Okay, so I had this weird itch the other day, thinking about those Astros championship rings. You see ’em online, all shiny and massive. And I thought, hey, I mess around with some 3D stuff sometimes, maybe I could try making something that kinda looks like one? Not a real one, obviously, just like, a digital model. Seemed simple enough at first.
Getting Started, Kinda
So I fired up Blender. You know, the free one. Figured I’d grab some pictures online for reference. Man, let me tell you, finding good, clear shots from all angles is tougher than you’d think. And wow, the real things are complicated. Like, seriously packed with tiny details, stones everywhere, little engravings. My first thought was, “No way I’m doing all that.” Forget it.
So, plan B: Keep it simple. Like, super simple. Just get the basic chunky ring shape, maybe the star logo, or the ‘H’ part. Yeah, that felt more doable. Started with a basic cylinder, started squashing and pulling it, trying to get that thick band look right.
The Messy Middle
Making that basic shape took way longer than I expected. Just getting the curves to look smooth, not all blocky? A real pain. Then I tried to carve out the top part where the main design sits. It involved a lot of just guessing, deleting stuff, and trying again. My computer fan started getting pretty loud, I think it was getting tired of my messing around.
Then came the star. Okay, how hard can a star be? Turns out, pretty hard when you want it to sit nicely on a curved surface and look kinda sharp. I tried a few ways:
- Just sticking a flat star shape on top. Looked dumb.
- Trying to model it directly into the ring shape. Got messy fast.
- Making the star separate and then trying to join it. Also fiddly.
Honestly, I spent maybe an hour just on the stupid star. It still doesn’t look quite right, kinda lumpy if you look close. I totally gave up on adding any fake diamonds or text. That stuff is way beyond a casual attempt, trust me.
Well, It’s Something
So, what did I end up with? It’s… well, it’s a chunky digital blob that vaguely resembles a ring with a star on it. If you squint. From a distance. I tried adding a metallic look, just a basic grey shiny thing. It looks more like cheap plastic, if I’m being honest. Definitely not fooling anyone.
But hey, I actually finished something. Didn’t just give up halfway through, which happens a lot. And messing with the shapes, even when it was frustrating, kinda taught me a bit more about how the software works, I guess. Makes you appreciate the actual jewelers who craft those real rings, though. The amount of skill and patience involved… wow. My little digital lump doesn’t even come close. Anyway, that was my little project. Now, what to try next?
