US Marine in 3D

[ErikHallberg]

Hi, all!

I'm currently making a Marine in 3D as I am a big fan of the Corps. I was recomended by a former Marine on a 3D-forum that I'd use this forum to ensure accuracy in my modeling. He has been really helpful, but he feels that there are some things that he is not sure about.

I don't know how many of you know much about digital art, but it would be really great if some of you could answer any questions I might have along the way. Here's (http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?p=6760738#post6760738) a link to the 3D-thread.


So far I've done the helmet (though the head, chinstraps and goggles are not finished yet):

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/4835/mansoldierpix.png


I've begun to block out his pose. Never mind the "blockiness", think of him more loke a puppet to set the pose straight. He's clearing a room, going of searching the left side of it. I'd love any critique on the "accuracy" of it!

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/1999/pose2post.png

And I've also done some sculpting on his MTV:


http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/8581/mtvn.png


A new head and his rifle (an M16A4) is on it's way. But these things take time, so bare with me.


I'll fire away a few questions that I have right now:

Is the M9 the only pistol that a Marine would carry? And for it, would he/she use a leg holster for it? I'm wondering because I have good reference for a Glock18, but I could get reference for the M9 too, it would just be more work.

Besides these questions any other suggestions will be taken much into consideration!

Thank you! And Semper fi!

[gonzo4]

Wow that is very good. Yes the M9 is the only pistol a Marine will have. and it is up to the Marine where they want to carry it. I have a leg holster for my M9 but thats because anywhere else would be cumbersome with my camera. So its up to you. The MTV looks good too O and with his M4 remember "Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to fire."

[Apache]

you say now days they actually give a hoot what wepons you carry ?

[ErikHallberg]

Thank you for the quick reply! I'll be sure to create an M9 and a leg holster for him. More updates or question will come!

[ErikHallberg]

As a first additional question: is there any particular kind of holster that the Marine uses? Or is it "ok" for me to create this (http://airsoft-club.com/shop/tactical-gear/holster/drop-leg-holster/molle-drop-leg-platform-panelpistol-holster-coyote-brown) airsoft holster, which matches well with the MTV?

Thank you! :)

[gonzo4]

Yeah you can design w/e holster you want to use. We get them issued but we can use our own. As well as the sling for the M4.

[ErikHallberg]

Thank you! Your feedback really speeds up my research!

Here's an update on pose and gear. Everything is still only being blocket out to nail the final pose before going into any detail.

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/4831/pose3a.png



A few more questions:

I see all kinds of pockets being used in various pictures. Is it whith those as whith other Marine gear that the Marine himself desides what to use?

Friends have been asking if a Marine would clear a house whith an M203 mounted on his rifle. My answer would be that no one would dismount it just to clear a house, ergo he would still have it on. But the question has been raised by more than one of my friends, so I thought I'd just throw it out here.

Thank you!

[TheReservist]

simply, yes you clear a house with the 203 mounted

[ErikHallberg]

That's what I thought! Thanks for the quick reply!

[dhenderson88]

Gonzo did you deploy already?

[ErikHallberg]

Hi,

sorry for the lack of recent updates. I've been quite busy, but the updates will be more frequent from now on.

I've got another quick question: I've heard from everywhere that Marines get what the can be afforded to them at the time. And also that each Marine can get his own gear, as long as it is approved by the USMC. Now, I've created the ironsights for the M16, but I'd like a more "tactical" detail for it, such as an EOTECH. I know that EOTECHs are not issued, but can still be used if the marine buys it for himself. As I don't want to get rid of the rear ironsights (it took many long hours to model), i was wondering if it would be realistic for my 3d Marine to use both the ironsights and an EOTECH. I've seen this combo a few times, and I understand that it's not normal, but if it is at all "possible" I'll go with that sollution.

... I know it would have been easier to model the regular ACOG! ;)

[hussaf]

here's link to a pic of a really common drop down holster for the M9 click (http://www.blackhawk.com/product/Level-2-Tactical-SERPA-Holster,1173,1416.htm)

Some Marines carry .45 pistols, but very few.

I can't tell in the later pictures, but do you have a retention system for the goggles on homeboy's helmet? Usually it would run through the holes you already have; either zip ties or 550 cord.

Most guys just screw their NOD plate into the front of their helmet....and don't use the strap that goes over top. Not saying what you have isn't possible, that strap comes with the PVS-14's SL3 gear, just that I don't see it done that way often.

Looks great man, keep up the good work!

[hussaf]

...EOTECHs are definitely issued, though you see the RCO (ACOG) more often. Usually its what the armory has at the time, combined with personal preference. EOTECHs make it easier to acquire sight picture, while the RCO has a little magnification capability. EOTECH is definitely better for CQC, that's what it was designed for (bigger reticle, etc). Wish I could post non-hyperlinked pictures on here, would show you my team's guns...we have a mix of EOTECHs, ACOGs, pop-up iron sights, no iron sights, etc.

Oh, don't forget a PEQ-2 or PEQ-15 optic. Most guys have those mounted on a rail. Some kind of weapon light as well, whether its a Surefire M-900 (http://www.surefire.com/M900A-Vertical-Foregrip) or just a regular mounted light with pressure switch (http://www.surefire.com/M961XM07-with-Dual-Thumbscrew-Mount)

Please note, the linked picture from Surefire.com of the M900 (the one showing it mounted on a gun rail) is way too far forward. It would be near the middle of the rail.

Oh and a PEQ-15 is usually on the top rail, or outside, so as not to be interrupted by a weapon sling. The light would be on the bottom or a side not interrupting a weapons sling.

cheers.

[ErikHallberg]

Thanks alot! That information was really helpfull!

I will definetly make a PEQ-15! And a flashlight! But I also want an M203. And it's important that I keep the ironsights. On this M4 (I know it's an airsoft), they use both the ironsights and the PEQ-15, but there's no room for an M203 sight. I guess that wouldn't be a problem on an M16, right?

Just as a safety check: Can I go with ironsights, PEQ-15 (on top), flashlight (on the side) and an M203?

Thanks again!

[ErikHallberg]

Some more updates on the M16. Still lots of work to do. I'll wait with the PEG-15's, atleast for now. Next up will be the M203.

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/301/m16a4closeups.jpg (http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/301/m16a4closeups.jpg)
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/5455/wiresd.jpg (http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/5455/wiresd.jpg)

[ErikHallberg]

Hey!

Time for updates again, and also an important (!) question. First of the updates:

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/3572/poseupdate.jpg (http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/3572/poseupdate.jpg)


And then to the question. The way that the M203 is attached to the M16a4 is bugging me... I'm thinking that there might be a way to attach them when they're airsoft, and that way isn't really how it's ever done in real life. Here's an image to demonstrate what I mean:
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/3393/m203y.jpg (http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/3393/m203y.jpg)

When the real deal (as opposed to airsoft) is fitted the bottom half of the rail is removed. And when the airsoft M203 is attached it fits to the bottom rail. I don't know if this is always the case, so I'd love to hear how it really is. Hopefully the "airsoft way" is also done in real life, so that I don't have to remove a whole bunch of modeling that's already done... I'll be really thankful for an answer to this! And that way you won't have to see an airsoft rifle on the finished 3D Marine!

[ErikHallberg]

Here's an update of the M203. It's still a work in progress, though.

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5404/m16m203.jpg (http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5404/m16m203.jpg)

[ErikHallberg]

There has been a long time since I last updated anything here!

Here's the rifle as it currently looks. Hopefully it's fully possible for a marine to carry a rifle like this.

[Click the image for higher resolution picture]
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/6841/eotechupdate.jpg (http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/6841/eotechupdate.jpg)

And also here is the latest update for the pose:

http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/3572/poseupdate.jpg (http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/3572/poseupdate.jpg)

Any comments are most welcome!

[hussaf]

I'd get rid of the buttstock magpouch and the rear rail sights. Not sure what that thing is in front of the EOTECH....popup front sights? I'd move the sling retainer to either the left or right side...not underneath...to accomodate a two point sling (most people are using two-points these days). You probably want to put a PEQ on there as that is pretty standard these days....with that, most guys are not using the strap over the top of the kevlar for the NODs (PVS-14), they just use the srew in plate. Anyway, that's what I'm seeing. Looks pretty BA though, bro.

[ErikHallberg]

Thank you for the comment, man! I don't know if I've said it in this thread but I'm aiming more towards a marine from 2004. May I ask you why you don't like the buttstock pouch? The thing infront of the EOTech is the sights popup sights for the M203, is there something wrong about them?

I don't mean at all to come off as dissmissive of your comment, as I'm very thankful for it, but I'm doing thing as a demonstration of my skills in 3D modelling more than anything else. What I'm saying is that I'm not necessarily going for the most generic marine thinkable, but rather I would like to know what is possible for a marine to wear. As an example, giving him an MP5 would be "wrong", but making him co-witness his EOTech with his iron sights may not be common, but it is fully possible (I hope). Same thing goes for the strap for his PVS-14 - most people may not use it, but it is fully possible. Since making these in things in 3D takes many many long full days of work, I do not feel that I can throw them away just because they are not common in usage nowadays.

I'm still extremely thankful for information regarding what to make for him next, such as your comment on what sling to make! If I had known what I now know I would probably do it exactly as you suggest. Where were you a few months ago? ;)

Please, to not feel discouraged to make further comments! I just felt that I had to explain why I don't have the time to fix what you so rightly pointed out. Just don't think of him as a "generic" marine, but rather if him being a marine makes sense or not. If you read through all of this rambling, THANK YOU again!

[hussaf]

No worries, the detail in the individual pieces is looking great.