Sten styled Sci-fi Weapon

#1

I’m planning to create a version of the WWII sten gun with a sci-fi twist. I will begin creating it using ZBrush (my first non-tutorial project using the software) and then possibly bring it into 3DS Max to retopologise it and lower the poly count significantly. My main intention for this project is to cement my knowledge of ZBrush that I’ve just learned, but I’d also like to create something original as I typically create objects as they would be in real life. I will be creating this as if it were for a game, but it could work as a still image just as well. I hope to post updates through the process from pre-production to the final product. If you have any ideas, critiques or any form of input I will gladly appreciate it.

To begin I have created a moodboard with images of a sten gun on the left and sci-fi images on the right which I plan to take influence from.

Here’s a few things I plan to change (apologies for the horrible scribble but I can’t draw)

If you’ve got any ideas of what else I can add to it let me know! Next post should have some progress on beginning the actual model.

#2

Just tried starting out in zbrush for the past 30 minutes and didn’t make much progress, I found that it doesn’t really seem to be appropriate for creating non-organic meshes - it’s quite clumsy when it comes to this. Stuff I could’ve done in less than 5 minutes in 3DS Max takes about 10-15 minutes with much less precision. I’m not surprised by this considering the main purpose of zbrush, just I’ve seen others use it for this purpose before and I’m having a hard time understanding why they would. I’ve been using the zmodeler brush, so maybe there’s something else people use - if anyone knows of a way I can make this type of modeling more comfortable/easier in zbrush let me know! Otherwise I’m going to move the beginning of this project across onto 3DS Max, perhaps later when there’s a substantial part of the mesh done I might bring it into zbrush.

#3

Completed some blocking out of the general shape of the gun.

#4

Added the stock which might be changed later on down the line, also decided to re-do the topology of the around the base beneath the barrel. Still need to fix smoothing groups and add in more details, but I’m beginning to change the sten and add in the sci-fi bits (note the laser tube). Any feedback or tips welcome!

#5

Just polished the model a lot more, fixed smoothing groups, added the scope and a few other details. Also currently going with the original stock, but I may re-design it if I think of something good. Things I have left to do as far as modeling goes is add the bullets and holes along the top of the barrel. Only thing I’m not sure of is the best way of going about attaching the area in the image below, if anyone has any suggestions, please share!

Progress on the rest below.

[img]http://i.gyazo.com/9c34d81de9f4cd8c90a3042e143095c6.png[/img]
[img]http://i.gyazo.com/386583acbe3e12012308b352cd132d7d.png[/img]
[img]http://i.gyazo.com/3224640a0aab1a1d38c0b7947bc51357.png[/img]
[img]http://i.gyazo.com/46a9970bcc61ff0ea629ec7ee69eb7a0.png[/img]
[img]http://i.gyazo.com/03ccce424582cab24dcd3bc40db1d854.png[/img]
[img]http://i.gyazo.com/02d1ed89216005f17c569180b7c8b942.png[/img]