Blender 4 for Absolute Beginners - A Comprehensive Guide from Scratch - Part 2 of 2

Introduction

This tutorial is designed for absolute beginners looking to create a simple rocket scene in Blender 4. It will guide you through modeling a rocket, adding details like fins and exhausts, and applying textures, ultimately resulting in a fun and visually appealing 3D scene.

Chapter 1: Making the Rocket

1. Set the 3D Cursor

   • Shift + right-click to position the 3D cursor at the desired location for the rocket.

2. Switch to Object Mode

   • Press Tab to switch from edit mode to object mode.

3. Add a Cylinder for the Rocket Body

   • Press Shift + A to access the Add menu.
   • Select Mesh > Cylinder and adjust the vertices to 8 in the dialog box for a chunky look.

4. Scale and Position the Cylinder

   • Press G then Z to move it upward slightly.
   • Scale it down to fit the size of the planet.

5. Edit the Rocket Shape

   • Switch to edit mode (Tab), select the top face, and press E to extrude. Press Z to constrain to the Z-axis.
   • Scale the top face down and merge vertices using M > Merge at Center.

6. Create Loop Cuts for Detail

   • Press Ctrl + R to add loop cuts. Click to set the position and adjust as needed.

7. Refine the Rocket Shape

   • Use G to grab and move edges and faces to sculpt the desired rocket shape.

8. Finalize the Rocket

   • Use Ctrl + R to add additional loop cuts for extra detail. Adjust shape and proportions until satisfied.

Chapter 2: Rocket Exhausts

1. Select the Bottom Face for Exhaust

   • Switch to face mode (3), select the bottom face, and insert it (I) then extrude (E) to create the exhaust area.

2. Add Cylindrical Exhausts

   • Switch to object mode and add a cylinder for each exhaust using Shift + A > Mesh > Cylinder.
   • Scale down and position to fit beneath the rocket.

3. Duplicate Exhausts

   • Use Shift + D to duplicate and position the exhausts evenly.

4. Edit Exhaust Shape

   • Enter edit mode for one exhaust, select the top face, scale down, and add a loop cut for a curved shape using Ctrl + R.

5. Bevel for Curved Detail

   • Select the edge loop, press Ctrl + B to bevel and adjust for a smoother curve.

6. Create Exhaust Details

   • Insert and extrude the end face inward to define the exhaust's inner detail.

7. Local View for Editing

   • Use Numpad / for local view to focus solely on one exhaust while editing.

Chapter 3: Rocket Fins

1. Add Fins

   • Shift + right-click to position the 3D cursor, then add a cube (Shift + A > Mesh > Cube).

2. Scale and Shape the Fins

   • Scale the cube down and position it appropriately on the rocket.
   • Enter edit mode and manipulate vertices to create a fin shape through extrusion and scaling.

3. Duplicate Fins

   • Use Ctrl + 7 for bottom view, duplicate the fin with Alt + D, and rotate around the 3D cursor for even spacing.

4. Rename Fins

   • Rename each fin for organization (e.g., Fin 1, Fin 2, Fin 3).

Chapter 4: Rocket Fumes

1. Create Smoke Trails

   • Add a cylinder for the smoke trail, scale it down, and use loop cuts for shaping.

2. Proportional Editing for Fumes

   • Use proportional editing (O) to scale the smoke trail wider at the bottom and narrower at the top.

3. Add Icosphere for Detail

   • Add several small icospheres around the exhaust area to represent particles or flames.

Chapter 5: Texturing

1. Select Materials and Colors

   • Switch to the shading workspace and select the rocket parts to apply different materials (e.g., red for fins, shiny metal for exhausts).

2. Using Texture Slots

   • Create multiple texture slots for different parts of the rocket and assign materials accordingly.

3. Experiment with Colors

   • Test various colors and roughness settings to achieve the desired look for the rocket and planet.

Chapter 6: Rendering

1. Position the Camera

   • Use 0 to go into camera view, adjust the camera's position and angle for optimal framing of the rocket.

2. Set Render Settings

   • In render properties, set the film background to transparent to facilitate easier background editing.

3. Add HDRI Background

   • Experiment with different HDRIs to create interesting lighting effects for the scene.

4. Finalize and Render

   • Press F12 to render the scene, adjusting settings as necessary for the final output.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you learned how to model a rocket, add exhausts and fins, and apply textures. By following these steps, you have created a visually appealing scene in Blender. For next steps, consider experimenting with more complex shapes, lighting effects, or even animation to bring your rocket to life. Happy blending!