Building a Steampunk Inspired Light Saber in 3ds Max, Part 2

In today's post, we're finishing up work on Stefan Surmabojov's awesome steam punk inspired Light Saber. As is part one, you'll be using a multitude of different modeling techniques to create the remaining parts, from tried and true poly modeling techniques to spline work. Finish it up after the jump!

Continued from Part 1

Step 78

Create a new Cylinder with 18 sides and Convert it into Editable Poly, and then add 10 horizontal loops as shown.

Step 79

Select every second loop polygons and apply a Bevel with a negative Height value to push them into the surface. And then on the end polygons apply another Bevel, but this time with Zero Height.

Step 80

On the top polygon, we apply a Bevel 3 more times and then an Extrude once with a negative Height, until we get something like this.

Step 81

On the bottom polygon we apply a Bevel twice. The second bevel needs to be with Zero Height and after that, Extrude once as shown.

Step 82

Continue shaping the piece by performing an Inset, an Extrude, another Inset and a final Extrude.

Step 83

Apply a Bevel with Zero Height, an Extrude, an Inset, and another Extrude as shown.

Step 84

Again apply a Bevel with Zero Height and then Inset again and Extrude 3 times.

Step 85

Continue with an Inset, Bevel, and another Inset.

Step 86

Select the middle polygon loop and apply an Extrude once, then select 3 of the side polygons (highlighted below) and apply an Extrude 4 more times until you get this.

Step 87

Now Create a new Cylinder with the same Height as the height of the polygons we just extruded. On the cylinder's top polygon apply an Inset, Extrude, Inset, and then Extrude again.

Step 88

Continue by applying a Bevel with Zero Height, and then Extrude 3 times and Inset.

Step 89

On the cylinder's bottom polygon we do the same thing. But this time, only apply the Extrude and Inset twice. The third time it needs to be a Bevel and then an Inset.

Step 90

Combine the two elements using Attach, and then connect the polygons together with the Bridge tool.

Step 91

On the polygons selected below, we apply an Extrude twice and then shift the vertices until we get a straight corner.

Step 92

Now select the polygons on the sides and apply an Extrude to them, as shown.

Step 93

On the polygon on the far side, apply an Extrude twice and then Extrude 3 more times until you get something like this. You also need to shift the vertices a bit to get the desired shape.

Step 94

On the 3 polygons on the other side, we apply an Extrude 3 more times and then by shifting the vertices again, create a shape similar to this.

Step 95

Create a new Tube object with 8 Sides and then by using Attach, we combine it with the previous element. After that we create 2 new edge loops on the previous element, so the space between the loops is the same as the Height of the Tube.

Step 96

Using Bridge, we connect the polygons on the two elements so they become a single piece of geometry. After that add loops as shown.

Step 97

Here repeat the same steps. Create another Tube (etc...) and add loops as shown.

Step 98

Finally apply a Chamfer on all of the edges as shown.

Step 99

Create a new Tube with 16 Sides and position it as shown. Finally apply an Extrude to the two side polygons, and shift the vertices to create a base for the element.

Step 100

Add loops as shown, and the combine the elements together using Attach.

Step 101

Using the shortcut Alt+Q we go into Isolation Mode in order to see only the element we have selected, and then add a new edge as shown.

Step 102

Connect the two vertices by using Connect, and then Delete the polygons on the inside part.

Step 103

Select the two holes with Border, and connect them using Bridge. After that add new edge loops as shown.

Step 104

On the polygons on the bottom side (highlighted below) we apply an Inset with a low Amount.

Step 105

Now using the same techniques we used to create the back handle (steps 78-84.) Create this new element.

Step 106

The bottom should look like this.

Step 107

Next Create a Box with Length Segs: 2, Width Segs: 4 and Height Segs: 1 and Convert it into Editable Poly.

Step 108

On the front two polygons apply an Extrude twice, and shift the vertices to create a rounded shape.

Step 109

On the back polygons, apply an Extrude twice and then shape it something like this.

Step 110

On the side polygons apply an Extrude 3 times and shift the vertices, until you get such a shape.

Step 111

Add a new edge as shown and using Connect, connect the selected vertices.

Step 112

On these 7 selected polygons, apply an Extrude 3 times, and after each extrude Scale them on the Z-Axis.

Step 113

Now add two loops close to each edge as shown.

Step 114

Add 4 vertical loops and then 2 horizontal edges as shown.

Step 115

As we did previously, create a Tube and connect it to the element. And then add loops as shown.

Step 116

Add more edges as shown.

Step 117

Create a Cylinder with 20 Sides and Convert it into Editable Poly. On the sides of the cylinder, add 4 loops (close to each end) and Scale them on the Z-Axis. Finally Scale the end polygons on the Z and Y Axes.

Step 118

Select the polygon loops, Scale them and move them up as shown.

Step 119

On the back end polygon apply a Bevel with Zero Height, then Extrude. Bevel again with Zero Height and once again Extrude.

Step 120

Continue by applying an Inset, and after that Scale the polygon on the Z-Axis. Apply another Extrude and finally Delete the polygon.

Step 121

On the front end polygon apply a Bevel twice, Extrude again and then Bevel twice with a negative Outline and Inset amount.

Step 122

Now apply a Bevel, an Inset and another Bevel as shown.

Step 123

Using Attach, combine the two elements and apply a Bridge to the selected polygons.

Step 124

Finally, apply a Chamfer on most of the loops as shown.

Step 125

Next, create a new Capsule object with 12 Sides and Convert it into Editable Poly. After that Delete the back part and close the hole using Cap, and then on the new polygon apply a Bevel with Zero Height and then Extrude it.

Step 126

Continue by applying an Inset and then Extrude 3 times. After that, Inset and Extrude again.

Step 127

Again apply an Inset and an Extrude. After that apply a Bevel 4 times with Zero Height and Extrude after each bevel.

Step 128

Now apply a Bevel twice in order to get a rounded end to the shape. Then Inset, Extrude, Inset and again Extrude with negative Height. Finally Delete the polygon inside the hole.

Step 129

Next create a Box and add loops as shown, Then Delete the back and front polygons.

Step 130

As we did in a previous step, create a Line with 8 Sides and check on the "Enable In Viewport" option. And then using Attach, combine it with the box and Delete the polygons on each end.

Step 131

With the elements selected, use the Alt+Q shortcut to switch to Isolation Mode. And then create a new Line with 6 Sides and convert it into Editable Poly, finally Delete the polygons on each end.

Step 132

Using Attach, combine all the elements together and add 3 new edges as shown.

Step 133

Apply an Inset to the new polygons and then Delete them. Then apply a Bridge on the hole.

Step 134

Now on the bottom of the element (where we created the last line), we need to add 2 new edges as shown.

Step 135

Delete the polygons between the edges we just created and then by using the Bridge tool, connect the line with the hole. After that apply a chamfer as shown.

Step 136

Select the two polygons on each element that face each other and connect them using Attach.

Step 137

Add new loops as shown.

Step 138

Now select the 3 polygons (highlighted below) that face towards the box and Delete them.

Step 139

Finally close the holes with Bridge and apply a Turbosmooth modifier with the Iterations set to 2.

Step 140

Create another Capsule (just as did for the previous one) and apply Turbosmooth - Iterations: 1.

Step 141

Next, create a spiral (using a Helix spline) and check On "Enable In Viewport". Also check On the Radial option and set the Sides to 12 with a Thickness of 14-16.

Step 142

On the end loops of the spiral, apply a Chamfer and finally apply smoothing.

Step 143

Create one more spiral on the other side, as shown.

Step 144

Create a Cylinder with 12 Sides and apply an Inset on the top polygon, then Extrude it with a negative Height value. Inset and Extrude again, but this time with a positive Height.

Step 145

On the bottom polygon apply an Inset, an Extrude and another Inset.

Step 146

Apply a Chamfer on each edge and then add 6 loops around the outside, as shown.

Step 147

Create a Box and on the two side polygons, apply an Extrude and then Scale them on the Z and Y Axes.

Step 148

Apply a Chamfer on the edges and finally apply a Turbosmooth modifier, with 1 Iteration.

Step 149

Create another Box and add edge loops as shown. Delete the Polygons on the bottom and apply a Turbosmooth - Iterations: 1.

Step 150/h3>

Now from the Hierarchy menu, choose Affect Pivot Only and copy the values for the X, Y and Z-Axes from the cylinder to the box. After that use the Rotate tool to make and position 11 copies of the box.

Step 151

Rotate the element 35 degrees, and then make a copy of it and Rotate it 20 degrees more.

Step 152

Using Attach combine the two elements together. And then with the Bridge tool, connect the polygons which face each other.

Step 153

Create a Line like before and connect it to the cylinder. And then using Attach, connect the selected elements together as shown in the picture below.

Step 154

Use Bridge to connect the polygons.

Step 155

Create one more Line and Convert it into Editable Poly, then Delete the loops we don't need. Leave only the loops where they are needed to make a round shape. Finally add 2 more loops close to each other, as shown.

Step 156

On the polygons in between the loops we just added, apply an Extrude with a negative Height. And then on the bottom polygons, apply an Extrude. Finally apply a Chamfer to all the edges.

Step 157

Copy and position the element as shown, and apply a Turbosmooth modifier - Iterations: 1.

Step 158

Create another Line and Convert it into Editable Poly. Delete the polygons on the ends, and apply an Extrude with a negative Height on the selected polygons.

Step 159

Apply a Chamfer on the edges and then add a Turbosmooth - Iterations: 2.

Step 160

Go to the back handle (step 80) and create a Cylinder with the same radius as the hole in the handle. Delete the bottom polygon of the cylinder and on the top polygon, apply an Inset, a Bevel and an Inset again. Finally apply a Chamfer on the edges and then a Turbosmooth - Iterations: 2.