Machine Gun - Development Continued

 This week I aim to finish my machine gun so that I can start my other two models that will be in my animation. The parts on the machine gun that still need to completed are the wheels, extras i.e. handle, hinges and cannon balls. Once the model is complete I can move onto adding materials and lighting.

Wheels

I started by making a cylinder which I moved into position along the bottom beam, I then converted it editable poly mesh to align the sides with the rest of the frame. The shape was then mirrored to fit on the other side of the frame.

I then added the axle to hold the wheel in place, by making a small thin cylinder and adding height segments. Converting the cylinder to editable poly mesh meant I could highlight three segments of the cylinder, and then by using the non-uniform scale I reduced the size of one end and added a turbo smooth to make the axle. The shape was then mirrored to fit the cylinder on the other side of the frame.

Using the cylinder shape again I made the wheel, and then by adding a second thin cylinder slightly narrower but larger than the other, I made the outside of the wheel which I am going to apply a metal material to.

The next stage was to make the panels that attach the wheel to the axle. I made a thin rectangle and added a lot of segments so that I was able to bend the shape. I then converted the shape to editable poly mesh and selected one side of the shape, and then using the bend tool I pushed the shape in on itself to form a curve.    

Once the panels were made, I copied them eight times and positioned them inside the wheel

Completed wheel

Now that the wheel is complete I grouped all the shapes and copied the wheel to be moved across to the other side of the frame.

Now that I have completed my wheels, the model is almost complete; I will continue to finish the machine gun on my own free time.