[Tutorial] Modelling LEGO models the right way

[Psistorm]

its been a while since it got requested, but now I decided to go ahead and write a LEGO tutorial

it will feature the following topics:

- correct units setup in max
- block measurement
- modelling unusual pieces
- general modelling hints
- material setup
- how to setup the render for realism
- small project: modelling a small model step by step

I will model a small model for this tut, I just have to get it down from the attic
ill start modelling today, and ill make the necessary renders, so Ill announce when I will start.

gimme some comments whether you´d like to have such a tutorial

[nookie]

i'd like!!!!

[bunglo]

I would love to have this tutorial!

[TheOne]

wow! great idea!
i cant wait to read your tut.

[JQuacker]

Need you ask? It would certainly be read by at least me

[Psistorm]

wohoo, thanks for that positive feedback!

im currently doing some renderings for the tutorial, not sure how I will write it (forum, doc, pdf, whatever, ill think about it )

[Fusion]

Not sure you know but there is a free plugin for creating LEGO pieces.....But keep going with your tutorial....im sure it will be useful.

I'll try posting the plugin this evening.....just incase you were curious

[bunglo]

That plug in's probably cool, but I would rather learn how to make them on my own.

[Fusion]

It turns out that I can only find v.4 of the plugin and all of you probably have v5 or v6.....so theres no point in posting.

Im sure we'd all like to see his tut on Lego modeling I was just stating that there was a plugin that has these shapes as a Standard Primative and can be snaped like a Lego piece accordingly.

Note: If you do have max 4 then let me know and I'll send you a copy.

[Psistorm]

sry, using max6 right now.
Ive tried LCAD some time, its quite nice to play with, but doesnt feature some of the extended parts.

anyways, the tutorial will have to wait a lil, im just finishing off a scene Im working on (environment for my car )
sry to keep you waiting, but I got like 40% of the renders done already

[Psistorm]

oookay, here we go now!
Im done with rendering the files and will now start the tutorial. plz dont post anything until I announce it, so the tutorial wont get cut up



Tutorial guide to modelling LEGO models the right way

Introduction

so, you want to model some of them old LEGO models up at your attic? A fun thing to do, really. the real problem is realism though.
If you want to model LEGO to scale and make it look real, you will come across a few issues, which we are going to solve in this tutorial.

The whole tutorial will be divided into the following parts:

- correct units setup in max
- block measurement
- modelling unusual pieces
- general modelling hints
- material setup
- how to setup the render for realism
- small project: modelling a small model step by step

Read on to learn more

[Psistorm]

Chapter 1: Unit setup in MAX

first of all, please keep in mind this tutorial is NOT program-specific, so you can follow it with whatever package you have. I will explain things off max screenshots some time later, but I will also list the values themselves seperately.

now for the unit setup:
I have done some measuring on LEGO blocks while trying to figure out a good grid setup for 3dsm. After some reflecting, I came to the conclusion to use "9" as grid unit.
why?

well, the smallest possible LEGO block would then be 9x9x4 units, so a "normal" 1x1 block would be 9x9x12. This way I can work on a grid for the xy plane AND have straight numbers for height settings.

to setup the grid units in 3dsm, go to Customize -> Grid and Snap settings and hit the Home Grid tab.
Set the "Grid Spacing" value to 9 and youre done!

look at the following screenshot for reference:

[Psistorm]

Chapter 2: Block Measurements

with the grid units all set up, its time to look at the block dimensions (which were explained a bit in chapter 1).

There isnt much to say, just check the picture below, which features the most common block sizes and also includes the measurements for the so called "blips".

[Psistorm]

Chapter 2 part 2: More LEGO measurements

here are some rules for building those bricks:
- Put the "blip" in the center of the grid square (obviously)
- dont waste any height segments on the blips, no height segments are perfectly sufficient.
- between every 4 blips, there is a connector on the underside, check on your own bricks if you have some available, otherwise look at the attached picture. These are tubes with the following measurements:

radius 1: 3 units
radius 2: 3,5 units
height: block height - 1 unit
sides: 18

note that a 1x1 block is just hollow inside, and a 2x1 block has a non-hollow cylinder inside. its radius is 2 units.

- to make hollow undersides blocks (likely to be used only where they can be seen), convert the box to an editable mesh, select the bottom face and bevel with height 0 and amount -1,0. then extrude inwards with the value "block height - 1 unit".
(so if you have a block with height 12, extrude 11 units inwards - easy, innit?)

the following picture shows the underside of a 2x3 block, along with the aforesaid tubes in the underside.

[Psistorm]

Chapter 3: Modelling unusual pieces

well, so far for the easy blocks, but you will probably come along some more difficult parts quite soon.

There is no allround solution for modelling "non-brick" parts, just be creative Think of solutions that might work out for you and try to model the piece accordingly.

in the following picture, you will see a few example parts along with a short explanation how I did them.