2019 art-a-week 1-6

This years new-years resolution was to put up one "art" a week
Week 6, and I'm still on track

Atompunk Pistol Blueprints

I just found out that Fusion 360 lets you generate blueprints easily, so here's a preview of my next 3D printed prop project

Christmas decorations the digital artist way

This Christmas, I decided to sculpt and print something for the tree.

ZBrush render

Studio Photographs

"Arty" Photographs

Planes 'n Things Christmas 2018

Planes n' Things 2018

Since the end of the year is approaching, here's a selection of stuff from this year's tumblr feeds

1:350 Scale Boat base

I got asked by a friend who's into making scale models of warships and the like if I could make a base model from some photographs (since the ship in question definitely doesn't have a model kit available)

All I had to go on for dimensions was that the wheel house was 2m tall.

Block out

(When your source images have wildly different focal lengths, your image plane placement can get a little eccentric)

After creasing, subdividing and generally detailing, it was off to the SLA printer

1:3 scale Smart Rifle

Another experiment to try and learn Fusion360 - I just started 3Doodling around and ended up with a sci-fi rifle

My initial plan was to print it out full size as a prop, so I started by printing the hand grip, to make sure that
a)  I was at the correct scale, and
b)  It wasn't cripplingly uncomfortable to hold

First print - slightly too small
Second print - slightly too large
Third print - the size was right, but the end result was NOT comfortable to hold - the gap between the trigger finger & the other fingers was too big, the separate finger groves were uncomfortable, and the thumb hole was awkward.

left to right - too small, too big, right scale but uncomfortable

At this point, I went back to Fusion360 and redesigned the grip section.  I also decided to try printing out a 1:3 scale version, before I decided if I wanted to commit to printing a full-sized prop.

one DIY model kit - instructions not included

After plenty of sanding, to fix my mistakes (don't leave uncured prints in IPA too long - they swell up and wont fit together without some... persuasion), I was able to glue the prints together

After filling the gaps, and sanding the filler, (repeat as necessary, it was time to prime and paint)

Colour choice was mainly dictated by the red and grey spray cans I had lying around - a decision that in retrospect may have been a mistake (the paint added a pretty hefty texture, and didn't adhere well to the silver undercoat).  As a result, I heavily weathered the finished piece to try and hide the crimes

 

Final details were added by hand, using a paintbrush