<< Wings continues to amaze me! >> You and me both! :) Can use the same technique (in 3D) to conform the eye (socket) geometry around the front of the eyeball. Select the centre of the eyeball as centre and rad by a vert on the relevant geom and drag to 100%. (Storing the eyeball centre as a selection makes life easier for future messing imo) Also similar technique to 'scoop' out (boolean subtract)spherical (or parts of) cavities from objects - like with wheel well ex. could have made the whole well in one go - just gotta make sure there's enough verts there to 'do the business' pp

Attached Link: http://www.geocities.com/paulthepuzzles/arch.html

B - one way of many :) btw, whereabouts in UK are U? (e midlands) pp

<< the inflate tool >> This'd work fine - assuming you don't mind having a semi-circular wheel arch - use the RMB option to pick a centre / radius - def. no need for needing booleans - fortunately :) Alternatively, just introduce sufficient verts along an edge and use Tweak (in view X) to shape the basic arch -then 'scoop out' the geom. behind to form the wheel well. pp

Attached Link: http://www.geocities.com/paulthepuzzles/Bikewheel.html

The linked tut is for a basic (spoked) bike wheel - but easily adapted for other vehicle types. Done with Wings :) There's only minor differences (no need to combine prior to weld, RMB mirror creates a separate object and multiple loopcut now ok) between the version used and current one. Probably of no interest, but it's there if you want to peruse same. pp

Attached Link: http://pub33.ezboard.com/fnendowingsmiraifrm1.showMessage?topicID=1436.topic

Updated Linux stuff for Wings (If you decide this option is worth investigating) pp

Attached Link: http://pub33.ezboard.com/fnendowingsmiraifrm17.showMessage?topicID=339.topic

A bit of a coincidence, I thought :) pp

Attached Link: http://www.geocities.com/paulthepuzzles/rocks.html

Method as above with a few scales/rotates etc on randomly selected objects thrown in. Standard opengl render with default lights ex wings. All started as cubes - I worked on 32 - if doing the job 'properly' I'd pick the 'best', discard the junk and carry on etc. This lot took about an hour or so - since time's been mentioned :) Oh, yes, also a couple of magnet moves on some verts to distort along a particular axis. pp

Wings3D has a couple of things that might be useful for this - but you'd really have to try them to find out for yourself :) Example of the workflow, to get the idea. Create a cube (right click for menu), select as an object. Object | Duplicate -> Free (and repeat to make a few - using shift+D will repeat the last action, so you can make a lot quickly) Change to vert mode (press v or vert icon) Select all verts (cntrl A) Vert | Deform -> Crumple -> Random (drag mouse and selected verts move around, distorting the cubes) Can also make a random selection of the verts by using Select | By -> Random -> 10%, 20%.......90% (then use Deform crumple again if you want) Some of the other tools in the Deform sub menu might be of use, together with careful use of Vert | tighten. Obviously, using cubes is a bit limiting, but this is just an example - make something with a bit more detail to use on the above procedure and maybe give it a try? (No problem storing/recalling specific selections, btw, if you want to limit tweaking (there's also a 'Tweak' tool) to particular areas. Hope this helps pp (apols for the step by step, if you're already a winger)

As regards 'finding out for sure' - why not mail Eovia (sp?)- publishers / distributors of Amapi and ask them - get the info straight from the horse's mouth? (If you've made some 'typical' models (with Amapi) - why not post up a render / wireframe or 2 - anyone familiar with Wings should then be able to give you an idea of whether Wings would be a reasonable choice?) pp

Alex - re the mag - sorry, I don't remember (I didn't buy it, having tried the 5.xx demo when 4.xx was being given away - and wasn't bothered about getting it) From memory it was on one of the PC specific (thick ones!) rather than Digit / 3D World cross platform ones - maybe check on some of the mag websites? However, once it's 'out' as a freebie am sure it'll be on one of the other mags, given time :) Maybe just nip down to your local WHS for a quick shufties. Am in town tomorrow so if I see anything, I'll post here. I wouldn't know where to start with Amapi to make some of the stuff I've made with Wings - although it's an unfair comparison, as have spent much more time with Wings - but I also can't see the point in wearing 'hair shirts' :) What type of stuff do you intend / like making? pp

Attached Link: http://pub33.ezboard.com/fnendowingsmiraifrm17

Doesn't the version of Amapi have all the 'normal' legal and licence type info with it? I've noticed, btw that on a recent mag cover cd here in the uk, Amapi 5.xx was included. As regards Wings, it exports .obj / .3ds / .wrl (main ones of use from your point of view, probably) and imports .3ds / .obj /.ai (Adobe Illustrator - make a vector shape in AI and Wings extrudes this upon import) If you're happy with Amapi, just stick with it - although (having used it a bit myself), you'll find modelling certain types of objects much easier in Wings. Worth trying it - won't cost anything :) Attached link is for the gallery on the forum - see if any of the stuff being made is of interest. Some of the previous 'challenges' allow you to see models in a more convenient (condensed) manner. pp

Whilst Kayos(III) is correct for one of the plugin developers, I think it's probably clacos' plugins you're talking about - if modelling (rather than rendering) plugins are the topic - and yes they're well worth d/loading. (details on main Wings3d site or main forum) Since it's possible to get previous versions of Wings - try them with one of these - nothing to loose :) Like Jon, I've been using the app since 0.80 and would highly recommend trying it - obviously your other 2 (commercial) apps can do stuff Wings can't - but there's no good reason why it can't complement these - if you 'get on' with using it? Since there's nothing that says you have to use any particular app - just use whatever is the easiest for whichever bit ....... If you've never tried it - which seems to be the case, you've got a treat in store (imo) ....but I'm biased :) pp

Attached Link: http://www.geocities.com/paulthepuzzles/Bikewheel.html

For those interested in trying Wings, here's another (wings specific) tut you might like to peruse.

Non-organic subject matter in this case (for a change)

(Tut will only work with the current (0.98.04a) version because it uses the new weld tool :) )

Since wings is free, there's nothing to lose (and a lot to gain) by trying it - even tho' I'm biased.

pp

The 'quad' appears to be coming along nicely, btw :)

You're welcome,eco, - both excellent bits of s/w there, and would be complemented by my suggestion, rather than being made redundant or anything stupid like that! It's just that the workflow with SDS modellers is really totally different to 'normal' 3d apps ( -I've also got Rhino + others) and you'll wonder why you 'struggled' with the traditional methods - for the types of models that sds is good at making / producing. wings also imports/exports 3ds,Obj and Ndo files so you should be able to get the best of everything? Only cause for complaint I've got is lack of talent! btw - to install wings you need to d/l Erlang (about 23Mb) first - if you're on a dial up (like me) with time cut-off, don't worry, it's cumulative, so if link breaks can pickup from where left off - this 23Mb is a once only install, app. is about 890k, so only need to d/l this each time there's an upgade - presently about once a week or so Checkout the forum first (link on wings site), and see what you think - no-ones twisting arms here? In case you're wondering, no, I've not got shares in it! (although together with many other people, am contributing a little to its development, where possible) pp

Some interesting stuff here, eco - can think of lots of modellers who might benefit - thx for addr. also. one minor point - if you place a sheet of matt black cartridge (drawing) paper behind the page you're scanning from, you'll lose the text on the reverse side - make good info even clearer! No idea what s/w you're using but if you're just starting out, and want to try something very intuitive (sub-division surfaces modeller - ideal for organic/natural projects) give wings3d a try - nothing to lose, - it's open source (free) still being actively developed, but already a very accomplished piece of work. Forum very active and most people would be very appreciative of your sort of expertise. wings3d.com - pp