Lately, it seems like the simplest looking things have been the most difficult for me. Someone asked me to model this light for them today. And of course, I opened the link and my head split apart. I tried and I kept on coming up with bad results.
http://www.dwr.com/product/lighting/nelson-collection/nelson-crisscross-pendant.do?sortby=ourPicks
Anyone have any ideas on how to model this? Is it just me being stupid, or is it difficult???
I would start with a general profile, lathe (with not much segments), convert to poly, work it a little.. Does not seem hard.
I’d just use straight polygon modeling. just make sure to place your edgeloops properly (and use smoothing groups). Alternately you could model just one section of it and array it in a circle so it stays symmetrical. If you do that, simply attach the pieces back together and wield them. If you’re feeling really adventurous you could model just the frame (metal wires) using splines with sweep modifiers, and then wrap Cloth around it.
I would start with a general profile, lathe (with not much segments), convert to poly, work it a little… Tried that.
'd just use straight polygon modeling. just make sure to place your edgeloops properly (and use smoothing groups). Alternately you could model just one section of it and array it in a circle so it stays symmetrical. If you do that, simply attach the pieces back together and wield them. If you’re feeling really adventurous you could model just the frame (metal wires) using splines with sweep modifiers, and then wrap Cloth around it. Tried all of those.
Start off a cylinder - should be okay to do the diamond edges on then ffd the hell out of it - If you want you could even model the diamond layout flat, then use a bend modifier to turn that into a cylinder, weld it at the seam and then ffd - Might work nicer if you don’t chamfer the diamond shape edges until after the ffd - harden up the edges, then drag in the point in the middle of the diamond and stick on a turbosmooth at the top.
The whole thing is quite a pain really. Looks so simple yet one of the more difficult things I’ve tried to create.
How about modeling it with 15 euros?
http://www.designconnected.com/en/catalog/productslist/filter/Nelson,+George\_d532 
looks like a cool site btw, links to lots of free stuff too.
. Thanks Eric. well there you have it - how did you come across that link by the way?
googled “nelson lamp 3d model” it was the 4th or 5th result 
Ah. I kept on throwing in ‘crisscross’ and was turning up hardly anything.
