You don't have to merge meshes to edit their UVs together. Select all components and add a UV Unwrap modifier and you'll see it in the stack with italics, this signifies it's an instanced modifier i.e. it's used in more than one location. This will allow you to edit UVs on multiple meshes without merging them
There is one thing I forgot to mention. If you want to proceed any further after doing this, you should make sure that you didn't tick the "Show isoline" option in the turbo smooth modifier. Otherwise it will screw up your mesh if you put something like a edit poly modifier on top.
semi-related: this seems like a fantastic time to link this: http://hannesdelbeke.blogspot.be/2014/05/modular-bend-fix.html "A maxscript that lets you control the bend modifier with more precision, excellent for modular prop design such as arcs in udk This script automatically fixes the bend modifier, but also gives the…
So I just found my personal perfect way of doing this: 1. in edit poly select the section that you want to have diagonal 2. add FFD 2x2x2 modifier 3. Move the upper 4 control points 4. Add another edit poly modifier on top select the upper vertices and move by the same amount 5. Add a symmetry modifier and done Is there a…
Trying using an icosphere or cube - (Cube only) add a subd modifier (1 level) - apply it and go into edit mode - delete half the mesh - select each edge loop and add a spherize modifier - mirror mesh and weld together - add subd modifier and you now have an all quad sphere. Or try using a sphere with less loops - try an 8…
After some thought and trying to channel the spirit of @"Pedro Amorim" and @perna, I made a semi-parametric version. I used a 72 sided cylinder - I tried 36 but the chamfer left some pinching along the slope but you could add better loops and it should be fine. The Chamfer modifier I think is only available in Max 2015…