How I reconstructed the SR-71 Blackbird (in-depth research, 3D modelling, animation, and more)
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- Опубліковано 28 кві 2024
- The process for making my artwork has become quite involved, and it's my pleasure to share it with you. At 55 mins., the original SR-71 cutaway explainer video is my longest, most involved work yet!
The original SR-71 video:
• How the Lockheed SR-71...
Blender is free, open source software. Get into it!
www.blender.org/
00:00 Intro
02:16 Research
12:27 Modeling
18:58 Materials & Textures
27:44 Rigging
32:16 Animation
35:57 Music - Наука та технологія
Making a 40min video to explain a 55minute video! What a legend! Thank you!
Yeah, I really appreciate him showing the research photos and sources. I've never seen many of them before.
oh there was so much more too, there always is with Animagraffs! and you're most welcome :D
Truly incredible! Your work is in a class all it's own. Would love to see your treatment of the Apollo lunar system, if you ever get around to it. @@animagraffs
A 55 min video that takes months to make.
@@animagraffsSo part 3 is confirmed?
bro just casually makes everything from scratch. this guy is on another level
It's not a boast when he claims he is above average.
Making your own stuff from scratch should be the norm tbh.
Still phenomenal work.
💯
I mean, even Mustard, who we all know is pretty awesome at pairing gorgeous animations with great information, uses pre-made models. This guy is on a whole different level, the detail is amazing
"just allow me to warmly invite you to start exactly where you are and go from there" so nicely put!
We gotta work with our own inner landscape, and we can't b.s. ourselves for long. To say we all haven't been burned by being too hopeful about an endeavor is probably a lie. But to, in turn, believe we're actually incapable is also not true. In the end, it comes down as a simple invitation to try, respecting all sides of ourselves. Both the weathered skeptic and the boundless inner child, and everyone probably has flavors of both that weigh in with every choice we make.
@@animagraffsUnderstood.
At school - the best teachers loved their subjects didn't they? Jake's enthusiasm says it all. It's a happy time when a new video pops up. Thanks man.
I was a crew chief on the SR71 (971) and I loved the video one of the best I've seen... THANKS!
TY for your service.. from Europe!😅
The research alone would weed out 99.99% of people who would dare take on such a project , impressed is an understatement , great to see a man doing what he loves !!
I dont know why you would use Blender Polygon modelling instead of an Actual CAD software that is designed for actual exact measurement and sub mm tolerances.
Still impressive though.
@@ddontyy I believe I can answer that as I'm transitioning from writing novels to making visual media. I'm doing what he's doing, but while I'm learning how to do it.
I started using "the 3D stuff"-back before I knew the terminology-when I was in high school in the early double-aughts. There wasn't much to do in rural Minnesota, so I wanted to make a game and back then pirating was both easier and more difficult all at the same time when compared to now. These days we are spoiled with options. My copy of 3DS Max wasn't working right so I went to the very unknown SketchUp, which had recently been acquired by Google. Everything I know about making something in a three-dimensional, digital space was self-taught in SketchUp, which fell in this weird crack between the different spaces.
CAD software is, indeed, accurate down to sub-millimeter and this is vital for engineering projects that need exact tolerances in the real-world. You can't wing it where metal meets metal, or metal meets meat, because it just won't work. My mind works on this level-this is common among men who have to fabricate and fix things with no plans-and SketchUp can do it too. Many of my own fictional creations benefited from being able to just do it out of the box, to go where my mind took me, and when I decided to graduate to better tools I found that Blender really didn't encourage that kind of workflow.
That's not what Blender is for, though.
Even though we're seeing machines built with slide rules and mid-century grit-creations of men who thought down to the millimeter-we are watching them through a video. These are not technology demonstrations with exact tolerances so a shop somewhere can churn out parts. No, instead these are short films to explain how the technology works and cinema is not found inside of a millimeter. Nothing on the CAD side can hold a candle to Blender out of the box and as you saw in the video there is room to make it do much, much more.
I hope that answered your question. (I also hope that I'm not stepping on Jake's toes here) Frankly, this is all for a video that entertains as well as informs and this is precisely where Blender shines brightest. Plus, it's free! :D
@@ddontyybecause he doesn't need to model precise, he models to get a message over to the viewer. The viewer won't see if the measurement are not 100% exact. Ps the initial comment was about research, not sure why you comment about poly modeling in blender to this?!
@@ddontyy Because you're modelling for rendering and VFX? CAD gives you ultra precise models that are perfect for validating designs, producing accurate measurements and tool paths for manufacture, materials analysis etc. but a big downside is it REQUIRES the perfect accuracy and all the technical details. You need to input precise measurements for every single part, which isn't available or necessary for this kind of model.
He's not designing or building an aircraft, he's creating a 3d representation of the aircraft and yes he's trying to be as accurate as possible but CAD is unnecessary and frankly is for a completely different process.
All that aside, the software used has nothing to do with the research the comment was praising
Please note you your channel is one of the best 3D graphics / educational channels in existence.
Thanks for all your hard work and educating us all.
Above average is an undestatement.
The amount of research, preparation, and due diligence you put in is comparable to your 3D expertise! It's staggering! Thank you for your work! Absolutely the best!
Don't stop. Your passion for modeling matches my curiosity. Looking forward to watching these when my son asks, "Daddy, how does that work?"
Please make longer videos, we do not tire of watching. Love you explained the music concept, and that is what I felt, gliding on space!
Anybody out there wanting a 2hr video? Have to re-watch the original SR - 71 Animagraffs again, yay!
It warms my heart to see your eyes light up when looking at these old schematics and your passion is easily seen and it's very infectious! Thank you!
If I had been born 15 or 20 years later than I was I might understand blender. I can't believe blender had the tools to make this possible. Thank you for putting all this effort into this!
Thank you for this!! Col. Richard Graham was one of my associates, and I'm so proud every time I see his work being helpful to others.
Just outstanding! I watched the video all the way through. Then I watched it with my three sons. We’ve watched several of your videos and they’re awesome.
I first learned about the Blackbird while in a library in the early 1980s. It’s such a testament to the human mind.
Great job!
Your enthusiasm(sp) spreads to your viewer. I am 82 and computer ignorant, and have no
idea how you produce such beautiful videos. I have been looking at You/Tube since 2020, and stumbled on your channel only recently, but I am so glad I did. Thank you for your hard work in producing your videos.
This is, without a shadow of doubt, one of the most impressive things I have EVER watched. The actual video is a stunning piece of work but this really goes a long way to demonstrating the insane degree of work behind it. I salute you. Incredible.
Thank you for creating amazing graphical animations that required hundreds of hours of work for educational purposes across all ages.
Man your enthusiasm is so great to see! I got mad respect for the level of detail you put in. I’ve been drooling over the SR71 (favorite plane of all time) and the F1 racecar. Keep on going!
My wife's grandfather was an SR-71 mechanic. He doesn't talk about it very much for some reason, but i think its really cool. I've been a big fan of the aircraft for years, and your video was the most in-depth information I've ever seen about it.
Years ago, it may have been necessary to write Fortran code to describe a pattern of nodes in some type of coordinate system, possibly spherical, then write more Fortran code to define node connectivity for elements, finally loading all that info into Ansys to generate part of a 3D model. Since then, I've had to completely relearn CAD, for work, as well as play, as in game meshes. What you are doing is so much more than mesh creation. This is cinematic. I can say, having done my share of hunting for dimensions and creating 'dummy' parts, you exhibit a love for what you do - a satisfaction in a job well done. I wish you success.
You're one who posses the old knowledge of talking to the machine directly! lol, much respect, really. While we have extrapolations on extrapolations now, knowing what's underneath things always makes a craftsperson sharper. I downloaded "pov-ray" in the 90s. It's a bare ray-tracer software, where I had to write code to make a scene. I had no idea modeling software even existed. It was wondrous even so, and I stayed up many late nights making 3D scenes with code. As an artist at heart, the math-y side is really difficult for me. But I can see how it shaped me!
Your job and dedication are insane. The documentary is amazing. Thank you good sir
You sir are an inspiration!!! Coming from a KC-135T crew chief who refueled my jet with JP-7 for the Blackbird (and JP-8 for the tanker itself) for one of the last SR-71 missions in 1998.
Thank you for your service and what a role you played sir. Bless you and your family.
I am a huge SR-71 fan and aerospace enthusiast with a curiosity of how things work. You've managed to capture detail of this jet that I've learned and had wanted to learn over my entire life in an hour long video. I was wondering how in the world the video was made. Thought it was a team of people to create such a complex presentation. To learn it was only you and a ton of research has me blown away. Well done and thanks for educating us. Subscription earned.
bro you're such a help to this world and you're so encouraging to me i appreciate that.
I haven't got any qualifications in mechanical engineering but im making my own formula 4/3 in the backyard with superbike 1 liter engine.
with so much info online in my pocket and in my computer i feel that i dont need to go and take 3 year courses. im learning at a decent pace cos of ppl like you providing in depth knowledge.
pls continue to share and educate and encourage creation and innovation
You sir, are a true genius I have been around the SR71 your production is spot on!
Just come across your channel with the sr71 video. I'm not into planes but I started watching and I was hook. Fascinating plane and you explained it perfectly. I can't imagine the time and work you put into these. Excellent work.
I think the coolest thing you did was convey the "spookiness" of the blackbird. It was so advanced for its time and was so innovative it was almost alien. You captured that in educational content which is hard to do.
I'm studying 3D with Blender, that's how I found your channel, and I was inspired by it, far from discouraged, your work motivated me to go further, so than you very much sir!
I worked on the blackbird , from 66 thru 69, it is quite a aircraft. Ur doing a good job with ur drawings...
Astonishing accomplishment. I was fortunate enough to be assigned as a aircraft mechanic to 9th OMS from 1986 - 90. Most engine repairs were checked out with basically an idle run in the hanger. Occasionally components replaced required a full after burner run. If the SR-71 was run at much above idle while in the hanger, the hanger could be damaged. Full afterburner test required towing the aircraft for more than a mile to the edge of the runway. The SR would be connected to the run-up pad with two 3" 12' long rods and bolts. Airmen (me) would run the start cart, and then stand by the fire extinguishers just in case the grass caught fire. We would have contests for a picture of beer to see who could step closest to the afterburner. I could get close enough that I could no longer tell if my feet were still in contact with the ground, and still lost to a guy who weighed 20 lbs less than me. We would also toss rocks into the diamond and enjoy the splash of the rock on the blast deflector. The trick is to watch the blast wall as you toss the rock and hit the diamond. How fast would those rocks be traveling? Beal run-up pad: 39.12308676335525, -121.422495740995151
You are the best kind of teacher.
Jake, if kids had instructors like you they would be blessed indeed.
Just awesome, please share more of these "behind the scenes" type of breakdowns for videos. This is incredibly helpful for really showing the power of blender and the level of work that creators have to put into these type of educational videos. As others have mentioned, your research and your passion for teaching is top notch and very much appreciated.
Dude, you are not just a 3D artist, you are THE 3D artist. Your dedication to these videos and artistic skills are extraordinary. Keep up the excellent work!
People like you truly keep the spirit of the Internet alive.
dude!
this one went sooo hard
the engines blew my mind
It is just unbelivable that all this work is one man effort...level of detail,execution,script,video edit....one man band....unique on you tube...just unbelivable....respect...it would be nice to know how many mouse cliks and how many mouses are actually consumed for each project 😂😂😂...keep on doing what you do..can wait for next project
This is brilliant. The level of high level understanding you have to acquire to produce these videos is awe-inspiring.
Bro you have such a huge talent, tanks to you I can learn and study all about engineering my future dream.I am learning this from a young age
The level of effort you put into your exposition of technicalities is an object lesson in the value of hard grind work and the application of one's intellectual work. Both the thinking and the heavy lifting. You are rightly satisfied Sir! The lessons I take out of this are both admiration for your skills and determination but, if I may say, more importantly for young people making career choices, admiration for the skill and determination and measured risk taking, by the engineers and scientists who built this amazing plane & countless other breathtaking machines. Clearly you share this respect. Thank you for giving it a shout-out
Thanks for sharing your talents and for freely giving others the opportunity to learn from you.
I have never found a reason to comment on YT. In today's world, it is extremely rare not to find a single negative comment (on the work you have shared) is a testament of the perfection that you have acheived. You deserve every compliment that you have been showered upon. I am truly inspired by your dedication to your craft. I can't wait for you to release your next piece of work.
18:30 that’s the type of attention to detail I love. It’s the type of things I try to incorporate whenever I can in something I’m making.
Your Blender skills are absolutely insane. Keep up the good work 👍
That SR71 video was a nice piece of work. I came across it and sent it to my father, and he really enjoyed it. He really liked the Big Boy steam train engine as well.
U definitely put a lot of work into your videos and it's greatly appreciated people love this stuff
You are amazing. As a mechanical engineering student, your videos are extremely helpful in understanding some of the topics that I am curious in. Thank you!
I think you are much more than a graphics designer, this is amazing and the SR-71 is one of my favorites. Getting access to the pilot handbook, amazing.
Thanks. This is the second video I see with the behind the scenes, and as blender amateur and a trainer myself who likes to have everything under control, this is such an inspiration, even more than it was just watching your other videos!
There's a helicopter (Sikorsky H-60) that the Army, Navy, Airforce, and Coast Guard all use because of its power, reliability, and versatility. It is one one the MOST famous and versatile helicopters in our great military. It would be a service to our nation and all the great men and women who work on, and fly in these amazing aircrafts if you did a video on the Sikorsky H-60. Each branch uses the same base model, but then outfits them specifically for their needs. For instance, the Army's Black Hawk has a different assortment of accessories compared to the Coast Guard's Jay Hawk. Even though the base model Sikorsky H-60 has different models (Black Hawk, Sea Hawk, Pave Hawk, Jay Hawk and other's as well), a video on the the base model H-60 would very easily become a primary training tool for EVERY branch of the military and it would be used for decades to help our great service men and women become better familiarized with the planes they work on and fly to help recue citizens at home and protect our freedoms over seas.
Protect our freedoms overseas? You mean war monger and terrorize smaller countries for financial gain and power for corrupt politicians?
Sounds like a plan!
I love this idea, I think he would have a lot of fun dabbling into helicopters.
My friend is a rescue swimmer for the USCG and he took some time to show me the basics at the top of the plane where some of the flight controls connect to the wings, and it is truly a remarkable beast.
@@Vastafari34 Man that sounds amazing, i really interested in being a rescue swimmer
This was a masterwork. Best treatment on the A-12-SR-71 that I have ever seen. Amd I think I have seen them all.
It's amazing seeing the way you create these videos. Thanks a lot for your work. I learned a lot of the SR-71. I was shocked by the navigation system: astro inertial navigation system. I would like to learn more about it. Also, the mechanics that manage the flight controls its out of this world.
Thanks a lot again!!!
Greetings from Rionegro, Colombia.
The sheer brilliance contained in this video is so overwhelming that my artistic skills feel almost negligible. But as you said in the beginning not to feel like that, I would like to shrug that off and actually strive to reach this stage. You are an engineer, a programmer, a 3D artist, a musician - you are like a ONE MAN ARMY of an inventive mind that can connect with common people!!! You sir are an inspiration.
I'm absolutely sure that what you bring to the table is different than what I bring, no matter the skill level. And the world needs authenticity like it needs water, so even your smallest efforts bring a different flavor into existence, even if only you see them.
Also thanks for your compliments, it's awesome to hear from folks who appreciate my art :)
Absolutely wonderful to see all the work and detail step by step that goes into these quality videos. Definitely going to appreciate it even more when I watch it
The first thing I did after seeing the original video is send it to my 13yo son. He said “he speaks very technically” and I tried to explain the epistemological process, not just in the moment of an individual soul, but as it changes over time for each of us.
That was last week and now I find this video. I can’t wait to share it with him. He won’t understand much of it either, but I will reinforce what you open with that such magnificence is grown rather than born. Previously, I tried to emphasize that such skill comes not only from passion and perseverance, but grounding in fundamental study and repetition. I hope (but don’t expect by any means) that your iterative process to understand the mixer will help him to discover how something so opaque can be realized as one starts knocking down the basics and integrating the nuance.
I also loved how you essentially captured that “perfect is the enemy of the good” with your discussion of the landing gear and flame. I have already taught him about “lazy engineering” as a path to reducing complexity. And herein lies the the connection to repetition… that he can see the same messaging in different presentation such that things start to click.
Lastly, I’m eager for him to see your section on the music. He’s an avid musician as well and it will be interesting to juxtapose your renaissance across these disciplines, without actually being an engineer who calculated the moment arm of these various systems or the fluid dynamics of the ship, to name a tiny few of the efforts that went into this national treasure.
If you ever get bored, I’m sure MIT, CalTech or Stanford would love to make you an associate professor. Namaste!
I'm sure all this good stuff will get in there eventually, especially seeing as how he's got a dad that's thinking about how best to help him discover good, quality life principles. And hey, if your son responds to my work then great. If not, then at least you'll know a little more about his preferences, which is still great info :)
I love the parts of my work and ethos you've picked out here and feel proud to be associated and represent such things. When I was recording that "perfectionist" bit, even I didn't realize I was going to say it. But when I did, it felt really good. I'm maybe halfway through life now and I could, in a way, feel all the lead-up to that particular value. I'm here making crazy art that already takes so much focus, and yet, I have no problem at all publishing things in a rough state if it just makes sense and isn't a hindrance to the overall goal.
Anyways, glad to have you on the channel!
I tend to re-watch your every video at least three times... Once alone so I can learn stuff and once with my kid so I can explain stuff to him and the third time to find answers to questions he pops when we watch together :) Thank you for this!
your videos are epic, but what makes you a true legend is the opening of this video, it was sweet and crazy nice to encourage people to try getting involved, please continue doing what you do
Thank you for the shrinkwrap trick. Love your work.
The first video of yours which I watched, I think it was the WW1 fighter bi-plane, electrified me. Your models are the finest that I have ever come across on the internet. I subscribed to your channel immediately. I have been using Blender for the past 15 years, or so. I only now have discovered that you also use Blender. God bless Ton Roosendaal. I love you ( Platonically!!). Thank you for your mercurial efforts and sheer talent.
Hello from Kalamazoo! Being able to touch one of these machines at our Air Zoo is...surreal.
Wish my dad could have lived to see ur blackbird episode. He loved the blackbird and Kelly J. Excellent job
have over 20 years experience as a designer, and am using Blender occasionally, and thank You so much for starting Your video as You did, because I was close to sell my laptop and go flip burgers at McDonalds. Outstanding skills, am starting to put in serious hours into Blender now...
That was wonderful. As a hobbyist Ytube video maker I was inspired by your enthusiasm and detailed organization. Your discussion about the music at the end, an "environment" that surrounds your animation, was truly inspirational, as was the Music itself! Loved everything in your videos, but especially... this video, for reasons that are hard to articulate. Thank you.
i really admire your english speaking skills, for a non native english speaker.. i truly get inspirations from your way of speaking, some may think learning language from an insane detailed video is weird but that the beautiful thing, even the unnoticed details you do people get inspired from... thank you sir and all the best
As someone who is working in blender as well to create a detailed representation of an aircraft (in my case the F-23A EMD) I really apprechiate and can relate to all the problems that come with that. Finding resources like books and pictures, or other 3d models for parts and their lack of refinement or accuracy. But also I can relate to the feel of joy and excitement of figuring something out in 3d. The moment a drawing or machanism just clicks and starts to make perfect sense.
Jake your attention to detail is otherwordly. Thank you for making these awesome BTS videos in addition to all the other awesome content you have
I really enjoy the fruits of your diligence and hard labor putting this fascinating material together for us viewers. My solace is in the idea that you really enjoy your work.
Dude, I am frustrated not engineer. Meaning that I went to school for graphic design, but I should have done the work to become an engineer. I absolutely love your channel and greatly appreciate your hard work. As I kid I used to take apart my toys, to see how they work, and your videos really feed into my curious nature. And the details, oh boy the details. They’re just awesome! So thank you. These behind the scenes are equally as enriching, as it shows us how you got to the videos. Insane research! Again, thank you. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I truly enjoy and appreciate what you do. Keep up the great work! 🙏
Technology: from the Greek tekhnologia ‘systematic treatment’, from tekhnē ‘art, craft’. Seeing the process and technique behind the art is simply awesome. Thank you!
Absolutely mindblowing... I can really appreciate the time and effort spent on this project. Thank you so much. You would be my hero if you did a video on the F-14 Tomcat. Should be a bit easier to get info.
It’s amazing that would work has reached the pilots and the awesome people who built and designed this incredible aircraft
Well done 👍
This SR-71 Blackbird behind the scene explanation video is absolutely incredible! Your dedication to research and the level of detail you achieve are truly inspiring. It's amazing to see how you take publicly available information and turn it into such a visually stunning and informative piece.
As an aeronautical engineer with a huge passion for airplanes, your work is a major source of motivation for me. Even though I'm just starting out in 3D animation and learning the basics, this video has rekindled my fire and encouraged me to keep pushing forward.
I hope to one day create my own 3D animation videos about airplanes, sharing my knowledge and inspiring others just like you've inspired me. In the meantime, I'll be eagerly waiting for your next creation!
I had a giant SR-71 poster up in my room as a kid... I still think it's the most badass looking plane.
Above and beyond your skill in creating the models, you are GREAT at explaining things in an easy-to-understand way that never sounds condescending. Love your videos.
Your attention to detail and dedication to the work is admirable, I cannot wait for more videos
This is truly a mindboggling commitment for one video, and it is so greatly appreciated. Incredible!
I really enjoy these behind the scenes videos. I dont do any animation but I bet a lot of people can learn a lot from your tips.
Cool for showing us how you actually made it. thank you!
This video simply oozes passion and dedication. I'd like to think your work will be admired for generations.
Bro looks exactly how I thought he would. Lol
Your work is amazing man, I’m infatuated with your level of detail and seeing how things are manufactured.
Please never stop doing what you do
Such a privilege to have you explain how you did this wonderful work of art. You are such an inspiration!
I love your introduction, straight to the point
Have seen a few now & it's superb content. You've found a job you love Jake & you are good at it = never having to work a day again in your life.
Warm regards from Denmark.
Thank you for your work! Excellent final product. Very informative and easy to consume.
Fell in love with the Victory breakdown, which I toured 1000 years ago. Thank you for sharing the overview. Superman.
Wow, someone’s more addicted to the SR71 than I am! Fantastic job
I can’t believe how much you put into this. So impressive. It motivates me to learn more on my own, I’ve always loved learning and studying on my own and this just makes me realize there’s so much more that can be done. Your videos are so good they’ve been shown in many of my college courses. I dropped out of Computer Science at University of Colorado to continue working in aviation since it’s where I was already working, so seeing all these videos such as this one and the jet airliner videos are just great learning tools. Thank you for making these videos. I know I’m biased because of my field but any and all aviation videos will be greatly appreciated 😅
Years ago the SR-71 at the SAC museum in Omaha sat out on a tarmac behind a fence with other planes. I stood up in the wheel well of the front landing gear and took a couple photos. It's great knowing I touched one and was able to get up that close. This video is amazing! Thanks for sharing...
Thank you very much for this.
Please for the love of god make a an in-depth course on how create these stunning representations.
And have it as a paid course on your website.
(This is the type of education i would pay for)
I know how to use blender, but never in my life thought you could do something like this with it.
Would love to have you as an instructor!
New-ish blender artist. Never though about using shrink wrap like that and I'm kicking myself at how simple it is. Awesome idea, thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your generosity, humility, and insane attention to detail to pull off these animations
This, is just really mind blowing, the research, finding all the possible media you could and looking deep into what you find to analyse even the little things, and the animations themselves are incredible too! Good luck with your future videos, the product of labour, immense skill and love is always beautiful.
One of the most fascinating videos I’ve ever watched and I am an enthusiast. Thank you sir!
the music really take the whole video into the next level, didn't know u composed it yourself ! Kudos to u
Bro, everything you do is a huge job! Thank you for sharing all your emotions and the colossal nuances of the workflow
I love your videos! I watched all your videos twice. Best 3d modeler in yt! One of the most important things in this type of content is the narrator's voice. A calm deep voice really helps to dive into whatever topic you choose.
your opening is so welcoming and encouraging man, thank you!
Hi Jake, dropping by to show some love like many here in the coments. Your work is amazing and inspiring. I always get joy from receiving the youtube notification when you release a new video.
Keep up the good work, stay moderate on your perfectionism like you are already doing (there is always a balance) and stay humble like you seem to be.
Absolute legendary work and it truly shines watching it. Keep it up mate as you've raised the bar!
Jake, you're amazing.