Assignment Research and Self-Critique

Research


Initially, my only resources to make my model were the tutorial PDF files and videos provided in OLIVE, and also, my gun. However, I felt that the limited resources were not enough for me and hence I went online to a Maya FAMAS tutorial to reference on modelling a gun (although the tutorial showed how to model a rifle, I thought  that I still learnt something from it that can be implemented in my pistol modelling). The tutorial was especially helpful when it mentioned that vertexes are especially helpful in shaping a gun model. However, there were some parts that did not work well when I used vertexes. As a result, I had to use the face mode to do the shaping of the gun, although the results did not turn out as nicely compared to the usage of vertexes.

Model of a chain gun

This is a model of a chain gun. The tutorial of making this chain gun is somehow similar to the bucket exercise I did previously. Although I didn't learn much from this tutorial, I got some minor tips like being careful while modelling anything. Anything can seem easy but when it comes to modelling, it is really tough and requires intense, undivided attention.

Self-Critique

VS

                      Model                                                    Original


I think the final model of the gun is quite successful, except the fact that there were some details missing if compared between the original object and the final model. The left-out details proved to be too challenging for me and hence I left them out and concentrated on the easier details so that the gun model will not look so empty.

Secondly, another problem with my model will be that the scale did not turn out as I wanted it to be. This was because the reference image in my Maya turned out to be compressed at the length. Hence, the body of the gun turned out shorter and thicker compared to the original object.

I also could not find an appropriate rusty, bronze texture which I needed for my gun model. I ended up applying a normal bronze texture colour as a replacement.

However, there are also positive thoughts about my own model. Firstly, I think that I adapt quite fast when facing problems like the lack of details. I would concentrate more on the details that I added on so that the details will still look quite similar to the one on the original object as I am more concerned of the quality than the quantity of the details in the final model. I also think very positively of my final model because it looks much newer compared to the original which has rusted.

Assignment 1 Modelling and Texturing (Gun)

 Original object for the assignment.

Done with the basic shape of the gun, I'm planning to put in the minor details of the gun soon. I think the details of the gun will take me more time compared to shaping the model as I have the image reference here in this stage. Shaping the gun took me a few hours even though it looked easy at first. Much extruding and moving of the faces was needed in the process. The shape of the body had to be as accurate as possible and I had the scale and move the faces and vertex of the polygonal cube around to get the satisfactory shape. The trigger and the handle was completed with the Create Polygon Tool which made it quite easy for me to make them. The only hard part was that if I made a mistake in tracing the handle or trigger, I had to restart tracing these parts from square one.

Made some progress with the minor details that I needed to add in. The minor details  which looked easy to do were in fact difficult without reference and I had to estimate the positions of these details by looking at the real object. The two details added in took me two whole hours to complete because if it looked unsatisfactory, I would re-do the details all over again. The hole behind is basically made by creating a polygonal cube and putting it where I wanted the hole to be, then using the Boolean -> Difference tool to create the hole. The detail near the gun barrel is made by scaling, moving and extruding the faces involved. I had a small problem before which was that the Split Polygon tool didn't work for me. Hence I had to use the Edge Ring tool to aid in making the part which I wanted to extrude. It took me a longer time compared to if I was to use the Split Polygon tool.

Up to this part, the details are more or less done, apart for some details that are really hard for me to make. I had to make these details as accurate as possible so that it will look like the original object. This part of the detail only requires me to split the polygon and extrude the targeted faces. However, scaling was the hardest as I only have the real object as my reference at this point of time.

Perspective view of final model

Side view of final model

Texturing is done at this point. Using bronze for almost the entire model with exception of the handle which should be orange. I also used the blinn material as the gun is initially shiny. Using the lambert material will cause the gun to actually look as if it is made out of wood and this will not be a closer replica compared to using blinn. The orange handle is made of lambert material as it has a non-reflective surface compared to the body and barrel of the gun. I referred to the tutorial video provided for us but it turned out a little difficult for me to follow up with my gun model and hence I just inserted the bronze texture face by face.