first try

[Jokerd007]

this is my first model that i am really trying at. i have about 4 hours in it so far, but it has been a good learning experience. i started this by following a tutorial, then i went freelance. please don't be too harsh. i am still learning

[Jokerd007]

by the way, this is a space ship, why do the windows on the side do that wierd "skew"-type thing?

[riki]

Great start, keep going :). I've got some modeling tuts, see link below.

[Jokerd007]

added to fav's. is that your site?

[pixelranger]

The "skew thing" is a smoothing error that comes from your geometry. My guess that they're not beveled more than once and that you have a max smoothing angle of around 120 degrees. At least more than the default 89,5...
Try to chamfer the windows' edges using bandsaw or the knife tool, turn down the smoothing angle to 89,5 and rather add geometry to smooth the model. Then you'll see that the smoothing errors go away :)

Keep it up :)

[Jokerd007]

that only went like 1000 miles over my head, i will have to find some tutorials to figure out what you are talking about. thanks, though

[pixelranger]

Sorry, my fault...

Select your windows (all 4 "walls" and the innermost polygon) and smooth shift without any inset (press shift+f and just briefly click in the viewport). Now press the smooth scale button on the modify tab and type "-10 mm" in the requester (assuming your space ship is at least 10 m large...). The windows are now scaled down a bit and you've got an extra edge around the windows.
Now it is easier for LightWave to calculate the smoothing and the "skew thing" should be gone.

You've turned up the "smooth threshold" in the surface editor, right? (under the smooth button).
Try to move it back down to 89,5 degress. Now you'll probably see that the errors are gone, but you'll also see that your spaceship is all faceted and unsmooth. Use the knife tool (multiply tab) to slice near corners and use the drag tool (modify tab) to round the edges so that it becomes smooth again. Try not to slice diagonally so that you end up with many n-sided polys, because that way the spaceship of yours will quickly turn into a unwieldy mess og dots and lines. Try sticking to 4-sided polys as much as you can.

hope that clarified a bit.

[riki]

yep yep that's my site. Also check here for lots of tuts http://members.shaw.ca/lightwavetutorials/Newest_Links.htm

[pixelranger]

Just have to say that it's a wonderful resource you have there, riki! Excellent contribution to the community. Thanks alot!!

[riki]

Thanks Pixel, I've got lots of new stuff to add, It just keeps growing :)

[JackDeL]

Joker007, thats a good start! The smoothing angle thing gave me fits when I started out too!! hang in there!!;)

Originally posted by riki
Great start, keep going :). I've got some modeling tuts, see link below.

riki, I just have to say thanks! your "Bending pipes" tut was exactly what I was trying to figure out how to do! :cool:

I will be visiting your site on a regular basis from now on!:D

[Jokerd007]

here is a gun that i will be adding to the ship

[Rich]

I just have one question? I notice from your screenshot your using 7.0? Why don't you upgrade to 7.5, its a free download and there are great features with the upgrade.

[Jokerd007]

where do i get it? on this website? how large is the file?