Spaceship Rig

As part of my Projection Mapping VFX shot I need something flying through the scene for my camera to follow. Partly because of this and partly thinking about the CGI Millennium falcon in Star Wars The Force Awakens I started making this rig:



 The idea was to create a ship rig that had some finer controls than just position and rotation.

The main control allows for basic animation, but the smaller controls up and above allow the animator more control over how the ship moves when it turns around.

 The ship always points towards the top controller, allowing it to be put at the centre of bends, both of them in conjunction hold the ship between them via a point constraint.

 This should allow good control over the movement.




From the test bit of animation I found this wasn't quite as intuitive as I had hoped. It was difficult keeping the controllers aligned so the ship wasn't bouncing up and down, it might be useful to add a meter detailing how far apart they are getting, to keep it in check.

 I would like to refine this before I use it for my VFX work. The controls working in conjunction to push the arcs on bends works in theory, but it needs some refining in the way it is rigged.

 I think I will start by separating the aim and point constraints so they are on separate curves, so the animator doesn't have to worry about the ship bouncing up and down in flight.

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