'Softimage Xsi'

Software Used :

Introduction :

When modeling a car I generally try to find something different to build, something I haven't seen before (in 3D). I enjoy modeling older cars because I find their shape more fascinating than modern cars. Sometimes I have an idea of the final image I want to achieve. Originally, I was going to try and get the Peugeot to look like the reference pictures I had sourced, but then I stumbled across a few rally cars and decided it would be fun to texture the Peugeot with decals, mud, rust, and so on.

I had the Peugeot almost complete in its standard form before deciding on the final image I wanted to create, which then involved further modeling and texturing. These additions definitely made the final result more visually appealing.

Modeling :

The first step with this piece was to get some reference pictures and a blueprint. Finding as many pictures of different angles and close ups of certain details as I could was definitely helpful.

Then in Softimage I created some profile curves.  I used the curves as guidelines (not to actually generate any geometry from) and I used polygons to model (cube, sphere) (Fig.01). I modeled one half of the car first and then when I was happy with the shape I used the symmetry function to create the other side.

The way I generally start modeling a car is by doing one complete wheel first (usually the front left one for some reason) and then building up the car’s basic shape from there (Fig01a).

Once I had the basic shape of this particular car’s body done, I went in and added the finer details (creases and bevels).

To start with some areas didn’t look resolved, but as I added detail and kept switching from subs (sub-divided/smoothed version) to hulls (low poly) it came together. That was the hard part (Fig.02).

All the extra bits that made up the finished car were modeled after that (Fig.03 - Fig.05). The modeling was quite straight forward; it was just a matter of getting the curves and creases in the correct places.