Which methods to use
-
I'm about to start work on a 40 Ford model, and I need some advice on how to go about building the fenders. Up to now I have concentrated on learning SU by building cars from the 50's and 60's, much easier to build, but what I really like are the ones from the 30's and 40's, with their beautiful shapes. But this means building a lot of rounded shapes, like the fenders, and I'm not sure how to best go about this. I can get it done and the final result looks ok, but it's a painstaking process and it ends up looking like someone threw-up a bunch of polygons into a fender-shaped mold, no rhyme or reason like some of the models I've seen on the Warehouse, where the polys are minimal, neat and orderly and it looks like someone actually knew what they were doing. With the wealth of plugins available, I need some advice on which ones would best lend themselves to this task, and if possible maybe some suggestions on how to get started. I can't keep wasting my time using my crude methods, so any help would be very much appreciated.
-
Not sure but some of this guy's videos might help you.
http://www.youtube.com/user/ixlrlxi#p/u/16/QL07Z2ljGe0 -
I think this is the same guy, he really makes some crazy hotrods:
http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=en&js=y&u=http%3A%2F%2Fixlrlxi.livejournal.com%2F113673.html%23cutid1&sl=ru&tl=en&history_state0=
it is translated from Russian, but it´s richly illustrated, so it should´t be a problem. -
Hi, hellnbak
I think it would be a lot easier to help if you could attach an image of what you´re trying to accomplish.
One thing I don´t understand - if you can get it done, and it looks OK, how can it look like someone "threw-up a bunch of polygons"? Why is it a painstaking process? Because you´re hand-stitching it, or...?
I don´t consider myself a car modeling expert, but when it comes to modeling such rounded - I would even say "organic" - shapes, maybe Fredo´s Curviloft, TIG´s Extrude Tools or even Artisan could help.
And I really look forward to seeing that oldie in the gallery - the older, the better
-
Sorry, had to go to Ohio for a few days.
Numbthumb, if by "hand-stitching" you mean do I draw each individual line and polygon, yes, that's what I do. I can do that in such a way that they are neat and orderly, but by the time I finish shaping the object, by moving each individual poly this way and that (thank God for Smustard's "Nudge" plugin) they take on the "throw-up" look I mentioned. It's not that I care that they end up looking that way, it's just that by looking at other people's models I can tell they are using methods that are obviously much more time-efficient than mine. I've attached an example. Looks almost organic. I would kill to be able to model like that.
humpmetwice, thanks for the tip about the videos, but I've downloaded and watched every video I could find about building cars in SU, some are helpful but for the most part they don't explain how they are doing what they are doing, they just seem to want to amaze people with their abilities. They frustrate more than they help, for the most part.
I do appreciate your input. Somewhat disappointed that out of the many talented and knowledgeable people on this forum no one else seemed to think my question deserved a response. Just wanted a little help.
Thanks again, I'll get it done, one way or another.
-
Can you share a link of the car you are trying to model? Do you have front and side orthos ref images?
I would certainly use Artisan to model a car. Check out this thread:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=335&t=35730 -
@hellnbak said:
humpmetwice, thanks for the tip about the videos, but I've downloaded and watched every video I could find about building cars in SU, some are helpful but for the most part they don't explain how they are doing what they are doing, they just seem to want to amaze people with their abilities. They frustrate more than they help, for the most part.
They inspire me, I look at it like this an artist can't tell you exactly how to paint a portrait but you can look at his work and get inspiration from it. Just as I look at the drawing you have so far and dream of the day that I might be able to accomplish the amount you have already, Plus I love old cars as well!
-
Just bought, downloaded and installed Artisan. Couldn't get the videos in the link to work, kept freezing on me, but I did some research and it sounds like a fantastic program! Now all I need to do is learn how to use it. No sleep for me tonite
Advertisement