3D Models Available Now. Click here for the 3D Catalog.

These CD's are easy to navigate. They're not continuous "movies". Instead, the presentation of both CD's is set up just like a web site, which you navigate by clicking links. You can review any part of the material at any time without having to view the whole thing, or "fast forward" and "rewind". Considering the huge amount of material on each of them, I'm sure you'll find that feature very useful. "CAD For Modelers, Volume Two is under way, and should be released by late winter or early spring of 2008. It's a much more advanced CAD tutorial, with a broader scope than just RC models. See the bottom of this page for more info.

"CAD for Modelers"

There are two preview movies available for "CAD for Modelers".
Small version (5.9 MB) click here. Full-size version (52 MB) click here.

"CAD for Modelers" is an intermediate-level tutorial, presented in a generic enough way that the lessons can be applied through most modern CAD and 3D modeling systems. The main tutorial on the CD ends in the creation of an entire outer space scene, including a planet, several spaceships with crew, cargo, lighting, and functional parts, and a large "space port". All models for this tutorial are included on the CD. All the material is presented in a generic way, so you can apply the concepts to your own designs, regardless of the particular CAD software you use.

Some of the subjects discussed and explained are:

• Defining your project goals
• Various modeling methods (splines, polygons, etc.)
• Building your own "library" of parts, as you go
• Create an inner hull for your models, to give them depth
• Creative use of lighting, texture maps and "shaders"
• Modeling interior parts, windows, lighting, etc.
• Animation techniques and considerations - (Many example movie clips included.)
• An analysis of various frame rates on certain effects (i.e. spinning propellers)
• Camera movement vs. model movement in your scenes
• Building models for entertainment, vs. physical manufacturing

This CD is available now, for $25 plus $5 shipping. You can pay via PayPal, if you like. Due to the nature of this product, I must make all sales final and non-refundable. I ship your CD as soon as the money is transferred from PayPal to my account. (usually within PayPal's stated "3 to 4 business days")

Click the "Buy Now" button below, to purchase the "CAD for Modelers" multimedia CD. (via PayPal)

"How to do Everything", Volume One

(Design Methods for Molded Composite Products)

Multimedia CD includes Research, Design, CAD/3D Tools, Plug & Mold Design and Fabrication, Vacuum Bagging, Movies, Data, and Assorted Building Tips.

Click here for a preview movie of the "How to do Everything", Volume One CD. (QuickTime™, 2.5MB)

The title, "How to do Everything" is meant to be humorous, and I don't portray myself as some "super guru". If you've enjoyed the content on my site, then you'll like the CD. The content on the CD is better, in some cases, since I can include larger, uncompressed photos and movies. Since I've often been forced to adapt methods to work on a limited budget, I think you'll appreciate the many options in each section that you can use when time and/or money is a problem. This information is applicable to any composite field, including aircraft, automobiles, boats, surf boarding and snow boarding, etc..

Since this disk is more of a "library" than a "video", it's smarter to produce it as a CD, rather than DVD. The HTML-based navigation system makes browsing this CD the same as viewing a web site, except faster. Of course, you can also browse the files manually. For comparison... The entire content of my NextCraft™ web site at the time this CD was created was about 300 MB, and all of it is included. The CD also contains over 200 MB of additional information, images and movies, that were not published on the site. (Bonus!).

This CD is available now, for $25 plus $5 shipping. You can pay via PayPal, if you like. Due to the nature of this product, I must make all sales final and non-refundable. I ship your CD as soon as the money is transferred from PayPal to my account. (usually within PayPal's stated "3 to 4 business days")

Click the "Buy Now" button below, to purchase the "How to do Everything", Volume One multimedia CD. (via PayPal)

Information on the upcoming "CAD for Modelers", Volume Two

Click here for a preview movie. (12MB)

• An extensive "Checklist" section, passing on a huge variety of tips and shortcuts, which will save you some time and headaches. Topics include creating various "libraries" of parts, scene settings, (so you can splice short clips into longer animations) "shaders", camera and lighting movements, etc.. Special attention is given to tips for the individual and small-team artists, who don't have access to huge "rendering farms" and super-fast computers. For example...When do you have to build "real" geometry for moving parts, versus doing things that are easy in 3D, but impossible in the real world? (because objects can pass through each other) And...Using various rendering methods and schemes for different goals.
• Geometry:
  Basically... "How to build your model" - This is the largest section, as it covers virtually all kinds of spline and polygonal model problems. For example: How to build analyze a subject beforehand, to determine the best way to model it, How to create a 3D model when all you have is 2D data. (no cross-sections) How to insure that your geometry is "solid", creating IK (Inverse Kinematic) links or "skeletons" for animating moveable parts, Converting models from one format to another, Adding realism and detail to your model's geometry, etc..
• Shaders:
  (The "paint" on your model) - "A good texture map is worth 1000 polygons." From single colors to (2D) parametric texture maps, to procedural "shaders", including the use of layering. "Weathering" tips to make your models look real. Includes the use of "normal' images, including photos, as well as grayscale maps for special "bump", "transparency", and other special needs. Using movies as shaders.
• An extensive look at the use of transparency, in both PNG images with Alpha Masks, and in GIF images. You may be surprised at the versatility of these in 3D modeling. Create "window" effects, graphic overlays, and even simulate removable parts and "cutaway" geometry in your models, in both still images and animation. These tips alone can save you a huge amount of modeling time.
• Null Objects:
  When you have a tricky part to animate, such as a control surface on an aircraft, a (invisible) "Null Object" is usually the answer. Various demos and tutorials here include movable doors, control parts, and "controllers" you can use to create "Morph Targets" in facial and other animations.
• Lighting:
  A variety of external and internal lighting solutions are demonstrated, along with tips on economic lighting use, to save rendering time. Included is a discussion of the "glow" channel (or "effect") available in most 3D software. (an alternative to traditional light sources)
• Tutorials:
  Tutorials demonstrate how to solve a variety of problems. These range from very simple lighting and shader examples, to intermediate examples where you'll build complex-looking models, to an advanced tutorial where we create several complex animated scenes from scratch. In most cases, I show both the "easy way" and the "hard way", so you can choose which is appropriate, depending on your time constraints.
• Animations:
  There are a variety of animations included, ranging from simple 1 to 2-second "loops", to longer animations showing the end result of each tutorial. Topics here include frame-rate considerations with moving parts, various camera and lighting special effects, efficient use of rendering cameras, etc..
• And more...