[EDIT] SCROLL TO BOTTOM FOR BMX [EDIT]
Whenever i start a project i don’t normally finish them. this is normally because i get stuck or annoyed and leave it alone. So i have started this thread to improve my modeling and texturing skills by modeling some more simple items and then gradually moving on to something a little more complex.
I shall start by modeling my hauppauge HD PVR
this is the first render…just blocked out the main shape and got subsurf working how i want…
Do you have a reference image so we can compare your progress against it?
yer sure…
as said tho, atm ive just blocked out main shape…need to sharpen a few things.
progress…ive sharpened things up and starting cutting wholes for the connection points. any tips on cutting a circle into a mesh?
thanks for that link, i do a similar method now but i find it hard to make it perfectly circle or not have one side un-rounded.
Well you could just add a circle in edit mode as you would add a cube.I’m sure the one in selection is perfectly round,if you wanted it rounder you could prob add the subdivision mod or smooth + the Edge split mod.
Here is some progress, ive added a base material for the unit and have made the front connectors and textured them completely. I have also added in a piece around the top of the middle island which is where the blue leds will go.
also completely re modeled the holes by makeing the amunt of vertexes i needed and then merging a circle to them.
Here is another update, ive added the power button, power led’s and also the glowing ring around the top. As you can also see, ive added the logos on the front. Next i will tackle the back. Would it be worth separating the back panel so it doesn’t mess with the front topology too much?
hmm ive never had to bump my own thread before…would really like some feedback 
That’s looking good! Could you do a render with a little more light in the scene just so the unit can be seen a little better?
yer sure, being on a black background doesn’t help matter 
ill post a new render soon…
right so my price has names his latest competition as photo realism…could be interesting if i done something which had lots of small items in it…like a room or something. A little thought is needed!
Never post rendered images if you want modeling help because we cannot help you. It’s impossible.
You’ve got an insanely dense mesh there, have you thought about cutting down on the number of polygons?
its because of sub surf lol i forgot to turn it off when i clicked wire…its actually much simpler than that
without subsurf…spokes are higher because the were a curve converted to a mesh i think…or wither that i accidentally applied subsurf.
O.o…
The mesh looks nice and clean now
so im really struggling with the tires…ive found a real nice tire track but im not sure what the best way to model it is, keeping the mesh clean and keeping it all quads not bmesh.
here is the image…a paint over or something would be really helpful 
