Junior

Computer
Academy

3D-Аnimation
Junior Computer Academy

3D Animation
Lesson 8. Modeling a Star Wars Ship
Lesson 8. Modeling a Star Wars Ship
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Lesson 8. Modeling a Star Wars Ship
Topic. Modeling a Star Wars Ship

Modeling a Star Wars Ship

I
n this lesson, we will model the imperial TIE Fighter from In 3D modeling, the creation of any inanimate objects such
the Star Wars universe (Figure 1). We will try to achieve as spaceships, robots, etc. is called Hard Surface.
the most believable result without complicating the model Let’s start modeling. Add a new object, remove the stan-
with fine details. dard cube, and add the UV Sphere to the scene (Figure 2).

Figure 1

TIE Fighter is a symmetrical model, that is, its right and left
parts look the same. This will greatly simplify the work since
we only need to model half of the ship. Figure 2

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Lesson 8. Modeling a Star Wars Ship
Topic. Modeling a Star Wars Ship

Switch to the editing mode by pressing Tab. Select the en- cut Num1). Select half of all vertexes, like in Figure 4. Delete
tire model by pressing A  and rotate it 90° along the  X-axis the selection.
(Figure 3).

Figure 4
Figure 3
Then apply the Mirror modifier to return the second half
Now we need to remove half of the sphere. For this, en- of the model in place (Figure 5). As a result, we will work with
able the Toggle X-Ray mode. This way, you can select vertex- one half of the model, but all changes will automatically dis-
es on all sides of the object. Switch to the front view (short- play on the second half.

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Lesson 8. Modeling a Star Wars Ship
Topic. Modeling a Star Wars Ship

Figure 7

Figure 5

Also, remember to enable the Clipping option in the mod-

ifier to avoid breaks at the  intersection of the  original and
the copy (Figure 6).

Figure 6

First, let’s create a viewing port. Select the vertex in the cen-

ter of the sphere, then press Ctrl several times and the + sign
on the keyboard to expand the selection. Delete the selected
points (Figure 7). Figure 8

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Lesson 8. Modeling a Star Wars Ship
Topic. Modeling a Star Wars Ship

Now it is necessary to move the 3D cursor; otherwise, we will Let’s create the frame of the viewing port. Press E (Extrude)
not be able to create a round viewing port. Select two vertexes on to extrude a new row of faces and move it down a bit. Then we
the edge of the viewing port, press Shift+S, and select Cursor to repeat the same action and apply the Scale modifier to make
Selected. As a result, the cursor will appear exactly in the center the side fence wider and push the faces down again. The de-
of the model, between the selected vertexes (Figure 8). sired result is shown in Figure 10.
We also need to move the Pivot Point of the model. Hold
Alt and click on any of the vertexes on the edge of the viewing
port in order to select the entire circle. Then press the period
key on the keyboard and select 3D Cursor (Figure 9). Now any
changes in the shape will be made relative to this point. Figure 10

Repeat the previous actions two more times. Narrow down

the  new rows of faces and fold them inward to form a  full-
fledged frame (Figure 11).

Figure 9 Figure 11

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Lesson 8. Modeling a Star Wars Ship
Topic. Modeling a Star Wars Ship

Now let’s add the partitions. Select the edges on the outer Next, hit the Period key on the keyboard and switch Pivot
ring of faces: one at the bottom and one at the top, and also Point to Individual Origins. Decrease the size of the edge using
two faces every two edges (Figure 12). Press Shift+D to copy the Scale tool. The desired result is shown in Figure 13.
them. Right-click to keep the copied edges in the same point
as the original.

Figure 13

After that, switch Pivot to 3D Cursor. Extrude new edg-

es and bring them to the center. Then extrude them again to
create a small face on the bars for the inner round frame (Fig-
Figure 12 ure 14).

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Lesson 8. Modeling a Star Wars Ship
Topic. Modeling a Star Wars Ship

Figure 15

Figure 14

Select the edges between the bars in pairs and press F to

unite them. As a result, we will get a frame of an interesting
shape, like a model from the movies (Figure 15).
After that, we need to create glass under the frame. For
this, it is enough to select the ring of edges on the inner part
of the  frame, extrude them, and scale to the  center (Fig-
ure 16).
The cockpit is ready! Let’s move on to creating the wings. Figure 16

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Lesson 8. Modeling a Star Wars Ship
Topic. Modeling a Star Wars Ship

Switch to the side view by pressing Num3. Enable the face

selection mode, select the next section of the shape (Figure 17).
Make sure you select the same number of faces above and be-
low the central axis of the model!

Figure 18

To create a plane at the tip, set the Pivot to the Individu-

al Origins mode. Then press S — X — 0. So we will zero out
the individual position of each face along the X-axis and get
an ideal plane (Figure 19). This is a very useful technique that
is often used when creating Hard Surface models.

Figure 17

Extrude the selected part along the X-axis and scale it along

the Z-axis in order to make it gradually narrow from the base
to the tip (Figure 18). Figure 19

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Lesson 8. Modeling a Star Wars Ship
Topic. Modeling a Star Wars Ship

Next, the shape should go from a rectangle to a cylindri-

cal tube. Let’s see how we can achieve this effect without cre-
ating additional objects. Select 8 faces in the  central part of
the wing. Press Shift+Alt+S to round the selected area. Then
delete the point in the center, and we will get a round hole.
If you want to, you can adjust the position of the rest of
the vertexes (Figure 20).

Figure 21

Select the areas marked in Figure 22. Push them closer to

the central part of the wing. Remember to switch the position
of the Pivot Point to achieve the desired result!

Figure 20

Using the  Alt key, select the  ring of the  vertexes and ex-
trude the new section by pressing E (Figure 21).
Before we get to the final part, let’s make our model a little
more interesting. Let’s switch to the edge selection mode. Figure 22

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Lesson 8. Modeling a Star Wars Ship
Topic. Modeling a Star Wars Ship

Also, let’s create an edge in the center of this part. Select

two new faces on the left and press I (Inset) to add a chamfer
(Figure 23).

Figure 24

Figure 23

Extrude new faces (Figure  24). You can add a  few more
holes or arched parts on different parts of the ship in the same
way.
Let’s add new edges to the pipe. Do not forget that after you
apply the Loop Cut tool to an object, you can scroll the mouse
wheel to add multiple edge rings. Place the new faces as shown
in Figure 25 and extrude them. Figure 25

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Lesson 8. Modeling a Star Wars Ship
Topic. Modeling a Star Wars Ship

In the  same way, create another ring closer to the  edge

(Figure 26).

Figure 27

Figure 26

Create the last part of the wing. Select the outermost row of

edges, press E and then S to create a small, rounded platform at
the base (Figure 27).
Extrude the  edges again to create a  thickening in shape
(Figure 28).
Now we need to create the  wing bars. Select the  faces
marked in Figure 29, switch Pivot to the  Individual Origins
mode, and zero the  position of faces along the  Y-axis using
the Scale. This way, we will get a perfect plane (Figure 29). Figure 28

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Lesson 8. Modeling a Star Wars Ship
Topic. Modeling a Star Wars Ship

Then you can extrude new faces. Specify the exact value of

the offset (like 2 meters) in order to make all bars of the same
length (Figure 31).

Figure 29

Add chamfers by pressing I. Let’s create exactly the  same

chamfers on other faces at the top and bottom (Figure 30). Re-
member to select them individually, otherwise the shape will fuse.

Figure 31

Figure 30 Narrow the ends of the bars with Scale (Figure 32).

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Lesson 8. Modeling a Star Wars Ship
Topic. Modeling a Star Wars Ship

Figure 33

Figure 32

Switch to the face selection mode and select the opposite

oblique bars pairwise. Switch Pivot to the Median Point mode Figure 34
(Figure 33). As a result, we will be able to rotate the bars around
the central point of the wing. Slightly rotate them to increase Then slightly shift every bar along the Z-axis. This way we
the spaces between the upper and lower bars (Figure 34). will avoid breaks in the shape (Figure 35).

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Lesson 8. Modeling a Star Wars Ship
Topic. Modeling a Star Wars Ship

Press Shift+D to copy them and then F to connect them

(Figure 37).

Figure 37

Select the  resulting face and extrude it up to the  middle

of the wing. Let’s make the bottom part wider so that its sizes
match the horizontal bar. Then extrude the shape up again and
Figure 35 narrow the top (Figure 38).

Now we need to create the main wing pattern. To do this,

select the side edges on the two lower bars (Figure 36).

Figure 36 Figure 38

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Lesson 8. Modeling a Star Wars Ship
Topic. Modeling a Star Wars Ship

After that, you should adjust the corners of the wing so that After that, you need to divide the plane into 6 triangles. In
the bars do not protrude beyond the shape (Figure 39). this case, we cannot apply the Loop Cut tool, it is better to use
Knife (shortcut K) (Figure 41). It can be used to cut faces of
any shape.

Figure 39

The plane itself can be made thicker. In order to do this, Figure 41

select the required faces and shift them along the X-axis (Fig-
ure 40). Let’s cut two lines through the central point up to the op-
posite angles (Figure 42).

Figure 40 Figure 42

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Lesson 8. Modeling a Star Wars Ship
Topic. Modeling a Star Wars Ship

Now let’s hide this object for a  while. Since the  plane is
a separate object, it can be easily selected by pressing L. Then
press H to hide this fragment.
Switch to the top view (Num7) and select all the outer
edges of the bars. Move them to make the bars thicker (Fig-
ure 43).

Figure 44

Figure 43 After this, you can unhide the main wing again. For this,
press Alt+H.
You also need to fill the  hole in the  shape. For this, se- Select one chamfer after another and add it to each triangle
lect the inner ring of the edges, press E and S, then bring all by pressing I. You can press in the new faces a little bit (Fig-
the edges to the center (Figure 44). ure 45).

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Lesson 8. Modeling a Star Wars Ship
Topic. Modeling a Star Wars Ship

Figure 45

After that, you can exit the editing mode to see the result.

Our model is ready!

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3D Animation
Lesson 8. Modeling a Star Wars Ship

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