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IMPORTANT: To view the tutorial with larger images and screen shots please download the PDF or XPS files.
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This tutorial was written exclusively for The3dStudio.com by Rick Johnston of Dreamscape Studios (Member Link)
*** Build a Log Cabin in 3ds max ***
Log Cabin Tutorial
Log Cabins have been evident around the world in many countries throughout the ages. Where ever man had an adze, axe and saw, a little mud and grass, log cabins were a natural, inexpensive way to build a permanent shelter. They were very common in the colonies and during the expansion of the US during the 1800s. They are still built in the US in much fewer numbers on a grander scale by specialized construction companies.
In this tutorial, you will build a simple log cabin with one room, a stone fireplace, door, windows and roof. We will provide you with three different textures and materials for you to use in your project. We hope you enjoy this project and learn from it.
In this project, you will build the following:
A floor
Ground
Log walls with mud grout between them
Door Opening
Windows Openings
Door and Window frames
Trusses for the roof
Gables
Roof Beams and Roof deck
Stone masonry chimney
Fireplace opening and chimney opening
Wooden front door with handles and hinges
Window framework
Window glass
Adding final Materials
Depending on your skill level this project could take 2 to 6 hours. Let’s get started.
Floor
Building the floor is the easiest part of this model. We have selected a 900 square foot log cabin with one room as the subject. This one room was the living room, bedroom, kitchen and all other possibilities rolled into one. This cabin will have approximately 900 square feet. The size of your could vary some depending on what you decide to do differently.
The floor is built with a box. Build a standard box with dimensions of 45 feet long, 20 feet wide and 4 inches in height. Place the box in the center of your working area. Name it floor and you’re finished with the floor. The elevation of the top of the floor should be about 4 inches. It must be higher than the ground.
Ground
Build a plane to represent the ground. It should be about 3 times bigger than the floor dimensionally and its elevation at 0.
See fig 1.0
Log Walls
The Walls will be built with modified cylinders. The cylinder should be at least 50 feet long, about 1 foot in diameter and have 2 cap sections and 1 height section. It should also have 24 segments around.
After the builder would fell the tree, he would cut two sides down flat and opposite each other to make stacking more stable. He would also cut notches into the log where it would intersect with other logs. To flatten the log, we will edit the mesh of the cylinder.
Select the cylinder and modify it using the edit mesh sub object. Grab the 7 vertices on the top of the cylinder and flatten them using the non linear scaling tool. Repeat the same procedure for the bottom 7 vertices.
The position of the log should be centered lengthwise along the edge of the floor and the bottom flat surfaces of the log flush with the ground.
See fig 1.1
Grab the vertices in the centers of the ends and the middle of the ends and non linear scale them out to make a point on the end of the cylinder. Repeat this again selecting only the vertices in the center of the ends of the cylinder. The amount should not be that much, only enough to give the effect of untrimmed felled logs.
See Fig 1.2
Normally we add materials nearer the end of the project but in this case it is more efficient to add a material to the log now. Select the log and add the material in the first box of the material manager. Then select standard material and browse from the material library. Select the material either Wooden Bark or Wooden bark 2 and apply this to the cylinder which is to be your log. Apply a UVW to the log, with cylindrical definition and use a fit alignment.
Collapse the stack to an editable mesh and name this Log. Now edit the mesh again selecting only the polygons on the ends of the log. Apply the material in the second box of the material manager. Adjust the colors to be a dark beige or tan for ambient, a tan for the diffuse and a light tan for the specular. Specular level of 10, glossiness of 0 and leave soften at default setting.
See Fig 1.3
Now we need to copy this log to the opposite side of the floor. Copy and move the log to the opposite side of the floor. Align it like the first with the center aligned along the edge of the floor and the lower surfaces flush with the ground. Make a third copy of the log, rotate it 90 degrees. Raise this log about 9 inches so that the middle of the log is above the top surface of the first two logs. Position it with one end hanging over the outside of one of the first two logs and the center line aligned with the end of the floor. Edit the vertices of this log to shorten it to the proper length for the end of the log cabin, about 25 feet long. Then position the log slightly above the other two logs with the ends of this log just outside of the first two. Copy this log to the opposite end of the structure and repeat the positioning of the log like the third.
See fig 1.5
Select all four of your logs and copy using the move tool vertically making 8 copies. The distance should be just slightly larger than the height of the logs about 11-14 inches.
See fig 1.6
The Door opening and window openings need to be created. To do this we will do a couple of Boolean functions to the logs. First select the first log. Then Create a Boolean Union with the first log to the second. Repeat this process until all the logs have been unioned except the top logs on each end. We will need to copy and modify them later.
Now select the Boolean created and convert it to an editable mesh.
See fig 1.7
Now build a box with a height of 7 feet, width of 3 feet and a length of 3 feet. Position this box where you would like the front door located in the front wall of the cabin. We placed the boxes in the center of the wall. Position this box also with the bottom surfaces flush with the top surface of the floor.
See fig 1.8
Now make a second copy of the box. One box we will use to make the door opening Boolean and the second will be used to modify move and make window openings the from the log walls.
See fig 1.9
Now select the log wall and subtract the first box from the log wall. Be sure to turn the copy by selecting move. Now take the third box and move it to a location where you wish to create a window opening. Edit the bottom four vertices by moving them up about 3 feet. Make as many copies of this box as you want windows around the cabin. We are going to make five. Position these copies where you want windows to be located.
Now Boolean, subtract the boxes from the log wall one at a time. Convert the log wall to an editable mesh after each subtraction. This will help prevent max Boolean errors.
See fig 1.10
The next step is door and window frames. These are created with boxes and will cover the voids left by the Boolean functions. Build a box in the front view that is aligned with one side of the door opening. This box should be about 7 feet in height, 2 inches wide and 16 inches long. Position this box along the side of the door opening with the outside surface flush with the ends of the logs on that side of the opening. Make sure the bottom surface is flush with the top surface of the floor.
See fig 1.11
Now copy this box to the opposite side of the door opening and make sure it is flush with the ends of the logs on that side of the opening. Copy the box a second time and rotate the box 90 degrees as shown in the illustration below.
See fig 1.12
Edit the vertices of the ends to align with the outside surface of the boxes on each side of the wall. Select all three boxes and copy them to a window opening and align them as you did with the door. Copy the horizontal box down to become the sill at the bottom of the opening. Then edit the lower of the two vertical boxes so that they are aligned with the bottom surface of the window sill box.
See fig 1.13
Now union the four boxes of the window opening. This will make later material editing easier. Once the Boolean is completed, convert it to an editable mesh. Copy this frame into each window opening and align it with each opening accurately. Then repeat this process for the door opening frame. Unless you have made a second door opening, you will not need to copy the door opening frame.
See fig 1.14
Now we have to build the roof. We are going to use a simple A-frame roof here and we need to provide for logs in the gables. Copy the two top logs at each end of the cabin up four times with only a couple of inches separation between logs. This distance should be 11 -14 inches.
Building the Roof
Build a box with 2 sections in length, and 1 each in width and height. The box should be 25 feet in length (with the two sections), 4 inches wide and 10 inches high. Now position this box at the center of the cabin with the bottom surfaces resting on the top of the log wall and running from front to back again center. It should overhang the front and rear of the walls by a couple of feet.
Copy this box to the same location. Edit the vertices of the copy. Move the middle vertices up to a height that the bottom vertices are level with the top of the uppermost end logs. Collapse the stack of the second box.
See fig 2.0
Copy the first box again using the rotate and copy tool and rotate this copy 90 degrees. Position this copy at the center of the A-frame and edit the vertices to fit with the other two parts of the a-frame. Union the A-frame together and then convert it to an editable mesh.
See fig 2.1
Copy this last box again using the rotate and copy tool. This time rotate the box 45 degrees. Position as shown in the illustration
See fig 2.2
Edit the vertices of this box as shown to match the surfaces of the other boxes in the A-frame.
See fig 2.3
Now rotate and copy this last box and position it opposite on the A-frame as shown in the illustration.
See fig 2.4
Now group the 5 boxes that make up the A-frame into one group and name it truss 01. Then copy this truss across the cabin to the right and left every 2 feet. Make sure to make enough copies to cover the entire cabin up to the logs at each gable.
See fig 2.5
Small Beams were placed lengthwise to give the roof more stability and support a slight overhang on each gable. The beams we are going to use should have a length of 6 inches, width of 47 feet 6 inches and a height of 6 inches. The height of the box should have 1 section for each of length and width and height. Position the box centered on the peak of the A-frame and centered longitudinally on the cabin. Copy the box so that there are 3 copies on either side of the peal of the A-frames, evenly spread across the roof. There should be 48 inches center to center of each of the copies.
See fig 2.6
Lower each of these beams to position them as if they were going through the A-frame and then edit the vertices of the top of the beam to be flush with the top surface of the a-frames.
See fig 2.7
Repeat this for each of the beams. When modifying the center beam at the peak of the roof, add another section to the height. Then edit the vertices so that each side top vertices is level with the top surface of the a-frame and the center vertices is level with the peak.
See fig 2.8
Now we need the roof. Build a box in the top view and make sure it covers the a-frames and beams for the entire cabin entirely and closely. This box should have a height of 2 inches, length of 48 feet, and a width of 25 feet. It should also have 1 section each in length and height, 2 in width. The section edge must be aligned with the peak of the a-frames. Position the box with the bottom center vertices aligned on the peak of the a-frames.
See fig 2.9
Now edit the vertices of the outside corners of the box and pull them down so that the bottom surface of the box is flush with the top surface of the a-frames and beams.
See figure 2.10
We need to modify the logs in the gables so that they match the angled roofline. Copy the roof you just made into the same position it is currently in. Then edit the vertices only on the top surfaces by moving them up 8 feet creating a box that contains all the excess of the gable logs.
Boolean, Union all the logs above the log wall that are part of the end gables. These are currently individual logs and will be easily modified if they are one piece. Convert the result into an editable mesh. The Boolean subtract the large box you just made from the gable logs. The result is that the logs now do not protrude through the roof.
Now we are ready to build the chimney, windows and window frames and the front door.
Build a Chimney and fireplace
Let’s start with the chimney first. Locating the chimney is up to you but it should extend into the cabin a couple of feet and extend out of the cabin a couple of feet. We are putting our chimney in the front of the house at one end. Build a box. The box should have 5 vertical sections 3 in width and 3 in length. The dimensions we are using are 6 feet wide, 5 feet long and about 20 feet high.
See fig 3.0
Looking at the front to the back of the chimney, modify the vertices as follows:
1 select the top three levels of vertices and non-uniform scale them (side to side only) toward the middle by 25 %. Then with the same three levels of vertices selected scale them front to back toward the middle by 50%. Then move the second highest level of vertices up to within 8 inches of the top of the chimney.
See figure 3.1
Now select the center face at the top of the chimney and extrude it negatively, inward about 10 feet.
Select the lowest vertices and adjust their height to be 4 inches above the level of the floor. Then extrude all the faces on the bottom of the chimney down about 12 inches to the bottom of the floor.
See fig 3.2
Select the lowest level of faces on the inside surfaces of the chimney and extrude them toward the center of the cabin 20 inches. This will form the stone foundation for the chimney and the stone pad in front of the fireplace. Now we need to create the fireplace opening. Still on the inside of the chimney select the middle polygon of the 2nd level. This one should be just above and centered to the ones you just extruded out. Extrude it inward toward the outside of the cabin about 3 feet.
See fig 3.3
The fireplace opening needs to be wider so we will edit the vertices to widen that opening. Now select the vertices bordering the fireplace opening we just created with the extrusion and the vertices just below and above them. Using the non-uniform scale tool spread them apart about 30%.
See fig 3.4
Now we need to remove the logs from the fireplace opening and the chimney. Create a box that has only 1 section each in length, width and height. This box should be very nearly exactly the same dimensions as the chimney and positioned in the same location. Select the log walls and Boolean subtract the last box from the wall. Convert the log was to editable mesh.
See fig 3.5
With the chimney model (except for materials) finished we need to move on.
Building the Front Door
The front door will be next. We are going to create a more primitive wood plank door with a wood latch. Build a box with 1 section in each of the dimensions and it should be 6 feet 11 inches in height, 2 inches in width and 32 inches in width. It should just about fit the inside surfaces of the door frame. Position the box with the inside surface flush with the inside surface of the door frame.
See fig 4.0
Now edit the rotational axis. Set the axis to local and move it to the corner on the inside on the right side of the door frame.
See fig 4.1
Now we need some diagonal and horizontal supports for the door.
Copy the box you just made and move the copy to a position toward the front of the cabin and flush with the original box.
See fig 4.2
Now edit the vertices. Pull the vertices at the top down to create a box with a height of no more than 12 inches. We changed the color of the copy so that it would show up better in the illustration.
See fig 4.3
Now make a copy of the smaller box (in dark red) and move it up so that its top surface is flush with the top surface of the door. Now copy this box down about 6 inches. The edit the vertices so that the vertices on the left are moved down until half of that end are overlapping the lower copy of the box.
See fig 4.4
Now we need old hinges for the door. We will do this very simply to make it easy and quickly built.
Create a cylinder about .5 inches in diameter and 1 inch in height. Locate that cylinder on the pivot point of the door. Using the move and copy tool make 3 more copies of the cylinder each one 1 inch above the last. Build a box that is .50 inches in length, 4 inches in height, and 2 inches in width. Locate this box to one side of the cylinders with the outside surface flush with the door frame.
See fig 4.5
Now Copy this box to the other side of the cylinders and position it with the outside face on the inside surface of the door.
See fig 4.6
Now stretch out the vertices farthest from the cylinders about 3 more inches.
Now with the box next to the door you just created selected, Boolean and Union that to the bottom cylinder and then again to the third cylinder up created a couple of steps back in this tutorial. Now select the box you built just before and union it to the remaining cylinders.
See fig 4.7
Now copy this hinge to about the center of the door vertically and centered above the location of the original and a second time near the top of the door. Now link the door side of the hinge to the door and the frame side of the hinge to the frame. Then check and move if required the local axis of the door. It must be aligned and centered of the cylinders used in the hinges.
See fig 4.8
Now we need a handle and some primitive locking mechanism. For a handle we will use a metal strap handle on both sides that is bolted through the door.
Build another box. This one should have 5 vertical segments, 1 in width and 1 in length. It should be 1.5 inches in width, .35 in length and 10 inches in height.
Position this box about 3 feet above the level of the floor and flush with the inside surface of the door.
See fig 4.9
Now spread the middle sections of vertices apart using the non-uniformed scale tool as shown in the illustration.
See fig 4.10
Then copy the handle to the opposite side of the door. And build a cylinder that is about .25 inches in diameter, 3.25 inches in length. Locate that cylinder near the center of the flat of the handle which is flush with the door surface. Then copy that cylinder down to near the center of the lower flat also flush against the door.
Window Frame and Glass
Build a box that is 48 inches tall, 3 inches long and 2 inches deep. Position the box vertically along one side and near centered on a window frame. Make sure that the box is inside of the window frame and the outside surface of your box is flush with the inside surface of the window opening frame. Now copy this box to the other side of the window opening and positioning it opposite of the first. Copy it again to the middle of the opening. Now with the middle box selected use rotate and copy and copy the box at an angle of ninety degrees so that it is going across the window opening when finished. Now edit the vertices of the ends to be flush with the inside surfaces of the window opening frame. Now copy this short horizontal box up to be flush with the top of the window opening frame and again down to the bottom of the opening. Make sure these two boxes are flush with the inside of the window opening frame as before. Edit the box end vertices so as not to overlap the boxes they meet. Add a material to each of the vertical boxes in the frame and the uvw map them to get the desired grain direction. Select the horizontal boxes of the window frame and attach the same material. UVW map them and set UVW alignment to get the horizontal grain.
Group these boxes together to make a primitive window frame that can easily be copied.
See fig 5.0
Now build another box that is slightly smaller than the window opening and only about .25 inches thick. Position this box in the middle of your grouped window frame.
See fig 5.1
Now group the window glass with the window frame and copy it around to all of the window frames. Be sure to align them accurately.
Now you have probably noticed there are open spaces between the logs. We need to make a grout or mortar to go between them. To do this we will just build some boxes and place them inside the walls so that their material will show between the logs.
Build a box that is the same size as the front wall. It should be about 7.5 inches thick in the wall so that it does not interfere with the round shapes of the logs. Center this box in the front wall. Make a copy and place it centered in the back wall.
Now build a box that is the same size as the front door opening. It should extend well away from the sides of the wall to insure when it is subtracted; it will leave no part of it in the box that will be our mortar. Place it exactly in the front door opening and centered in the wall. Then make a box exactly the same size as a window opening. Place it exactly over a window opening. Now copy the last box you created around to all the window openings and positioning them accurately in the window openings.
Now create a box for each gable end of the cabin just like you did for the front and back. This box will require two sections in length. It should only be 7.5 inches in width and not protrude outside of the logs except between them. Edit the top center vertices and pull them up to the underside of the peak in the roof. Now edit the outside top vertices to pull them up to the underside of the lowest points of the roof at the walls. Now do a quick render and make sure the new boxes do no exceed the log walls.
Copy that last box to the opposite end log wall and center it up there.
Selecting the new mortar boxes one at a time, go through and Boolean subtract the boxes that share the spaces of window and door openings you just built. Be sure to convert the resulting Booleans to editable meshes afterward.
See fig 5.2
Once this has been accomplished do a rendering to get a good idea of the result. Review the model and determine if there are any adjustments that need to be made in the model. Your model should render something like this.
See fig 5.4
Finishing Materials
We have already added and mapped materials to several parts of the model and this will save us an enormous amount of time.
Select the window opening frames and the door opening frame. Add a material to them. I am using ashen wood from the 3dsmax library.
Next we need to select all the beams under the roof, all the a-frame trusses and attach the same material.
Now select the cross members on the front door and again attach the same material. I decided to use the 3dsmax material cedfence on the door because it looks like a wood plank door.
Select the door handles, door hinges and the cylinders that go through the door and attach the old metal material from the 3dsmax library. Now group the door, and door handles with the door side of the hinges. Adjust the local pivot again to match the cylinders of the hinges.
See fig 6.0
Select the floor and attach the same cedfence material you used on the front door and UVW map it. You will need to adjust the U to 8 so that it looks like 4 inch planks.
Select the chimney. Add a new material. Use the Stonedif material that is supplied with this tutorial for the diffuse mapping and the stonebmp for the bump map. Adjust the bump to 136 and add the UVW to the chimney. You may wish to change the U V or W to make the stone pattern larger or smaller at your discretion. Do a quick render to check the effect each time you make an adjustment to this material.
See fig 6.2
Select the roof and attach a new material. This time use the color manager to build a color like tin metal. It should be a very light gray diffuse, medium gray ambient and white specular. Add a bit of glossiness but not a lot. Then use a map for the bump texture. We have provided a map in the tutorial for this purpose. It is called LwrFD. Leave the bump at 30 and apply UVW and set to fit.
See fig 6.3
Now do another quick render and check the appearance. It should look something like this.
See fig 6.4
Now do a review of the project model and make sure that all the materials are attached, visible and mapped correctly. Look at the model from different angles to insure that you have missed nothing.
See fig 6.2
Once you have satisfied yourself that all is complete and correct, add lights camera and do a rendering. If this rendering is what you expected, you’re ready to render to files and save your final project.
You may wish to add further details such as a mantel, table, chairs and other furniture, a kettle, bucket, musket, and other things found in log cabins to give it a more realistic look. You may also want to add characters or a wagon in the yard. All of these details would add richness to the work and more appealing to the viewer.
Good Modeling
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