How to Model New 3D Units

[dctanker]

Okay... so heres the lowdown, I've just got 3ds max 7 and I know completely nothing about it... could you make a dummies guide for it? Im trying anyway but ill probably fail, MISERABLY. Im hoping to becomse a little more advanced eventually... eventually.

erm... i just tried but it cant seem to open .cas files... only .max and .chr

[hoggy]

If you look around the forum a bit there are a number of postings providing links for Max tutorials. It is a huge package so don't expect to be up and building m,odels for a while. You need Vercingetorix's Cas exporter tool to import cas files (see tools list in the root of the scriptorium)

[zedar]

Try doing tutorials in max. Go throught them from the beginning and as long as you want and skip boring things (means unnecessary).
It takes awhile to learn model...

[Bwian]

You can narrow down the search a little bit by getting a bit more specific with your 'googling'.

Look for tutorials on:

Mesh Modelling
Low Poly Modelling
UV Mapping
Mapping Textures
Keyframe Animation
Skin Modifier

That sort of thing. MAx is designed to do really high end modelling, and very compley animation tasks. To model for RTW, you will be barely touching the very tiniest tip of what it can do...trouble is, if you let the real Genie out ofthe Max bottle, you will end up with models WAY too complex for the game engine, and will probably blow a fuse or two trying to get to grips with all teh words and terms in the tutorials. In short..3DS Max is like a Formula 1 car....and you are just working out which pedal makes it go

Track down a good book ( assuming you...er...cough..don't have the manual ) My 3ds Max 6 Bible is invaluable. It's a lot less 'dry' than the manula, and came with a handy disc of samples and example vids. The Max manual tended to make more sense AFTER I had worked it out, and knew what the hell they were trying to say anyway.... Even then...the book is 1200 pages long!!! ( and...thank the gods..came with an electronic version on the disc! )