Weapons are the main thing I love modelling, and I figured that since I've spent quite a bit of time testing different techniques learning how to make them, I'd make a pretty extensive tutorial on sword making. I'll give 2 or 3 examples of different types of guards, blades, grips and pommels and you can refine the technique to your own liking and make different variations yourself.
This will assume that you know the basics of wings. The instructions will also assume that you have the crossguard running along the X axis and the blade running along the Z axis.
Part I: Cross/Guard
This is generally what I start with when making a sword, so it's where I'll begin the tutorial.
a.) I generally start with a cube, scale>uniform down to 10%, then scale it on the X axis to the desired length.
b.) For the first cross, first, we'll select the 4 edges that run the length of the guard, then divide it into 3 parts, connecting the vertices.
c.) Second, we'll again select the 4 edges that run the length of the cross, but not the ones in the middle of the 3 sections. again, divide them into 3 sections and connect the vertices.
d.) With these same edges selected, scale>uniform to 60%.
e.) Select the face on both ends of the cross. extrude region>normal>.07
f.) With the same faces still selected, scale>Uniform>60%
There's a basic cross to learn with. Here's one more example of a slightly more advanced cross.
a.) Start with a cube, scale>uniform to 10%, scale>X to desired length. now, scale on the Y axis to 55%.
b.) Repeat step b from the first crossguard.
c.) Select all the edges that run the length of the guard, divide them all into 3 parts and connect the vertices.
d.) Select the 3 edges closest to each end of the cross. move>Z>-.05 (or .05, depending on which side of Z you are moving on.)
e.) Select the middle edge only out of both groups. Move>Z>-.03 (or .03..)
f.) Select the same 6 edges you had selected in step d, press L for a edge loop. Now, Scale>Y>75%.
g.) select the same 2 edges as in step e, Scale>Y>80%
and there you have 2 examples of crossguards to start your sword from. Next come a few examples of grips.
Part II: Grip
By this point, you should have a cross that is divided into 3 or more parts in the bottom. So, I will illustrate making the grip from a basic rectangle divided into 3 parts, to represent the cross.
a.) First, select the face in the middle, on the bottom of the cross, where the grip should be coming from. Extrude region>Z>0.1.
b.) With the same face still selected, scale>X>50%
c.) again, with the same face still selected, Extrude Region>Z to the desired length. my example is a one handed grip, so a two-handed grip would naturally be longer.
d.) select the 4 edges that run the length og the grip. press "C" this will cut the grip in half and connect the vertices.
e.) Once more select the bottom face of the grip. Scale>X>60% This gives a "tapered" effect to the grip.
So there you have a fairly simple grip. Now I'll go on to a more complicated grip.
a.) Repeat steps a and b from the first grip.
b.) Select the 4 edges around the grip. press 3 to cut all the edges into 3 parts. Connect the vertices to make an octagon. This isn't simple, you'll probably have to do it one corner at a time.
c.) Now, Extrude Region>Z> to desired length. This is for a two-handed sword. Scale>Unicorm>70%
d.) Select the 8 edges that run the length of the grip. press 3 then "C" to divide it into 3 parts.
e.) Now, once again, select the the edges that run the length of the grip (not the ones that go around it) and press 7, then "C". You should know why by this point.
f.) select every third edge that goes around the grip. Press "L" to create an Edge Loop with all of them. Now Scale>Uniform>120%.
And there you have a fairly nice grip.
I will add pommels and blades within the next few days
enjoy.
This will assume that you know the basics of wings. The instructions will also assume that you have the crossguard running along the X axis and the blade running along the Z axis.
Part I: Cross/Guard
This is generally what I start with when making a sword, so it's where I'll begin the tutorial.
a.) I generally start with a cube, scale>uniform down to 10%, then scale it on the X axis to the desired length.
b.) For the first cross, first, we'll select the 4 edges that run the length of the guard, then divide it into 3 parts, connecting the vertices.
c.) Second, we'll again select the 4 edges that run the length of the cross, but not the ones in the middle of the 3 sections. again, divide them into 3 sections and connect the vertices.
d.) With these same edges selected, scale>uniform to 60%.
e.) Select the face on both ends of the cross. extrude region>normal>.07
f.) With the same faces still selected, scale>Uniform>60%
There's a basic cross to learn with. Here's one more example of a slightly more advanced cross.
a.) Start with a cube, scale>uniform to 10%, scale>X to desired length. now, scale on the Y axis to 55%.
b.) Repeat step b from the first crossguard.
c.) Select all the edges that run the length of the guard, divide them all into 3 parts and connect the vertices.
d.) Select the 3 edges closest to each end of the cross. move>Z>-.05 (or .05, depending on which side of Z you are moving on.)
e.) Select the middle edge only out of both groups. Move>Z>-.03 (or .03..)
f.) Select the same 6 edges you had selected in step d, press L for a edge loop. Now, Scale>Y>75%.
g.) select the same 2 edges as in step e, Scale>Y>80%
and there you have 2 examples of crossguards to start your sword from. Next come a few examples of grips.
Part II: Grip
By this point, you should have a cross that is divided into 3 or more parts in the bottom. So, I will illustrate making the grip from a basic rectangle divided into 3 parts, to represent the cross.
a.) First, select the face in the middle, on the bottom of the cross, where the grip should be coming from. Extrude region>Z>0.1.
b.) With the same face still selected, scale>X>50%
c.) again, with the same face still selected, Extrude Region>Z to the desired length. my example is a one handed grip, so a two-handed grip would naturally be longer.
d.) select the 4 edges that run the length og the grip. press "C" this will cut the grip in half and connect the vertices.
e.) Once more select the bottom face of the grip. Scale>X>60% This gives a "tapered" effect to the grip.
So there you have a fairly simple grip. Now I'll go on to a more complicated grip.
a.) Repeat steps a and b from the first grip.
b.) Select the 4 edges around the grip. press 3 to cut all the edges into 3 parts. Connect the vertices to make an octagon. This isn't simple, you'll probably have to do it one corner at a time.
c.) Now, Extrude Region>Z> to desired length. This is for a two-handed sword. Scale>Unicorm>70%
d.) Select the 8 edges that run the length of the grip. press 3 then "C" to divide it into 3 parts.
e.) Now, once again, select the the edges that run the length of the grip (not the ones that go around it) and press 7, then "C". You should know why by this point.
f.) select every third edge that goes around the grip. Press "L" to create an Edge Loop with all of them. Now Scale>Uniform>120%.
And there you have a fairly nice grip.
I will add pommels and blades within the next few days
enjoy.
