Subdivision challenge

[Steve Barrett]

I need this plane for a project and it seems like subdivision might be the perfect tool, but I have almost zero experience with that workflow.  Anyone open to building this for me or walking me through the steps to do so myself?

 

B21 Bomber.vwx

[Jeff Prince]

Have you considered purchasing one, the model, not the actual plane 🙂

 

https://www.cgtrader.com/3d-models/aircraft/military-aircraft/b-21-raider-lrs-b-next-generation-stealth-bomber

 

[Steve Barrett]

That looks amazing but at a 1/2 gig it's probably not going to suit my needs.  Thank you for the link, however.

[Jeff Prince]

20 minutes ago, Steve Barrett said:

That looks amazing but at a 1/2 gig it's probably not going to suit my needs.  Thank you for the link, however.

 

You can always make a high resolution model lighter to suit your purposes, or just find a lower resolution version.  There are 100s of that aircraft modeled to all kinds of LOD.

[Steve Barrett]

Thanks Jeff, I considered that approach as well but it has some pretty bad reviews.  A model for the B21 Raider has proven difficult to find - most of what comes up is the B2 Spirit which looks similar but is a different plane.  All the same, I'll keep looking and hope that someone more savvy that me shows interest in a subdivision option.  I'm not averse to paying for the model.

[Jeff Prince]

@Steve Barrett What did you ever do in regards to this modeling effort?

I was cleaning up my thread subscriptions today and decided to give it a try after watching the subdivision tutorial on Vectorworks university.

 

I tried modeling half the plane with a single subdivision and then mirror.

It's pretty hard to do so in my limited experience.

 

I think the easier path would be to model the wing structure, fuselage, and cockpit as separate subdivisions.  There are just so many curves and control points that it becomes difficult to control the geometry in one go.  Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in as it is an interesting problem to solve.

 

Side note: I did a little cheater thing and used a decal w/alpha channel on the right side model to clip the wing where I was having particular difficulty straightening the trailing edge of the wing.  It's no show quality ride and certainly a bit rougher than a 20' car 🙂

 

Anyhow, thanks for posting this thread as it motivated me to exercise the subdivision tool a bit.

 

[Peter Neufeld.]

On 9/18/2022 at 8:54 AM, jeff prince said:

I tried modeling half the plane with a single subdivision and then mirror.

 

 

Really excellent effort Jeff!

When you say 'then mirror' do you know about the mirror mode with the SubDiv tool? 

 

 

 

You have to turn 'Snap to Object' on to accurately get the correct mirror plane (then turn it off) but it's very cool editing the model and seeing the mirror doing exactly the same as the original.

 

Cheers,

Peter

 

 

 

 

[Jeff Prince]

Thanks @Peter Neufeld..

I did not explore that feature and used the old fashioned mirror 🙂

I'll have to give this new mirror method a try sometime!

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

Although subdivision is interesting as a Vectorworks visualization tool, I am assuming you don't need the Raider for a landscape design.  I am thinking you are exporting to another program.  If not, I stand corrected.   If you are exporting, then you need to break down your parts so they can be textured, or animated etc.  If this is the case, 3D modelling is going to be much easier.  The Bomber below was modelled in Vectorworks and sent to C4D.

 

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

My apologies, I got caught up in the Bomber design.  I should have posted this short tutorial.  I did this for a colleague several months ago.  I believe it shows how to build what you want with minimal requirements.

 

 

[Jeff Prince]

You stand corrected.

The purpose of this thread was to explore the subdivision tool to develop lighter geometry as an alternative to heavier modeling techniques.

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

Hi Jeff,

I did understand that, but when you brought up "have you considered purchasing the model", it opened the door to other alternatives.  It seemed that way anyway.

 

 

[Jeff Prince]

It get it, you are just trying to promote your YouTube channel.  Carryon.

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

I have several Youtube channels.  One has well over a million views and 4000 subscribers, but I do not monetize in any way. I am long and well retired.  I have a permanent NFR of 2022, but use 2018 most of the time.  Most of the time being maybe a few days a month.  

For the last eight years or so I have been going back and forth with Vectorworks on the issue of explaining NURBS modelling.  Finally last year, VW's contracted me to write two tutorials on how to build fairly complex objects, so they could get users interested in NURBS modelling.  But, in the end, they decided not to use them.  They have and will use them for promotional purposes, plus for their own tech people I am assuming.

 

But, they are quite happy for me to post free NURBS tutorials and I may.  What I am trying to do is gauge interest in NURBS modelling, so If I see a door open, I post something.   I apologize if this is offending you in some way.

 

My history with Vectorworks

-1986 - became Minicad's first 3D beta tester.  There was a 3D component to the first Minicad.

~1995 contracted by Vectorworks to write paper chapter on 3D animation in Vectorworks

-Wrote tutorials on how to transfer 3D files to CINEMA 4D before "Send to" button using dxf.

-Worked with Nemetschek Germany to implement "Send to" button.

-Wrote tutorials for "send to" button. 

-Last year, wrote tutorials for Vectorworks on NURBS modelling.

 

 

 

[bcd]

so just a beginner really!? 🙂

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

Yes, just a beginner.  When it comes to NURBS modelling, everyone including me is a beginner.  I see you are a trainer.  Do you have a website?

 

 

[Jeff Prince]

@VIRTUALENVIRONS There's a job board here on the forum that people use to promote their services or wares.  You might get better response there as compared to tagging onto other threads.

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

Hi Jeff,

Not really interested in a job.  The part about "well retired."  I am 70 years old next year.  Retired for 17 years.  

 

I did find it odd that VW would contract me after all these years for help on 3D modelling?  Just curious, did anyone from Vectorworks contact you on this issue?  Seems to me you would be a prime candidate to write advanced 3D NURBS tutorials. 

[bcd]

17 minutes ago, VIRTUALENVIRONS said:

I see you are a trainer.  Do you have a website?

Yes, but no website. I haven't needed one or the commitment to built and maintain it well.

I'll look @ your nurbs modelling tutorials though. Always room to grow. Thanks for sharing them!

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

"Always room to grow" very true words, and another one that I hope to aspire to it, "never too old".

 

kind regards....Virtual

[Peter Neufeld.]

Fantastic modelling Mr Amirault!

 

Cheers,

Peter