Example 23

You can load the file NOVAEX23.NOV to get more information about this example.

This is a complete example of a Finger Gate. The gate has two modules at an angle because most gates are not all straight or at 90 degrees. This one has a shape much like the real ones.

All distances and lengths are based on a scale of 1/32, using Superscale5(32). That is, if an element has a length of 3 meters I will enter 3 x 32 = 96 meters in the appropriate box.

A description of the most important points for each module follows.

 

Detail of the main panel data entry. 

The first module is the module going to the terminal wall.

 

This shows a top view of the gate.

You can see that most modules have been made following the Y axis which does simplify the work.

The first module is rotated 60 degrees and adjusted to the corner module after a few trials in the scenery.

The last module, going to the body aircraft surface, also has a rotated module.

I will use the term units instead of meters as the macro is based on a 1/32 scale.

30 units means 30 ÷ 32 meters which is close to 1 meter.

 

Module 1: North side is raised 30 units, this gives a nice small angle to the module.

Module is rotated 60 degrees. See Maximize table

Module 2: I use the Polygon in a vertical position to make the corner.
Modules 3-4: Both use the Cube and are extensions of the gate. Modules 3 and 4 also have the North or back side raised. The purpose of raising the North or back side is to give the gate a descending angle view.
Module 5: Another Cube, but this one has the side door where the stair is placed.
Module 6: Once again I use the Polygon to start making a corner. You can see in the right graphic how the sides are made at an angle of 25 degrees to place module 7.

The Polygon is placed in a vertical position.

Module 7: The final module placed close to the aircraft.
The front side of the cube is beveled by 20 units.
The module is also rotated of 25 degrees, (360-335)-25, see maximize table for this.

 

Front left and right base I use the Cube with no special options.
Left and right wheels I use the Wheel tool. The wheel uses a full texture of 64x64 pixels and is the best and fastest way to make it.
Wheels are turned 90 degrees to point to the right heading. See maximize table
Wheels axis Made using the Cube with the shaded option to give a brighter and cylindrical shaped look.
Wheel axis
top supports
1 and 2
Probably the most interesting pieces of the structure due to their construction. I have highlighted the right support in red to see its position.

 

This part uses the Polygon placed in a horizontal position. This will allow making this part with the required shape.

Since the Polygon is placed in a horizontal position it is better if you place the lower side of the polygon at an altitude of zero. In the picture side 6 will remain at ground level. Of course the part will be placed at the required altitude using the altitude box option available for all tools.

 

Another interesting option in NOVA and with some tools is the Inverted control box. Due to the angle Side 5 is not visible from the right side and in normal conditions. This is why I have to Invert this side to make it visible.

Stair base Made using the Cube, no special options used
Stair Made using the Cube and the Skew option
The procedures to make a stair using the cube are easy and as follows:
  • Make a cube with the required height and stair width such as 3 meters high by 1 meter wide, or (3x32) x (1x32) units. Let's assume the cube is facing to the front.
  • Give to the left and right cube sides cube a very small unit like 1 or 2 with a maximum of 3.
  • Apply transparencies to the front and back views of the cube, external and internal sides.
  • Draw all sides, including internal as well, as they are visible from outside.
  • Now you have to decide the horizontal length that the stair will take as we need to skew the base of this cube. This length will become the value to be applied to the skew option. I used the value of -100 or (-100/32) = -3.125 meters
  • Since you most probably will place a handrail to the stair, using the Bridge tool, this is also the length between both ends of handrail.
Stair handrail 1 The stair handrail is made using the Bridge.

The road width will become the stair width.

The bridge will need to be rotated 180 degrees to get the right heading in the structure.

Stair handrail 2 This part uses the Fence tool.

This shows all the connecting points and posts.

The following modules can be maximized:

Notes: