Model complex tube with bends

[Anonymous]

Unusual scenario, but I have been asked to model a railway track (what we do for our clients!).

This means I have to model a 3d tube that bends all over the place. See image below.

Any suggestions on where to start?

[Barry Kelly]

If you are handy with GDL it would be quite simple for the TUBE command.

Or the Morph tool will be your best bet.
I would probably make just a 3D morph line (curve) for the path and then extrude a circular profile along it.

Or have at look at this website and you might find an object you could use.

http://archilib.od.pagesperso-orange.fr/

Barry.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Barry.

Ended up using a series of elbows which were then placed in a combination of sections and plans (as you cannot rotate these in 3D - which made for some fun language).

Close enough I think

[Erich]

You could have turned the "series of elbows" into a morph which would rotate in 3D. I just did this to make a light fixture for a client.