Creating A Futuristic Weapon In Maya - Modeling And Adding Additional Details

In the second part of the Creating A Futuristic Weapon In Maya series, we'll continue working towards the completion of the model by building and detailing some of the additional parts, using poly modeling techniques.

Additional Files/ Plugins:

Download Reference Image

Step 1

With the base model almost complete, we now have to give the model detail. With the help of the Split Polygon Tool (Edit Mesh>Split Polygon Tool), create a mesh according to the model.

Cgtuts Free Tutorial Modeling A Futuristic Weapon In Autodesk Maya

Step 2

Select some faces and then extrude them a bit outward as shown in the figure below.

Step 3

By extruding the bottom edges, cover the bottom part.

Step 4

At the center of the gun, insert eight edge loops to make four thick lines as shown below.

Step 5

Then select their outer faces and extrude them a bit outward as shown in the image.

Step 6

Now insert four more edge loops to create two grip rectangles.

Step 7

Go to the Perspective view, select those two faces and extrude them inward by going to Edit Mesh>Extrude.

Step 8

Now we have to make two circle shapes at the end. Choose the Split Polygon Tool by going to Edit Mesh>Split Polygon Tool, and create two circles on the mesh according to the reference.

Step 9

Then create inner circles with the help of the Split Polygon Tool once again as shown in the figure below.

Step 10

Select the faces of the outer and inner circles (excluding the center faces) and extrude them outward.

Step 11

Now select the center edges of the extruded faces and move them outward as shown.

Step 12

Go to Edit Mesh>Split Polygon Tool and create another circle on the mesh as shown in the figure.

Step 13

Then make it perfect by adjusting the vertices and inserting edge loops as shown below.

Step 14

Go to the Perspective view and select the inside faces of the circle, and then extrude them inward.

Step 15

Now we have to create the upper part according to our reference. In the front view, create a Cylinder as shown in the figure.

Step 16

First of all, just Delete the back faces of the Cylinder and then select the center faces and extrude them backward.

Step 17

After that, also delete those center faces and extrude a part of the shape from the right side as shown in the figure below.

Step 18

Remember to Delete the back faces.

Step 19

Create another Cylinder and Delete it's back faces as well.

Step 20

Go to Edit Mesh>Insert Edge Loop Tool and insert five edge loops as you can see in the figure.

Step 21

Except the first three edges, select the rest of the faces in a circular way and extrude them inward as shown.

Step 22

Select the second edge loop from the front, and move it a little bit outward. Then select the faces of the two middle circles and move them outward.

Step 23

Select a face at the top and extrude it backward.

Step 24

By using of the Split Polygon Tool, create five squares.

Step 25

Go to the Perspective view and extrude the borders of all five squares.

Step 26

Select the center faces of all five squares and move them backward as shown.

Step 27

Now create five Spheres and place them inside those five squares.

Step 28

Now with the help of the Split Polygon Tool, let’s do some detailing in the center part.

Step 29

Select the faces of the border and the inner rectangle, and extrude them out.

Step 30

Now let’s create the gun's Grenade Launcher pipe. In the front view, create a Cylinder horizontally and insert four edge loops vertically.

Step 31

Go to the Perspective view and select all the faces (except the last loop of faces) and then extrude them inward as shown.

Step 32

Repeat the same procedure two more times.

Step 33

Select the front faces of the gun and extrude them backward. Also delete the back faces.

Step 34

Now let’s create the Laser Fire pipe. In the Front view, create a Cylinder horizontally and then insert three edge loops and modify them as shown in the figure below.

Step 35

Select the front faces and the first face loop of the cylinder and extrude them inward.

Step 36

Go to the Perspective view, select the border edge on the backside of the cylinder, and extrude it backward.

Step 37

Select the front side faces and extrude them inward.

Step 38

Select two faces from second and fourth loop of faces, and extrude them outward.

Step 39

Perform some more extrusions on the mesh as shown in the figure.

Step 40

Let's make the Bullet Fire pipe now. In the front view, create a Cylinder horizontally and insert Six edge loops vertically as shown.

Step 41

Go to the Perspective view, select the front and first two edge loops of faces and then extrude them inside.

Step 42

From the Front view, select the 3rd and 4th edge loops from back and Scale them inside. Also scale the first edge loop according to the reference.

Step 43

Select the front faces and extrude them backward, then delete those faces and the back faces at the other end of the cylinder. Also do it on the Grenade Launcher and Laser Fire Pipe.

Step 44

In the Front view, create a Cylinder horizontally, insert two edge loops vertically and scale them from the left side in the front view.

Step 45

Go to the Perspective view, and select a face on the front. Firstly Extrude the face inward and then Extrude it backward.

Step 46

Extrude inward one more time and then extrude it outward as shown.

Step 47

Now we have to create holes for the Grenade Launcher Pipe, the Laser Fire Pipe and the Bullet Fire Pipe. Go to the Perspective view, choose the Split Polygon Tool (Edit Mesh>Split Polygon Tool) and create a circular shape according to the Grenade Launcher Pipe.

Step 48

Similarly, using the Split Polygon Tool, create the mesh topology according to the position of the Laser Fire Pipe and the Bullet Fire Pipe.

Step 49

Delete the inner faces and then extrude the borders.

Step 50

Go to Edit>Duplicate Special, and make a copy on the opposite side.

Step 51

If you look at the final preview of the gun, you will find some metal designs which can’t be seen in the reference image. Therefore, we will create them here to match the final image of the model. Take the Split Polygon Tool and create a polygon according to final model or as shown in the figure below.

Step 52

Again with the help of the Split Polygon Tool, complete all the loops.

Step 53

Insert three edge loops and extrude them from the top and left side.

Step 54

Select the border edge and extrude it backward.

Step 55

Extrude a little bit more according to the models shape.

Step 56

Now we have to complete an incomplete work. Select the biggest part of the gun and move it outside temporarily. Select some edges and extrude them as shown in the figure.

Step 57

Then complete the loops from bottom and merge every two vertices, by going to Edit Mesh>Merge.

Step 58

Now select some more faces and extrude them as shown in the figure below.

Step 59

Go to Edit Mesh>Merge and merge the vertices wherever you need and then complete the shape from the bottom.

Step 60

Go to the Front view, take the Create Polygon Tool and create an arrow shape as shown in the figure.

Step 61

Again complete all the loops with the help of the Split Polygon Tool.

Step 62

One thing to remember is that we do not have to smooth this arrow; therefore we will not insert any supporting edges.

Step 63

There are two arrows on the model, so copy this arrow and place it where the other one is as shown.

Step 64

Let's go to near the “trigger” of the gun. As we can see there is a metal belt, so now we have to make that. Using the Create Polygon Tool, create a rectangle and insert seven edge loops.

Step 65

Select the bottom edge and move it a little bit backward and then extrude it backward two times.

Step 66

Select the border and extrude.

Step 67

Select three face loops and extrude them as shown in the figure.

Step 68

Delete these faces from both sides.

Step 69

Now we have to create space for screws. So, insert six edge loops vertically.

Step 70

Select the four faces where we will place the screws and delete them. Then select the borders and extrude them backward.

Step 71

To make screws, take the Create Polygon Tool and create a circular polygon. Also create loops on it like a screw.

Step 72

Select the right and left side faces (excluding middle strip of faces) and extrude them outward.

Step 73

Select the border edge and extrude it backward. So the screw is ready now.

Step 74

Position the screw in it's relevant place, and then make some copies and place them as you want.

Step 75

Now we have to create the part which we can call the telescope stand. Go to the Front view, choose the Create Polygon Tool and create a shape according to your model or as shown in the figure below.

Step 76

Create loops by using the Split Polygon Tool.

Step 77

Then go to the Perspective view and select the border. Firstly extrude it backward a little bit, then deselect the leg edges and extrude backward again.

Step 78

Select the five faces on the top and extrude them up. After that modify it in the Front view to match the model reference.

Step 79

Insert two edge loops as can be seen in the left image below. Then select the four faces on top except the first and last face and extrude again.

Step 80

Insert an edge loop from the top. Then select the four vertices at the back and move them down, as shown on the right side of the image below. That concludes part two of the tutorial! We will complete the rest of the modeling in the next part of the series.