blue prints
2- model in user mode not perspective.
3- use all the angels when modeling
4- use dont select backfacing so you dont exedently move somthing.
5- model half the car and then use symetry.
6- when making the doors and other parts use detach tool so you know the part you are detaching is going to fitt the car.
7-try keep the car clean
8- apply a material with a bitt of glosines so you can see eventualy distorsions when modeling.
9- use "alt + x" to go inn transparent mode.
10- sett up the shortcut keys like you want them to optimize your workflow.
11- take your time have funn ^^ 3d isn't somthing you learn over night or by reading tutorial. keep up the good work. and keep posting


Cheers: Minimus

[hamishdean]

Thanks minimus, some of those tips were pretty helpful.

One thing i don't understand fully though is chamfering corners or holes, etc. If I have a hole to be sharpened (eg. An indicator on a panel or bumper bar), which sides of it have to be chamfered? The inside or the outside? The Top or the bottom? The left or the right? I hope that makes sense...

Also, if I chamfer a hole, does the chamfer line continue right through a car body or plane rather than just around the hole? (which creates 5-sided polys from what i see)