Book Image

Blender 3D Incredible Models

By : Arijan Belec
Book Image

Blender 3D Incredible Models

By: Arijan Belec

Overview of this book

Blender is a massively popular and powerful 3D program, with versatile modeling abilities that make it a great way to enter the 3D modelling world. Blender 3D Incredible Models is an extensive guide for those new to hard-surface modeling with Blender, helping you understand the complete range of tools and features it offers and how to employ those efficiently to create realistic models. You’ll be led through progressively more challenging modeling projects— from an assault rifle and an army tank to a sci-fi spaceship model—giving you a glimpse of all the skills you’d need in Blender’s vast ecosystem of features and functionality, ranging from textures, rendering, and UV mapping to lighting, rigging, and beyond. Each engaging project builds upon the last until you’re equipped with everything you need to tackle your own modeling challenges, whatever they may be. By the end of this Blender book, you won’t just know how to create the models covered here, but you’ll be able to turn your own concepts and references into 3D Blender models too!
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
1
Part 1: Introduction to Hard Surface Modeling
3
Part 2: Modeling an Assault Rifle
7
Part 3: Modeling a Sci-Fi Race Ship
10
Part 4: Modeling a T-72 Tank

Rigging with constraints

In this section, we will use empty objects and constraints to rig the tracks and wheels. In the following steps, we will bind the movement of the tracks to the rotation of an empty sphere using constraints:

  1. Create an empty sphere. To do so, press Shift + A, and find Sphere in the Empty menu.

An empty object is an object that exists but is not visible in renders. It is commonly used as a placeholder, reference, or rigging object.

Figure 11.7 – Empty sphere

  1. Press F2 to rename the object as Sphere:

Figure 11.8 – Renaming

  1. Select the tracks and find the Object Constraint Properties tab. Then, open the Add Object Constraint menu:

Figure 11.9 – Object Constraint

  1. Add a Transformation constraint:

Figure 11.10 – Transformation constraint

This will create a menu in the Object Constraints tab, much like...