Setting up drawings in MAX

[XabbaRus]

I see you guys build models by loading reference drawings into MAX as guide to getting the shape right.

I'm assuming you do this by applying the image to a plane in the right axis and lining them up.

How do you set the size of the plane you are going to use to the size of the image so it doesn't get distorted?

[Cobra8472]

I simply utilize the size that 1 pixel = 1 unit inside 3ds max. So I set up the planes to be 1200 width, 800 height if the corresponding blueprint is 1200 width and 800height.

EDIT: You can then uniformally scale everything to get the correct unit height/width for the aircraft if you're putting it into an engine.

What is important to note is that you're going to have to edit your drawings in photoshop (or similar) so that they end exactly where the drawing of the aircraft ends- otherwise the pixel sizes won't be the same.

Also, keep in mind to use the coordinate movement system so that you don't get minor inaccuracies by moving and rotating by hand.

Good luck :)

[japme]

One thing that makes it even easier, is to have good high res blueprints and cross sections. This sight is in Russian, but it is the motherlode for VERY high res blueprints and cross...

http://www.airwar.ru/other/draw.html

All of those are different classes of aircraft, if you can't figure out which is which, scroll down until you find the british or american aircraft, they are near the lower middle of the lists.

Hope this helps as well.

[kevjon]

There is some discussion about it in this thread also
http://www.military-meshes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72

A good size that works well in Max is to scale you blueprints in PS so that 1 pixel in PS equals 1cm in real life. Most WWII fighters have a wingspan of about 1200cm so your image will be about 1200 pixels wide which is a good size to work with in Max. Also set the units in max to cm if you decide to do it this way.

If you stick to this system all you models will also be proportionally correct to each other.

[Cobra8472]

There is some discussion about it in this thread also
http://www.military-meshes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72

A good size that works well in Max is to scale you blueprints in PS so that 1 pixel in PS equals 1cm in real life. Most WWII fighters have a wingspan of about 1200cm so your image will be about 1200 pixels wide which is a good size to work with in Max. Also set the units in max to cm if you decide to do it this way.

If you stick to this system all you models will also be proportionally correct to each other.


Good advice.

No idea why the hell I'm still using my stupid uniformally scale method, heh

[XabbaRus]

Cheers, I speak Russian so that site will be no problem for me.