Preface: Okay, I didn't know where to post this, so I posted here in the PC since I'll be using a PC.

So, I have this really strong vision for a short for a contest and it would involve some 3d animation. I have used 3ds max a little bit, not very much though. Just enough to know how to animate the camera and a pre-made model. The project I'm getting ready to work on, I would to have a tank rolling in a street and an airplane flying through the sky above. I have animated a helicopter in the sky before so I think the plane is no problem. As for the tank, I figure im probably going to need some sort of match moving if I have any moving camera shots.

Also, the model I have aquired of the tank has all the treads as indivual pieces. Is there a way in max that I can link them all together to animate the treads all together instead of seperate.

If anyone on these boards has 3ds max experience please post your advice on where to get started, etc.

Thanks!

Try CGtalk's website. There are probably a few hits adding animation to video with 3ds max. Hash has links for tutorials using Animation:Master and I would suspect that there are the same in the 3ds Max world.

The keyword for camera movement is Motion Tracking. There are packages from about $350 up and maybe gpu depending on the animation package (yours is 3ds max).

3d Cafe is also really great for tutorials and free models. As far as the tread is concerned. I think you could easily accomplish the task by creating a path that will define the route of the tread(use line tool, if you hold on a new point..it kinda becomes a pen tool)...and use a path constraint(in Motion tab) and animate its percentage. I would also recommend using a dummy object for each piece of track...binding these to the path constraint...then binding the treads to each of the dummys...sounds like more work..but if one acts up..you dont have to deconstruct the whole assembly..just that dummy.