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IMPORTANT: To view the tutorial with larger images and screen shots please download the PDF or XPS files.
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This tutorial was written exclusively for The3dStudio.com by Rick Johnston of Dreamscape Studios (Member Link)
*** Build a Field Cannon using 3ds max***
Build a Field Cannon Tutorial
The field cannon were the only piece of military artillery for armies in ground combat for hundreds of years. They were used to attack enemy soldiers almost exclusively for the first hundred years and did not have range or power to reach encampments of control facilities farther behind the lines. Cannon were extensively developed and improved between 1800 until the late 1800s saw the introduction of larger more powerful artillery pieces, rifled barrels and more powerful propellants.
In this tutorial we will build a model of field cannon of the 1850s era in a semi detailed level. As you perfect your skills in future tutorials and practice, you may wish to find actual drawings and pictures of one of these pieces and build a detailed model.
The process of building this tutorial is as follows:
Build a wheel
Build the axle
Build the Carriage Gun Mount
Build the hold down brackets and bearings
Build the Barrel and pivots
Eyebolts and Bolts
This tutorial should take between two and four hours to build depending on your skill level and experience.
Build a wheel
In the front view, build a tube with a radius of 21.50, radius 2 of 19.00, height of 3.0 with 36 segments. See Fig 1-1.
Fig 1-1
Image showing original tube to become the wooden wheel
Modify the tube using the sub object vertices. Select all the vertices on the inside of the tube in the front view. Do not select any outside vertices. Then in the top view, use the non-uniform scale tool to squeeze the selected vertices closer together 25% as shown in Fig 1-1a.
Fig 1-1a
Image showing the modification to the tube that will become the wooden wheel
Build a second tube with a radius of 21.75, radius 2 of 21.50, height of 3, and 36 segments. Align these two tubes to share the same center. See Fig 1-2.
Fig 1-2
A second tube is added to form the metal part of the wheel on the outside of the first one
Build a cylinder in the top view at the geometric center of the tubes built previously. The cylinder should have a radius of .80, length of 21.00, segments of 24 around, and 6 vertical segments. See Fig 1-3.
Fig 1-3
A cylinder is added to make the first spoke
Now modify the sub object mesh, select the vertices along the height, one segment at a time and using the uniform scaling tool, scale the vertices up and down to shape the spoke as shown in Fig 1-4 below. Deselect the vertices when you are satisfied with the shape.
Fig 1-4
The tubes have been turned off and the vertices edited to the original spoke.
Select the spoke object and using the object rotate tool, copy the spoke while rotating on the center axis. Rotate each copy 30 degrees and make 9 copies. See Fig 1-5.
Fig 1-5
Tubes are displayed again and the spokes have been copied around the center point of the wheel
In the front view, make a cylinder at the exact center of the two tubes. Make the cylinder with a height of 8 and a radius of 5.0. It should have 36 segments around and 6 segments in height. Using the uniform scaling tool, edit the sub object vertices to reshape the object as shown. See the left view of Fig 1-6 below. Extrude the cap ends outward a little bevel these and then extrude them inward toward the middle. Then flatten the outer surface. Using the alignment tool center the object inside one of the tubes. See Fig 1-6
Fig 1-6
The central hub is added to the wheel completing it
In the top view, make a copy of the tubes, spokes, and hub. Move that copy to align with the originals 54 inches from the first.
Build the axle
Build another cylinder to be an axle. This one should be 66 inches in height with 6 segments and have a radius of 2.0. It should be positioned through both wheel hubs to extend outward past the hub just slightly. See Fig 1-7
Fig 1-7
This image shows the second copy of the wheel and the addition of the cylinder that will become the axel
Build a box in the top view. The box should be 6.0 wide, 50.00 long and have a 6.0height. It should be positioned so that the bottom surface of the box is level with the center of the axel and it is centered between the two wheels. See Fig 1-8
Fig 1-8
Here the box to become the gun mount and tongue support is added on top of the axel.
Use the Chamfer tool to chamfer the long edges on the box. Use the modify sub object rollout, and select edges pick button. Select the four edges one at a time and chamfer them with a .7 inch chamfer. See Fig 1-9
Fig 1-9
The gun mount support box is chamfered.
Build another box in the front view. This box should be about 6.25 inches wide 6.25 long and 1.5 high. It should have 6 segments in length and width, 1 in height. Position the box so that it is about 1.5 inches from on end of the previous box and protrudes from that box on all sides. Then using the edit sub object vertices tools, reshape the box to look like Fig 1-10 and 1-11.
Fig 1-10
Boxes are modified to appear to be metal straps
Fig 1-11
The box is modified to only leave the outside surfaces protruding from the box and axel the strap is supposed to surround
Make three copies evenly spaced about 13.5 inches apart along the axel. See Fig 1-12.
Fig 1-12
Three copies are made and evenly spaces along the axel
Build the Carriage Gun Mount
Build another box in the front view. This box should be 2.0 long 30 inches wide and 12.0 inches tall. It should have 1 segment in length, 10 in width and 2 in height. Modify the sub object vertices to reshape the object as shown in Fig 1-13.
Fig 1-13
The first side of the gun mount is modeled
Now select the sob object polygons as shown in fig 1-14 and extrude them outward 5.5 inches. Move the local axis to align with the new surface. See fig 1-14.
Fig 1-14
Image showing 1st extrusion of the gun mount modeling process
After moving the axis, use the mirror tool to create a copy in the y axis. See Fig 1-15.
Fig 1-15
Image showing the two halves of the gun mount after the right half is mirrored
Boolean the two most recent part you have made, together to form the gun mounting. Boolean the new gun mounting and the long box that we chamfered earlier. Once you have completed the Boolean, you should convert this object into an editable mesh. See fig 1-16.
Fig 1-16
Both halves and the gun mount support are unioned in this image
Switch the top view to the bottom view. Then select the gun mount again and modify the sub object polygons. Select the polygons as shown in Fig 1-17 and extrude those 3 inches outward.
Fig 1-17
An extrusion from the bottom is shown in the image above
Change the bottom view to the top view again and change the left view to the right view. Select the polygons shown and extrude them outward 3 inches. Repeat this 13 times. Then extrude the same polygons 6 inches outward 3 times. See Fig 1-18.
Fig 1-18
The tongue is extruded out of the rear surfaces of the gun mount
Edit the sub object vertices to reshape the tongue in the top view as shown. Move the local pivot of the gun mounting to align with the centerline of the axel. See Fig 1-19.
Fig 1-19
The lateral shape of the tongue is developed in this image
Adjust the length of the tongue outward some 12 inches by moving the vertices as shown. See Fig 1-20.
Fig 1-20
The length of the tongue is stretched by moving vertices to retain the original shape while adding length
Deselect the sub object and rotate the tongue so that it is resting at ground level and the lowest rear point is about 3 inches below the ground level. Now edit the vertices to be flush with the ground level on the bottom surface as shown in fig 1-22.
Fig 1-22
The longitudinal shape of the tongue is developed in this step
Select the vertices shown on the gun mounting and rotate them 12 degrees counter clockwise in the front view. Then move the same selected vertices so that the lower surface of the long box over the axel is again aligned with the centerline of the axel. See Fig 1-23.
Fig 1-23
Upper vertices of the gun mount are selected and rotated 12 degrees then moved to realign them on the axel
The support metal bands are rotated and re-aligned with the changes in the gun mounting shape
Select the box you edited to become the strap steel band and the 3 copies you made and rotate and align them to be realigned with the axel and the long box at the front of the gun mount. See Fig 1-24.
Fig 1-24
This image shows the realignment of the metal bands once more.
We need to notch the gun mount for the die cast barrel pivots. Build a cylinder in the front view as shown in Fig 1-25. The cylinder should had a radius of 2.0 and be 18 inches high. It should have 24 segments. Use the Boolean tool and subtract the cylinder from the gun mount. Be sure that the cylinder is centered between the mountings and protrudes from both sides. See Fig 1-25 and 1-26.
Fig 1-25
A cylinder is placed in the top of the gun mount to prepare for notching it and making the receptacle for the bearing and pivot.
Fig 1-26
This images shows the completed Boolean and the notch that will hold the bearings and pivot
Build the hold down brackets and bearings
Brackets and bearings will be needed around the barrel pivots. This can be accomplished easily. Build a tube in the front view. The tube should have a radius 1 of 2.0, radius 2 of 1.75 and height of 2.0. It should have 24 segments. Center it up on the notch on one side of the gun mounting. Then copy this tube to the opposite side. See Fig 1-27
Fig 1-27
The pivot bearing is added as a tube
Build a second tube. Make the radius 1 2.75 and the radius 2 2.50. The height should be 2.0. It should also have 24 segments. Now edit the sub object polygons on this second tube. Select the polygons that are on almost opposite sides next to the wood gun mounting and extrude them out ½ inch 4 times. See Fig 1-28.
Fig 1-28
The second tube is added to become the bracket Note the extended polygons forming the rest of the bracket.
Edit the vertices of the extrusions to lay flush on the top of the gun mounting. Make a copy of the bracket and move it to the other side of the gun mount. Align them to the bearing tubes you just created. See Fig 1-29
Fig 1-29
Image showing the final vertex edited and brackets and bearings in position
The elevation adjustment needs to be built next. Build a box in the top view near the center of the upper tongue as shown in Fig 1-30. Edit the vertices of the box to align the bottom surface on the top surface of the tongue.
Fig 1-30
Image shows the addition of a box that will become the elevation screw support
Build a cylinder located in the center of the box you just finished. Make the cylinder with a radius of .40, a height of 6.0 and 18 segments around, 5 high. Edit the segment vertices, first moving them up and then squeezing them with a uniform scale tool to get the shape shown in fig 1-31.
Build another cylinder in the front view near the top center of the last one. This one should have a radius of .25 and a length of 7. There should be 18 segments around and 1 segment in height. See Fig 1-32.
Fig 1-32
The modeled elevation screw adjuster is added to the box in the form of two cylinders and two spheres.
Build a sphere and locate it at the end of this most recent cylinder. The sphere should have a radius of .30. Align the center of the sphere with the center of the end of the last cylinder. Make a copy of the sphere and locate it exactly on the opposite end of the cylinder. See Fig 1-33.
Fig 1-33
Spheres added to the tips complete the elevation adjuster screw
Using the Boolean command, union both spheres and both cylinders into a single element. Convert the result into an editable mesh. See Fig 1-34
Fig 1-34
The final Boolean completes the adjuster screw
In the left view, create a new cylinder. This cylinder will have a radius of 4.5 inches, height of 72 inches and should have 32 segments around and 10 in length. Move the cylinder until it is located as shown in Fig 1-35.
Fig 1-35
Cylinder is added which will become the gun barrel
Select and edit the vertices as shown in figure 1-36 to get the barrel shape. Using the uniform scale tool and editing the vertices one segment at a time works the best. See fig 1-36.
Fig 1-36
Final editing of the gun barrel exterior shape
.Select the polygon cap at the firing end of the barrel and extrude it outwards twice, .7 inches each time. The second extrusion should be scaled to about 75%. Then move it into the barrel until it is flush with the next set of vertices. See Fig 1-38.
Fig 1-38
Editing the vertices and faces on the end of the barrel to create the proper shape
Extrude the cap polygon in toward the center of the barrel about 36 inches. It should not go all the way to the pivot but should be as far as possible from the firing end of the barrel. See Fig 1-39.
Fig 1-39
Extruding the single polygon inward to create the firing end of the gun barrel
Build a sphere with a radius of 1.75 inches and locate it at the rearmost point on the barrel. Edit the vertices to blend the front of the sphere into the rear end of the barrel. Build another cylinder in the front view to become the barrel pivot. It should have a radius of 1.90 and a length of 16.00. It should also have 18 segments around and 1- segments in height. Edit the vertices as shown in Fig 1-40.
Fig 1-40.
A modified sphere is added at the rear of the barrel. Note the modification of shape to blend with the back of the barrel itself.
Boolean the cylinder that is the barrel with the cylinder that is the pivot and then with the sphere at the back. Once the Boolean is completed, convert it to an editable mesh and align the pivot point with the center line of the pivot.
Add eyebolts and bolt caps to the locations shown If you are unsure of how you can make eyebolts, we have a tutorial on the subject. Use that tutorial and make the required eyebolt and then copy it around as shown in Fig 1-41 and 1-41a.
Fig 1-41
Fig 1-41a
When you have the eyebolts, and bolts in place this tutorial is complete. The remaining task is adding materials. We will let you work on the materials yourself and see what you can do with them. Use 2 or 3 woods, metals from the 3DSMax library or make some for yourself.
To complete the field cannon in detail several more objects need to be modeled. These include ramrod, striker, swab, and some other details on the tongue and wheel. I would suggest that you research the cannons on the Internet and complete the model at your leisure.
Good Luck and Good Modeling
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