Model a High-Poly RPG Rocket Launcher in 3ds Max – Day 3

Chris Tate on Jan 5th 2010 with 32 comments

Because of the time constraints inherit to realtime video tutorials, it is usually almost impossible to find tutorials that deal with modeling large or very complex objects, as they would just take too much time to complete. Well not any more. In this mammoth, 3 day, nearly 10 hour long video tutorial series, Chris Tate will give us an in-depth look at modeling a faithfully constructed, photorealistically precise high-poly RPG launcher and rocket using 3d Studio Max.

This tutorial is Day 3 in a series – Go to Day 1, or Day 2

Throughout the creation of the model, we will utilize a wide range of modeling tools and techniques, including many of 3ds Max’s edit poly and spline modeling tools. We will also work with subdivision quite heavily , while going over the workflow for many different objects and discussing the use of support edges, and when and where it’s necessary to use them. Lastly, we will talk about the final mesh clean up, fixing problem areas, and the use of proper topology when cutting holes into subdivided surfaces while maintaining a quad based mesh.

Final Effect Preview

Click on Image For High-Rez Version

You can find the reference images and schematic blueprints here: http://d2d04grx5ahzvh.cloudfront.net/097_Max_RPG/RPG_Blueprint_And_Reference_Images.zip

Video 1

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Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

Video 2

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Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

Video 3

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Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

Video 4

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Video 5

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Video 6

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Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

This tutorial is Day 3 in a series – Go to Day 1, or Day 2

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By Chris Tate

Rollover to read this author's bio or click through to see a full list of posts by this author.

A long time Cgtuts+ author, Chris has recently moved into the role of co-editor at Cgtuts+. Chris has nearly a decade of experience working with 3D studio Max and has authored many in depth tutorials for Cgtuts+ as well as other websites. A generalist by definition, Chris spends most of his time modeling, but has many years of experience in the area's of UVMapping, Texturing, Lighting and Rendering. On rare occasions when he's not wasting away in front of his computer, Chris enjoys playing hockey, skateboarding, watching movies and playing games. You can find more of his work over at christateonline.com.  

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Discussion 32 Comments

  1. Sasha says:
    January 5, 2010 at 6:04 am

    Thanks!

    Reply
  2. nour el-islam says:
    January 5, 2010 at 8:15 am

    thanks chris this is verry nice tutorial,i think this is the longest tut in “cg tuts +”

    Reply
  3. carmenlyra says:
    January 5, 2010 at 8:46 am

    Thank you !

    Reply
  4. ryder says:
    January 5, 2010 at 12:09 pm

    thx man, waiting for more tuts

    Reply
  5. Brick Top says:
    January 5, 2010 at 12:49 pm

    Thx Chris for these tutorials, they are really awesome! I downloaded the previous parts as well and they were excellent (better than a lot of ‘professional’ tutorials).

    Is there any chance this tutorial will be ‘continued’?

    Reply
    • Chris Tate says:
      January 30, 2010 at 6:06 pm
      Author

      Hey Brick Top,

      Thanks man! (and sorry for the late reply). I had thought about doing a follow up tutorial covering the uvmapping and texturing process but because of time constraints, it’s just not really possible. The RPG is so high poly that it would take me forever to unwrap and organize all the uvs. I actually did a test on it a few weeks ago, and it took me the better part of two days to actually unwrap all 80+ pieces!

      Sorry about that, but I will be going through the whole process in my next tutorial (Modeling, UVMapping and Texturing) but on a much more simple model ;)

      Cheers!

      Reply
  6. jakechapy says:
    January 5, 2010 at 12:53 pm

    Real time tutorials is were its at. Watching some guy narrate a sped up tutorail does more harm than good imo.

    great tutorial chris

    Reply
  7. Gus says:
    January 5, 2010 at 2:21 pm

    Thanks Chris!
    You´re a great teacher!
    If you understand portuguese and interest computer graphic:
    http://www.curiosando.com.br
    http://www.michaelditullo.com/Design/DESIGN.html

    Peace

    Reply
  8. Jannes says:
    January 5, 2010 at 4:03 pm

    Great, I’ve been waiting for this one :)

    Reply
  9. jeSaia says:
    January 5, 2010 at 6:23 pm

    Great work man keep it up.

    Reply
  10. Erzz0n says:
    January 5, 2010 at 6:42 pm

    Realy great :)

    Reply
  11. Ken says:
    January 5, 2010 at 10:12 pm

    One of the most eloquent and reasonable tutorialist
    I have discovered. Who says you must be old to teach so others can learn.
    Amazingly valueable lesson and aproach.
    I am glad there are people like Chris here.

    Reply
  12. Ken says:
    January 6, 2010 at 2:33 am

    A Tripplet Edge.
    Well Done.

    Reply
  13. Anton says:
    January 6, 2010 at 4:41 am

    tu Chris. Ur tuts inspire me to create smth. I guess its the best tut on cgtuts ever.

    Keep doin.. .

    Reply
  14. turismo says:
    January 8, 2010 at 8:04 am

    INCREIBLE Tutorial. Thanks

    Reply
  15. Kyle says:
    January 9, 2010 at 1:13 pm

    Just a quick question, you move one of the objects without grabbing any of the arrows, while your zoomed way in. How do you do that?

    Reply
    • Fred says:
      January 21, 2010 at 5:33 pm

      You just need to click and hold on the vertex, edge, etc and move it to the direction you want. I guess this doesn’t work well on the perspective view, only on the left, right, top (…) view.

      You can also move them using the x,y and z fields on the middle down.

      Hope this helps! :-)

      Reply
  16. Fred says:
    January 21, 2010 at 5:35 pm

    Hey I’ve just finished the whole tutorial! It took about 3 days to complete it. Now I’ll try to texture it by myself.

    Wish me luck guys! :-)

    PS: This tutorial is really great!

    Reply
  17. haqzaf says:
    January 29, 2010 at 10:23 pm

    Hi,
    My modeling already completed.Render result is soft and detail is not visible.
    I need advice, how to texture and light a product(illumination).How to composite and render for clear viewing.
    Thanks to Tate brothers CG Tut Plus for these tutorials.

    Reply
  18. wrs says:
    February 4, 2010 at 9:49 am

    Very Great Tutorial :) More tutorials like this :)

    Reply
  19. andy says:
    February 10, 2010 at 6:42 pm

    I downloaded all the tutorials and they are really awesome.

    Thx u.

    Reply
  20. andy says:
    February 10, 2010 at 6:44 pm

    I download all the tutorials and they are really awesome.

    Thx u.

    Reply
  21. Anthony says:
    February 17, 2010 at 8:02 pm

    Amazing tutorial! Im not even a 3ds Max user but after this I want to learn Max because of the workflow. I use Maya but I understand how this translates over. I had some previous questions about sub-d modeling but I found my answers now. What I am curious on is the use of splines and they seam to be the same as Nurbs that I would use in Maya? The way you use splines in Max cant be done with Nurbs in Maya, the effect is slightly different but more efficient.

    Reply
  22. daniel says:
    April 26, 2010 at 5:29 am

    hey Chris,

    awesome tut thanks so much
    im pretty new to 3ds max and this is the first model iv ever finished (minus textures of course)

    keep up the good work man its awesome

    Reply
  23. Antoniy says:
    May 12, 2010 at 2:24 pm

    i did it on cinema 4d much faster and not fallowing the tut so much but the texturing is just …. i don’t know what to do, it will take me forever :D
    Anyway nice tut dude i appreciate the time u put in it

    Reply
  24. Damage says:
    May 14, 2010 at 6:56 pm

    Chris man.. finally done! Thank you for all your tuts, specially for this one. Love your site and tuts, I think I speak from everyone when I say THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THIS… and yeah it was a marathon. I’m gonna post up a pic of my final result on my url so u guys can check it out give me some pointers. I would love to texture+render this. So if u wanna go through another marathon.. bring it on! :)

    Reply
  25. ASHOOR says:
    July 5, 2010 at 2:18 pm

    THANKS YOU FOR ALL

    Please add me to your Hotmail to your OpenVPN
    Because I want you to answer some questions please

    thanks so much

    Reply
  26. Richard says:
    November 2, 2010 at 8:34 am

    I agree with jakechappy watching a sped up video with some guy narrating it is so annoying and counter productive.

    The main thing that comes across in your videos is that you actually want us to learn something, not just show off how good you are, You actually make me want to model this because everything is explained.
    I personally have no need to make this model, but to watch you do this (over the shoulder) has got to be one of the best modeling experiences I’ve had to date.
    I’ve learned much from all your videos, including how to present a video tutorial for 3ds max. ;)

    Reply
  27. Dashaje says:
    December 25, 2010 at 8:49 pm

    It was my second tutorial which i’ve done. I spent about one week on doing it but final effect made me very satisfied. You helped me so much, therefore i am grateful for you for this tutorial.

    Reply
  28. Erhan says:
    January 25, 2011 at 12:09 pm

    Thank you for all.

    Great work and excellent tutorial sets.

    Reply
  29. fonkoua says:
    August 16, 2011 at 9:26 am

    verry great job man thanks

    Reply
  30. asif says:
    October 14, 2011 at 3:00 am

    hi,

    Amazing tutorial Chris, i was wondering if there is another more permanent and a better solution to the problem of having flat surfaces while adding support edges on to a curved geometry, like you did while modeling the fins ?? this really is a an annoying problem for me, and happens all the time , Sorry for my English, :)

    Reply

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