thanks for all the supportive comments

to pick out a few comments to reply to, i'll add:

fletch: no i didn't use photomatch, as it was really just an exercise in getting to grips with the basics which SU offers - moving around without the use of view ports of any kind is a little "odd", but as SU is so easy to ckick and drag, i found i got used to it easily. Also, the ability to toggle hide/unhide was invaluable with the arm sections.

stefan: glad u noticed the top image wasn't my doing - materials were from the standard pallet - couldn't find a decent black reflective glass though.

and you'll note i didn't bother with the corner sections - lazy i know, but as i say it was just an exercise to dust off the rust of 3d modelling.

i noted elsewhere someone had designed a robot arm with control pad - which i thought might be a good addition to wall-e, you know make him move on screen? but as this would no doubt involve sketchy physics (which i've not looked into in great detail) i thought might be a little beyond my ken for the moment.

Mike: it was fun - especially as it gave my 6 yr old son the chance to have a go with the basics of SU - definitely something i want to encourage - the future generation of design experts can do so much with tools such as these (and he picked it up so intuitively it's scary!!!).

all in all, son distracting me included, it took maybe 5-6 hours.

the head piece i'm not happy with and the angle i took the snap from doesn't do the model justice enough, but i'm eager to see the actual movie - so both my son and i can be "wowed" by how the professionals do things.

my next project is to recreate the office i built at the foot of the garden. The actual construction took about 6 months of hard labour and brick-laying, so if the SU modelling process is any quicker, i'll be chuffed

thanks again for all your nice comments!

i still feel like a duck out of water, somewhat

but here's to swimming with the big fish here!

warm regards to all
j.A.g

ok so i make no claims about how accurate this is, but Ross suggested i post a pic of the Wall-E model i did to get to grips with SU, never having used it before

i know - a bit naff, but it was a quick exercise in getting to know the tool /command layout and way SU works - plus whenever my 6 yr old son started hassling me, at least it was something he could enjoy the development of, on screen.

@solo said:

Welcome to SCF Jim.

I am sure you will enjoy your stay and learn much from many seasoned users and before you know it you too will be offering advice.

thnx. i'm just awed at the skills present here and the excellent tutorials.
i'm just going to take things slow & easy and re-learn that which i'd forgotten.

glad to be aboard

jim

hey all!

i'm jim from the uk and i'm new here and to SU - downloaded it last friday, after struggling with some naff 3D animation progs over the years. I learnt 2D drafting and wireframes (A-CAD) in my 20's for hobbyist purposes, went on to 3dS and then got diverted in life (marriage, kids etc). Now i've found SU, played a little, to help shake off the rust and ended up by replicating a little "Wall-E" character/model for my 6 yr old son!! now looking to get into making buildings and very intrigued by the sketchyphysics plug in which i just installed.

looks like the learning curve is there, but thanks to the expertise here, possibly not as steep.

and i may not even get to use my favourite 3d modelling term of the early 90's : Non Uniform Rational B-Splines (ok, so that time doesn't count, does it?).

i might not be able to offer much in the way of advice, but i am keen to learn

cheers to all
jim / jAg