Modeling from bad reference. help

[Luke_Fortune]

So I’m not sure if this is the right place to post this but I’ll try and explain it anyway. I’ve been trying to model this somewhat obscure dodge charger iii concept from 1968-69:

(idk go ahead and google it for more)
although there’s a reasonable number of images online, the majority of them seem to be very bad as accurate reference. I’m hoping for around an inch of tolerance in terms of precision, and to replicate all the visible detail as best I can with the available images. the side views are mostly fine, but the rest are very hard to use. I’ve tried a bunch of odd camera solving and manual image modeling methods but none of them are working very well. I’m just hoping someone has a better approach they can suggest.

[KickAir_8P]

Hey, welcome to the forum, hope you like it here!

I’d say the first bit is to understand the implications of what you’ve initially said: these are bad references for 3D work (being pre-1970’s that’s not really surprising). If you can’t get better references (asking the duck hasn’t helped me) then fake it to make it, and don’t sweat the tolerences, just do the best you can. It’s not like anybody else is doing it better, right?

I’m sure you’ve noticed that the Wikipedia article has references for similar (there’s a Matchbox version, wheel and instrument cluster were from a 1968 Dodge Charger, etc) that might help get closer. But my advice is to accept that it won’t be perfect.

[G_De]

So, I did google it, using all the keyword combinations I use when I’m looking for reference of older cars, and you’re right it’s hard to find good ref of it except for the sides.

So, make it up? I don’t necessarily mean entirely from scratch, but can you find a similar(ish) dodge from around the same year that you can use for the basic shapes, and then adjust based on the less than ideal images once you’ve got a solid base?

[digitvisions]

Hi, this maybe? https://www.allcarindex.com/blog/concept-car-of-the-day-1968-dodge-charger-iii#google_vignette

[Luke_Fortune]

thanks for replying so fast. actually now that you point it out I’m not sure why I didn’t realize that the wikipedia article is actually valuable reference info.

[Luke_Fortune]

well, it’s a good gallery, but I’ve already found those and more in my search.

[Luke_Fortune]

I think you’ve got a good point about using a similar car as a base. the frame at least. their actual production cars from the time are quite different in style.

[Livia_Soledade (Lívia Soledade)]

I think the trick here might be aligning your viewport to the photos.

Here is a step by step guide on how to do half of it manually:
https://www.fxphd.com/tips/finding-the-cameras-position-tutorial/
I haven’t tried it but seems legit

But I’ve also found a neat downloadable program to do it more automatically:

fSpy

It even has Blender integration!

(Now starts a step by step guide on how this can be used)

After downloading the program per the instructions on their page and opening it you will be greeted by a screen asking you to drop a photo. I used the first one on this post

The important thing seems to be finding reference photos that have clear reference points and lines that are perpendicular/parallel on the 3D space (idk how to explain it better but you’ll see)

You have to align the colored lines to the imaginary or visible straight lines you see on the photo. Red here will be the rear part of the car and and green will be the visible side.

To check if what you determined makes sense you can activate the floor view and see if it aligns with the tires

(it does)

If the floor shows with the wrong orientation or if you find that the gizmo has like z pointing down you can mess with the “Vanishing point axes” menu on the left side of the screen without having to redo the lines on the photo.

Now let’s take this to Blender

I’m assuming you will also download the addon but if you don’t want to you can try to manually configure your camera with the information displayed at the right of the screen there

With the addon: save the project on a folder, open Blender, delete the default cube, go to File>>Import>>.fspy and your reference image will appear as a backdrop of a correctly positioned camera

Make sure to set you background image to front and reduce the opacity to make your life easier

How is this helpful to modeling?

Well now you can have an additional viewport view where you’re matching with the angle of your reference. If you constrain your movement to the orthogonal axis you will know where to go and where to stop.

Of course other views will be needed to adjust what you can’t see from this angle. And for this you can even repeat this process for all the images you need

But this can really be an alternative when you don’t have those perfect references without perspective from all sides

Now behold this horribly peeled potato:

at least it’s starting to match

I’m sure you can do a better job!