Creating a Low Poly Aeroplane Set for Games: Part 1

Final product image — What You'll Be Creating

Setting up Reference Images

Step 1

I used the image from Kaboldy via Wikimedia Commons as reference for modelling the plane. You can download it in various resolutions.

Airplane reference image — Aeroplane reference image

Step 2

In a new file, press A to select all objects and then press Del to delete them. Press N to bring out the properties panel.

Tick the Background Images checkbox and press the Add Image button.

Adding background image — Add background image

Click on the Open button and browse for the reference image.

With the mouse in the 3D viewport, press 3 on the number pad to get into right view. Press 5 on the number pad to toggle off perspective view.

In the Background Images panel, select Right for Axis. This will make the image appear only in the right view. You can also adjust the opacity slider to make the image more transparent.

Modelling the Aeroplane

Step 1

Press Shift-A and add a Mesh>Cylinder.

Press 1 on the number pad to get into front view. In the tool shelf, reduce the vertices to 12, and Cap Fill Type to Nothing.

Check the Align to View checkbox. This will make the cylinder face the viewer.

Step 2

Press 3 on the number pad to get into side view (right).

In the Background Images panel, drag the X and Y sliders to position the image such that the side view of the plane, in the image, is aligned with the cylinder.

Step 3

Secondary-click on the cylinder to select it. Press Tab to enter edit mode.

Press Z to toggle on wire frame mode to see the background image though the mesh.

Switch to wireframe mode — Switch to wire-frame mode

Step 4

Press B and drag select the front vertices. Ensure you select the vertices on the other side as well.

Press G key and move the selected vertices to the front part of the aeroplane in the background image. You can also use the arrow manipulators to move the selection.

You can toggle on/off the arrow manipulators by clicking on the widget button in the header of the 3D viewport.

Step 5

With the front vertices selected, press S to scale them down, matching the reference image. Primary-click to confirm.

Step 6

Press A to deselect the vertices. Press B key and drag select all the vertices at the other end. Move them at the middle of the engine. You can either press the G key to move or use the arrow widgets.

Step 7

With the vertices selected, press S key and scale them down to match the reference image.

Step 8

Press E to extrude the selected vertices. Move the mouse and then left click to confirm the position. Press S and scale the new vertices to match the height of the plane in the background image.

Step 9

Similarly, select the end of the cylinder and press E to extrude. Move the mouse so that the new set of vertices are at the end of the cockpit.

Primary-click to confirm the position and then press S to scale them.

Step 10

With the same extrude and scale method, construct the rest of the aeroplane's body.

Extrude to the beginning of the tail. Scale to match the reference image. Extrude one more time to the end of the aeroplane.

Press S to scale it down.

Step 11

Press 7 in the number pad to get into top view.

Press N to open properties panel and uncheck the Background Images, click on the Add Image to add new background image.

Press the triangle button beside the first background image settings, to collapse the panel. In the new image panel,

Choose Top for the Axis. This will make this image appear only in the top view
Use the X and Y slider to move the reference image so that the top view in the image is aligned with the mesh
In the Rotate option, lift click and type -90 to rotate the background image, to match the angle of the model

Step 12

Press A to deselect any selected vertices.

Press B and drag select the vertices at the end of the plane. Scale it down only along the X axis to match the background image.

Press S and then X to scale in X axis. Primary-click to confirm.

Step 13

Similarly select and scale rest of the rows to match the reference from top view. Press A to deselect the vertices.

Step 14

Press Ctrl-Tab and select Face select mode. Select the two faces as shown in the image, which will be the base of the tail, the fin and rudder.

You can toggle between solid and wire-frame mode by pressing Z key on the keyboard.

Select two faces — Select last two faces

Step 15

Press 3 in the number pad to get into side view. With the vertices/faces selected, press E to extrude them.

Move the mouse just a little bit and then primary-click to confirm the position. Press S and scale them down a bit. Primary-click again to confirm the scale.

Step 16

Go back to top view by pressing 7 on the number pad. Click on the Vertex select mode in the header or press Ctrl-Tab and select Vertex select mode. Press A and deselect the vertices.

Hold Shift and then right click on the front three vertices of the tail to select them. Press S and X to scale them along the X-axis to reduce and match the width.

Step 17

Select the top two face of the tail, or the top six vertices. Hold Shift and then secondary-click on the vertices for multiple selection. Press 3 in the number pad to get into side view.

Press E and extrude the tail. Primary-click to confirm.

Step 18

Move the mouse over the back part and press Ctrl-R to create a loop of vertices. Primary-click twice to confirm the loop cut.

Press A to deselect the vertices. Press B and drag select the vertices of the tail as shown in the image.

Press E to extrude. Move the mouse till the new faces match the tip of the tail of the reference image.

Step 19

Press A to deselect any selected vertices.
Press B and drag select the front part of the tail.
Press G and move them to match the background image.
Press A to deselect the vertices.
Again press B to drag select the front part of the tail.
Press G and move them to match the reference.

Step 20

Press A to deselect the selected vertices.
Press B and drag select the rear vertices of the plane.
Press S and then Y to scale them along the y axis and then press 0. This will align all the selected vertices in a straight line.

Step 21

Press A to deselect the vertices. In the 3D viewport, drag with middle mouse button to rotate the view.

Select the four vertices as shown in the image. Hold Shift and then secondary-click on four vertices to select them.

Press F to make a face in between them. You need to fill and close hole of the mesh.

Step 22

Select the next four vertices and press F to create a face. Repeat the same process for next two faces. You need to deselect any previous selection by pressing A before selecting new vertices to create face.

Step 23

Press A to deselect the selected vertices. Move the mouse over the newly created faces and press Ctrl-R to create a loop cut. Primary-click twice to confirm the position.

Step 24

Press A to deselect the points. Hold Shift key and secondary-click on the top vertex and then the bottom vertex as showing in the image and press Alt-M to merge.

In the pop up select At Last. This will merge the points at the last selected vertex.

Similarly merge the bottom two vertices at last point.

Step 25

Select the vertices as shown in the image and align them in a straight line. You can either move them one by one or by selecting them all and then use the S key to scale them down in the back view.

Press Ctrl-1 to get into back view.

Step 26

Press A to deselect any selected vertices.
Press B and drag select the last row of vertices.
Press R to rotate it so that it matches with the reference image.
Press E and extrude another set till the end.
Press R again to rotate the new extruded set of vertices according to the background image.

You can scale or move individual set of vertices to give it the desired shape.

Select and extrude the faces to create rudder

Step 27

Move the mouse over the area below the tail and press Ctrl-R to add edge loop. Primary-click to confirm and then drag the mouse such that the new loop is at the beginning of the tail wing.

Primary-click again to confirm.

Step 28

Similarly add another edge loop such that it goes through the rear end of the tail wing.

Step 29

Press Ctrl-Tab and select face select mode.

Press Z to toggle off wire frame mode.

Hold Shift and then secondary-click on the two faces from where you will extrude the wings.

Step 30

Press 7 on the number pad to go to top view.

Press E and extrude out the tail wing.

Step 31

Press 1 on the number pad to get into front view.
With the new extruded faces selected, press G and move it down.
Use the Z key to toggle on wire frame mode.
Press 7 in the number pad to get into top view.
Press Ctrl-Tab and select Vertex select mode.
Press B and drag select the vertices and then hit G key to move them.

Adjust and match them with the reference.

Tweak the vertices to match the reference

Step 32

In the front view select the edge of the wing and press S to scale them down to reduce its thickness.

The rear part is almost done. The wing on the other side will be generated by using the mirror modifier but at a later stage.

Step 33

Press A to deselect any selected vertices. Move the mouse over the front edge loop.
Hold down Alt and then secondary-click on the front edge to select the complete edge loop.
Press E and then secondary-click so that the extruded vertices stays at their origin.
Press S and scale the new points down.
Primary-click to confirm.

Step 34

With the new points selected, press E again to extrude them inward just a little bit. Primary-click to confirm the position.

Step 35

With the edge loop selected, press E to extrude them and then secondary-click so that the new points stays at their origin. Press S to scale them down.

Step 36

Press Alt-M to merge them. In the pop up select At Center to merge the vertices at the center.

Step 37

Press 3 in the number pad to get into side view.
Press A to deselect any selected vertices.
Press B and drag select the top 8 vertices as shown in the image.

Step 38

Press E to extrude them till the top of the cockpit.

Step 39

With the new vertices selected, press S and scale them down.

Step 40

Press A to deselect the selection.
Press B and drag select the front vertices.
Press R and rotate them. Left click to confirm.

Do the same for the rear part.

Step 41

Press Ctrl-R to create an edge loop as shown in the image. Primary-click twice to confirm.

Step 42

Press A to deselect the vertices.
Press B and drag select the front vertices and press R to rotate it.
Press A again to deselect them.
Press B to drag select the vertices as shown in the image and press G to move them to the edge of the cockpit.

Step 43

Move the mouse over the cockpit and press Ctrl-R. Use the mouse scroll wheel to increase the number of loops cuts to three.

Primary-click twice to create edge loops. Press A to deselect the vertices. Select and move them to match the smooth shape of cockpit.

Step 44

Press 7 on the number pad to get into top view. Select and move the vertices of the cockpit (only one side) to give it a nice round shape.

You don't have to match the symmetry as we will do it later with help of mirror modifier.

Secondary-click to select and G key to move. Check from front side as well.

Press 1 in the number pad to get into front view.

Step 45

Press Ctrl-Tab and select Face as select mode. Hold Shift and right click on the two faces as shown to select them. Press 1 in the number pad to get into front view. With the faces selected press E to extrude them.

Step 46

Press Z to toggle to wire-frame mode.
Press A to deselect the vertices.
Press Ctrl-Tab and select vertex select mode.
Press B and drag select the bottom vertices of the extruded wing and press G to move them upwards to make the wing slim.
Press 7 in the number pad to get into top view.

Select and move the vertices of the wing to match the background image.

Step 47

Press Ctrl-R to add an edge loop on the wing.
Press A to deselect the vertices.
Press B and drag select the front two vertices.
Press G and move the vertices to match the image.
Press 1 to get into front view and tweak the bottom vertices

Creating the Other Side With Mirror Modifier

Step 1

Press A to deselect the selected vertices.
Press 1 on the number pad to get into front view.
Press B and drag select all the vertices of one side.
Ensure you don't select any center vertices.
Press Del to delete them.
In the pop up select Vertices.

Select all vertices of left side — Select all vertices on the left side

Step 2

Click on the modifiers button in the properties window.

Click on Add Modifier and select Mirror.

Step 3

In the Mirror Modifier settings, tick the Clipping checkbox.

This will make the center vertices stick to each other and prevent any vertices to go through the center line.

Modelling the Propeller

Step 1
Secondary-click on the center vertex to select it.
Press Shift-S and select Cursor to Selected.
This will snap the 3D cursor to the selected point.

Press Tab to exit edit mode. You need to create the propeller as separate object as the aeroplane has mirror modifier assigned.

Step 2

Press Shift-A and add Mesh>Cylinder.

In the toolshelf, reduce the Vertices to 6, select Nothing for Cap Fill Type.

Tick the Align to View checkbox. This will make the cylinder face the view.

Step 3

With the cylinder selected, press Tab to enter edit mode. Select all vertices with A key and press S key to scale them down. Move the mouse and then left click to confirm.

Step 4

Press 3 in the number pad to get into side view.
Press A to select all vertices.
Press S and then Y to scale the mesh along the Y axis. Primary-click to confirm.

Step 5
Press A to deselect all vertices.
Press 3 in the numpad to get into sideview.
Press B and drag select the front row of vertices.
Press E to extrude them.
Press S and move the mouse to scale down the new extruded face.
Primary-click to confirm.
With the new vertices selected, press E again to extrude it and then secondary-click so that the new vertices stays at their origin.
Press S and scale them down.
Primary-click to confirm.
Press Alt-M and select At Center to merge the selected vertices at their center.

Step 6

Press 1 in the numpad to get into front view.
Press Shift-A and add a Plane.
Tick the Align to View checkbox.

Step 7

Press S and scale the plane down.

With the plane selected, Press G and then Z to move the plane along the Z axis.

You can also use the arrow widget to move.

Step 8

Press A to deselect the vertices.

Press B button and drag select to top two vertices of the plane. Use the arrow widget and move them upwards.

With the vertices selected, press S and scale them a little bit. Finally press E to extrude the edge till it reaches the desired length. Primary-click to confirm.

Step 9

Press B and drag select the top four vertices of the blade. Press R and then Z to rotate the selected face along the Z axis. Twist it just a little bit. Primary-click to confirm.

Step 10

Move the mouse over the plane. Press L to select all connected vertices. In the toolshelf, Click on the Spin button.

At the lower part of the toolshelf, reduce the spin Steps to 3, tick the Dupli checkbox so that the generated mesh are the new and duplicated. Click on the Angle value and type 360.

You will notice that the blade is now duplicated three times within a circle.