Neon Sign

For my third object I picked a neon sign, to show a different style of modelling and to use different techniques and to give me a bit of a challenge with regard to the materials that would be used.

Initially I created an arrow using the line tools and a lofting technique, which I also used for the wiring. I then used a text tool to create the ‘coming soon’ bulbs. Following this, I generated 42 hooks to ‘hold’ the bulbs onto the backing and positioned them around the bulbs. I initially created a case for the sign to be held in although towards the end of creating this model I felt that this was unnecessary. I created a backing for the bulbs to be held against the wall with and inserted some wires and an electrical box. I then applied various materials to each object, to create the neon glow and manipulated various settings to get the desired result I was looking for. To give the sign something to be hung onto I just created a plane to which I added a bitmap of a wall. I was quite pleased with how this model came out as I particularly wanted to use neon lights due to them being a significant trend in Las Vegas, the setting of my chosen film. Also in the closing sequence of my storyboard there is a scene in which some neon lighting would light up ‘Bond’ then flicker as realistic neon signs do, to briefly say ‘James’ for a split second, to return to ‘Bond’ as a nod to the famous Bond quote.

Although I have faced many obstacles so far in my experience with 3D Studio Max, I feel that I am slowly beginning to understand at least some of the techniques that can be used within the software, and the set backs that I have had have only helped to increase my interest within 3D Modeling. I just hope that I can pick up the animation side of things a little quicker!