Week 9 – Modelling Side and Handle

Before I started modelling the side part I had been allocated, I decided to draw out the part onto paper so I could clearly see what I was modelling. Using the reference photos and video taken, I was able to create a drawing I could work from which was easier to use than lots of photos.

I started by using a spline to draw out the shape of the metal side, following my drawing I had done earlier. I experimented with the different initial and drag types for the corners to get them as smooth as possible and to match the model as best they could.

When I had the shape drawn out in 3D Studio Max, I converted the spline to an editable poly. I then used the extrude tool to make the shape 3D and give it some depth.

To create the tapered metal strip, I simply created a long, thin box which I converted to editable poly. I then went into vertex mode and moved the bottom vertexes out to create the taper effect.

I then used more thin boxes to create the angle-iron sections of the side plate. I rotated one piece 90 degrees to connect to the other to create the right angle piece. I then went into vertex mode to move some of the vertexes at the end to create the sloping metal end.

Spheres were used to create some of the bolt heads seen on the model. These were placed half in, half out on the model so only half of the sphere was actually on show. This looked quite effective and worked well as a pan head bolt. For the other hexagonal bolt heads I used a Gengon (found in extended primitives). These were then positioned onto the model to work, like the spheres, as bolt heads. To create the nuts seen on some of the bolts, I used another Gengon but created a hole through the middle with a cylinder and the Boolean tool. An OilTank was then added inside the Gengon to look like the end of the bolt.

The bottom of the lever was created by using a box for the metal plate and two cylinders placed on top of each other to represent the spacers on the model. Four small spheres were used as bolt heads in each corner of the small metal plate.

I created the lever itself by drawing a long, thin box into the front viewport. I then drew a cylinder that had the same diameter as the width of the box. Entering editable poly and polygon mode, I selected and removed half of the polygons of the cylinder so I was left with a half cylinder. I then attached this to the box to create the main part of the lever.

A chamfer box was used a little way up the lever as a connecting spacer. I used polygon mode to select and remove more polygons to create the straight edges. I then used the Cap edges tool to cover up the holes I had made by removing polygons.

A small box, to show the locking mechanism, was placed a small way further up the lever. Four small gengons were used as bolt heads in each corner on the front face. I then drew a cylinder handle for the top of the lever.

To create the locking handle of the lever, I drew out another box and added 4 segments in each axis. This enabled me, when converting the box to editable poly, to select and remove polygons in the middle of the box. This was to allow the part to fit around the lever. I used the cap tool to cover any holes I had made. This was then placed onto the lever and two cylinders were used to represent the pins holding the lever in.

I then drew a final long, thin box to use as the connecting rod between the locking handle and locking mechanism a bit further down the lever.

The rack section of the lever was created by first drawing out a box into the front viewport. I then made sure that the box had plenty of width segments and chose 53 as the final number. After converting to editable poly and selecting polygon mode, I selected alternate polygons along the top of the rack box and then extruded them down to create the rack model. When I was happy with the looks of this, I then created a cylinder with the same diameter as the height of the box, cut the cylinder in two and placed at either ends to create the rounded ends. These were attached to create one object. I then applied a curve modifier in the x-axis of 58 degrees and 90 degrees direction to create a realistic rack.

This was then placed just under the locking mechanism of the lever and duplicated either side. Two cylinders were used as connecting bolts and two gengons and OilTanks were used for the bolt heads.

A connecting rod was created by drawing out a long, horizontal, thin box and then just extruding the end to create the staggered effect. This was then joined on to the raised chamfer box created earlier on the lever.

Finally, I drew out small cylinders, placed them through the metal side and used the Boolean tool to create the holes.