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Need Help Starting 1st Project

blk137

blk137

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unitedkingdom
hi everyone, im ready to start my own project but stuck on how im going to do it thats why im asking fsdeveloper for expert advice im hoping in this thread to get a reply from hcornea, arno and n4gix as there all experts i know and anyone else whos a good modeler. so i want to make the m1 motorway just next to east midlands airport and im stuck on how to make a road! so thats the question really. whats the easiest way of making a road? ive been told using loft is a easy way but i know nothing about lofts, could i use a plane and add edges so i can make the curves in the road? heres a picture of the part i want to make:
96760444.jpg


so thats what i want to make, whats the easiest way id be able to make it in high detail?

Thanks,

Blake
 
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Hi,

Do you want to make it as a 3D model or are you more looking for photo style terrain scenery? In most cases roads work fine with a photo scenery, unless you want really all the details of bridges, etc.
 
hi arno,
im looking to do it as a 3d model as i want to include the bridges.

Thanks
 
when i usually create models i load the aerial image into gmax and trace the base for the correct size then i use bing birds eye view if i don't have any pictures of the object.
 
modeling will be hard as i want to do it in full 3d and high detail its just the hardest part of this project will be making my own textures in photoshop.

Blake
 
Hi Blake,

I understand from your other posts that you are using 3DSMax. This opens a convenient avenue for you, via Google Sketchup (assuming GE has decent imagery)

GSU can grab and scale a section of aerial imagery, that you can use (either in sketchup, or alternatively in 3DSMax.

The process goes something like this.

Start Sketchup, and use the Geolocation option to find and define your area.
From here, Convert the newly made template into an "Element"
Select Export 3D model to export a dae file

3DSMax can import this file into your scene.
(You now have a "perfectly" scaled underlay to build your 3D model upon)

For a detailed road/section / bridge lofting is an efficient way to make things. From some reading you'll note that a loft propogates a shape along a path (line) ... using the pivot point as a reference.

The shape in this case is your road-section ... which you will have to design based on how complicated it needs to be.

The path is the line taken by the highway.

2 Important Tips:

1. Be careful not to have too many "path steps" on the loft, and it is best to set "shape steps" to zero, and define the exact shape with your geometry.

2. Make sure that the loft applies mapping, and do NOT reapply any mapping afterwards. SImply UVW scale what is there to your requirements. It is nearly impossible to map a lofted object after it is made.

As with all things, you'll need to experiment with simple shapes to get an idea of how the tool works.

Have fun.
 
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thanks hcornea i will try this now, how do i know if the aerial image is big enough? i always worry that when i model something over a image and try putting it into fsx i will see a tiny house
 
The aerial image is georeferenced.

IE it is the exact size that it is on the Georef-ed imagery.

That's why you do it this way, rather than manually.
 
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