Status Update -16/12

G'Day all and a Happy Holidays to you all.

So, this'll likely be the last post of the year - Christmas is fast approaching and with it, time off work. There's exciting stuff on the horizon and I've gotta talk about it, so let's do.

Bren L4

Right, L4 Bren. We're going with the L4A3/A5 model, because mostly luck of a coin. Not doing the A2/A4, wasn't asked for more than 1 variant. I'd actually started this project in 2021 back in 3DS Max by starting the process of adapting from a long-stagnant Mk1m that I had, however, I'm moving all my workflows to Blender now, as much as I can. So, after languishing that geo for another year while I finished off the Johnson and SCARs, I brought across what I thought was salvageable in to B3D and hit delete on everything that was a lost cause. This included the intricate and tedious  receiver casting.

Above - L4 as imported from 3DS max. "and now most of this is gone", I say, as I press delete and make a gesture over my shoulder at the same time. 

So, to my sheer amazement, Not only is blender is just overall more convenient to work with, and free, with the addition of Hard Ops (,or HOps, as I'm referring to it for the rest fo foreve,r) I'm finding it's actually much faster to work with and iterate on. How much faster? Picture above is an estimated work weeks' worth of actual hours put in.
Below - Here is what 3 work-days gets you. Lighter coloured pieces are the bits done solely in blender.

So, it's faster, and HOpslets you do some cool shit like use marked edges for multiple purposes, and by that I mean I can make a hard shading seam, that seam can be use to delineate islands in the UV maps, and use them also as bevel/chamfer edges when we get around to needing to bake a High-poly model down. It's been a while since I've felt so versatile. Genuinely.

So that's basically what I started last week. This week we've been nothing in details, and the thing that's been slowing me down is serious blindspots in my reference material. For example, that magazine well- there is just a dearth of images of the inside, which is somewhat of a problem specifically for the L4, because all of the L4s are conversions with reamed out profiles, and additional plates, and such.

At this point I guess I'll skip to where we're at now with it - So the receiver's almost done as a symmetrical object- all the pieces, cuts and bevels to it that are on both sides are now finished, and next step is filling out the right-hand side, adding bolts and drilled holes, and then moving onto the FCG and barrel.
Below - Current progress shots. If you'd like to see more (or more detail), check out This Imgur Album 

Milspec AR15s/AR15 Project Improvement 

So, I said in the last post I'd get back to you all about what's going to happen. So, here it is - I've kind of got an outline of what feel I want hit, and while the list might seem long, it really only comes down to a limited set of uppers and lowers (some that are variations on the theme, not complete new builds) and then handful of furniture parts.
Standby for a whooole lotta names, numbers and notes.
So looking at whole guns(By Colt Model #) - 

• (603) XM16E1
• (603 Also) M16A1
• (609) XM177E1
• (629) XM177E2
• (653) M16A1 Carbine
• (645) M16A2
• (646) M16A3
• (723) M16A2 Carbine
• (727) Government Carbine
• (723/727) Delta Carbines
• (733) Commando
• (720) M4 (plus upgraded)
• (715*) C7/A1/2
• (725*) C8/A1/2/SFW/CQB
• (921) M4A1/SOPMOD
• (---) M4a1 SOPMOD Block 2
• (933) Mk18/M4 CQBR
• (945) M16A4
• (---) Mk12
• (---) WWSD 2017- Stretch Goal

*- Forked Numbering system, applies to only original C7/C8
You'll notice there's rifles in there that already exist in NIArms - I'm ditching them for new builds.
From there, I've done a breakdown on individual major component groups
Notes- Parts noted with question marks belong to stretch goals and optional things to considerlater
Uppers

• A1
• A1E1 (C7/C8)
• A2
• A4/Flat Top
• A1
• (?? Aero Precision No Forward Assist ??)

FSPs

• A1
• A2
• A4 (F-marked)
• (?? MWI Low profile Gas Block ??)
• OPSInc Flip up

Lowers

• Semi-Fence
• Full-Fence A1
• A2/A4
• (?? KP15 ??)

Stocks

• CAR15 (aluminium coated w/ Vinyl acetate)
• CAR15- Late (Fiberlite)
• Modern Carbine (Polymer)
• A1
• A2

Fore-Ends

• Carbine Thin
• Carbine M4-Profile
• A2
• A1
• KAC M5 RAS 
• KAC M4 RIS
• KAC Free-float Rifle RAS (Mk12 Mod1)
• (?? DD Mk18 ??)
• DD Block2 SOPMOD FSP
• (?? DD Block2 SOPMOD ??)
• TRIAD clamp-on rail
• M203 Heatshield
• (?? URGI BIG MAYBE ??)
• PRI Carbon-fibre Free-float (Rifle + Carbine)
• (?? Faxon 13 inch Carbon Fibre MLok ??)

Muzzle Devices

• A2 Bircage - DONE
• A1 Birdcage
• A1 3-prong
• XM177E1/E2 Moderators
• OPS Inc Brake
• Surefire FH556
• C9 Flash Hider

Barrels

• 10.5" Government
• 11" Government
• 14.5" Carbine profile (Grenade Cut)
• 14.5" Pencil
• 16" Heavy Barrel (Grenade Cut)
• 18" Krieger Barrel
• 20" A2/A4 Profile

Charging Handles

• Milspec- Modern
• Milspec- Original (Squared)
• Milspec- Diemaco

Misc Visible Additional Parts

• (?? SLT1 Trigger ??)
• (?? Norgon Ambi mag release (apparently it's different to the Colt Canada one ??)
• Lancer Adaptive Magwell
• Colt Canada Ambi Mag release

Accessories

• A4 Carry Handle
• KAC BUIS
• KAC Flip-up sight
• LMT L8A A2 rear sight
• AEM-5 Suppressor (OPSInc Brake)
• C79 Elcan
• (?? PEQ2 ??)
• (?? PEQ15 ??)
• (?? TA32 ACOG ??)
• (?? TA01-NSN ACOG ??)
• KAC Rail Panels
• Actual M203
• C7 M203 Parts (Mount, quadrant sight)
• ARMS 32 Harris mount
• Gooseneck Rail
• Redi-Mag
• Inner-tube-covered Divelight
• M600 Surefire

There's quite a lot there to parcel out , but considering it means I get to both ditch some quite tired and clapped models AND do some cool new stuff, I feel like this is the way to go. The collection and organising of reference material has begun, and unlike the Bren, I think there's only 1 or 2 "hen's tooth" items in here, so I feel like this is going to be straightforward. 

For the moment, that's it from me.
You all take care, be good to your fellow people, and Merry Christmas

Toadie Out