Using the Vertex Weld Modifier

Refining the Airplane

Using Soft Selection

 

Autodesk 3ds Max Tutorials >  Modeling Tutorials > Refining the Airplane > 

Using the Editable Poly Tools

3ds Max has a set of handy editable poly tools that improve the way you can clean up and add detail to your models.

This set of lessons focuses on several tools.

Set up the lesson:

• Open low_poly_p38_02.max from the tutorials\p38_lightning folder.

Detail the air intakes:

The first detail you'll add are the air intakes on the sponsons of your Lightning. The sponson is the long extension between the wings and the tail section of the airplane.

1. In the Right viewport, Zoom Region around the sponson between the wing and tail.

   

2. Select the object, Lightning.
3. Go to the Modify panel and click the Editable Poly entry in the modifier stack.
   NoteHalf of the airplane disappears because you're working at a lower level in the modifier stack.
4. Click the Show End Result On/Off Toggle button that is located along the bottom of the modifier stack.

   Turning on this toggle lets you see the results of additional modifiers all way up the modifier stack. You now see the other half of the airplane generated by the Symmetry modifier that was used in the sample file you opened for this lesson.

5. On the Selection rollout, click the Polygon button and make sure Ignore Backfacing is off.
6. Activate the Select Object tool and drag a window across the three polygons in the center of the sponson. Make sure the polygons at the top and bottom are not selected.

   

   Because Ignore Backfacing is off, you've also selected the same three polygons on the other side of the sponson, for a total of six.

   TipTo see the selected polygons displayed in red, press F2.
7. On the Edit Polygons rollout, click the Settings button next to the Bevel tool.

   The Bevel Polygon dialog appears.

   

8. Set the Height to 7” and the Outline Amount to –3.5”. Click OK.

   

   The air intake starts to take form.

   Using the Symmetry modifier ensures that changes you make to the original half of the airplane are automatically reflected in the mirrored half.

   

9. Make sure Select Object is still active, and then click the Grow button on the Selection rollout.

   Grow increases the polygon selection to include polygons that share a common edge.

   

10. While holding down the Alt key, drag a window across the middle set of polygons to deselect them. Select only the polygons on the left and right, as viewed in the Right viewport.

    

11. Click the Settings button next to the Inset tool in the Edit Polygons rollout.

    The Inset Polygon dialog appears.

    

12. Set the Inset Amount to 1.5” and click OK.

    

    Inset creates new polygons from the current selection by offsetting their edges toward the inside.

13. Click the Settings button next to the Extrude tool in the Edit Polygons rollout.

    The Extrude Polygon dialog appears.

    

14. Set the Extrusion Height to –5” and click OK.

    

    The air intakes are now complete. Next, you'll build some engine exhaust ports.

15. Save your scene as mylightning02.

Add engine exhaust ports:

Next, you'll add exhaust ports to either side of the forward section of the sponson near the propellers. Continue with the model you saved during the previous exercise, or open low_poly_p38_03.max. If you load this file, select the airplane, go to the Modify panel, and access the Polygon sub-object level of Editable Poly.

1. In the Top viewport, use Region Zoom to zoom into the right-side engine/propeller section.

   

2. Make sure the Show End Result On/Off Toggle button at the bottom of the modifier stack is on.
3. Turn on Select Object and select the polygons at the left and right sides of the engine housing. If selected polygons do not appear in red, press the F2 key on the keyboard.

   

4. Activate the Right viewport and use Region Zoom to center the view around the engine section. If necessary, deselect polygons until only the topmost polygons on the engine housing are selected. Press F2 to display selected polygons in red.

   

5. Click the Settings button next to the Inset tool in the Edit Polygons rollout.

   The Inset Polygon dialog appears.

   

6. Set the Inset Amount to 3.5” and click OK.

   

7. In the Top viewport, select only the inside polygon, as shown in the following illustration.

   

8. Click the Settings button next to the Hinge From Edge tool in the Edit Polygons rollout.

   

9. Click the Pick Hinge button. In the Top viewport, select the left edge of the selected polygon, as viewed from the top. From a “normal” orientation, this is the bottom edge.

   The button text changes to Edge 1051. This will cause a hinged face to be created at this edge.

10. Set the Angle value to 45 and click OK. The hinged face is created.

    

11. Select the outside polygon.
12. Repeat the Hinge procedure using the right edge, Edge 1057, as the hinge.
13. Save your scene as mylightning03.max.

    

    View of the engine exhaust ports you've added