Plane Modelling Tutorial

This tutorial covers subobject editing.

In this tutorial, you will learn:

  • to edit a shape by altering its subobjects (edges, vertices, faces)
  • how to perform selection and multiple selection of a subobject
  • how the transformations affect selected subobjects
  • work with extrusions, bevel, chamfer, and the slice plan

Requirements:

  • Create the plane model by following the detailed instructions described below:

Description:

  • This plane was started using a box that was subobject modified to reach this state
    • The original box was sized 20, 20, 20
    • The box was centered, with its bottom face aligned with z=0

The following is a marked up version of the above image, showing the various tools used:

In the above image, the colours indicate the following (zoom in for a better look):

  • purple: extrude tool
  • green: bevel tool (outer bevel)
  • red: vertex move (select vertices then move them using move tool)
  • light blue: scale tool
  • dark blue: slice plane
  • silver: chamfer

Use these images as a guide towards the final product while you follow the steps below to achieve this plane:

Steps

  1. Create a 20x20x20 box and center it (bottom face aligned with z=0) then convert it to an editable poly
  2. Select the front face (the face in the X positive) and extrude it by 20 units
  3. Extrude again by another 20 units
  4. Bevel now by 10 units with a bevel reduce of -2.5
  5. Select the top face of the cockpit area and bevel by 5 units with a reduction of -2.5
  6. Select the back face (the face in the X negative) and extrude it by 40 units
  7. Extrude again by 30 units
  8. Select the top face of the tail area and extrude by 10 units
  9. Extrude again by 10 units
  10. Bevel by 10 units with a reduction of -7.5
  11. Select the side faces of the tail and extrude by 20 units
  12. Switch into vertex selection mode and select the front vertices (front top and front bottom vertices) of both tail planks then move them in the x negative direction. The final x position should be -70
  13. Select the end bottom vertices of the plane and move them up along the x positive to create a slant. The final z position should be 10.
  14. Go into face mode. Select the outer tail faces and use the scale tool to scale them ONLY along the z-axis; so not the x or y axes! Should roughly end up with a 50% scale.
  15. Select the original side faces of our starting box then use the slice plane. Ensure the slice plane is horizontal and position it at z=10 then slice.
  16. Turn off the slice plane and reselect faces. This time select the top faces of our original starting box. Use the slice plane again. This time, make it vertical, with its normal being the x-axis. Position it at x=0. Slice.
  17. Turn off the slice plane. Go into edge select mode. Select the 3 edges that we created using the slice plane then use the chamfer tool with a chamfer amount of 5.
    • Hint: Select any one of the 3 created edges then use loop select to automatically select the 2 other edges
  18. Go into face mode. Select the top side faces on each side of the plane that we have just finished putting together. Extrude by 60 units.
  19. Bevel by 10 units with a reduction of -2.5
  20. Go into vertex mode. Select the top vertices as shown in the picture. Use the move tool to position them at z=25.
  21. Marvel at your completed plane!