Hey man. I used zbrush for sculpting, maya for modeling, mari for texturing face, substance painter for hardsurface and fabric materials. Rendered in Arnold 5.
Hardsurface model I did for a class and textured him up in Substance Painter. Check this link out if you want to see the breakdown video! https://vimeo.com/305875932 Concept art by Wim Houben. Heres my artstation! https://www.artstation.com/iliittschwager
Here's a assault rifle design I've done in 3D-Coat over the weekend. Still not completely finalized. I've recorded the entire process and now putting together a free video on hardsurface voxel modelling in 3DC.
Taking way to long on hardsurface stuff because I over "perfectionist" it and concepting items, im not a concept artist so when I have to invent someone of my own it can be a real bitch ha
https://polycount.com/discussion/168610/3ds-max-zbrush-proboolean-dynamesh-hardsurface-workflow-tutorial/p1 How Boolean modeling factors into your Zbrush workflow
You just went up my buddy list. (plasticine is a bitch compared to sculpey, and hardsurfaces are quite well to make when you get the hang of it, do it!)
Check out Tim Bergholz' tutorials: https://gumroad.com/timb He has one on rendering weapons in Toolbag. "Ultimate Hardsurface Weapon Tutorial Marmoset Renders"