PBR-Midgard Expedition Vehicle 3D Model
Update Log December 3, 2025Added support for UE5.4, and the project no longer relies on the ModelingToolsEditorMode plugin.
Update Log October 30, 2025v1.02Updated to use the Enhanced Input System, replacing the previous axis mapping method.Fixed the differential lock, now set to a full-time differential lock mode.
The Unreal Engine project files have been updated to December 24, 2024
I am proud to present the Midgard Explorer — a 3D model of an extraterrestrial exploration vehicle designed for brave explorers. The name is inspired by Midgard, the realm of humans in Norse mythology, symbolizing a bridge between Earth and distant planets. This 3D model embodies the aspiration to explore the unknown and connect our world with the far reaches of space.
Design Philosophy:From the outset, I aimed to create a 3D model of an extraterrestrial exploration vehicle with robust survival capabilities. The Midgard Explorer is designed to meet various needs in extreme environments, ensuring superior off-road performance, life support systems, and self-sustaining energy solutions. Here are some key design features:
Superior Off-Road Capability: Equipped with a 6-wheel independent double wishbone suspension system and all-terrain tires, the Midgard Explorer can easily navigate through complex terrains, from rugged mountains to soft sand dunes.Efficient Life Support System: The vehicle is designed with an oxygen conversion unit and plant cultivation chambers (the 3D model does not include plants; users can add them as needed), ensuring a comfortable, safe, and sustainable living environment for the crew.Green Energy Solution: Fitted with solar panels and efficient energy storage units, the vehicle achieves self-sufficiency in energy, reducing dependence on external supplies.Advanced Scientific Equipment: The vehicle is equipped with a range of advanced scientific instruments and devices, including ground-penetrating radar, life detectors, and high-definition cameras, to support comprehensive scientific missions.Comprehensive Basic Living Facilities: In addition to its research functions, the Midgard Explorer includes essential living facilities such as a restroom, bunk beds, and food processing areas, ensuring that the crew can enjoy basic comforts during long-term missions.
Technical Details:Texturing: The Midgard Explorer 3D model was modeled and UV-unwrapped using Blender 3.21, with material textures created in Substance Painter. To address issues with UDIM UV mapping, which caused texture embedding problems in FBX files and inconvenience for users, I used a traditional UV unwrapping method. The UVs are divided into parts such as the suspension, body shell, external equipment, and interior facilities. Most major parts have 8K textures, while smaller parts have 4K textures. Two sets of textures, clean and dirty, are provided and embedded into the FBX file for easy use in other 3D software.Skeleton Rigging: The Blender file of the Midgard Explorer 3D model uses Blender's physics constraint system for rigging. A single controller is used to control the vehicle's movement, and the ground is given a passive rigid body physics constraint, allowing the vehicle to interact correctly with the terrain. Pits or passive rigid body objects on the ground will automatically provide physical feedback to the vehicle (see the video in the details for specific effects). Multiple doors, seats, and the restroom door can be controlled individually using separate controllers, making it very simple to animate.For Unreal Engine:The specialized Midgard alien exploration rover for Unreal Engine has been completed. Within Unreal Engine, I have rigged the vehicle and programmed controllers to include features such as opening and closing various doors, turning on and off headlights, wheel smoke effects, and automatically adding dirt textures based on the total distance traveled.
Included Files:1.No Rigging Midgard Explorer 3D model .blend file2.Physics Bone Rigged Midgard Explorer 3D model .blend file3.Clean and Dirty Midgard Explorer FBX files4.Texture package, including two sets of textures for clean and dirty versions
Notes:
- Rendering may encounter out-of-memory errors. Solution: Since all textures are packed into the .blend file, unpack the external data to a local folder on your computer (Method: File - External Data - Unpack All).
- The model was created in Blender, and the textures were made in Substance Painter.
- When making animation, you only need to add key frames on the controller, and the vehicle will move according to the animation of the controller. Remember to understand the calculation results of the baked goods in the rigid world environment when rendering, and set the simulation time to the overall animation time.
Technical Specifications:File Formats: .blend, .FBXBlend File Size: 1.48 GBFBX File Size: 1.49 GBTexture Package Size: 1.58 GBNumber of Materials: 56 * 2Texture Resolution: 4096x4096 / 8192x8192Vertex Count: 221,876Polygon Count: 205,469
Update on December 24, 2024
UE - Midgard Exploration RoverThe specialized Midgard alien exploration rover for Unreal Engine has been completed. Within Unreal Engine, I have rigged the vehicle and programmed controllers to include features such as opening and closing various doors, turning on and off headlights, wheel smoke effects, and automatically adding dirt textures based on the total distance traveled.To ensure smooth performance in the level run video, the material details for the vehicle were not set to the highest level. However, the actual texture clarity fully meets the project's requirements.
The vehicle blueprint is located at: Midgard/BP/BP_chassisNote:The vehicle uses the ChaosVehiclesPlugin for binding. Please ensure that this plugin is enabled in your project before importing the vehicle.Additionally, remember to select vehicle_input_MOD in the game mode settings.
Controls:W.A.S.D: Control vehicle movement and steering.L: Toggle interior lighting; press again to toggle exterior lights.B: Reset the vehicle to its spawn point.1: Switch to the cockpit camera.2: Switch to the chassis camera.3: Switch to the rear camera.4: Switch to the cargo area camera.5: Open side door.6: Open rear door.7: Open driver’s door.8: Open top hatch.
Quick Options:Click on the vehicle in the scene to modify the following settings:Toggle display of operation instructionsToggle display of wheel smokeSet the vehicle speed at which smoke appearsAdjust smoke sizeAdjust brightness for all lightsSpecify kilometers driven before applying dirt texture to the vehicle bodyThese features allow for dynamic customization of the vehicle's appearance and behavior directly within the scene.
Package Contents:Blender file of the 3D model rigged for Unreal Engine.FBX file of the 3D model rigged for Unreal Engine.Midgard Unreal Engine project files.Collision:All models come with independent collision shapes.
Polygon Count:Vertex count: 221,876Polygon count: 205,469Materials:Number of materials: 108Texture Resolution:4096x4096 or 8192x8192Supported Development Platforms:Windows: YesMac: Yes
