How to begin creating a virtual cockpit?

[Guest Jim Strenk]

I have both GMAX and 3D Studio MAX available for creating surface models.What do I need to know to create a very simple virtual cockpit (A front panel area, right side, left side, top, bottom and rear)? :-hmmm

[Guest Milton]

Very generally as there are many tutorials on the subject....In gmax, the 2D model components are grouped and named exterior. The 3D model components are grouped and named interior. All components must be in one of these two groups.To create an interior group, many designers start by cloning the exterior group and naming it interior.Hide the exterior group, ungroup the interior and delete out all the non-essential objects. Leave the fuse in place.To create the inside fuse walls, select the fuse poly's and Flip them. Once flipped, you may want to create a "thickness" by doing an extrude of a desireable depth. Be sure to select the Local button before doing that.Keep the floor and ceiling from the 2D model if you had them there.If you created a panel in the 2D exterior model, that can be used here. Otherwise, now that you have fuse walls, floor and ceiling, you can construct the panel shape. Build your seats, pedals, etc. until you have things like you want.With the panel shaped, now go up to the top of this forum topic list and read the Bill's excellent VC tutorial.Hope this helps a bit as one approach.Milton