Westminster Bridge

[urban2012]

Westminster Bridge

HI i am creating the westmisnster bridge, i hope to do half then mirror it for the other side.

I thought about using the boolen tool but it makes so many edges, is there a better way to get the nice arch shape?

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wFAFaTpHS38/TULIHGf-gEI/AAAAAAAACWk/0uPboh1BUFU/s1600/DSC_0626_fhdr.jpg


Thanks

 

[frank beckmann]

I´d start with a disc instead. Select+delete what you don´t need - scale in component-mode to your liking. Cover the outer edges - scale´m flat - pull out - mirror all polys and adjust the length.
That´s a rough briefing:

Cheers
Frank

 

[urban2012]

Yes that worked really well

 

[urban2012]

My progress so far.

 

[frank beckmann]

You don´t have to model all out of one piece.

Cheers
Frank

 

[urban2012]

So best if you join different pieces onto it? then import children ? weld points?

 

[frank beckmann]

I mean you can keep them loose - not welded. The bridge isn´t made from one piece either.

Cheers
Frank

 

[urban2012]

Complete now just to texture it.

 

[urban2012]

I have removed some of the polygons now i have shadow areas. Is there a way to fix these areas?

 

[frank beckmann]

Not sure what you´re talking about: maybe have a play with the "Smooth angle" of the mesh -when it´s about shading.

Cheers
Frank

 

[urban2012]

It's just certain flat bits have now got different shades to there areas.

 

[frank beckmann]

Lower the Smooth angle a bit- Shading of complex nGons in connection with all kind of angles is often problematic - but I don´t think you will see it when it´s textured.

Cheers
Frank

 

[urban2012]

How do I lower the smooth angle ?

Sorry for all the questions

 

[frank beckmann]

Here:

Cheers
Frank

 

[urban2012]

Here it is textured... Let me know your thoughts

 

[Helmut]

* The WM Bridge (as shown by your link in the 1st posting) is a wrought iron bridge and consists of sets of individual arches which span the distance between the piers.
* My approach in modelling this would be spline based:
1 use a semicircle for the arch (red line)
2 use 1/2 of a square for the portral frame (green line)
3 chose the path creator with an initially simple rectangular profile to create the structural members of the bridge
4 use a box, made ediable for the piers (they can be quite simple at the start)
5 chose the array modifier to generate n piers across the river Thames
6 chose the array modifier to generate a set of arches to connect two adjoining piers. I have used 8 arches, this may have to be modified
7 chose an orthogonal array modifier to multiply this “single span” unit to cover the distance between the banks

* As you proceed with fine-tuning the simplex profile(s) of the wrought iron arches and girders (currently the rectangle marked by the widget) can be made more complicated to simulate the Gothic Revivalist profiles actually used.
* The tracery in the spandrel is a bit more tricky. However, a single model plus symmetry plus array modifiers makes this manageable.

 

[Helmut]

Tracery quickie (very simplified)

 

[frank beckmann]

* The WM Bridge (as shown by your link in the 1st posting) is a wrought iron bridge and consists of sets of individual arches which span the distance between the piers.

But it started as a stony bridge: Westminster-Bridge painted by Canaletto

Cheers
Frank

 

[frank beckmann]

Hi Helmut.
You were in a hurry aren´t you? You have introduced some "nasty features" in your model: double spline points, non-manifolds.
The Ellipse.js spline script is perfect for the arch profile - don´t know where your double zenith point came from - it´s not in the script.

Cheers
Frank

 

[Helmut]

Nonsense, this works perfectly well if you embed 3D space in a gravitationally warped 11 dimensional quantum continuum:tongue:

Seriously: My apologies, I was on another problem in my head and did some hasty fumbling. Maybe I should start at the Noob C3D level again.
Prost nach Hamburg