I like doing basic CSG modelling. Primitives, boolean operations, precise numeric control over object properties - it all makes sense to me. None of this freehand stuff. I'm not an artist - I need numbers and sensible geometric shapes. The November challenge got me thinking about buildings in my local area that I could model. I thought the National Carillon would make for a reasonably simple, interesting subject. So armed with my digital camera I jumped on the motorbike and headed off to take some photos of it. Then I sat down at Vue and started modelling... ...then I gave up. Then I started again, gave up again, tried something different, gave up, scowled at everyone, tried something else, and gave up again. Then I downloaded some of those free modelling apps. Then I gave up again, tried something different, gave up...etc. I'm hopeless. Should I just accept my own limitations, or is there an application out there that would suite my needs? Perhaps a CAD package or something? I can't freehand.

Located on Aspen Island of Lake Burley Griffin, the National Carillon was a gift from the British Government to the people of Australia to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the national capital. It contains 53 bronze bells, and the columns (clad in quartz and opal chip) rise to 50 metres tall. The only access to the island is via a foot-bridge. The structure is quite beautiful - simple but deceptively complex. The pillars angle up to each other, reaching skyward. The middle section is (as far as I can tell) triangular, but with another hexagonal section contained within. It was specifically designed by West Australian architects Cameron, Chisholm, and Nicol to be unmodellable by me.

Vue is not a modeler, you got it right:-) Vue is a scenery generator. Have a look in outr Backroom. There you will find free modelers (if you don't want to buy one). One that's not in yet is here: http://www.geocities.com/getspatch/ but it only can export in DXF. DXF doent export mappings. Try in the Backroom to find one that exports in OBJ. Many people are very happy with WINGS (free). There is even a forum and a gallery for it here at Renderosity. Guitta

That section is indeed very handy (thanks Guitta for assembling it). But I didn't find anything to really suite my specific needs there, unfortunately. Perhaps nothing exists like that. What I'd really like I guess is a souped up CSG boolean modeller or something. I did grab Anim8or though, which will serve some of my other needs quite well. By the way - a couple of the links on that page are slightly wonky. The one titled "Free modeler" should point to http://www.ppmodeler.com, and the Wings one should point to www.wings3d.com.

ou may need more Primitives to build what you seek. Shameless plug: Check out my Not So Primitives here in free stuff.

It's an excellent idea to provide additional primitives like that. One of the techniques I tried was to make myself some additional primitives in Anim8or for use in Vue, but then I ran into the problem of Vue's object dimensions being relative to themselves. I understand that Vue Pro has a better mechanism for this, so perhaps I'll try again in the future when I upgrade. I kinda wish there were a modeller around that was geared specifically for CSG, but I guess nobody wants to do that and I'm just plain weird. :) Karl.

The object you are showing, is really easy to create in Vue. A little part in only 3 minutes, render included.

And thanks for telling me about the wrong links. I will see this tomorrow:-)

Guitta, If I did it as a cube then it would be fairly easy. I'm great with cubes. Love 'em. They're nice and four sided. :) I've even thought of redesigning the building to make it more Vue friendly (I'm sure the architects wouldn't mind). The problems start when you use triangles. Also, the section that you've started - that's the bit that is actually sort of triangular on the outside, but contains a hexagon on the inside (I think). To get it and the triangular pillars lined up correctly takes some precision, which I can't manage. Experimenting with Anim8or I thought I'd started the basic outline (as shown) but proceeding with it was too difficult for me.

Twit: "I'm great with cubes. Love 'em. They're nice and four sided. :)" ??? 4 sided ??? Seriously, there have been a load of very good modeller programs on the cover disks of many different magazines lately, perhaps you can get a hold of one or two and try them out? regards

Well...they start out as cute lil' four sided things, then they grow into that 3rd dimension. Next thing you know it's 6 sides and they want a GBA for Christmas.

Attached Link: http://www.sacada.com.au/Carillion.vob

Hi, saw your problem and it became a personal challange to me, as I work about 500 metres from that building. The link is a .vob file of the building created out of default booleons. I cheated as it is set for viewing from that POV only. Hope it helps you to get a better understanding of Vue booleons and its potential in modelling. Scott.

Damn Scott, that's nicely done! Very impressive. You should make a scene of it. The pillars need to be "chopped" slightly outward, but otherwise excellent. Looking at the vob - I can see how you've done it, but I just couldn't have done that myself. I tend to think too much in terms of...I dunno - precise arrangement and making it all..."correct"(?), regardless of how it looks (if that makes sense). Even though it looks right, I would've been stuck trying to model that organ area so that it's hexagonal or something. Plus I would've uselessly modelled what the viewer can't see... But anyway, you've proven that I should persist more with this and results are achievable. Thanks muchly, I'll try again. Whatchya reckon - parliament house next? :) BTW - When you say 500 metres up the road, that's either defence/ASIO or the Edmund Barton building right?

PS x 2 ^ 42 - One of my happy snaps of the carillon.