3D Studio Max Locomotive Tutorial

1. Create and move 2 boxes.

The first thing you need to do is create 2 boxes to represent the underbody support and the step backing. Create the boxes using the following dimensions.

Move the boxes to the following location

2. Chamfer and edge move

For the FrontSupport we need to chamfer the front edges and move the inner edge in towards the center . Select the outer front edges and type 0.2 into the chamfer box. Select the newly created right inner edge and move it in to match up with the MainBase as shown in figure 2. Do the same with the left side. Now that we have the correct shape we can remove the polygons from the top of the FrontSupport. Select the "Polygon" sub-object and select the top polygon mirror the FrontSupport to the rear. Select the FrontSupport and select the "Mirror" tool and change the "Mirror Axis" to "Y". Select the "Move" tool and using the "Osnap" selection box select and move the new RearSupport into the correct location at the rear of the locomotive. Or alternatively you can type in these co-ordinates X=0.0, Y=6.675, Z=0.6

Figure 1 Result after chamfer

Figure 2 New location of edge

Figure 3 Mirror with "Y" axis selected

3. Mainbase re-editing

As you may have noticed the MainBase is now protruding past the Front and Rear supports. To fix this we need to re-edit the MainBase. Select the MainBase and select the "Edge" sub-object and in the warning that appears select "Yes". Select the far outer front right edge and move it back to match the FrontSupport as shown in figure 4. Repeat the procedure on the other three corners. At this stage you can also remove the front and rear polygons that are hidden by the Front and Rear Plates. If you used the boolean method to create the main base then you will notice that the entire face of the main base does not lign up with the support. This is because there are extra vertices in the mesh that were created when the corners were removed. To fix this problem you need to use the "Vertice" sub-object and move the vertices to either the inner vertices or the outer vertices and weld them into position. Now that the edges are moved you will notice that the texturing has been changed on the top surface. To fix this we need to return to the "Unwrap UVW's" modifier and select the top face. Click on "Planer Map" and this will reset the mapping. Now you will need to resize the map to return the checkerplate to the pre-edit size.

Figure 3 Result after edge move

Figure 4 Changed mapping

Figure 5 End result

4. Creating the steps

The first item we need to create is a box. Use the following specifications for the box.

Notice that there are more than one height segment. This is to allow the creation of the steps front and rear faces. Once you have created the box convert it to editable mesh and use the "Polygon" sub-object to select the polygons from the front and rear of the mesh. At this stage do not delete them. Once you have them selected change to the "Edge" sub-object and select the outer upper edge and using the "Osnap" move it to the rear center of the mesh (figure 7). Use the "Arc Rotate" tool to gain access to the underside of the mesh and move the lower rear edge to the outer center edge (figure 8). Once you have the edges relocated change back to "Polygon" and the misshaped ends should automatically be selected. Press the "Delete" key to remove them.

Figure 6 Selected polygons

Figure 7 First edge relocated

Figure 8 Second edge relocated

Figure 9 Polygons selected for deletion

.Figure 10 Finished product

5. Texturing the steps

Open up the "Material Editor" and drag the Main_01 texture onto the Step1. Add an "Unwrap UVW"modifier to the stack and move and resize the maps to the location shown in figure 11. You will need to use the "Planar Map" to get the textures separated. Make sure the white part of the texture is applied to the front of the Step1. You may need to change the "Sub Object Params" and uncheck the "Ignore Backfacing" checkbox to select and flatten the textures correctly.

6. Copy and moving

Now that we have created the bottom left step we need to duplicate it for the other two steps and the other three corners . Select Step1 and the "Move" tool and while holding down the "Shift" key drag Step1 to a new location. This will allow us to create 2 duplicates of Step1. Type 2 into the "Number of Copies" and click "OK". Name the new objects Step2 and Step3. Now we can move the two new steps and the original into the correct location. Select Step1 and move it to the following co-ordinates. Repeat for Step2 and Step3.

For this tutorial we will now attach all three steps together. It is entirely up to the creator as to whether or not the steps are kept separate or in a unit.

Figure 13 Three steps in location

After you have attached steps 2 and 3 to Step1 select the "Mirror" tool and mirror the steps 2.5m in the "X" axis. Then select both sets of steps and select the mirror tool again but this time mirror them 14.1m in the "Y:" direction. You should now have four sets of steps.

Figure 14 End result of step mirror

7. Texturing the supports

Open up the "Material Editor" and add the Misc_01 texture to a vacant slot and apply it to the Underbody, FrontSupport and RearSupport. As the underbody and supports are not seen easily and also they are not usually painted two different colors or have a logo on them we can apply a very small texture to the supports.

You have now successfully created and textured the Front and Rear plates for a locomotive.

Chapter 8

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