Best method to modeling the front of the aircraft?

[seaniez]

I'm always running into trouble and confusion when I try and model the front of the airplane, with the windshield and the radome, etc. I was able to model it successfully on the 747 but now I have began a less "complex" aircraft (systems wise) and I am running into trouble with the front. It is an Airbus A310, and I have the windshield modelled, but I can't seem to skin the rest of the front around it consistently.

As you can see, it is very uneven, the windshield seems to fit alright but my method for attaching it seems to have gravely affected the rest of the skin. I have searched this forum and youtube videos but I haven't found a perfect source. I know it would look better if I added some subdivision but to me, it has to look good at even a resolution as basic as this. If I cut off the radome area, and looked at it from the front, it would not be the slightly flattened circle it should be, instead there are vertices thrown about making it look uneven and inconsistent like this. If there is a good method to help me with this please let me know, thanks. P.S. I am using blender

 

[kalong]

I like using Subdiv,
this sample how make a hole in curve model

 

[PaulJC]

What you may find useful is the source files for the Thomas Ruth A300-600 available from Simviation here.

 

[Chrismot]

There is also the following solution:

1. you create the fuselage with the nose as perfect as possible;
2. then, you add the "boolean" modification to your fuselage that will allow you to make holes the exact size of the cockpit windows;

Personally I use this method for my models.

And for practice, you just have to look for and practice the right method to use the modify "boolean" in Blender... There are many YouTube tutorials on the subject.

Good luck...!

 

[Ronald]

What you need is to re-think the entire modeling process from CAD Modeling into 3D MESH-modeling:
Take a look over here on my own YF16 WIP thread, on how I had to change my MINDSET about this first
- https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/wip-general-dynamics-“yf-16-prototype”-project.440049/

Here on Flickr you can see mu struggle with the transition from CAD_style modeling into MESH-modeling inside Blender:
Om my flick album you can see my various attempts to get the fuselage of the YF16 "right" - mesh modeling style
- https://www.flickr.com/photos/yf16_prototype/albums/with/72157681457283533

EDIT:
First attempt (CAD style modeling):
- https://www.flickr.com/photos/yf16_prototype/albums/72157682269027380

Last (4th) attempt (3D Mesh modeling):
- https://www.flickr.com/photos/yf16_prototype/sets/72157682269027380

Enjoy this images

 

[seaniez]

What you may find useful is the source files for the Thomas Ruth A300-600 available from Simviation here.

I can't seem to be able to download it, if you are able to would you mind pasting the file here?

 

[seaniez]

After some more work I got a much improved front of the aircraft, thanks everyone for your help! Now time for the wings

 

[lionheart]

Its not easy.

For airliners like this, making the windows, each one flat, first, lining them up off the drawings so they are exactly where they belong, then the tedious job of connecting the fuselage to the edges of the windows is another way.

KLong, I can watch his videos all day long. Arimus3d. Amazing teacher.

 

[kalong]

true, just afraid with draw call if following Arimus3D, trying to mixed and match Arimus3D and ChamferZone

 

[lionheart]

Yep, lol... Some of that will not work in our field. You can simplify the model by taking some of the mesh out later after collapsing the stack. But still, his sense of how to make things is incredible.

 

[Melo965]

What you need is to re-think the entire modeling process from CAD Modeling into 3D MESH-modeling:
Take a look over here on my own YF16 WIP thread, on how I had to change my MINDSET about this first
- https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/wip-general-dynamics-“yf-16-prototype”-project.440049/

Enjoy this images

Hi Ronald,

I see the improvement clearly. Can you please go into more detail about the process of 3D Mesh modeling, and what changes you focused on to get away from CAD modeling?

I am also signing up for the CGCookie Blender courses. I had my eye on them even before I saw your post.

 

[Ronald]

Hello Melo965

Can you please go into more detail about the process of 3D Mesh modeling, and what changes you focused on to get away from CAD modeling?

If you look at my first attempt I tried to create the F16 fuselage in outof known 3D volumes: (CAD volume modelling style):
-https://www.flickr.com/photos/yf16_prototype/albums/72157681093138243

On my 3rd attempt I still tried to create a 3D volume model, based on the 2D cross-sections drawings (like in CAD):
-https://www.flickr.com/photos/yf16_prototype/albums/72157681093422633

Later on in time, I made the switch to "extend-and-extrude"-ing a shape-into-a-mesh from nose to tailpipe:
Thanks to Frits - F747Fly who helped me to get started on this process of modelling)
-https://www.flickr.com/photos/yf16_prototype/albums/72157682269027380

 

[gfxpilot]

Keep this perhaps as a reference tut

 

[Melo965]

Hello Melo965


If you look at my first attempt I tried to create the F16 fuselage in outof known 3D volumes: (CAD volume modelling style):
-https://www.flickr.com/photos/yf16_prototype/albums/72157681093138243

On my 3rd attempt I still tried to create a 3D volume model, based on the 2D cross-sections drawings (like in CAD):
-https://www.flickr.com/photos/yf16_prototype/albums/72157681093422633

Later on in time, I made the switch to "extend-and-extrude"-ing a shape-into-a-mesh from nose to tailpipe:
Thanks to Frits - F747Fly who helped me to get started on this process of modelling)
-https://www.flickr.com/photos/yf16_prototype/albums/72157682269027380

Hi Ronald,

Yes it makes more sense now. I am still learning how to utilize extrude in better ways. I have definitely tried using both your first and third attempt methods. Thanks a lot for the clarification.