Workshop #3 - danshewan

danshewan

A late start, but since I'm determined to improve, better late than never.

Even though I'm not a TF2 player, I'm going for the Axtinguisher from Team Fortress 2. I've decided to base my model around this concept art, as I don't really like the rear of the axe-head of the in-game model:




About an hour into the project:




Obviously it's early days, but I'm not too happy with the topology of the front part of the axe head - I'll have to work on how the blade gradually slims down from the main body towards the defined blade area.



Also not sure about the base of the handle - all I did was inset the polygon at the base of the cylinder, and began pulling verts down to give me those sharp, jagged edges, but that's left me with an ngon I'll have to tidy up.




Crits welcome - I seriously need to improve, so be brutal.

SyncViewS

Hi, I'd go for something like this topology-wise. The most important thing in my opinion is to preserve clean edge loops where the surface makes sudden (hard) changes. Keeping it quads isn't a must, but won't hurt. This is the starting point to add more edges to define surface where needed.

danshewan

Yeah, I wasn't happy with the old axe head, so I remodeled it. So far, much cleaner and easier to manage the gradual change in the thickness of the blade:



Working on adjusting the thickness now - thanks very much for the feedback.

Nistrum

if you look at what sync has done he manages to get the edges flowing much better by joiining that bottom face to the edge of the axe.. and if you look at the concept it actually has a "hard" (ish) edge there too.. it would probably make life a little easyer to do the same... small comment though ill grant you onwards i say!! :P

shevegen

hehe brutal and bloody
wondering if the edge could appear sharper though

danshewan

Been busy with other stuff. Preliminary ZBrush sculpt:





Not too happy with the surface texture of the head right now - if anyone has any suggestions for alphas or techniques for detailing metal surfaces, bring 'em on. Slightly happier with the wooden texture of the handle and the canvas straps of the grip, but still working on most surfaces.

Thanks for any suggestions / C&C.

danshewan

More detail on the wood and blade:

Ged

I think you need to refine the edge where the plade starts/ the planes of the axe head, know what I mean?

danshewan

Ged wrote: »

I think you need to refine the edge where the plade starts/ the planes of the axe head, know what I mean?

The edge where the head meets the handle, and the two broadest sides of the head, right?

Jaco

Here's a quick paintover, define these planes first and then worry about the little surface details.