TGJ2O

Moving points and extruding the steering fin

We're going to create another plane shape, go in and edit it to allow us to create a fin for the back of our saucer.

Step 1 - Drawing the fin

Make sure we're back in object space.

We're going to put our 3D cursor on the middle back of the ship. From overhead (7 on keypad) SHIFT+RMB roughly in the back center. The 3D cursor should move (red/white circle).

Click on the view tab (immediately picture at left) at the right side of the viewport

Ensure your 3D cursor is set to 0 on the X plane (or Y depending on how you've drawn things)

We're just centering the 3D cursor is all.

Shift+A and create a CUBE (I orbited to see what is being made)

Now we're going to scale this along X. So PRESS S, then X then shrink down the cube so it is thinner (see below)

When you first create the cube

Step 2 - Shaping the fin

Select the cube and TAB into EDIT MODE.

You want to be editing in VERTEX MODE so press 1 on your keyboard (not the keypad, but the numbers above the keys). Lastly, you want to be in WIREFRAME mode so hit Z and choose WIREFRAME.

Select the front two points of the fin (box select them).

PRESS G and move those points back towards the rear of the fin. (see below right). Press down the MIDDLE MOUSE WHEEL and that forces the movement in the Y plane only (so you don't go up/down - only left/right)

STEP 3 - OPTIONAL: Now we're going to extrude some 'elevator controls' on the fin.

To do so we'll press CTRL+R (for RING CUT). Click when the yellow line appears horizontally.

Now drag that ring cut so that it's close to the top and click to confirm its position (see pic below)

Step1) Allowing a horizontal Ring Cut

Press 3 on the keyboard (NOT KEYPAD). Select the outside face of the top of the fin we just made.

Now we're going to PRESS E for extrude. And let's force it along the X axis outwards.

With the ITEM tab open, I chose to have that face at X=4m

The second face is extruded out to the other side to a distance of -4m

Extrude the other side of the fin by pressing E

In the ITEM X box press -4 and it will be the same distance out as the other side

TAB back out into OBJECT MODE

In your MATERIALS tab on the right side choose COCKPIT.BLACK as your material color for the fin.

PARENT THE FIN to the disc.

NEXT: We'll make some RAY GUNS

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