Piper PA-46-500 TP Malibu Meridian / Build Journey

We’ll just have to see how well this one goes :slight_smile: I do like the look of the MU-2B.

A first pass at the wing

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Step by step gentlemen, let`s think on the subject of this thread:
Piper PA-46-500 TP Malibu Meridian

So just had to re-make the fuselage to work on the windows. I suppose that’s all part of learning how to do it I suppose! :rofl:

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You’re taking us on a journey and I’m looking forward to the ending!

Keep going.

BTW try and avoid elongated polys. I suspect you know this so forgive me but they can cause problems in smoothing (blending), setting up textures and UVs. Also avoid tris where possible, especially in visible areas.

May I suggest Quad Remesher for Blender? It’ll help optimise your work and take some of the strain off having to do things manually.

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Thanks for the suggestions! I am a complete newb when it comes to this so any help and pointers are gladly received!

with regard elongated polys are you talking about the window? With big squares? It’s like another language 3d modelling! :slight_smile:

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Have a look at the fuselage and see ridges between polys. Difficult to blend those so you’ll need to insert support loops to make them more even.

Sorry on my mobile right now so can’t elaborate as on the move!

Thanks! I think I understand he he

So have more vertical loop cuts and smooth out the changes like below?

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Lots of tidying up to do now. I had to remake the fuselage so i could make the windows (everyday’s a school day).

Now need to add further detail to smooth the shape out again and join the gaps together.

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Looking forward to watching this develop. The Meridian was always a favourite of mine. The Carenado version was ok but this will be a big step forward.

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I love this thread. I am very proficient in 3D CAD, like Solidworks or Creo, but this is a whole different world for me. Your model looks very good for just learning this software. Keep it up!

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https://www.piper.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/21_M500_Avionics_01-1-1024x682.jpg

Cool… I love the GARMIN G1000 NXi Avionix …

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Some more slow progress;

All but the side door windows are now added. I now need to get them to conform to the fuselage more fluidly and increase the poly count (at least I think that’s what its called) on the front windshield to make it smooth.

I watched a lot of youtube videos and there are two schools of thought for making windows, one is to do it like below. Create planes and extrude them out, then cut around them and join it all back together.

The other which I started, is create your fuselage then add 3d windows with the cube mesh and cut that out. As soon as I started on the 2nd option I knew it wasn’t right for me. I found it much easier with adding a plane and using that across the top, down, side views to get it right.

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I’m a TBM930 fan and while it looks good it is a bit shallow with systems depth and flight model. This plane, while not as fast as the TBM, is of the same mould. Based on your previous work it will be an instant buy for me. Looking forward to following the development.

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Just catching up with some more modelling. I’ve started to smooth the fuselage and new windows. Once I’m happy with the window shape I’ll join them back to the fuselage.

Magical floating tyres have also made an appearance; I’m going to try a test export and set up some basic sim side things in the next few days to make sure it is shown in sim.

I also need to spend some more time with the G36 modelling some of the deeper engine systems. I have a very basic spark fouling implementation which needs more work.

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Oooh, nice!

Quick question, is this the turboprop or piston variant?

Ticked Watched

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@MarsRising11 The 500 has the PT6A-42A Turbo Prop engine :slight_smile:

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Following this with interest.

Following this project

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A little more work this evening, starting to come together with the windows a little more tidying then making them actual windows.

Thank you to everyone and your kind words and follows of the project!!! :slight_smile:

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Of course part of the ‘joy’ of taking on a project like this is realising that you have done something wrong and having to do it over. :rofl: :roll_eyes:

After making the windshield its own object and applying the shade smooth setting to the fuselage there were hideous artifacts around the window. Time for more reading, googling, and watching tutorial videos.

It turns out I had created far too many edges in making the shape for the window, this was causing issues with my topology and edge flow. ( a good resource is here Understanding Topology and Edge Flow in 3D Modeling - YouTube to learn all about it)

So after a quick re-do last night we are now back here.

There are a lot less edges and the window and surround now look much, much cleaner. I’ve now got to join the top and side window frames, but that is a job for after work.

:slight_smile:

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