3D Car General Questions

[MrScott1964]

Hello all, a couple of weeks ago I came up with the idea to start making American cars for Aurans Trainz. This is something that is greatly needed. I spent a little time in Blender so I decided that I would use this program to make the cars.
I googled about 3d models and found this place. I then tried to make a 1960 Impala, but I found that my skills need to be worked on before I start building cars from the ground up. I was happy to find that there are many 3d car models for free that I can download. By using these downloaded cars I can see how cars are constructed and put together as well as practicing exporting out of Blender. I noticed that when I imported some of these cars into Blender, they where in parts. Some cars are tiny, some cars are complete. What is the proper 3D model etiquette when using these downloaded models? Is there a reason they are in parts? I'm new at this so I have these very basic questions. I've got plenty more questions, but this is a good start.

Scott

[MrScott1964]

Maybe I asked the question the wrong way.

Why are some downloaded car models in pieces when you get them?

[alexL]

when youre modelling a car its generally much easier to do it in many parts so the models are probably still like this when you download them, generally its pretty easy to just attach all the pieces if thats what you need to do

also, make sure to give people credit where its due!

[MrScott1964]

Thanks, I just wanted to make sure. I have no problem putting them together. Lord knows I put enough models together in my time.

I have about 35 of these models in Blender. I'm using these models as test subjects. My plan is to learn enough about building 3d car models that I can start building my own for Trainz.

Once I learned enough to start building, I'm planning on building the Chevrolet Impala set, 1958 thru 1970 I'm in the process right now of searching for pictures and blue prints and/or anything else that might help.

[collimus]

From importing lots of models into Blender, I think the reason is that other software treats things differently. For example, 3D Studio files are all triangulated faces - which is fine for game models, but useless when you want to model things and subsurf them - for that you want only (or mostly) quads.

. . . . and then there are free models that look like they just never got finished.
This, for example, is a free file that was once going to be a camaro:
[IMG][/IMG]