Ship modeling

[hman]

I'm sort of new to this been off and on now for a year mostly off I can't devote the time I would like to because of work and such. Anyway what is the best way to start a ship model like what method should I use to create the hull or are there any good tutorials out there. Thanks for the answers and I might have more questions later.

[FitArtistSF]

I'm sort of new to this been off and on now for a year mostly off I can't devote the time I would like to because of work and such. Anyway what is the best way to start a ship model like what method should I use to create the hull or are there any good tutorials out there. Thanks for the answers and I might have more questions later.

Sounds like the same situation I've been in for 3 years...If I could just nail down a ship's hull, that's 95% of my model...everything else is much easier...

I know getting the site back up and running is very important, but remember, Martocticus, you promised a tut sometime in the near future, since you have become a very good hull modeller....but no hurry, get the site going again....

[Martocticvs]

Hmm I did promise didn't I? OK well when I'm not doing anything else, I'll sit down and put one together then. Won't be just yet but I will do it!

[Lukem]

I'll be looking forward to that then Martocticvs!

[Archetype]

mmm martok perhaps we should colaborate one ?
getting best of both worlds then as you work with weights and i work with pure poly's and smoothing groups "basicly weighting but a slightly different aproach

[Martocticvs]

Yeah thats not a bad idea - plus I usually deal with wooden hulls rather than steel ones so there's another element there as well.

[Archetype]

ok but id want to get the modeling done for the GZ first

this means some slight work on the superstructure and a/a only

airplanes will be set on hold untill my side of the tut is done :)

ill base mine for the bismarcks hull as its not that bad to model " no billions of portholes and a good set of references help alot ;)


this also since if i can illustrate another way to work of a set of prints

not crossections but a normal lining plan, although i did use the corssections for cross reference

that plus it gives me a shiny new hull to build my 4th bismarck on lol ^^

[Martocticvs]

Or will that be the 5th? hehe

[nistrum]

the making of the hull depends mostly on the detail in your ref matirial. if you have bulkhead cross sections your half way there. i tend to plan my hulls with nurbs, i trace the hull sections in nurbs curves, place them along the hull and depending on my mood either loft the nurbs into the hull shape and convert the hulls to poly or just model arround the nurbs, it mostly depends on what level of detail is requires. eg. torpedo tubes. ooh ui always use nurbs for wooden hulled ships, so i can cut holes into them for the gunports etc

[Chukk]

I usually follow the box modeling method, so I am really interested in how you work with those nurbs, make sound too easy! Sorry Nistrum, sounds like you'll have to put up a little tut for us on that one. :)

[nistrum]

hahaha sure. im rusty on my max but i know it works in max too. id write it up now but im packing to go away for 5 days. i use the same idea for planes too. if no one can explain it by the time i get back ill write up a quick tute, sorry just bad timing :p

[Spinner]

OK
Five days are up!
C'mon, c'mon, enquiring minds want to know!:lol:
Seriously, trial and error sux. I feel I'm re-inventing the wheel here and know that I'm just tracing steps you guys must've gone through.
Even a brief outline of your process would help.

[Lord Ravensburg]

any one get around to that Hull making Tut yet?

[Skyraider3D]

First off I'm not a ship builder, but cross sections are cross sections, no matter what the subject :)
I would model one cross section from a circle (with the end caps deleted). Then clone and model all the other cross sections. Then join them up and adjust so it matches the top and side views nicely. This is how I modelled my P-51 and CA-15.

Alternatively if using 3DSMAX draw the profiles as splines and use the cross section Modifier to join them up. Make sure the splines have equal segments and the first vertex is always in the same place and the splines have the same direction (i.e. best clone your first one and work from there). Then the Surface modifier to make it a mesh. If making a low-poly mesh that you will subdivide later, use the push modifier to compensate for the 'shrinking'. This is how I did the fuselage on my Corsair.

For ships things may get a bit more complicated if there is a bullet shaped extension at the front, so you have a double cross setcion. This actually also applied to my P-51 and CA-15 models which had an extended air scoop under the wing. Best model the items seperately then join them up manually.

[Lord Ravensburg]

Thanks, makes sense..

[edbardet]

Just thought I'd throw in 2 cents worth. Modeled with splines based on station lines from blueprints. No mesh work. C4D

[3eighty]

Go take a look at this hull modeling program its free and great...http://www.freeship.org/

[FitArtistSF]

3eighty, The Freeship program has already been discussed in other forums here at MM. Check out the USS Niagara thread.....;)

[Skyraider3D]

Do you think FreeShip may also be of use building floats for water planes or even whole flying boat hulls? These shapes have these steps in them, which the program may not be able to support.

[FitArtistSF]

All you can do is try it. Build the lower half like you would a ship's hull and keel, then instead of keeping the sides straight like a ship bring them close together. The program shows an example of an automobile (specifically a VW Beetle) that can be built, so I would think with a little work a Catalina PBY or the floats for other planes should be possible. ;)

[Spinner]

Yep.
I did an edo float as an exercise a couple of months ago.

[Skyraider3D]

Cool :)
Can you post a screenshot perhaps? Getting quite curious about this...

[Spinner]

Yeah, sure. My laptop is standing in for my mother's puter while hers is uts, so it'll be a couple of days.
Freeship lets you add vertex and edge lines to build faces, so it can build most shapes. Just it calls the top half a 'deck'. It's a bit unweildy for general modelling though. Tools are really designed for boat hulls in a simpe modeller. Even a modeller like AC3D is far more flexable for general stuff.