by Didik Wijaya

Let's create weapon for our Gundam RX-78-2 model . In this tutorial you will create beam rifle. This is not a difficult tutorial. I'm sure you will be able to follow this tutorial easily. Compared to other Gundam modeling tutorial: Gundam RX-78-2 Modeling: Head tutorial,.Gundam RX-78-2 Modeling: Body tutorial, Gundam RX-78-2 Modeling: Arm tutorial, or Gundam RX-78-2 Modeling: Leg tutorial, this tutorial is just a piece of cake. But, it's fun!

This is what you are going to create:

1. To follow this tutorial, you need to download 3dsmax file (3dsmax ver 8, zipped). This file contains plane mapped with blueprint image. Start by creating closed spline (rifle outline) based on blueprint in Left viewport. Use Initial Type=Corner and Drag Type=Corner. Create also small rectangle spline inside bigger spline. That means you have 2 splines. You have to follow exactly example in image below. Notice that some vertices (from number 1 to 4) must be available.

Select one spline. Go to Modify tab. In Geometry rollout, click Attach button. Click another spline to combine. After that, look at vertex #1 coordinate position. Jot down Z coordinate value. Then select vertex # 2. Enter previous coordinate value into Z Coordinate. Repeat with other vertices (#3 and #4). All 4 vertices should now have the same height level.

2. Turn off all sub-object selection. Apply Extrude with Amount=10. You'll get nice 3D basic shape of rifle

3. Convert object into Editable Poly. Activate Edge selection. In Edit Geometry rollout, click Cut button. Activate 3D Snap Toggle. Cut from vertex #1 to #2. Right click to finish cutting. Also cut from vertex #3 to #4. Repeat the same process with 4 vertices in other side. When finished, turn off 3D Snap Toggle.

4. Change to Vertex selection. Select all vertices on top of object (look at image below). In Front viewport, use Select and Uniform Scale tool to narrow the distance by dragging along X axis.

5. Let's create a sight, small devide for aiming. Activate Polygon selection. (1) Select 2 polygons on top of object (look at image below). (2) Apply Extrude. (3). Change to Edge selection. Select 4 edges like image below. In Edit Edges rollout, click Settings button right next to Connect. In opened dialog box, enter Segments=4. The results is there are 4 connecting edges created in each of extruded polygon. (4) Change to Vertex selection. In Front viewport, select vertices like image below using region selection. Then move these vertices down a little bit.

6. Next, you will create a hand grip. Create closed spline like image below. Again, use Initial Type=Corner and Drag Type=Corner. Apply Bevel modifier. In Bevel Values, activate Level 2 and 3. Use parameters like image below.

7. Now, let's pull the trigger! Create open spline like left image below. Just 2 segments. Open Modify tab. Activate Vertex selection. Select one vertex at the corner (red dot). In Edit Geometry rollout, increase Fillet value until you have round corner.

8. Next, you are going to create trigger guard. Select hand grip object. Covert into Editable Poly. Select one polygon like image below. In Edit Polygons rollout, click Settings button right next to Extrude Along Spline. Click Pick Spline button and choose spline you've created before. Activate Align to face normal. Use Segments=6. Click OK. Next, you need to change to Vertex selection and modify vertices position in Left viewport. Rotate and movewhen necessary.

9. Activate Polygon selection. Select 2 polygons like image below. Use Inset and Extrude. Then in Left viewport, modify vertices position like right image below. The trigger is finished.

10. Let's create another detail. Create closed spline like image below. Apply Bevel modifier to this spline. Use parameters like previous Bevel modifier.

11. Convert beveled object into Editable Poly. Activate Polygon selection. Select one polygon at top. Use Inset. Don't deselect anything yet. In Top viewport, move selected polygon down, so it's close to one side. Then apply Extrude. Watch blueprint to see how much extrusion needed.

Gundam RX-78-2 Modeling: Rifle Part 1 | Part 2

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