Maya 2020 fundamentals - modelling the real world
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# 1 30-04-2005 , 12:09 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Stockholm
Posts: 15

Modelling the Vanguard tank from PlanetSide

Okay, so I'm taking a break from the Ferrari 360 tutorial. I enjoy it a lot, but the problem is I'm scatterbrained, and if a new idea pops into my head, I need to get right on it -- which is usually a sign I need a break.

So, I'm trying to model the Vanguard tank from the MMOFPS game PlanetSide. Being the newbie I am at modelling I still am I still trying to learn what to do, and what not to do. Granted, if something works, then it's doable, I guess, but if it can be done better.. well..

Take a look at the grill at the front of the tank below. As you can see I have edges running through all of the model just so I can extrude those holes (which may or may not be air intakes - which seems like an odd thing to put at a tank there).

user added image
Click on image for larger version ^

Some pics I used as reference: One, Two, Three.

I'm not sure, but it feels like it's excessive, creating a lot of unnecessary polys, but I'm at a loss at how to make a clean solution of this, and still keep it as one piece..

Or maybe keeping it as one whole piece is not the way to go. I don't know, what do you people think? user added image

# 2 30-04-2005 , 05:14 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 515
in the reference pictures, the tank was made with very simple geometry and then just textured.
all the vent type stuff and headlights on the front is just a texture on a flat poly surface.
you could maybe give it a small bump map to make it look a bit less flat.
but if you're trying to make a high res/high poly, fully modelled version of that then the way you are doing it is the best bet
all thoes edges that you have spanning the middle of the tank you can just delete thoes.

if you were say making a smooth car you might maybe wanna keep thoes edges, but since this is a very flat, very rigid metal type tank you aren't going to smooth the gemetry so you don't need to carry thoes lines the entire span of the tank, you can easily get away with 5-6 sided polys and should have no problems.
this method you are probably used to for the modena because it has such a smooth body and so many body lines to follow, so its a smoothed object, but this one you can render off rigid like that in low poly mode and it will look best.


First year 3D Grad

Last edited by Turbo Dan; 30-04-2005 at 05:16 PM.
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