anyone here realy good at 3d modeling. i wa wondering if someone could model someting. i dont realy have any money so it would have to be for free. you could do it in your spare time or when ever. if it took a year i wouldnt care.

i don't know anything about 3d modeling so i don't know what program to use. i would like to have a car modeled to see what it looks like in 3d compared to drawings

 Search for Gmax, the official FREE alternative of 3DS Max (only differences are the lack of Rendering engine and some animation tools, but there are some free add-ons that can add similar features to the program). You can download the program from Turbosquid.com , it's less than 20MB. Three other good Mesh modeling programs are Blender, Silo and Modo. There are 5-10 other programs that can help, too. When you need rapid modeling with need to modify the 3d car quickly, you need Mesh modeling program, not NURBS one. NURBS-based programs are more complex and in most cases the additional modifications takes too many extra work (sometimes you will be forced to delete big parts of the model and redone them from scratch). On the other hand, Mesh modeling programs allows you to make local changes anywhere just for seconds.


 Mesh modeling programs:

+ quick modeling and painless local modifications, you can create a car in 1-3 days (exterior with normal details). Great for prototype research and trying various changes until you find the best one.

+ most are FREE and has great renders or render plug-ins.

+ LOTS of free online video and html tutorials.

+ short learning curve - you can learn most of the modeling techniques in a week or two if you have the necessary tutorials.

- Mesh data is not the best variant for CNC milling.

- can't produce visually perfect transitions between the body panels, there are always some differences.

- can't use surface analysis checkers such like Zebra strips, curvature degree etc. (it's possible to use Environment map with DirectX 9.0C shaders in some of the latest Mesh modelers, in order to simulate similar effect).

 
 NURBS modeling programs:

+ Class-A surface quality (if you are skilled enough) - visually perfect transitions between near-by surfaces.

+ the perfect variant for extracting CNC data for the G-code.

+ various analysis tools (Zebra strips, Curvature degree, Environment maps, Angles, Radii, etc) that helps you find any mistake in your model.

- VERY time consuming. Basic car exterior can take you between 2 and 30 days depending complexity of the shape; the additional details may take another 2-30 days and even more. Mesh programs are way easier no matter what is the shape. NURBS programs can take several days to create some small part and 1 minute to create an entire fender, you never know how many hours you will spend on the project. 3D NURBS Diablo will take you at least 1-2 months, while 3D Mesh Diablo will take you max 2 weeks.

- You may become very nervous and need LOTS of patience. In many cases some hard-to-do surfaces can make you extremely mad. Sometimes you will be forced to try over 20-30 variants of the same part until you make it enough good. In some cases you will make half of the car and then will be forced to delete it and start from scratch. That's why it's a must to know what EXACTLY you will create BEFORE start your 3d model.

- Most NURBS modelers don't have renderers - OR - have poor renderers that can't produce photorealistic images.

- Only few online tutorials.

- Takes several times longer period (actually forever) to learn the modeling tools, and you may need several months to learn various cases during your work. With NURBS modeling you always have challenge and must think carefully about the next steps, must be very concentrated. That's why I love it. Every mistake will take you undesired extra minutes, hours and sometimes days to repair the wrong area. Sometimes you will be forced to start with wheel arches and then proceed with fenders and cabin. Other car may require to make the glasses first and then proceed with the wheel arches, then headlights, bumpers and etc. Third car may require to start with doors, then bumpers, tail lights, glasses and finally wheel arches. The order depends from the shape. With Mesh modeling you don't have such problems, you can always start from whatever you want.


 Hopefully this will help you to decide which program is better for you.