3D Car Modeling - How to Get Started
30 min
3D Car Modeling Tutorial pt.1 | Autodesk Maya | Modeling a Lamborghini Huracan
Part 1 of 25 ~16 hours
3D Vehicle ( JEEP ) Modeling in Autodesk Maya 10 hours
WHAT? & WHY? & HOW?
I've decided to dive into learning photorealistic car modeling in Autodesk Maya. To get started, I'll be following the "Modeling a Lamborghini Huracan" tutorial on YouTube. I chose this particular tutorial because of my passion for cars and a growing interest in car design as a potential career path. Through this process, I aim to develop a solid understanding of techniques used in high-detail, realistic car modeling, from setting up reference images to fine-tuning complex surfaces and details.
Date
Example of my idea direction . . .
As I reach the halfway point in my final design project, which involves creating a 3D model of a car in Autodesk Maya, I’m reflecting on my progress and what I still want to improve. At the start, I was both excited and intimidated by the idea of modeling something as complex as a car, but I’ve made significant progress. So far, I’ve completed the basic shape of the car’s body and have started detailing the wheels, headlights, and grille. A big milestone for me was learning how to use Maya’s various modeling tools, especially the extrude and bevel functions, which have been crucial in shaping parts of the car with smooth and realistic edges.
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced has been working with the different views and aligning all the parts correctly in 3D space. It’s been tricky making sure that each side of the car is symmetrical, especially when adding details like door handles and mirrors. I’ve also struggled with creating smooth curves on the body of the car; sometimes, the polygons look blocky, and it’s taken a lot of trial and error to make the surfaces appear smooth. To improve, I’ve been watching tutorials and getting feedback from my teacher, who suggested using specific smoothing techniques and adjusting edge loops to create a more polished look.
This project has really pushed me to be patient and precise, and I feel like I’ve learned a lot about 3D modeling in general. I’ve gained confidence in using basic tools in Maya and have a much better understanding of how complex shapes are built in a 3D space. For the next phase, my main goals are to work on the interior details and add materials and textures to the model to make it look more realistic. I also plan to explore rendering options so that I can present the final model in a professional way. Overall, this project has been challenging but rewarding, and I’m excited to see how much more I can learn and improve before the year ends.
Today, I began working through the Lamborghini modeling tutorial. My first step was setting up image planes for the car, which included positioning reference images for both the side and top views. This setup allows me to accurately match the model’s proportions to the actual car. With the image planes in place, I moved on to forming the wheel well. This involved carefully shaping the area around where the wheels will sit, focusing on getting the correct curvature and depth. This foundational work will help guide the rest of the car's structure as I continue modeling.
Today, I progressed to modeling the front quarter fender. This part turned out to be more challenging than I anticipated due to the complex curves and angles that give the fender its unique shape. I had to carefully adjust vertices and edges to capture the subtle contours that define this part of the car. Although it took some extra time to get the flow of the surface right, I can now see the form of the fender beginning to take shape. It’s rewarding to see it come together, and these adjustments are helping to build the car's overall structure accurately.
Today, I worked on mirroring the front end and fender. Initially, they didn’t line up perfectly, so I had to make some adjustments. To get a smooth and cohesive look, I merged and aligned several vertices to ensure the components fit together properly. After some fine-tuning, everything is now aligned, and the overall result looks great.