This is a short introduction to using the patch modeling tools in 3ds max. I'm using version 9 for the vid, but this goes back a ways and is in all the recent versions.  I've found patch based modeing to be very useful for a lot of things in Max, but especially as a base for high poly mechanical and organic forms.
Another video will follow showing an actual application of this.

Please pardon the mic pops on the "p" sounds in the first 30 seconds of the vid.