Modelling a gun in 3D Studio Max and Milkshape

Ok, here's a technique that shows you how to model a gun using two programs; 3D Studio Max + Milkshape. For this tut we will make a STEYR AUG.

1. Open up 3ds Max (I am using 7.0). Click on FRONT view, hit Alt+B. Press FILES and load the AUG image that you saved on your comp, and select these options:



2. Hit OK. Your STEYR AUG image should be loaded in the front view. Zoom into the handle. Click on LINES tab on the right panel (), hit LINE and tick SMOOTH. Now, start making the handle for the STEYR AUG. Be careful, and take your time. To make it smooth, drag it out with left click. Also, do NOT map the trigger. This is what I have so far:



3. Now, go to Modify tab (right above the line tab). Select EXTRUDE, and in the Extrude area, make it 12.0.

OPTIONAL: If it doesn't look *reallistic* enough, right click on your line, then go to "Convert to Editable Poly". Select all the lines using this tool by the right menu: Then hit the box right next to the words "Chamfer", and a box will pop up. Enter 0.9 in this box.



NOTE: You can go higher than that for more detail, but for Deus Ex, 0.9 will do.

4. Now do half of the body of the Steyr AUG, repeating Steps 2-3. Make sure it aligns with the handle.



5. Do the rest of the body, including the stock.



HINT: Don't worry if some parts are misalligned or are not connecting, we will fix those bugs in MS3D later on.

6. Now do the clip. Instead of extruding 12, make it about 11 or 11.5



7. Now do the front part of the gun that connects to the barrel. Also do the grip.



8. Now do the trigger, bolt & scope attachments. NOTE: Do not do the scope yet. Extrude the trigger about 3.00, and bolt 3.00, also move the bolt so it protrudes out of the gun. Also, scope attachments should be about 5.00 and move it near the middle of the gun.



9. Alright, now save this as a .max file for backups, and export it as a .3ds file. NOTE: This is the beginning of the Milkshape stage. If you do not have Milkshape/Do not wish to use it, you can edit your gun in 3ds max but I prefer Milkshape. Click on File > Save As, and save it. Then click on File > Export and export it as a .3ds.

10. We are done with 3ds max. Open up Milkshape, go to File >> Import >> Autodesk .3DS and import the file.



11. OPTIONAL: You may want to rotate the image so in the Top Right menu, it is profile view. I find this easier to work with.



Also, you may want to scale it down, as right now, it's HUGE in Milkshape. Scale it down so it's about the same size as the yellow & blue axis.



Also, notice that in the top left view, it's not fat. You may want to make it thin after you scale it down.

12. Now, zoom in the profile view. Move around the parts until it is generally all connected (example: move the handle & trigger up a bit).



13. Now, make a cylinder, approximately big enough for the scope attachments to handle. This is going to be your scope. Study the image that I provided, and make it look like the scope in the image.



14. Now, save it if you have to. Go to Extended Primitives > Chamfer > Tube. Scale it down, make it long and put it on the barrel. Add a cylinder, make it smaller & scale it, and add it in the middle of the tube, repeat again but add it at the tip (but not so it obscures the emptyness of it.)



15. Almost done! If you notice any weird bugs, shapes or placements, nows a good time to fix it. This gun might be a little fat, so I made it a bit skinnier & added some cylinders on the scope.



16- OPTIONAL: You can select a lot of groups and label them as ONE group; for example, Clip, Gun, Trigger and Scope is what I did. You probably want to do save before you do this if you haven't already, as MS3D tends to crash.

Alrighty, you're done! This gun might be a bit too high poly for DX however, but this tutorial shows you some basics on how to model. For future reference, if you do not want high poly guns, do not use the Chamfer option in 3ds max.

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