This tutorial series will show you how I created R2-D2 from Star Wars using Blender. The modelling process covers 18 tutorials, with a final tutorial showing how to create the textures and setup the scene using Cycles Render Engine.
The series of tutorials can be found on the YouTube channel in the R2-D2 playlist.
In part 4 we began adding basic colours to our model. Now we will use Blenders node editor to do some more advanced texturing using the built in features of Blender. We will also use some compositing effects to adjust our final output image. Compositing can be used for tasks such as colour correction and adding other after effects such as blur and starbursts etc.
In part 1 we set our reference images and created the basic fuselage shape. Now in part 2 of this tutorial series we will model the major features of the wings and align them also with our reference imagery.
Here’s Part 1 of my Star Wars X-Wing Tutorial. I’m sorry I haven’t done a complete tutorial on the Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer, the project is just too large and detailed to really produce an effective tutorial for. However, by following along with this X-Wing tutorial you will create a really cool model, and it will tach you pretty much all the techniques I used to create the I.S.D. So here’s part 1 where we will cover setting up the reference imagery and beginning to model our basic fuselage shape.
So after the first 8 hour modelling session yesterday I got most of the shape and the engine bay completed. Today I put in another couple of hours to finish the engine bay and made a start on the communications turret. There’s still a long way to go yet! I added in some basic glow effect to the engines, just to start getting an idea of how it will look and block out the colours. Here’s the updated pics!
Day 2 of my modelling work on the Star Wars – Imperial Star Destroyer.
Communications tower on Imperial Star Destroyer
Engine Bay and lower Communications Tower details
So I decided to take on quite a detailed modelling project, a Star Wars spaceship, the Imperial Star Destroyer. On the surface it seems a pretty straight forward modelling project, but in reality there is an almost infinite amount of detail that you can put into this model depending on how much time and effort you want to expend. I am going to go for a pretty detailed model, probably going to take me several days, or a week or more to complete. Today I managed to get the basic structure in place, proportions correct and began work on the engine bay. This has a lot of detail to it. I saved some time by re using as much as I could, and tiling some panels that I made which contained various engine components. When tiled effectively and rotated and scaled it’s not overly noticeable, and it looks like it should be that way. Below is a rendered output from todays work. The problem I am most likely to run into is the power of my computer and if it is capable of handling such a detailed model! I’m just working out of a Macbook Pro laptop.
The rear engine bay is starting to look pretty good, it still needs a bit of work, to complete it, a few more details around the two side engines. After completing the engine bay I will work on the communications turret above. You can see I already blocked out this section of the model ready for finer details to be added.
Rear engine bay of Imperial Star Destroyer – Day 1
Imperial Star Destroyer Engine Bay – work in progress
Day 1 progress, around 8 hours of total modelling time
Blender Vue 