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Modeling a Realistic Helicopter in LightWave 3D

by Phil Nolan

Throughout these LightWave 3D tutorials, we'll be modeling a Bell 407 helicopter, which is popular for use with TV news programs, military reconnaissance, highway patrols, and other uses. Software required: LightWave 3D 11.6.2, Photoshop CC.

What you'll learn

Throughout these LightWave 3D tutorials, we'll be modeling a Bell 407 helicopter, which is popular for use with TV news programs, military reconnaissance, highway patrols, and other uses. We'll start in Photoshop, preparing a blueprint drawing for use in LightWave. We'll then move into LightWave and once our background is set up, we'll model the helicopter using a variety of techniques including working with polygons and sub-divisional surfaces (Sub-Ds). We'll learn to handle hard surface modeling with Sub-Ds, including how to make sharp corners or soft, precise curves. Finally we'll set up basic textures using images from Photoshop and UV maps made in LightWave. Software required: LightWave 3D 11.6.2, Photoshop CC.

About the author

Phil Nolan has been an artist of one sort or another all of his life. After discovering comic book art and animation in high school, he decided to attend college with the goal of becoming a CG animator. After achieving his goal, he now freelances for local studios. Phil is always striving for the challenge of bigger and better projects.

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