Race Car Animation

[keppdog2]

Hey guys im new to 3ds max, but I am learning slowly. I was wondering if there was a way to link lets say a race car to a plane so that thru an animation, the car will stay oriented to the plane (track surface). Basiclly I have a partial model of Richmond International Speedway, and I am trying to get a race car to run around the corner. I got the Key's and everything set up fine, but the car will not always stay above the plane (which in my case is the race track) throught the whole animation. Can anyone help. How do I link the car to the track surface? If any one has any links to any tutorials that would be great, other wise please try to explain..

 

Thanks

[ipxstudios]

create a spline that follows the racetrack - then constrain your car and plane to the spline or path. You will find it under the "animation" pulldown. Hope that helps.

[keppdog2]

will the spline then determin where the car goes as far as its direction??

[CookiE]

will the spline then determin where the car goes as far as its direction??

Yes it will if you constrain it properly

Also you can get the plugin called Glue that will make that spline to the same contours of your track, saves having to change every vert

[richmondlu]

Does max have a gravity field like in maya? That you can make the track a passive riged body that the gravity will push the car on to?

[keppdog2]

Yes it will if you constrain it properly

Also you can get the plugin called Glue that will make that spline to the same contours of your track, saves having to change every vert

 

 

where can i get that plugin? Is it free?

[CookiE]

where can i get that plugin? Is it free?

 

http://www.itoosoft.com/english/menu.php?id=download

[vizfx]

Hi

If you can afford to invest in Craft Animation (http://www.craftanimations.com ) plugin you can ease your work a lot. With it you can make animation even with the joystick as you would play a game in real time and even better it accepts input from 2 devices in the same time this means 2 animations done in real time - extremely fast.

Their description:

“Craft Animations develops plug-ins for Autodesk® 3ds Max®, Autodesk® Viz and Autodesk® Maya® which enable real-time direct animation where instead of splines, the motion of an object is simulated and keyframed in real time. We make animation more time efficient and realistic. Cameras and vehicles are steered with input devices (such as a joystick or steering wheel), somewhat like a video game.

Our plug-in Tools offer animators an innovative way to achieve a more cinematic look and add the “human touch” to their animation or design projects.

Craft Director Tools are the result of several years of research into advanced neural networking, artificial intelligence and cutting edge autonomous control techniques. Movements are controlled and recorded with our own inventions; the Hyper Physics Engine™ and the Razorback MoCap™ system.”

Best regards

Mihai