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Case Study Gallery
MicroScribe® Connections for Maya - SR-71 Blackbird
Figure 1: The scale model that was digitized
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Figure 2: The polygonal wireframe model |
Figure 3: The final smoothed model
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I decided to digitize a medium scale plastic model of an SR-71 Blackbird
for potential use in a game. The general approach was that the entire
body would prove too difficult if one attempted to digitize it as a whole.
So I decided to bring in the plane piece by piece, ultimately reassembling
the within Maya. After taking a glance at the model building manual, and
popping off the required pieces from the sheets, the digitizing process
was off and running.
Using a polygonal strip method, the general shapes were brought in quickly
and easily, creating an overall feel for the plane’s shape in a
short amount of time. Next, continuing into the second stage of the polygonal
strip process I began breaking the long segments into multiple four-sided
polygons. However, when further detailing the jet I chose to construct
many of the small areas (antennae, landing gear, etc.) using basic geometric
shapes modeled "by hand". The resulting blend then produced
an overall feel to the craft that is stealthy yet machined, just the thing
I was aiming for.
Yet even with a certain degree of detail being paid to the vehicle there
are many rivets and seams not present on the surface. I purposely chose
to not try and model everything, since attempting to do so would quickly
push the model into polycount numbers much higher than wanted. What I
have with the current version of the model is something easily capable
of game integration with the option of using textures to further enhance
the details.
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