Short Sword, with a twist!
polycounter lvl 12
What I have here is a sword with some steam punk inspired stuff to make it all cool and hip.
I looked at some steam punk stuff and decided that my short sword wasn't hip enough for the kids these days, so I decided to add a device, like a radiator, that heats the blade.
This is what I have for now..
A handle, hilt is some sort of rubbery stuff holding the blade to the handle, and the radiator system, powered by some sort of steam/gas/water device internally.
Need more inspiration so I opened up this thread, also didn't want to keep cluttering the WAYWO thread.
I am super open to advice at this point because my mana is running low. I would like to make a low poly/game version, but I really want to just "finish" the model rather than thinking ahead... it kills me everything.
Also, is there a easy way to make a ring/weld type thing for the pipes? They looks really weird just coming out of the canister..
I looked at some steam punk stuff and decided that my short sword wasn't hip enough for the kids these days, so I decided to add a device, like a radiator, that heats the blade.
This is what I have for now..
A handle, hilt is some sort of rubbery stuff holding the blade to the handle, and the radiator system, powered by some sort of steam/gas/water device internally.
Need more inspiration so I opened up this thread, also didn't want to keep cluttering the WAYWO thread.
I am super open to advice at this point because my mana is running low. I would like to make a low poly/game version, but I really want to just "finish" the model rather than thinking ahead... it kills me everything.
Also, is there a easy way to make a ring/weld type thing for the pipes? They looks really weird just coming out of the canister..
Replies
And I have to say, right now the design looks fatally flawed. The greatest source of heat on the weapon is going to be right next to the hands of the user. Whoever uses this sword is going to get burned a long time before their enemy.
I would move the steam tank up onto the base of the blade (it'll transfer more heat to the sword as well) and model a guard out of some type of non-heat-conductive material to go between the wielder's hands and the tank.
Also the gas could be HHO, soo it's cool to the touch :P. Oh and I can't move it up more because then it'll get stuck when I'm slicking a guys head off, ya know?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxyhydrogen
I stand corrected. You learn something new everyday.
As for modeling the washers to follow the contour of the tank, I would model them normally, position it over the pipe, then use the Align tool (in 3ds Max) to get the angle right to the surface, then set turn on Snaps with the Face option checked and snap the bottom vertices of washer to the side of the tank. A little cumbersome I know.
But wouldn't the pipes be welded on anyway? There are curved washers, but not, that I know of, curved nuts. So if you wanted to go the nut and washer route, at least all you would have to worry about would be curving the washers - the rest would be pretty straight forward.
I don't have anything actually helpfull to contribute... sorry.
I like your ideas Builder_Anthony, but it's a bit too sci-fi for this type of thing I think, wicked ideas though man!
Looks like it's from Fallot konstruct, always wicked stuff from those guys!
I kind of like the look of having an external tank, was always in my mind you know? I think you might be right though Slash, I gotta move this tank on top.
For ScudzAlmighty and Neelem:
Alright... back to work, boys! I think I gotta add that grip all along the handle, or basically where the hand meets the handle.
Should not have started working on the model at this hour... I should go to bed it's almost 2am...
Find something that looks cool/functional and draw inpiration from that. or draw it up or find concept art that makes sense... starting in 3d without doing any idiation at all is a bad move chief. Good luck though.
Edit: Oh I see what you're all on about now and I agree. Slight misunderstanding on my part due to language(use of certain words).
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=steampunk+weapon
just saying "it's steampunk, so it's ok" is like using "STYLIZED" to explain why a persons concept art doesn't have any god damn feet
Either way, if you like the concept that's cool... i'm only suggesting that people do a bit of research and sketching before jumping into a 3d model...
imagine holding this and trying to cut someone with the blade... unless you're holding it by the canister you'd never be able to swing it effectively. This means you'd probably be better served having the canister/fuel mechanism attached to the front of the blade. But, if you're a warrior on the go, you probably don't have a shit load of ways to refill the fuel can that's in the front, so you might need to attach it to something that is attached to the character holding the sword via a tube of some kind and put a valve on the sword... but if it were me, i wouldn't attach my flame thrower or whatever to my blade, but instead have a seperate weapon that was a flame thrower instead. These two weapons individually would be more effective.
I'm just sayin'. It could be cool, it just happens to not be for a few small reasons that are easily fixed IMO.
*** edit *** yes, i do see that the canister is on the side now... still just sayin'
Then if you make a character to go with this, just make a nifty coal ammo bag to hang on their belt. and the user would probably need a cool heat resistant glove! Just another cool thing to make with it.
heres a crude sketchup of what I mean.
The tank is floating in my picture.. so worthless.
I like your Idea
You know what? I'm getting some sexy ideas, soo look forward to a new design tonight eh.
post a bunch of sketches/ideas. after a while of sketching and taking feedback on the ideas on paper, you'll start to naturally progress towards good solid design quicker and then the creativity can really start to flow.
The most important thing is that you take comments/feedback very well. Most artists have a difficult time getting past the initial emotial response of someone having a problem with their work... for that i say "cheers!"
Keep it up! sketch sketch sketch
I think I get what you're going for is the same sort of aesthetic as a flaming sword, without the magic ya?
.. so suggestion: why not put the tank on the pommel as a counterweight to a heavy blade out front, then run piping from the tank through the handle, along the back edge of the blade, and at regular intervals through the blade itself, ending with outlets on the blade edge. The piping could be ornamented like lace, vines, or plant branches in brass, adding to the overall steampunk aesthetic while maintaining the idea of a heated or firebreathing sword. You could even integrate a valve release button into the hilt of the sword to be thumb activated at a moments notice, or add in a valve somewhere if you want longer on/off periods.
The pipes from the tank would radiate heat to the blade much easier if they were actually in contact with the flat surface of the blade and running most of its length. Off to the side, like they are now, is pretty wasteful from a mechanical standpoint, with a large percentage of heat being dissipated into the air rather than going into the blade.
And I'd figure that regardless of fuel source or type used, the inventor of this thing would want a small portable tank to be as fuel efficient as possible.
I'm looking forward to seeing this new design you're cooking up. The current design frankly just looks awkward.
This is what I have. I made the tank smaller as well, moved the pipe closer to the blade and added reinforcement, also added a "basket" type deal for the tank to easily replace the setup, if it breaks. Still have to add some details and stuff but I'm going to read all the new posts now.
Thanks for the kind words Jessica Dinh, and also for your advice nfrrtycmplx. If I don't read the criticism and feedback from Polycount I wont ever learn anything. The people here are all amazing in one way or the other, not taking their advice would mean that I'm an idiot, ahah.
Wow Vailias, awesome ideas dude! I love the lace/vine idea but I'm having a hard time trying to imagine it, not too sure what you mean. I also like your valve release idea, I'm definitely going to implement that somehow, along with adding a on/off button on the pommel so that the character can hit a mob on the head to activate the heating device to pwn further.
I think we were sub consciously thinking on the same brain wave length LateWhiteRabbit. Scared? I am.
While I was uploading I also adding some bolts and screws to the piece that holds the tank.
I also started unwrapping, see how that goes.
I think it needs more detail on the tank and the hilt however.
Hey Cyreal, I'm using Max and that render was the result of a sky portal light and mental ray, I messed around with the mental ray light shader option of the light and it came out pretty good eh? You could probably use a point light and get the same result, maybe even a better one.
SnaFuBAR, I dig your ideas man, I'll try to change things around when I'm done texturing and stuff, it's just that I started doing it and don't really wanna jump back to moving stuff around. The canister isn't as heavy as you think, the blade itself would be the heaviest thing, then the handle, then canister.
So this is what I got now, 2 more pieces left then I'm going to try some texturing... yayyyyyy
What's the polycount?
I dig the alterations you've made to the design and I'm looking forward to seeing it finished
I also felt like tuning in and admire your render setup! Very nice :poly136:
Hey ErichWK, I did add some of the details, I`ll show you all the small stuff on the update to come
Not looking to make a normal map or anything, I always have bad results with it so I`ll just focus on modeling and diffuse and specular textures for this one.
I'm taking another approach on this, going to power up the old scheme designer and pick a good color palate. After than I'm going to start mucking about with the texture again.