How are simple tanks made? (Maya wise)

My guess is that from simple cube primitives, by adding some splits with the split polygon tool and the other tool I forgot about, by extruding the faces later on to add those other tiny details?

Also I'm still new to modelling but I'm starting to slowly learn and I wanted to ask what's the best way of making the other side of the model? Seeing as most models will be simmetric? Is it possible to copy paste the other part, move it and then unite it with the vertex tool while resizing it and etc?

There are toooooooooonnnnnnnnnns of different ways to do it, and some are better than others depending on the style and/or reference material your working from, generally you end up using a variety of different tools and processes even just depending on the shapes found through out the design your creating. Also can depend on what the engine requires for rigging and exporting once the file formats and such are decided upon.

Like many things in like, it's all shades of grey, with no perfect right or wrong answer.

Just learn as many tools as you can, once you know the tools you can focus on applying them.

Mike

Gotta model moar then

Thanks

Yep, like OrangeKnight said, asking how to make a tank is really too general of a question. Is there something more specific you'd like to know?

In general though, here's the best way to go. Look at your reference and study it. Bring your image planes in to Maya and set them up where you want them. Bringing in an image plane is an essential skill - you bring them in in one of your orthographic view ports, usually your front and sides.

After you've looked at your references, block out your model with simple primitives. Don't start going for detail immediately. It's like sketching with blocks. Get your basic shape down first. What does a tank have? Ok, it's got a big body, some treads on the side, a turret, a barrel, etc. Get those shapes down. Just lay them down, they don't have to be merged or anything, just match it all up so that it's in the general shape you want. All of this basic stuff will either get deleted or vastly changed in the end, so it doesn't matter that it looks so basic right now. Again, it's like sketching. All that initial underlying stuff gets covered up or erased - it's just a guide, a start.

This is called your "block in". From there, you can start going on to more medium detail. I'd suggest viewing some tutorials though, it's hard to tell you where to go without actually seeing what you're doing

Have fun, feel free to post what you've made if you'd like some critiquing (although the mods will probably like this to be in the off topic area).

EDIT: And learn the basic hot keys! It'll save you time

Oh, block in. That's what I did while doing maps in the source engine :lol:

Thanks for suggesting that, I actualy hadn't thought of it. I ment as a simple tank the ones in the kickstarter video. Altough I still have some more stuff to learn before modelling for real.

I always start any models i make with a teapot... out of principle.

Nice one. That means you would be a Max modeler, Maya does not have the teapot primitive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtG7vdwZsKw

It is graphically maybe not a very good looking tank, but this should be doable for a beginner Maya Modeler. I have 3 years experience now. If there are any specifics you want to know, PM me if you like.

Okay, thanks a lot .