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ExtraNoise — XM-8 Assault Rifle
Published: 2006-02-22 05:15:14 +0000 UTC; Views: 3846; Favourites: 39; Downloads: 475
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Description
I actually modeled this a few months ago, after an interview I had with Zombie Studios in Seattle, WA. During the interview Mark Long, the CEO, asked how long I would estimate it would take me to model an object like an M-16 Assault Rifle. My response was "around one week". After the interview, and during the week I had off before I found out what their decision was, I actually put myself up to the challenge of modeling a military rifle.I picked the XM-8 because, as the US Army's newest assault rifle (to replace the M-16), it was extremely difficult to find reference pictures and was a challenge. Using what photos I had of current production models (had plenty of prototype photos, which didn't help a whole lot other than for dimension), and using what information I could find on the rifle at the time, I modeled the basic "Assault Rifle" configuration as it has several configurations as a modular weapon.
The model itself has less than 2,000 polygons, uses 1024x1024 diffusion, bump, and specularity maps, and has dynamic parts (triggers, magazine release, safety, etc.) with pivot points correctly set. This model was created from scratch and took around 20 hours (2.5 days) of work from start to finish.
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Comments: 15
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This is a pretty sturdy model, I feel your pain with the lack of solid reference, a few times during my project ive settled for close enough as anythign short of buying the airsoft version is close to pointless.
Looks sweet man.
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You are quite good at modelling. I am currently working on a collaboration with [link] and I need a 3d modeler. Note me for more details if you're interested.
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Ah, it's a shame that the XM8 was scrapped...Sigh...
Great 3d model. The scope turned out really well, I think.
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I was wondering if you can convert it as a poser model.
I have an XM8 poder model but unfortunately, it does not have a right-side ejector port.
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very nice model
missing the XM-8 logo stamped on the side, and the parts seem to melted to the weapon. maybe if you added some texture so they popped out a little bit more *( for instance the hand guard, seems like its just painted onto the weapon rather a detachable segment like it is )
as for some small footnotes:
XM8 isn't the armies new weapon, its not replacing anything yet. it hasn't been adopted by any branch of the service. it was goin great until the marines, air force, and navy decided they want one too. so it had to get pushed back so it could be adjusted to be a military rifle and not just an army rifle
you can tell its still just a expirimental prototype because its title starts with "x". all military rifles that have been adopted and fielded start with "m" ( M16, M249, M2, MK19, M136, etc etc )
alternatively, another fun little name trick is the A# at the end of some weapons ( M16A2 for instance ) which means that there was an upgrade from the orriginal model and a similiar rifle with improvements was put into production and released. the orriginal is A1, the upgrades are A2, A3, A4, A5, etc etc
just some fun little facts
what'd you use to model it?
p.s: from the looks of it the optic is a little short on the rail and if i remember from the video i watched theres supposed to be little holes or something in the front carrying handle that has a housing for simple tools used to completely dissasemble the weapon... or somethin like that
[link] maybe you're right afterall
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Thanks for the comments, fi4hi3!
I understand it's still in an expierimental stage. The last I heard, though, is that it was going into Army use at the beginning of December - I hadn't heard that the AF, Navy and Marines were wanting varients of the weapon, as well - so that's all news to me. 
I used 3DS Max 5.0, for modeling.
I tried to make the gun to scale as much as possible, and even used a varient of the link you included as a left-side reference photo during modeling.
Also, I modeled it modularly, which you can see in this link:
[link]
Again, thanks for the wonderful critique!
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now, i noticed in your model the bottom of the barrel is split
i'm thinking something as new and advanced as the XM8 must use a flash compensator instead of a flash surpressor. it just doesn't make any sense to do it the other way around now days...
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Ooooooh.
*squint*
I see no issues. Great job Rick! *thumbsup*
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Nice overall, I see some poly errors here and there and some smoothing could help though.
Why only 2k btw? kind of low.
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Oh, and where are the poly errors? I worked hard (or easy, depending on how you look at it 
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Maybe there arn't, I think its the smoothing btw.
Thats what I meant really.
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The hard poly lines was done on purpose so that you could actually see the polys. Do you think I should just render it as it would appear?
And for the purposes of what Zombie was doing, I didn't want to exceed 2,000 overall. I think, that, for most next-gen games a weapon with 4,000 polys is pretty standard nowadays.
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Yeah 4k is about that, or 3.5k for the hl2 mods.
Get as many renders as you can mate, always happy to see good 3D artists work.
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