Help with creating vehicles.

Hello folk, I've decided recently to start modeling cars for BeamNG. I've been looking into this and I find modeling fun and relaxing. But I need some help on where to start.

I've been using Google Sketchup 8 to make every model I have made so far and I enjoy doing it. I would like to start making vehicles for BeamNG and I do understand that it's alot of effort. If you could suggest what program to use, to make cars for BeamNG then I would appreciate it. I don't think GS8 is anywhere near advanced enough to make vehicles for BeamNG. Please respond ASAP because I would like to begin making unofficial cars and maps for this fantastic game.

What program(s) would you suggest to model and make cars and maps for BeamNG?

 

3dsmax is probably the best program to use for modeling..

 

Okay thanks, I'm still fairly new to modeling by the way so could you perhaps suggest any tips?

 

If you don't know the program I recommend you typing in google "3dsmax basics". There are plenty of pretty good tutorials about basics of 3dsmax. Also read 3dsmax documentation/help, most of the tools in 3dsmax are described very well.

 

OKay thanks for the support, look forward to seeing cars and maps brought out by me.

 

If you'd like a complete vehicle tutorial, digitaltutors do some excellent ones like this for various packages:
http://www.digitaltutors.com/11/training.php?pid=3560

Choosing a model package is a very personal thing so I wouldn't necessarily go buying 3DMax or anything else in a hurry. They all do basically the same thing and everyone has a favourite. There are plenty of alternatives that you might prefer.
Cinema 4D or Lightwave are just as good but half the price.
Modo seems a popular choice for vehicle modelling, not sure why.

I prefer Softimage myself. There's a free version called Softimage Modtool to try out.
Truespace, Wings and Blender are free too.

 

Another one for Blender here, but that's just my personal preference. Check both out and see what you think.

 

Thanks for all of the support everyone! I'll check out some of these and post maybe a quick creation that I've made later on but for now I'm going to go and try out Blender.

 

Well, I've been practicing all night. Using different tools and things and I've decided it's alot better than sketchup. It seemed too advanced at first but now it seems pretty easy. I'm going to start modeling an actual car now.

 

This was pretty much my feeling when I switched from Sketchup to Blender

Give it a few months of solid practice, and you'll be flying along.

 

I've made a few cars, their only practices and probably won't be released as proper derivable cars. However the serve a purpose of being something to base my future cars on. I'm probably not going to make real cars though since the require more work making sure that the model looks exactly like the real thing. It's easier to just make you're own and slap a silly name on it. Here are three of the cars that I made earlier. Can someone tell me how to put a line of symmetry / mirror down the middle of the cars so both sides are exactly the same? Also tell me what you think and perhaps suggest something for me. I spent about 2 hours on each one just practicing honing my skills and trying out new tools.

Anyway I'm going to make another one and try out some new things on it. Maybe an all-out American muscle car, perhaps 4 doors. Nice'n boxy.

 

For the mirror, first make sure you have a defined centre line down the middle of the model. In the toolbar on the right and slightly above, hit the small wrench, and that will bring up the Modifiers menu. Select "mirror", and then you can define which axis it mirrors along and place it. When you're done, go to object mode and just hit "apply".

 

Okay thanks, I just created a thread and called it Chainsaw's Showroom. I'm going to upload screenshots of cars and maps I make for BeamNG.

 

I have a sort of noobie question if i get this right you need some sort of beam skeleton to the car? I want to start modeling some cars to test out on beamng I will use blender so is the ''skeleton'' a separate thing on the model or what?

 

You use a skeleton and change the shape of that, you add beams and nodes into it if you want to make it more complex. When you've done that you smooth it all down.

 

I'm thinking to try it too