[WIP] Sidearm thingy

[MMFSdjw]

Alright.
I've always liked the design of the plasma pistol so that's the basic insperation for this.
http://www.wku.edu/~wilkidj/concept/sidearm_concept_a.jpg

The lower portion is the barrel, the ammo/powercell thing-a-ma-whatchdoogie is at the very top.

If anything needs to be clarified, let me know.

So tell me what's good, tell me what's bad & tell me what needs to be better!

[Rentafence]

It would make more sense if you flipped it upside dwon

[Chainsy]

Hmm.. Its a good start, but build off of it and create something more original that branches way off from the plasma pistol design.

[Con]

Looks odd all upside down like that.

[Pooky]

How the hell are you supposed to aim it... there's no sightline and it's upside down :S

[SnaFuBAR]

inventive approach.

[MMFSdjw]

hmm... I get the feeling noone likes the upside down thing.

i'll rethink it a bit.

[Zeph]

How the hell are you supposed to aim it... there's no sightline and it's upside down :S

Such a human way of thinking. Kinda lazy too. just because you dont have a easily learned sight picture available close to your face doesn't mean it's impossible to aim something.

[DaneO'Roo]

Dude, Thats awesome. Reminds me of a gun i designed once, I love the idea of holding it upside down from the handle with a palm trigger to squeeze, really nice looking design too.

But thats me.

Awesome.

Maybe as a way to improve, somehow attatch the overhanging lip of the handle to the barrel area, just for coolness.

[Bad Waffle]

hmm... I get the feeling noone likes the upside down thing.

i'll rethink it a bit.

No you wont, its perfect how it is.


How the hell are you supposed to aim it... there's no sightline and it's upside down :S

Like zeph said, stop being such a damn unevolved human.

[MMFSdjw]

ok, spent some time roughing it out, trying to settle on the proportion.

Obviously some things are missing.
Thoughts?
http://www.wku.edu/~wilkidj/concept/sidearm_model_c.jpg
http://www.wku.edu/~wilkidj/concept/sidearm_model_c1.jpg

[Chainsy]

Make bottom piece longer.

[Sel]

Personally I think it looks less like a full gun, and more like part of one.

If you added more onto it that might turn out very nicely.

[MMFSdjw]

Well originaly is was longer, but I shortened it because I wanted the overall appearance of it to be smaller.
In fact looking at it now I want to make the bottom section even smaller.
I want it to look like a small elegant weapon, one that's almost more for show than combat.

Does that make sense?

[ICEE]

I don't much care for the "upside down" design, but i think you can pull it off by adding something to the top. A laser pointer or ammo counter or something interesting up there might do the trick.

[Rentafence]

Turn the top into some sort of battery pack

[MMFSdjw]

yeah there will definatly be some sort of ammo gauge on top of the clip/battery that i have not yet made.

[TeeKup]

Make it sound like Link Gun from UT3 then you'll be in business.

[NuggetWarmer]

I think it'd look better if you held it differently. I like the upside-down idea, but wouldn't it look cooler if it was held sideways? Like, have a sight on the side of it so you could actually aim. Also, switch the part where the trigger is... it just seems easier to shoot that way.
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u27/foxymccloud/pewpew.jpg
Ignore the "pew pew pew" I was just being silly. Lul

[MMFSdjw]

I think you might be on to something there with the "pew pew"

I've never really cared for the whole sideways thing mostly because the difference between holding a gun horizontal or vertical is very small. If I put a sight on it it would be on the top thing, next to the clip.

Speaking of which, here is the clip
I'm not happy with the round things comeing out the front of it but I think you get the idea of what I'm shooting for.
It's often diffucult to translate the images in my head into something logical and pretty in 3d.
http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v335/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34772344_4366.jpg
http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v335/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34772345_4707.jpg

[Corndogman]

I think it looks really cool, a really original idea. I also like your rendering style, It looks nice.

Also nugget, Wouldn't it put more strain on the hand/wrist holding it with the palm facing down, than with the thumb pointing upwards?

[NuggetWarmer]

I don't think so... Gangsters(gangstas) hold guns the wrong way all the time and they seem to be doing fine. :V

[SnaFuBAR]

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v335/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34772344_4366.jpg
http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v335/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34772345_4707.jpg
I look at these two images and think of the way an AK's magazine is put into the receiver. The front contacts first and gets rocked back into the receiver. I think this could benefit from a similar style, only in reverse, back contacts first then rocks forward into place. With it coming out straight up, it just seems a bit too power tool-ish. Speaking of power tools, you may want to also check out the way batteries are secured and apply a similar style.

All in all, this is coming out wonderfully so far. Keep up your efforts and good work.

[MMFSdjw]

exelent idea, thanks.

[Roostervier]

I don't really like how the barrel is down below, but the modeling looks excellent. Keep up the good work, +rep man.

[MMFSdjw]

Alright, redid the top part and I'm much happier, what do yall think?
It's supposed to be transparent. I spend some time playing with the material to make it look like it has some depth to it but nothing really successful yet.
http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v335/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34775246_5926.jpg
http://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v335/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34775247_6272.jpg

Also, for those of call comlimenting the rendering, I discovered it only looks good from one side, and that makes me sad. :(
Also, inside that little crevace I cut out will be a button of some sort, like a safety or clip release.
http://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v335/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34775975_6989.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v335/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34775976_7329.jpg

[Malloy]

hmm looks kinda plain at the back, mb some heat emitting vents?

[Apoc4lypse]

inventive approach.

this.

Also all the complaints of how it would be aimed can be shot down if you say that you use the top of the gun (not the actual barrel) as the sight, the sight would be lined up so that even though the projectiles come from beneath the gun they still hit where the sight is pointing.

I think its very creative, I like it, it seems like itd be cool if it was fully automatic and would look amazing if someone dual wielded it. Almost like an inhuman remake of the smg's from halo 2.

It really reminds me of the plasma pistol/rifle, but more uh I guess more rough, or something.

It seems like it would sort of resemble an uzi, except it would fire plasma projectiles not very accurate but with a high ROF. (would be more accurate the slower you shot it though.)

E: Oh wow, had no idea there was 3 pages, give me a second, I'll make some comments on the model (all the above I just typed was on the concept drawing lolz.)

hmm... the model looks nice so far, but its definately missing something on the top, you need to make it obvious that there is some type of a sight on the top, other wise the gun will look like its ratardely being held upside down on an accident, you need to make something on the top that sort of makes it look like it was built to be held that way, as for the clip, it looks good, but like I said try to design some sort of sight that is obvious looking so it looks right. Right now it jus looks like there is too much detail on the bottom part of the gun vs the top. I also might want to suggest the part where the handle of the gun transitions to the top section/clip/sight of the gun, try to make that transition better.

In your concept drawing you really don't see that spot, but I think it would benefit from having a smoother transition then what you modeled.

Another thing you might want to consider is, the part where the "handle/grip" is for removing the clip, not that but underneath that, if you compare your model to the concept, the concept makes it seem like its less round, theres a (not sure if this would be the right word to use but...) contour line, thats sort of missing from your model thats present in the concept drawing, and I think it would look nicer with that in the model.

Idk keep working on it though, it looks nice so far. I love the bottom of it, but the top needs to look like the top of the gun even tho the barrels on the bottom. (some sort of sight to indentify it). Edit: Or, or you could do something really radical with the trigger, that way you know its meant to be held that way.

[Malloy]

handle grip detail would be nice

[Apoc4lypse]

I do have one more thing to add that concerns me when it comes to the current design with it being held upside down.

Theres nothing to counter the recoil, the recoil is going to be much more obvious due to the new placement of the barrel, and right now theres nothing to really help counter the recoil, like, instead of the recoil pushing the gun up slowly, it seems like it would try to fire downwards, which isn't very good when it comes to being practical...

One idea is you could have some type of counter weight by making the top of the gun extend back a little further maybe.

[MMFSdjw]

Thanks Apoc. I think I know what you mean about the contour line.
Right now I've done practiacly nothing with the grip, it's nothing but a box with meshsmooth and FFD x4 thingy. Simply for the purpose of size & proportion. It's not even an editably poly yet, still just a primative.

I had thought about the recoil but I hoped that would simply go unnoticed! lol

Right now I'm thinking some of these problems would be aided by making the top section larger, closer to the size of the bottom section.

the sight is a bit more tricky, I'll have to play with that a bit.

[TeeKup]

Random idea.

Make a rifle version, give it a charge shot, make the charge shot sound like Lugia's aeroblast.
YY64Hnhf8RM

[jngrow]

The upside down thing wouldn't bother me as much if it was attached to an arm or something, semi-mega man style. But it's your weapon, do what you want with it. Looks great so far.

[DaneO'Roo]

http://img292.imageshack.us/my.php?image=n41113111347759756989vo0.jpghttp://img292.imageshack.us/img292/5593/n41113111347759756989vo0.jpg

Nevermind the rest of my sketch, just the handle area. Maybe, I dunno.

The gun would make sense as some kind of covenant flamethrower, looks really fitting.

Also, I'd like to skin that thing when it's finished, if you don't mind of course. I just really like where you going with this. Awesome concept.

[MMFSdjw]

that's a wonderful sketch, and it gives me some ideas for some details to add however, that handle look horribly uncomfertable. It does look very nice, but also very painful.

I adjusted the size/position of stuff and I think it looks a bit more ballanced now.
I've got some ideas for the clip/sight area but so far my attempts at modling it have failed. but I'm working on it.
http://photos-111.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v335/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34780583_7328.jpg
http://photos-111.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v335/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34780584_7689.jpg

[Hunter]

I am loving that sketch Dane, MMFSdjw you should really try and model Dane's sketch, then it would look amazing, especially with Danes skins.

[SnaFuBAR]

you know instead of having that shape on the grip, you could throw it in front of the fingers like it would be a trigger guard.

[MMFSdjw]

trigger guard... hmmm... I think I understand what you're saying.
If I understood you correctly, I've been thinking about something similar to that the whole way through I just haven't been able to nail anythign down yet.

[Pooky]

Such a human way of thinking. Kinda lazy too. just because you dont have a easily learned sight picture available close to your face doesn't mean it's impossible to aim something.

Assuming it's for humans to use, a human, intuitive design would probably be a good thing :downs:

[Apoc4lypse]

I love danes concept, its sort of how I was trying to imagine the handle looking too. I don't think it looks that painfull to hold, except maybe you need to leave out some of the jagged spots from his concept, like the whole front/trigger area looks amazing, the back area with the pointy things don't make sense tho if someones hand is going to wrap around it, just change those and its good.

Also not to sure about it being a flamethrower... I still see it as the answer to a covenant submachine gun style weapon thats actually on par with the human weapons. (The plasma pistol is an ok weapons, not as strong as the pistol obviously, and less ranged) The Plasma Rifle is almost as good at the assualt rifle (talking halo 1 here, forget the rest of em...) The needlers sort of in its own group... not that gr8 of a weapon.

All the covi weapons from halo 1 never had a real defined "lead" weapon. It was supposed to be the plasma rifle, which is tru in Campiagn, then again in Campaign the human lead weapon is the Assualt Rifle. Once you play multiplayer though, the covis don't really have a lead weapon, and the human backbone weapon almost always becomes the pistol.

This thing can kind of fill that void I think.

Or maybe its not covinent at all, and its from some other alien race.

Either way it looks like it would be utilized the same way an UZI is, fast ROF, accurate for the first few shots (slow shooting) then slowly less accurate the longer you hold the trigger (as the ROF speeds up).

[DaneO'Roo]

that's a wonderful sketch, and it gives me some ideas for some details to add however, that handle look horribly uncomfertable. It does look very nice, but also very painful.

I adjusted the size/position of stuff and I think it looks a bit more ballanced now.
I've got some ideas for the clip/sight area but so far my attempts at modling it have failed. but I'm working on it.
http://photos-111.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v335/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34780583_7328.jpg
http://photos-111.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v335/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34780584_7689.jpg

I think the shape of the handle you have as is is OK, but just needs more detail. I'm more concerned mainly about how it meets into the bottom and the top of the gun. It's just too sudden and wrecks the flow of the design. Looks like a twisty rectangle got shoved straight through it.

[MMFSdjw]

Looks like a twisty rectangle got shoved straight through it.
Yeah, that's because that's exactly what it is. I've done nothing to it yet, it's not even an editably poly, still a primative with a couple modifiers.

And it's not ment to be covi or anything from halo at all, just random scifi.
It's a last resport kind of weapon, not overly powerful, decently accurate, most likely worn by royal guard types who are highly public and who rarely see heavy combat, even when they do, they would use better weapons before useing this one.

[rossmum]

Love the upside-down layout and the design in general, other than Dane's grip complaint I don't see any problems with it.

[MMFSdjw]

Alright, finaly started working on the grip. inspired by Dane's sketch.
Also continuing to adkjust the proportions.
umm... there was somthing else I was going to say but I forgot what it was =/
http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v335/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34789436_117.jpg
http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v335/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34789437_452.jpg

[Malloy]

orsumn!... doesnt look entirely influenced by Dano's sketch though.

looks rather delicious atm man.

[MMFSdjw]

orsumn!... doesnt look entirely influenced by Dano's sketch though.

Yeah, it's more like Danes sketch inspired the idea then it evolved as I started modeling it. lol

[MMFSdjw]

I've added the ammo gauge and trigger.
Thoughts?
http://photos-111.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v318/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34794288_8022.jpg
http://photos-111.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v318/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34794289_8398.jpg

[Malloy]

looks nice, but what the heck, i just checked this 5 minutes ago and no one else has posted, did you delete then repost this update?

[rossmum]

Looking good.

[MMFSdjw]

looks nice, but what the heck, i just checked this 5 minutes ago and no one else has posted, did you delete then repost this update?

nope. Don't know what's going on there.

[DaneO'Roo]

Dude, that looks MUCH better. Great job :)

[MMFSdjw]

Thanks!
more
http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v318/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34796137_7563.jpg
http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v318/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34796138_7892.jpg

[TeeKup]

This weapon is approaching maximum awesomeness. Although the rear seems a bit bland.

[MMFSdjw]

update.
i'm not entirly happy with the stuff ont he back at the bottom but it's getting closer to what I want.
the grip is a bit of a chalenge, cause i always have diffuculty finding a balance between what looks good and what looks comfertable to hold.
any suggestions would be appriciated.
http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v335/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34803050_6001.jpg
http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v335/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34803051_6359.jpg

[edit] threw it into mudbox for the fun of it.
added some texturing to the grip. what do yall think?
http://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v335/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34803103_4323.jpg

[SnaFuBAR]

keep the smiley face or you will lose automatically lol

[The_Wraith]

I'm not going to lie, the sketch and early model had me worried but it looks fucking damn sexy. I hope you are going to do something with this or give it out because I hate for it to collect dust in some model folder.

[MMFSdjw]

To get this in halo or pretty much aynthing would require some serious optimazation (or however you spell that word).

Though I must admit I do like the idea of Dane skinning it.

One thing I need yalls help on. I've got this space at the back
I want to put some kind of serial number or something here but I'm not very knolegeable on weapon identification numbers. So I ask yall, what should go here?
http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v335/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34805003_1670.jpg

[BobtheGreatII]

l33t?

Lol, I don't really know tbh. But the model does look really good. Great job with it.

[Apoc4lypse]

definately some sort of alien symbols... no serial numbers, thats a human thing.

I still feel like its missing a sight... lol.

I love it tho.

E: or maybe jus make it a laser sight, I like the sound of a green laser (inspired from the grip on the front of the clip.)

[rossmum]

Yeah, stick with alien symbols.

[Heathen]

Ingame ftw. Give this to someone that would use it in something epic.

[Bad Waffle]

heh, new HRH plasma pistol? har har.

[nick3d]

Looks awsome.:D

[Heathen]

Thats actually what I was thinking WOL but you arent adding any new guns. I was thinking you could take it.

[Bad Waffle]

im not ADDING new guns, but it could take the place of the PP. it looks pretty similar to the reimagining of covenant weapons i had in mind.

[Hunter]

Would you be able to add some sort of stun affect for the charged projectile on vehicles?

Also if you use this weapon for the PP you best be making it home in on the target a bit. Like the Halo 3 PP.

Oh and would you use a Carbine in the map?

[Heathen]

Carbine ftl.

The charge thing ftw.

I know that if you have cheat_omnipotent 1 on, when you shoot a vehicle it dies. Could that be used?

[MMFSdjw]

Alrighty, so I finaly got back to work on this. I'm not concerned about the contest but if i don't finish it by oct then I'll never finish it.
http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v318/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34862512_6675.jpg
http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v318/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34862513_7032.jpg
http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v318/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34862514_7360.jpg
http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v318/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34862515_7697.jpg
http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v318/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34862516_8023.jpg

[edit] and bumpmaps are fun
http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v318/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34862552_455.jpg

[Kalub]

Spackled sheet rock handle?! YOU FIEND



I still think it needs something in the upper half. Compared to the bottom it seems bland.

[Con]

IMO you have two different design styles going on. The top and the handle are very sleek and sexy and smooth with tightly fitting seams/joints. The bottom of the gun looks totally different though with it's overlapping plated pieces and patterned "barrel". The bottom has harsh corners and edges, loose seams, and pattern. The back of the bottom stands out especially; it looks like the back of the M6D. I think it would look a lot more well polished and professional if it all matched up. Really, all you would have to do on the bottom is join the plates, smooth their corners and edges, blend them into the main body of the gun, and deal with the patterns. From there it's just fixing some details.

Sorry to mention this so late, it would have been more helpful when you started. It didn't really cross my mind at that time.

[SnaFuBAR]

works like varying lineweights in graphic design and concept sketches. there's no need to change it and the accusation is completely invalid.

[Kalub]

Just add something to the top, balance the detail out.

[Chainsy]

I actually think it makes sense, smooth and seamless on the upper part where you can hold it and grip it easily, and has nice, thick plating on the bottom half to protect it against damage from fighting and dropping it.

[Kalub]

Yea, but it looks like two pieces of equipment molded together, I still say it needs to be balanced out.

[MMFSdjw]

I agree that it need balancing, and looking at it now i've got some ideas. So i'll play around with it a bit, thanks!

[Apoc4lypse]

looks smexy, I love the stamped symbols you added to the back, good work, but keep messin with it, soon it'll be perfect.

[Hunter]

The top does seem a bit bland.

Make it cool like the bottom. :D Add some metal plates or something, then make it nice and shiny blue colour like the Plasma Rifle from Halo 3.

Shiny ftw :P

[MMFSdjw]

I'll shine you!

.. wait.. what?

anyway...

made some changes, yall tell me, good or bad?
http://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v335/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34876679_7000.jpg

[Mass]

I like the changes for the most part, but I would suggest that you do something to balance out the vertical energy that those new grooves are creating, the top doesn't look as sleek and appears taller and chunkier with the addition. Perhaps orient the grooves horizontally or add some thin plate above the current ones to diffuse their impact.

[Hunter]

I don't like how the handle connects to the bottom part. Make the bottom of the handle similar to the drawing Dane did for you.

[Heathen]

I srsly love everything about this thing.

[Corndogman]

I agree with Hunter, It looks like the handle is really skinny at the bottom and is just sitting on top of the bottom part. The handle doesn't really flow into the bottom part well. I think it looks ok like it is now, but it might look better the way Dane drew it.

[Apoc4lypse]

actually... I think the handle flows just fine into the bottom part, but the practicality of it getting skinnier doesnt make sense since its the main section holding the barrel (w/e u'd call it in this case) of the gun to the handle/trigger. Needs to appear stronger imo.

I also agree, I like the new top additions, but it needs something else still on the top like was stated.

Other than that, its approaching Maximum :awesome:

So yeah, who gets to texture this thing? Don't think were gonna let you get away with making an amazing new gun then not put it ingame. ;-p

Nice work man.

E: actually I think u could get away with leaving the top the way it is now, its really up to you at this point, the question is are you happy with how it looks. This is what my art teacher from highschool always used to put me through, but I think thats just because she knew I'd tend to be hard on my self and don't like to leave something alone if it bothers me in anyway. (basically I'll keep adding/gettin rid of stuff until I die or it looks "right" to me).

[Hunter]

I think Dane said he wanted to texture it.

[Tweek]

have fun unwrapping it in a way thats actually USABLE

[MMFSdjw]

Part of it still don't feel "right" to me but alot of me wishes this was a phisical clay model so I wouldn't be limited by poly flow & all these other little things.
But I am increasingly happy with it.

And I make no promises about a lowpoly version or a textured version, cause even with as much as I like that idea, there are other projects that are of higher priority.

so, with that said... pics
http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v348/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34889424_3607.jpg
http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v348/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34889425_3954.jpg
http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v348/30/120/41113111/n41113111_34889426_4267.jpg

[edit]Yeah tweek, I wouldn't even try to unwrap this, I'd make a lower poly version and uv that if I ever got around to it that is.

[thehoodedsmack]

Winner of sexiest gun '08.

[jngrow]

From a certain angle, it looks like an awesome Megaman arm cannon of sorts.

[Hunter]

I still think its the bottom of the handle....

[MMFSdjw]

Ok, well since it's the 1st now I'll declare this done and here's some final renders

http://www.wku.edu/~wilkidj/concept/sidearm_model_final1.jpg

http://www.wku.edu/~wilkidj/concept/sidearm_model_final2.jpg

http://www.wku.edu/~wilkidj/concept/sidearm_model_final3.jpg

http://www.wku.edu/~wilkidj/concept/sidearm_model_final4.jpg

http://www.wku.edu/~wilkidj/concept/sidearm_model_final5.jpg

[NuggetWarmer]

Hot.

[Pooky]

I really didn't like this design at first, but I have to say it's turned out quite good.