Bringing in a 3D file (DWG) into Illustrator to align to view?

[Brit.b]

I made a simple trapezoid box as part of a sculpture in 3Ds Max. I would like to project a panorama wrap-around photo on the sides and decided that Illustrator might be the best software to calculate the size and how to cut the photo for each trapezoid-shaped side.  

I drew lines around each panel of virtual ..9 mil thick ply sides) and then lay these shapes down on the world x/y plane... and exported them to Illustrator as DWG and imported using “place”.  

The idea is to place the panorama under these shapes and cut out the pictures onto the trapezoid shapes.

But when I place it into Illustrator it comes out as an orthographic projection with the x/y axis at an angle. How would I get it so that it is flat with the view plane to project the (as in the 3Ds screen grab)?

When I go to 3D effect and try to rotate it, it gives a warning that it is rendering the simple vectors (why – can’t I do 3D without materials??) and then creates ‘bowl”.

Any ideas where to find 3d tutorials on importing 3d models for Illustrator? Any ideas how to import a shape so that it is flat with the screen?

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

You can not import 3D models into Illustrator.

[Brit.b]

It seems to import 3D for me. It imported the 3D model into Illustrator in an oblique orthographic view, as in the attached file, and it took very nice dimensions of the model. 

What I need to do is rotate the side panel cutout to the view plane.

But when I go into "3D and materials," in order to revolve the object, it rendered a weird "bowl" as in the attachments in the top post.  (It seems that it "lathed" and rendered the vectors.)

Where might I find up-to-date tutorials on how to use 3D in Illustrator?