SMC M#01 - MikeLockett - Legendary Weapon - Battle Axe

[MikeLockett]

Very cool challenge. Had trouble deciding what to do, may have to do a couple more

Anyway, this is my Albion Battle Axe. Modeled in Maya, 72 mins. Rendered with Mental Ray. Photoshopped the engravings and put them in the bump.

[penguins]

Very nice. Love the overall shape. The handle is amazing. How did you ever do that weaving pattern if you don't mind me asking?

[Geri0n]

I was gonna ask the same thing.

[gnome]

The grip is amazing indeed, but the haft and head are just as nice. I like the pattern on the blade.

[pables]

Very nice and clean model! I was another one who was gonna ask how you did the hilt/handle with that leather straps crossed...

[MikeLockett]

Thanks penguins, Geri0n and Gnome for the positive feedback. Sorry about the delay in replying, i think threedy are experiencing some problems with their database? I can't seem to upload images right now.

I've redone the woven handle and saved screen grabs for you guys to show you how i did it. I'll try and upload the images again later. Hang tight.

[zipel]

It looks great, can't wait to see how did you make the handle! I'd just add dirt and blood, it looks (too)perfect now

[MikeLockett]

Thanks Zipel. Yeah blood would definitely be cool!

Okay, still having issues trying to upload images. I've put in links to the images.

It's relatively simple, hope this helps:

1. Create long thin cube with a lot of sections in the length.
2. Select every second section's verts.
3. Raise the selected verts.
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...ockett/1-3.jpg

4. Duplicate the cube and offset with a slight gap.
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...lockett/04.jpg

5. Offset every second cube by one section.
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...lockett/05.jpg

6. Combine and duplicate cubes, rotate 90 degrees.
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...lockett/06.jpg

Now we have the basic weave. At this point the cubes might not line up. This is because the width of one cube and the space between them is not a perfect square. If this is the case it just needs to be scaled to fit.

7. Rotate 45 degrees, cut surfaces and delete unwanted faces to make a sqaure.
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...lockett/07.jpg

8. Finally I apply a bend deformer to it and curve it around till the ends touch and then merge the verts.
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...lockett/08.jpg

[pables]

Wow. Great explanation! Thank you very much! You made it to seem easy!

[MikeLockett]

Thanks Pables, glad i could be a help!

Almost done with a warhammer. Will hopefully be posting it in a bit.

[bgen]

cool axe - i love the tribal thing on the blade.
and also cheers for the small insight - how u made the grip.

[MikeLockett]

Thanks bgen, digging your blade too.

Finished a warhammer. Modeling time 78mins. Same process and lighting as the battle axe.

Still can't upload

Here are the links:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...mer_beauty.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...ammer_clay.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...mmer_wires.jpg

[bgen]

cheers MikeLocket, man i totally dig that warhammer.
that would be sooooooooooooo my weapon of choice if we lived in medevil times.
i find the beauty render a little to dark for my taste.verdict = ace hammer, i would buy it in an instance.

[MikeLockett]

Yeah, they were badass, straight through the top of any helmet.

Think you're right about the render, could be a bit lighter. The render always looks different on my screens, one is darker, the other is desaturated!

[MikeLockett]

I little update, added a strip of metal to the warhammer and rendered it a bit lighter. Also painted a bit of blood in photoshop. Think I'll do the same to the battle axe.

I've drawn up a design for one last weapon. Will have to do that tomorrow.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...er_beauty2.jpg