Hints on how to make a curved skylight?

Help and Feedback Building Support
#1

Hey guys -

so I’m making a new map just for the hell of it, and i wanted to introduce a curved skylight into my game - something along the sides of this :

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however i cannot, for the life of me, get the darn bars to line up…
bud

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does anyone have any tips or tricks on doing this easily :F? Thanks!
-Revelted

2 Likes
#2

Well, in the real life picture you included, between each “Section” of glass, there was a thick line in between. So just put a thick piece of brick in between where each section meets.

1 Like
#3

Overview

I think you’ll be encountering a lot of decimals while trying to work with it, also some math and measurements are needed. If it curves, the size of each pane might not be the same.

Tips

I reckon that there was something that could place parts with 4 different points, this might be great for working with the glass part of it after the frames. Get the one points of the four where you want the glass, then follow up by finding the rotation. Think of it like a grid. Finally, resize it to proper size.

The frame is almost no problem. Work with it from wall to wall first, before connecting them together along the path. Just one thing, circles. However, the circles aren’t perfectly round, try to get an approximate just to reduce part count.

It is good to start the frame on a point where it is ‘middle’ of the skylight… if the number of frames in is odd.

What You Need

  • Frame
    • If odd amount of vertical lines, make the middle one.
    • Curve calculations, for even spacing.
    • If the number you got includes many decimals, round it.
  • Panes
    • IT’S PANEFUL, but not really.
    • Get the first corner of the frames, where the intersections are.
    • Get the second corner which is along the curve, on the intersection again.
    • Get the rotation of between these positions.
    • Get a part with the rotation placed in either corners.
    • Scale it to fit the frames.
  • Bonus
    • While you can, try to make frame supports underneath the curve (more math).

Summary

This building isn’t quite as complex as thought, but it can be a paneful moment of trying to piecing these. I suggest plugins, they are always awesome and helpful.

If anyone got a plugin for this, post the link below somewhere.

2 Likes
#4

The big differences between yours, and theirs

  • The distance between their walls is constant, while yours fluctuates. This means their arches are all the same size, while yours will differ.
  • Your hallway is straight, their hallway curves
  • Your glass skylight ‘domes over’ to meet the ceiling of the entrance to the hallway.

I built it out of my own curiosity.
Here is the model if you want to take it:

And here is how I did it step by step.

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Get the Archimedes Two plugin by scriptos: Archimedes (v3.1.9) - Roblox
(I think this is the correct link, but Roblox is under maintenance right now so I can’t check)

Step 1: Build a segment of wall, and your metal support arch in the center for the panes.

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(My floor ended up being size (40,1,30), my walls were (1,17,30), and each increment of my metal arch was (1, 4, 1). Using Archimedes, I cloned the increment into the full arch at 8 degrees.
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Step 2: Build your ribs

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For this, I used the basic mouse-drag tool to position the ribs at the ends of the black arch increments, making them flush, like so:
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Step 2.5 Use your arch to create more, perpendicular ribs to outline the “frame” for your pane

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To make sure this was uniform, I first copied my arch twice, and, knowing that my floor was 30 studs, I moved one copy 15 studs forward, and the other copy 15 studs back. This created caps at either end of the hallway. Then I copied it twice more, and moved those copies samely, except instead of 15 studs, I moved each copy 7.5 studs. This means that ALL my window panes are assured to be the same size

Step 3: Build your panes

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All you need to do is clone one of your center arch increments that touches a wall.
Press Ctrl+D
Then, with the resize tool set to 15, hold control and drag it to size. Color it to look like a window.
Use the Archimedes plugin set to the same degree as you had it set to when you made your arch initially, and run it repeatedly (again mine was 8 degrees)

Step 4: Group that model, and use Archimedes to create your long hallway.

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Yay you’re done
Now touch up the inside. The higher you set the angle of your arc on this last step, the more imperfections you’ll see inside. Just touch them up and you’ll be good to go.

6 Likes
#5

Lol thats exactly the plugin that I use for my curves :stuck_out_tongue: but thanks this helps a lot