<center>http://starwarswallpaperhd.com/web/wallpapers/battle-of-hoth-art-snowspeeder-hd-wallpaper-no-1/thumbnail/lg.jpg
[Source](http://starwarswallpaperhd.com/web/wallpapers/battle-of-hoth-art-snowspeeder-hd-wallpaper-no-1/thumbnail/lg.jpg)</center>

When I first arrived here I started posting about my adventures in 3D modeling. Since then I have become a writer, curator, moderator and community leader. Nonetheless I miss sitting at my PC for hours pushing and pulling vertices around in The Foundry's Modo.

Last year I nearly completed a model of the T-47 Snowspeeder - seen in The Empire Strikes Back - when my hard drive died, taking my files with it. I was naturally gutted after the hours of work I put into it. So, I decided today to start modeling it again. This time I hope it's better as I have learned more since then.

As usual, I launched my browser and sought out reference photos. Strange the things you can find on Google.

<center>https://static0.cbrimages.com/wp-content/uploads/robot6/2015/10/snowspeeder3.jpg</center>

Eventually I found what I was looking for.

<center>![Kp6yo.jpg](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Kp6yo.jpg)
[Source](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Kp6yo.jpg)</center>

In Photoshop I brightened the image a little and cropped out the different views, saving each one in its own file. I then opened up Modo and dragged the reference pictures into their respective views.

<center>![1.PNG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmafFg1pRT6TzwS7MGXMFfAmpvPN34xMyuWBRqVjNXZHeT/1.PNG)</center>

When you first drag the reference pictures into Modo, they are all placed in the center of the scene. I move them out of the way so as I am rotating around the model they do not get hinder my view.

I added a little transparency to each reference picture and then started lining them up and resizing where necessary. A trick I use is to create a box to use as scale reference. Using the side view I stretched it to fit the canopy and then adjusted each reference photo to match the same dimensions, making it easier to model in all the views.

<center>![2.PNG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZ61tAwojQfytqDRWBZcM6NE76YLg8yG6ddx6jsM2dJRC/2.PNG)</center>

I tackled the biggest part first, the wings / body of the craft, starting from the top view. Once that looked right and lines up with that reference, I then moved to the side view to adjust the angles. The profile from the rear lines up quite well too.

<center>![3.PNG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmYKuGjJkyKuymSL4YLwG3HkVVTKgDh97eqVBYoe4ECkGP/3.PNG)</center>

Next I tackled the canopy, creating the shape first and then cutting / removing geometry for the windows. Through the windows you can see the beginning of the inside cockpit.

<center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmX7VokvQhD621MMNbiNRxqxDVFfKBx6ATEr8uJ2WZb4K1/4.PNG</center>

Next I fired up Keyshot, added a plastic material to the model, selected a HDR map for the lights and did a quick render.

<center>![6.PNG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWef34kYoUGWnewpnKVPqNt8XtWiLVWKiwHA67vsFygEk/6.PNG)</center>

The forms look good even in this early stage. I shall continue with this tonight and over the next few days and share the progress. It's good to be modeling again.

### <center>Thanks for stopping by.</center>

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