Modelling Solder (no its not a typo i do NOT mean soldier)

DaAan

I'm working on a commisioned piece that calls for visible solder to be modelled and i admit i'm at a bit of a loss in how to go about accomplshing it.

At first thought was some sort of transformed sphere and then relax it, or possibly to spline the outline and extrude up into a trapesoid shape (in side profile) then relax the hell out of that too, but neither option works particularly well.

since the guy wants to get in close i cant just use an alpha mapped plane which is a bit of a bummer but hey he's payin for the detail so what do i care?

so any help or tips would be hot.

cheers

Melak

Like this?


I'd start with a 6-8 sided cylinder, distort one end, subdivide.

DaAan

not quite that no, think more of a blob with the wire underneath more like this
soldering7.jpg

i'll remeber the above technique if i ever end up doing some PCBs though

L2K

real flow.
high viscosity particles with high surface tension.

DaAan

L2k: seems a bit much for something that isnt going to be animated? plus i dont have access to real flow, all i've got is stock max 2009 with vray 1.5