Spline-patch modeling in Lightwave3D, taking off the training wheels.

I'm working through William Vaughan's Digital Modeling textbook. I highly recommend it. His writing style makes for a fun read and the book's pattern of offering strategy over pure step-by-step instruction is good for me right now. I've realized lately that step-by-step tutorials although wonderful and certainly part of any educational process can at times be like training wheels. I think this is especially true with 3D modeling. My goal is to be able to pick any object, devise a modeling strategy, and create a 3D representation with good polygon flow. Makes sense, but often I realize that although if asked I might be able to repeat the steps of a given tutorial. I'm not so confident that I could start from scratch with a different object and find my way to the finish line.

Don't get me wrong. I've completed most of the challenges I've been handed over the years, but the time has come to start removing the training wheels. At least a little at a time. So with that in mind, I decided to read through the chapter, “Product Modeling for Print Graphics” where William creates a 3D model of a detergent bottle using spline-patch modeling. Then set the book down and try to create it on my own. I knew I would lean on the knowledge gleaned from the Digital Modeling chapter and other spline based techniques I'd already picked up from working on Lewis's tutorials. I knew better still that I would make mistakes and have to figure things out along the way.

(Oh, this was also a great way to try out some of the new modeling tools in Lightwave 3D's 11.5 and 11.6. Great stuff!!)

Here's a test render of what I came up with.

Lewis's Modeling the 58 Chevy

William Vaughan - Digital Modeling