Sandbags! HELP!

tyddynroger

I'm currently working on a WW1 trench environment in 3DS Max and need some help with piling up sandbags. I've got the sandbag modelled, but I want to get a realistic stack/pile of sandbags around the trench, reading an old thread on another forum, the advice was to use reactor which I've tried but the sandbags seem to bounce a lot and with only 2 it usually crashes when I've tried to adjust settings.

Anyone got any ideas or techniques for making sandbags look realistically stacked on each other?

ZacD

Do it by hand, use the lattice modifier to perfect the shape of each one and add variance.

tyddynroger

ZacD wrote: »

Do it by hand, use the lattice modifier to perfect the shape of each one and add variance.

thanks for the reply, i've watched some tutorials on the lattice modifier but i can't see how that can be applied to alter the shape, only create a cage effect.

Computron

Lattice is the maya name for FFD in Max. use that, place all your sand bags and put a noise over all of them to ad some variety.

Butthair

Try using FFD(box) or FFD 3x3x3 modifiers. That could give a bit to creating a few variants.

Max also has a new PhysX plugin that can simulate... physics. Anyways, you could create those natural looking sandbag piles. It may be worth it to look into it a bit and there are some tuts on the PhysX plugin too.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t62LorI8d5k"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t62LorI8d5k[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV2khX8wTGE"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV2khX8wTGE[/ame]
http://cgterminal.com/2011/06/29/3ds-max-massfx-physx-demolition-tutorial/

tyddynroger

Thanks for all the replies guys, I did get reactor working in the end but it was just to unpredictable an resource hungry, I'd never meet my deadline! I've applied for an account on the physx site so thanks for brining it to my attention it's definitely something I'll look at in the future. in the end I used an ffd modifier as suggested took a bit of time but is very effective!

thanks for all the replies!

Novian

@tyddnroger: I'd suggest using a modular approach as well. Make 2-3 stacks and alternate / randomize the use of those stacks for simulated realism.

Cheers~

tyddynroger

Novian wrote: »

@tyddnroger: I'd suggest using a modular approach as well. Make 2-3 stacks and alternate / randomize the use of those stacks for simulated realism.

Cheers~

yeah i did that for certain for along the trench, then for the parapet laid them individually to break it up a bit. thanks for the advice!