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How To Model a Audi R8 in SolidWorks. 12 Hours in 5 Minutes.

by Josh on September 2, 2009 · Comments

Have you ever wanted to create a 3D model of a car in SolidWorks? How about this? Have you ever wanted to be taunted by a video about how to model a car in SolidWorks?

Well, you’re in luck, but it’s not all that bad. I contacted Daniel Lavoie after seeing his SolidWorks Car Tutorial video (below) to find out what was going on with the buzz he’s creating around it. Seems he’s got big plans to share his knowledge with all of those interested in how to model a car in SolidWorks. Here’s the background from Daniel.

The Little Story of the R8 tutorial

It all started several years ago I was learning surface modeling with SolidWorks and I was struck by the lack of resources available out there. It was pretty hard to find good content on the subject.

Years passed, I finally got good with SolidWorks. So, I started modeling the R8 just for fun as a side project. I could have modeled my good old Chevy Cavalier… but the R8 was a little bit sexier.

I posted my progress and the feedback was great. People told me that modeling a car was too complex for them… But you know what? Modeling a car is not that hard… the biggest problem is that people are scared to use surfaces and to sketch with spline! Let’s face it… You will never get flowing sexy shape with arc and lines… You want smooth shapes, you need smooth sketches!

After the completion of the car, a lot of people asked me if I could make a step-by-step tutorial about the R8. So 5 months ago I decided to create the car tutorial to show that it was not that hard to model a car.

Your Turn To Learn

Daniel’s plan is to make the tutorial available for purchase over the next couple weeks. We’ll let you know when it come out, so keep the old eyes peeled. If you would like to be notified when it’s available, he’s created a website for the Audi R8 modeling tutorial. You can get on the email list there. In the meantime, here are some more images of the car in SolidWorks and be sure to check out the video below.

The Video

The video show the 12 hour process Daniel went through… condensed to all of 5 minutes, 15 seconds. If only modeling was actually that fast. Still it’s impressive to see the progression from start to finish. If you’re quick you can catch a few glimpses of how he’s gone about doing bits of it.

(35 votes, average: 4.83 out of 5)
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Comments

Tagged as: audi R8, car model, solidworks surfacing

  • wansafezal
    y so fast..
  • Komas
    Bravo to the author, but very quickly. Can you do this lesson, but slower?
  • Hi Komas,

    You can look here if you want to get your hands on this tutorial :
    http://www.solidsmack.com/solidworks-surfacing-...
  • ragder13
    I just buy it and there are some problems with the tutorial, some videos it doesn't appear
  • You are not alone, I got a couple of emails about the 127 thru 169 invalid files.

    The company who manufactures and ships all the tutorials screwed up a batch of DVDs.
    My review copy was working totally fine so I said to them it was 'ok' to ship to all customers but...
    something happened with a batch of DVDs. :(

    I'll have to switch company because I can't tolerate this kind of ... *service*.

    You will be able to download the "invalid" files in a .zip format.

    Really sorry about all this.

    Regards,
    Dan

    UPDATE: October 31th, 2009. I no longer do business with the company who screwed up the DVD disks. All DVDs are totally fine now. :)
  • I just ordered the disc, thanks for sharing this.
  • constantin
    Dear all, this tutorial seems to suffer from the basic thing: accuracy, mostly tangent surfaces, no edges, unless there are comments in the video of that. The above In the case the output we see is the final output. The sketch lines just not show the actual surfaces which are incorrect. It is curvy with no design lines, rims just look alike. I personally even like it more than the original but it is not accurate and Check other R8 models in the web, even beginners are better in capturing the blueprints general vision. When i commented it on Youtube the creator banned all my comments, which where expressed with proper language -maybe unknown to the modeller-. I just urge you to be caution with the specific tutorial if you do not see actual renders. If you want to learn modelling in SW, CATIA, PROE, what counts is -close to- manufacturing accuracy-control, otherwise go Mesh Modelling, a lot easier. The tutorial could be a very could tutor of how to use splines -if there are extensive comments on it-, as the accuracy of the splines themselves is respectable. Otherwise it just gets the job half-done and definitely will not make the designer -or it's boss- happy. Pay for it as a general tutorial, not as a professional tutor. Hope my comment stays alive, i will be happy to receive a proper answer to my -could be wrong- somments. Best regards to all.
  • Constantin.

    The goal of this tutorial isn't to come up with a model ready to manufacture!
    Of course the rims just look alike!

    The goal here is to learn how to use surface modeling in SolidWorks.

    I could have modeled a look-alike remote control too... but modeling a car was way more fun!

    So in a nutshell, the tutorial isn't designed for people who model real car!

    If you want to learn how to model real car, DON'T get this tutorial!



    Thanks Constantin.
    Regards,
    Dan
  • trevor
    very nice I can't wait till I learn how you did that keep up the good work
  • flexor
    hi,

    i am a student of automotive engineering from germany.

    i am pretty impressed by your work.

    i am looking for a cad model (stp or iges) for cfd aerodynamical research at my university.

    could you contact me about sending this part to me? i would even pay for this great model!

    thank you,

    felix
  • flexor
    wow great work

    i am a student of automotive engineering from germany and i need an audi r8 model for cfd research.

    could you contact me about sending it as stp or iges??

    thank you
  • Ammar Kamil
    Excellent job Dan, I am not good in surfacing and looking for more information on the subject, did you explain a little on each surfacing tool in the tutorial?
  • I've been living in an orthogonal world too long. I need to shed the restraints and get into how the world looks on the curvy side. Can't wait till I start working from the tutorials. Really great job and I agree with some of the other comments too about him presenting at SolidWorks World in 2010. Bye for now.
  • I've filled the call-for-paper yesterday.
    Let's see what they think about it.

    Dan.
  • If you need some help to be placed on the agenda and I can help let me know.
  • Asasello
    Incredible! I'm waiting for more :)
  • isa
    Everytime i see it, i have again same feelings, amazing... And everyday checking it again for the total video.. Its finally end of septemberrrr :)
  • Thanks for the great comment isa.
    Did I said September 2009 or 2010?

    Just kidding, it's Sept. 2009! :)
  • Dinesh Jain
    YOU HAVE MADE ALL SOLIDWORKS USERS PROUD
    YOUR TECHNIQUES ARE FABULOUS AND I AM AMAZED AT THE PACE YOU HAVE CREATED IT.IT IS NOT POSSIBLE IN ANY 3D SOFTWARE TO CREATE SUCH MODELS IN SO LES S TIME
    kEEP IT UP DAN THREE CHEERS!!!
  • Wow, Thanks man!
  • snowboyken
    Hey Daniel,

    You do so great!!! I am decided to learn 3D CAD many years, but Im just an IT guy and not enough time, so I need to decide to learn only 1 3D CAD, I am studying the Solidworks now, because it is more realistic, I know I can build an engine by this! but not in Maya and 3D Max, you are so cool! *** Will you provide the advance lesson such as rendering texturing in Solidwork? I know it have limitation in that compare with others but can you beat them by Solidworks! @@"
  • Leonardo Flores
    Hello Dan,

    one more time, congratulations! this will be a great guide for persons like me wanting to go deep with surfacing and everything else.
    I can't wait for the video to be released.

    Leo
  • Hello Leo,

    I'm sure you will learn a tip or two with it. :)

    Dan.
  • Gilbert
    Correct me if i am wrong.

    This is only possible providing you have the TOP VIEW + FRONT VIEW + SIDE VIEW + REAR VIEW picture or a sketch of the car you want to model.

    It would be GREAT if the STEP bY STEP you are going to SELL, start from a clean file with no external reference.

    For that it's worth paying for.
  • Hi Gilbert,

    In the video tutorial I start on a clean file with no external reference, nothing... and I add all the reference pictures (that you will receive with the tutorial) to sketch on them.

    This is a step-by-step process... by just following the steps, you'll have your car done by the end of the tutorial. :)
  • Wow that is impressive. I tried to slow it down by choking my computer but that did not work. I'll just wait for your tutorial. Fantastic Bye.
  • Thanks Richards for this comment and for the email!
    I hope you will like the tutorial!
  • OK! That is all great. But what is the price for that in USD $$$$$ :) or is it for freeeeee, freeee, freee?
  • The price is kept secret for the moment :)
  • Very nice work, Daniel!
  • Thanks!
  • ColinFrancisDesign
    This guy's going to steal my job (=

    I've created quite a few detailed autos in my day using SolidWorks surfacing - RC cars, toys etc. For the most part, I follow a fairly similar process.

    ... but now I have to look into another line of work (=

    Cheers,
    Colin G.
    CSWP
  • I'd loveto know how it compares with modeling car in other programs. I'd use SolidWorks myself, but mostly because I haven't used a tool like Rhino, Icem or Maya enough.
  • atjason
    Looks a little harder than "not that hard"
  • It's true! It's not "that hard". When you get momentum going... everything is fine! :)
  • hol
    Will buy it if the price is reasonable ;)

    Thanks !
  • There was a guy who modelled a TT up and posted the process on productdesignforums a few years back. There were a couple of squirrelly surfaces though - I'd like to see this model under zebra stripes, but I think I'll probably buy the tutorial anyway - I love Audi's! THe R8 is flashy, but I'd probably enjoy modelling up an S5 just as much...
  • Charles Culp
    That man should be presenting at SWW 2010.
  • That would be cool ;)
  • Charles Culp
    https://1bosweb3.experient-inc.com/Events/Solid...

    Make sure to include a link to this page.
  • He does seem to have some presentation skills. I know I'd love to see him there.
  • I think the thing to note here is that he is done with the basic shape of the car at 1:30 in the video, but it takes the next 3:30 to do all the details.
  • man alive - that's impressive - there's another guy (rhino and not solidworks) that has some fantastic resources and tutorials.. ummm... (short break for checking bookmarks)..

    yup

    http://www.suurland.com/

    wicked.
  • TroelsH
    yeah his skills are wicked, but then again he's been working with 3d for around 15 years so it's understandable.

    I'm also from Denmark :P and it's always nice to see something/someone from your country doing such amazing things considering how small the country is.
  • OK< DANG. yeah, that guy can do cars. sheeeesh, very wicked.
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