PROJECT 2 Q1 Summary

Project Information:
Off-Road Stock Car (Concept)
Preparing for the State Technology Student Association Transportation Modeling competition, I practiced thumbnails, sketches, and a 3D model for a stock car.

Every year, TSA does a Transportation Modeling competition. The prompt this year is to create a physical model of a stock car, and I plan to compete. While my actual design hasn't been started, I've begun practicing the techniques I need to learn as well as brainstorming a few thumbnails.

I started by testing my competence modeling a car in Maya. I googled pre-made blueprints for a police car, which I used to try my hand at modeling the body of the car. After deciding to test model the Ford Taurus LX Interceptor, I set up three image planes for the side, front, and top view in Maya. I then created a cube, scaled it, and then added subdivisions to match key point of curvature on the car. I moved those points to match the blueprint, and then cut holes where wheels would be. After cleaning up the geometry, I had a general shape of the car and felt I now confident that I could model a more detailed, competition model.

Leaving my test model where it was, I started on some thumbnails. my first thumbnail was an attempt at drawing a sports car in perspective. I like the idea although its not drawn particularly well, so I then sketched a side thumbnail that wasn't nearly as satisfying. I moved on to a second design based off of a soft-topped jeep. The design was nice but the portions were very out of wack, so I kept drawing similar ideas. After drawing the front view, I had a design i was a little more satisfied with.

I then moved on to a second page of thumbnails. After a failed 2nd attempt at the jeep-esc design, I tried to draw a Chevy Camero to warm up. It turned out alright, and I moved on to another sports car sketch. It sort of reminded me of a Dodge Charger, but I actually liked it less than my first perspective drawing. I moved on, drawing a better rough draft of the jeep idea.

While the project is still in conceptual and practice phases, I really like the soft top design. When I move on to a final design, I plan to model a soft top car sort of like my rough draft, but less bulky and lower to the ground. Once the model is done, I plan to 3D print the body and use a wire frame and cloth to make an actual soft top for the submission model. I actually like the idea of this project a lot, and I plan to finish it by the TSA State Conference.