3D - Is there a way to color objects and/or maintain separation between overlaying (complex)objects?

[Hugh Betcha]

3D - Is there a way to color objects and/or maintain separation between overlaying (complex)objects?

Right now Ai's 3D function only accepts compound path'd elements, so I can't select them once they are made into 3D...

I'm trying to render a piece of machinery that has overlapping elements.

NOTE: Please don't tell me to use dedicated 3D software 🙂

[Hugh Betcha]

The second screen shot shows the style of what I'd like to end up with...

[Monika Gause]

You can do that using the perspective grid feature.

Will be a completely manual process, but the grid helps you with the perspective.

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/perspective-drawing.html

[Hugh Betcha]

Thanks @Monika Gause , but I just know that there's a way to do what I want - I feel like I discovered the answer years ago by accident - but I cannot remember what I did... I had an 'Aha' moment where I could have differnt colored elements all part of the same extruded 3D object...