Cutting the cockpit windows?

[Guest]

I tried several times and different ways but didn't work out...The only way that worked somehow was when i chosed the border mode and cuted but they were wrong shapes. What is the best way to cut the cockpit windows? Using boolean maybe? I took a screen of the thing i made by choosing the border and cuted, i also sliced few times but the lines were missing. See the arrows in the screen so you know what i mean.I would be happy if somebody could help me a bit, this is the first model i'm making (757-200)Contact me if you got messenger or icq by t.simonen@kolumbus.fi.

[Guest Milton]

In GMAX, this is my process to use Boolean to cut windows and add textures. PREPARATION: 1. Make a template (Create Box) simplified box the shape of the window. I use 3 horizontal and vertical segments on the face so I can make diagonal window corners. Make the template as deep as necessary to protrude through a curved fuselage. 2. Once the shape and size are perfected, copy the template for each window to be punched or cut. 3. Position the template boxes precisely where you want along and partly inside the fuselage. (See picture below) 4. When you have them exactly right, group them and give any name. 5. Now copy that group (hold shift and click the group) and move the copy to the other side of the aircraft. You now have all the window templates in place to start your cutting. 6. Ungroup both sets of window templates to set up for the next step. 7. Save your work now. (Good idea to use version numbers or names)CUTTING PREPARATION: 1. To keep the smoothing process from creating many new poly faces, contain your window cuts to the local area by doing a series of vertical cuts between all the windows and on the outside of end windows. (or whatever cuts are necessary in your circumstance) It is a good idea before doing the cuts to select and hide the poly's on the other side of the aircraft.- OR -An alternative is to convert to editable poly mode which may preclude the need for control cuts. Try this first to see if it will work for you. When done, convert back to editable mesh.2. Save your work now. (Good idea to use version numbers or names)CUTTING: 1. Select the fuselage 2. Go to Create, Compound Objects, select Boolean 3. In the rollout, select Move, A-B, then down further, select Cut and Refine. 4. Select Pick Operand B 5. Select the window template. Your window is now cut. 6. Select Boolean at the top to start the next window. 7. Repeat steps 4-6 for each window. 8. Now right click the fuselage and Convert to Editable Mesh, Polygon ADDING 3D EFFECT and WINDOW TRANSPARENCY MATERIALS (textures): 1. Right click the viewport name and turn on Show Edged Faces 2. Select all windows so the window poly's are highlited in red. 3. In the rollout, select extrude and enter a depth you want to show window and frame thickness. e.g. enter -2" hit enter, then +2" hit enter. Your windows now have thickness or 3D effect. 4. With all window poly's still selected, open the Material Editor. 5. Select a glass texture, or copy one, and Apply to the windows. Choose Opacity, color etc settings you like. (You may have to do this 1 window at a time, I do not recall.) This is the procedure I used to cut 32 windows with excellent results. Hope it works for you. :-) Milton

[Guest]

I use the edge cut method. In perspective veiw, go to a click on the veiwport name and clic left or right. Then, if your fuselage is lined up with the 3-view, right click on th fuse, select properties, and select see-through. Then select edged-faces from the viewport name menu. Click on edge mode on the side bar, and select ignore backfacing and then go down more and select cut. You can now click and drag between edges to make more edges so you can easily create the shape of the cockpit windows. Then onc they are cut you can select to faces in the windows and apply a clear window texture to them. This is the method used in the P38 Lightning Tutorial.Paul Felz