Next project: The Ford

[inkworm]

Not convinced about the cockpit effects and on a plain white background it looks a bit odd thought the shading/highlights do make sense

[Aircraftprofiles]

Another update. Have interest in the 3d stuff faded ? I hope not.

This model is getting close to completion, but still there´s some details missing.

[Vacajun]

AP, I have great respect for those of you who have the time to learn and $$$ to afford 3-D software. Always wished I had a cheap (Sketchup?) program to ray-trace shadow lines for profiles.

From time to time I wanted to put my toe in the water and try in-flight art, but 3-D is completely intimidating.

Finally, how does one adapt a 3-D program to our profile art, which does not have perspective??

In any event, your work is great--keep it coming!

[Aircraftprofiles]

Vacajun: I know how you feel...not long ago i thought that 3d stuff was way out of my league (and maybe it is ). I tried it out and found it very very hard...but helpful people (like yourself) in various forums helped me getting started and youtube was a great source of turtorials. So little by little i learned that i only needed to master a small number of techniques in order to produce aircraft models.

It´s pretty much just a matter of working with basic shapes and model them. Most shapes used for a aircraft like this one is cylinders. In the case of this aircraft the body, intake, wings and tail is modeled from one cylinder.

Try and have a look at this tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEVqjNi2qug
It gives a pretty good insight to what it´s all about.

I´m no compter genius, and i could pick the 3d stuff up, so i´m the living proff that anyone can do this !

The main challenge is still to get the materials right. And the textures are done in exactly the same way as you would do on a profile, (only there´s no shades or highlights involved). So weathering, oil stains rust etc etc is done in PS then exported onto the model you create.

The cost issue...Modo is less costly than 3d Studio. $1k at the moment, but it´s money well spend, in my opinion.

As for profiles in 3d artwork. It´s very simple to do that: You just need to set the camera up so it´s facing the side of the aircraft. Choose a high focal length, i used 500 mm for this one, that will erase the perspective.

Hope this make sence !

Thanks both to Inkworm and Vacajun for your interest !