Calling all 3D modelers! HEEEELP!!!

Dowly · 02-05-09, 07:06 AM

Okie, I've started to finally work on trying to learn the darn hellspawn, 3DS Max. I decided to make Tiger tank treads as my first real work, but I ran into a problem on the finishing stages of it.

The treads themselves are ready, but the problem is the PathDeform, some of the treads are stretched. So, is this because there's not enough treads (I made one tread and copied it x80 times and attached them all together) or is this normal behaviour for the PathDeform tool?

Letum · 02-05-09, 08:28 AM

What version of max are you using?
Can you send me the scene or objects you are having problems with?

Letum · 02-05-09, 08:38 AM

Path deform doesn't strike me as the best way to do this.

It will bend the individual tracks.

Have you considered a path constraint controller. This will take a little more time, but might be better for what you need.

*edit* I just made a scene with some tracks and the path constraint controller works great.
This is defiantly the way to go as far as I can see and it is so easy to keyframe.

1) Make one track segment
2) Draw the Track spline
3) Assign a Path constraint position controller to the segment with 'allow upside down' ON and 'follow' ON
4) Check it runs along the path where you want it to because it will be hard to edit this path later *edit* Actually, not that hard.
5) Copy the segment and go to keyframe 0.
6) Tweak the 'along path %age' until it is the right distance from the first segment
7) Repeat 5,6 and 7 until all the track is done
8) Key frame all the 'along path %age' together whilst maintaining the distances
9) Profit

My test ended up looking like this:

kranz · 02-05-09, 09:44 AM

here's a tutorial found some time ago
http://www.3dk.org/tutorial/3ds-max-...nk-tracks.html

but dunno if it helps you

Letum · 02-05-09, 09:51 AM

I'm guessing thats the one Dowly tried to follow.

It has the same problems. The track segments are being bent, squashed, stretched and
clipped.
See:
http://www.3dk.org/images/tutorials/tank_tracks/8.jpg

PathDeform just isn't the right tool for this unless you need something with low detail
and short modeling times.

Dowly · 02-05-09, 10:07 AM

@Kranz

Yup, I used bits from that tutorial.

@Letum

I'll try what you mentioned, but at the moment, I got it looking pretty good with the PathDeform thingy, just had to scale the path to get it just right.

As from the bending, that doesnt bother me that much, it's pretty subtle and hard to see with what I have now. And this is still untextured, with the texture on and dirt and all other poo, it's gonna be hard to see the bending and twisting.

Ow and that pic you posted Letum, that's the case of the path being too small in scale, so the treads overlap each other.

Right, now I have to go and start it from a scratch, with more details.

Iceman · 02-06-09, 12:07 AM

Hey Bro

For years I have gone to a site called Renderosity...

A site dedicated to the finished product of an artists work each program having it's own forum and it has one for 3d studio max...

I use maya but most of them are interchangable with each other...model wise...anyways go there and post your specific question in the Max forum there and the other bros there I'm sure will help you out.

It's free to join...maybe you already know about it but in case you dont.

Wow I see there is a guy in there who worked on a tank scene...you'll see it. Tank Animation

Dowly · 02-06-09, 10:03 AM

Thanks mate!

I'll definitely have a look at the boards! I've been doing few tutorials from tutorialized and modeling doesnt seem to be so difficult that I though it was. Definitely easier to learn than Photoshop.

One thing I dont get in all these modeling programs is why cant they be simpler? You know, if you ever used the Build map editor for Duke Nukem 3D, why couldnt 3Ds Max for example be similar to that? Of course with more functions than Build had.

Letum · 02-06-09, 10:58 AM

Simplicity always constricts functionality.

XabbaRus · 02-06-09, 11:10 AM

Oh letum I didn't know you were a 3d whiz. Maybe you can help me with a model I am making of a revamped Oscar II.

Dowly · 02-06-09, 12:11 PM

Okie, here's the omg so farking cool Tiger tank's treads I made.

(The shape's not the final, just a quicky to show them and I know the treads are pointing the wrong way, the other side had some streching.)

Reference:

And the model:

FIREWALL · 02-06-09, 12:23 PM

You guys never cease to amaze me with the skills you all have.

I wish I could do stuff like that.

Dowly · 02-06-09, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIREWALL

You guys never cease to amaze me with the skills you all have.

I wish I could do stuff like that.

Like I said, this was the first "real work" of mostly my own. Before this, I only have done a pencil (a cylinder with a pointy end

) in 3DS max.

Letum · 02-06-09, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XabbaRus

Oh letum I didn't know you were a 3d whiz. Maybe you can help me with a model I am making of a revamped Oscar II.

Sure, sent me a pm.

FIREWALL · 02-06-09, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dowly

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIREWALL

You guys never cease to amaze me with the skills you all have.

I wish I could do stuff like that.

Like I said, this was the first "real work" of mostly my own. Before this, I only have done a pencil (a cylinder with a pointy end

) in 3DS max.

Looking forward Dowly to see it when it's done.

btw I'm lousy with a pencil too.

02-05-09, 07:06 AM	#1
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,052 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	Calling all 3D modelers! HEEEELP!!! Okie, I've started to finally work on trying to learn the darn hellspawn, 3DS Max. I decided to make Tiger tank treads as my first real work, but I ran into a problem on the finishing stages of it. The treads themselves are ready, but the problem is the PathDeform, some of the treads are stretched. So, is this because there's not enough treads (I made one tread and copied it x80 times and attached them all together) or is this normal behaviour for the PathDeform tool?

02-05-09, 08:28 AM	#2
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	What version of max are you using? Can you send me the scene or objects you are having problems with? __________________

02-05-09, 08:38 AM	#3
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Path deform doesn't strike me as the best way to do this. It will bend the individual tracks. Have you considered a path constraint controller. This will take a little more time, but might be better for what you need. edit I just made a scene with some tracks and the path constraint controller works great. This is defiantly the way to go as far as I can see and it is so easy to keyframe. 1) Make one track segment 2) Draw the Track spline 3) Assign a Path constraint position controller to the segment with 'allow upside down' ON and 'follow' ON 4) Check it runs along the path where you want it to because it will be hard to edit this path later edit Actually, not that hard. 5) Copy the segment and go to keyframe 0. 6) Tweak the 'along path %age' until it is the right distance from the first segment 7) Repeat 5,6 and 7 until all the track is done 8) Key frame all the 'along path %age' together whilst maintaining the distances 9) Profit My test ended up looking like this: __________________ Last edited by Letum; 02-05-09 at 09:17 AM.

02-05-09, 09:51 AM	#5
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	I'm guessing thats the one Dowly tried to follow. It has the same problems. The track segments are being bent, squashed, stretched and clipped. See: http://www.3dk.org/images/tutorials/tank_tracks/8.jpg PathDeform just isn't the right tool for this unless you need something with low detail and short modeling times. __________________

02-06-09, 10:58 AM	#9
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Simplicity always constricts functionality. __________________

02-05-09, 09:44 AM	#4
kranz The Old Man Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Poland Posts: 1,430 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	here's a tutorial found some time ago http://www.3dk.org/tutorial/3ds-max-...nk-tracks.html but dunno if it helps you

02-05-09, 10:07 AM	#6
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,052 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	@Kranz Yup, I used bits from that tutorial. @Letum I'll try what you mentioned, but at the moment, I got it looking pretty good with the PathDeform thingy, just had to scale the path to get it just right. As from the bending, that doesnt bother me that much, it's pretty subtle and hard to see with what I have now. And this is still untextured, with the texture on and dirt and all other poo, it's gonna be hard to see the bending and twisting. Ow and that pic you posted Letum, that's the case of the path being too small in scale, so the treads overlap each other. Right, now I have to go and start it from a scratch, with more details.

02-06-09, 12:07 AM	#7
Iceman Ace of the Deep Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Mesa AZ, Arizona, USA Posts: 1,253 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Hey Bro For years I have gone to a site called Renderosity... A site dedicated to the finished product of an artists work each program having it's own forum and it has one for 3d studio max... I use maya but most of them are interchangable with each other...model wise...anyways go there and post your specific question in the Max forum there and the other bros there I'm sure will help you out. It's free to join...maybe you already know about it but in case you dont. Wow I see there is a guy in there who worked on a tank scene...you'll see it. Tank Animation

02-06-09, 10:03 AM	#8
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,052 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	Thanks mate! I'll definitely have a look at the boards! I've been doing few tutorials from tutorialized and modeling doesnt seem to be so difficult that I though it was. Definitely easier to learn than Photoshop. One thing I dont get in all these modeling programs is why cant they be simpler? You know, if you ever used the Build map editor for Duke Nukem 3D, why couldnt 3Ds Max for example be similar to that? Of course with more functions than Build had.

02-06-09, 11:10 AM	#10
XabbaRus Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 5,330 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Oh letum I didn't know you were a 3d whiz. Maybe you can help me with a model I am making of a revamped Oscar II. __________________

02-06-09, 12:11 PM	#11
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,052 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	Okie, here's the omg so farking cool Tiger tank's treads I made. (The shape's not the final, just a quicky to show them and I know the treads are pointing the wrong way, the other side had some streching.) Reference: And the model:

02-06-09, 12:23 PM	#12
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	You guys never cease to amaze me with the skills you all have. I wish I could do stuff like that. __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???