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Creating a Magnum Mecha Character in Maya: Part 2

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Soni Kumari
Read Time: 7 min
Final product imageFinal product imageFinal product image
What You'll Be Creating

1. Creating Layers

Step 1

Open Maya. Open the file which was saved in the last part of the tutorial.

Open MayaOpen MayaOpen Maya
Open Maya

Step 2

Create a polygon sphere on the perspective grid as shown in the following image.

Create a polygon sphereCreate a polygon sphereCreate a polygon sphere
Create a polygon sphere

Step 3

With the sphere selected, move and place it around the pelvis area according to the reference images.  

place the sphereplace the sphereplace the sphere
Place the sphere

Step 4

With the sphere selected, set the values of Subdivisions Axis to 8 and Subdivisions Height to 6.

Set the values Set the values Set the values
Set the values 
Set the values Set the values Set the values
Set the values 

Step 5

Select and delete the half part of the mesh as shown in the following image.

Select and delete the half part of the meshSelect and delete the half part of the meshSelect and delete the half part of the mesh
Select and delete the half part of the mesh

Step 6

With the other part of the mesh selected, go to Edit > Duplicate Special and click on the option box. 

Edit Duplicate SpecialEdit Duplicate SpecialEdit Duplicate Special
Edit > Duplicate Special

Step 7

In the Duplicate Special Options window, turn on Instance radio button and set the Scale X value to -1. Click on Duplicate Special button to apply the command.

Duplicate Special OptionsDuplicate Special OptionsDuplicate Special Options
Duplicate Special Options

Step 8

With both parts selected, go to Show > Isolate Select > View Selected and turn on its option box. Alternatively, you can press Ctrl-1 button on the key board to isolate the selected object as shown in the following image. 

Show Isolate Select View SelectedShow Isolate Select View SelectedShow Isolate Select View Selected
Show > Isolate Select > View Selected

Step 9

Select and delete the indicated edges from the bottom of the mesh as shown in the following image.

Select and delete the indicated edgesSelect and delete the indicated edgesSelect and delete the indicated edges
Select and delete the indicated edges

Step 10

Jump in the vertex selection mode and edit the pelvis mesh shape according to the reference images shown in front and side views.

Jump in the vertex selection modeJump in the vertex selection modeJump in the vertex selection mode
Jump in the vertex selection mode
Jump in the vertex selection modeJump in the vertex selection modeJump in the vertex selection mode
Jump in the vertex selection mode

Step 11

To add more details to the mesh, select the six indicated faces of the pelvis mesh as shown in the following image.

Select the six indicated facesSelect the six indicated facesSelect the six indicated faces
Select the six indicated faces

Step 12

With the faces selected, go to Edit Mesh > Extrude command or press Ctrl-E key to extrude the faces.

Edit Mesh ExtrudeEdit Mesh ExtrudeEdit Mesh Extrude
Edit Mesh > Extrude

Step 13

After applying extrude command, scale down the faces a little bit as shown in the following image. 

Scale down the facesScale down the facesScale down the faces
Scale down the faces

Step 14

Select and delete the extruded faces. Edit the vertices to rearrange the shape as shown in the following image.

Select and delete the extruded facesSelect and delete the extruded facesSelect and delete the extruded faces
Select and delete the extruded faces

Step 15

Jump in the front and side views and edit the vertices according to the image references.

Jump in the front and side viewsJump in the front and side viewsJump in the front and side views
Jump in the front and side views

Step 16

Insert one edge loop in the front view as shown in the following image.

Insert one edge loopInsert one edge loopInsert one edge loop
Insert one edge loop

Step 17

Jump in the perspective view and insert two edges as shown in the following image.

Jump in the perspective viewJump in the perspective viewJump in the perspective view
Jump in the perspective view

Step 18

With the border edges selected, edit the shape of the pelvis to make it round as shown in the following image.

With the border edges selectedWith the border edges selectedWith the border edges selected
With the border edges selected

Step 19

With the border edge loop selected, extrude and scale down it a little bit to get some thickness.

With the border edge loop selectedWith the border edge loop selectedWith the border edge loop selected
With the border edge loop selected

Step 20

Insert some edge loops around the corners to get hard surface mesh.

Insert some edge loopsInsert some edge loopsInsert some edge loops
Insert some edge loops

Step 21

With both pelvis meshes selected, go to Mesh > Combine command to attach both meshes together.

Mesh Combine commandMesh Combine commandMesh Combine command
Mesh > Combine command

Step 22

With the center vertices selected, go to Edit Mesh > Merge command to merge the selected vertices together.

Edit Mesh Merge commandEdit Mesh Merge commandEdit Mesh Merge command
Edit Mesh > Merge command

Step 23

With top border edge loop selected, extrude and scale down it to create some thickness as shown in the following image.

With top border edge loop selectedWith top border edge loop selectedWith top border edge loop selected
With top border edge loop selected

Step 24

Insert several edge loops around the corner for creating hard surface mesh as shown in the following image.

Insert several edge loops around the cornerInsert several edge loops around the cornerInsert several edge loops around the corner
Insert several edge loops around the corner

Step 25

Select the knee ball meshes as shown in the following image.

Select the knee ball meshesSelect the knee ball meshesSelect the knee ball meshes
Select the knee ball meshes

Step 26

With both ball meshes selected, go to Edit > Duplicate command or press Ctrl-D key to make a duplicate copy the selected object.

Edit Duplicate commandEdit Duplicate commandEdit Duplicate command
Edit > Duplicate command

Step 27

With the ball meshes selected, move and place them around the pelvis according to the reference images. 

With the ball meshes selectedWith the ball meshes selectedWith the ball meshes selected
With the ball meshes selected

Step 28

In this way, the left side’s leg modeling is done. It’s time to create the copy of it for the right side.

In this way the left sides leg modeling is doneIn this way the left sides leg modeling is doneIn this way the left sides leg modeling is done
In this way, the left side’s leg modeling is done

Step 29

With all left leg parts selected, go to Edit > Group command or press Ctrl-G key button to make a group of the selected objects.

Edit Group commandEdit Group commandEdit Group command
Edit > Group command

Step 30

Rename the group as Left_Leg_Group as shown in the following image. 

Left_Leg_GroupLeft_Leg_GroupLeft_Leg_Group
Left_Leg_Group

Step 31

With the Left_Leg_Group selected, go to Edit > Duplicate Special and click on its option box. 

Edit Duplicate SpecialEdit Duplicate SpecialEdit Duplicate Special
Edit > Duplicate Special

Step 32

In the Duplicate Special Options window, turn on Instance radio button and keep the value of Scale X to -1 and then click on Duplicate Special button to apply the command.

Duplicate Special OptionsDuplicate Special OptionsDuplicate Special Options
Duplicate Special Options

Step 33

Rename the duplicate right side’s leg group as Right_Leg_Group.

Right_Leg_GroupRight_Leg_GroupRight_Leg_Group
Right_Leg_Group

2. Creating Leg Cover

Step 1

Create a Cylinder polygon mesh and set the Subdivisions Axis value to 12.

Create a Cylinder polygonCreate a Cylinder polygonCreate a Cylinder polygon
Create a Cylinder polygon

Step 2

Place the cylinder around the left leg as shown in the following image.

Place the cylinder around the left legPlace the cylinder around the left legPlace the cylinder around the left leg
Place the cylinder around the left leg

Step 3

With the cylinder mesh selected, press Ctrl-1 key on the keyboard to isolate the selected mesh. Select the top and bottom faces of the isolated cylinder mesh and delete them. 

Press Ctrl1 keyPress Ctrl1 keyPress Ctrl1 key
Press Ctrl+1 key

Step 4

In the front view, edit the vertices of the mesh as shown in the following image. 

Edit the vertices of the meshEdit the vertices of the meshEdit the vertices of the mesh
Edit the vertices of the mesh

Step 5

In the perspective view, edit the vertices of the mesh as shown in the following image. 

Edit the vertices of the meshEdit the vertices of the meshEdit the vertices of the mesh
Edit the vertices of the mesh

Step 6

To add more details, insert three edge loops by using Insert Edge Loop tool as shown in the following image.

Insert Edge Loop toolInsert Edge Loop toolInsert Edge Loop tool
Insert Edge Loop tool

Step 7

In the front view, edit the vertices according to the reference image.

Edit the vertices Edit the vertices Edit the vertices
Edit the vertices 

Step 8

Extrude the border edges for thickness as shown in the following image.

Extrude the border edgesExtrude the border edgesExtrude the border edges
Extrude the border edges

Step 9

Following the previous steps, insert edge loops at the corners for hard surface modeling as shown in the following image.

Following the previous stepsFollowing the previous stepsFollowing the previous steps
Following the previous steps

Step 10

In this way, the modeling of both legs has been completed.

In this way the modeling of both legs has been completedIn this way the modeling of both legs has been completedIn this way the modeling of both legs has been completed
In this way, the modeling of both legs has been completed

3. Creating Abdominal

Step 1

Create a polygon sphere with Subdivisions Axis as 32 and Subdivisions Height as 18.

Create a polygon sphereCreate a polygon sphereCreate a polygon sphere
Create a polygon sphere

Step 2

Move and place the sphere inside the pelvis model as shown in the following image.

Move and place the sphere inside the pelvisMove and place the sphere inside the pelvisMove and place the sphere inside the pelvis
Move and place the sphere inside the pelvis

Step 3

With the help of Insert Edge Loop tool, insert two edge loops in the middle of the sphere.

With the help of Insert Edge Loop toolWith the help of Insert Edge Loop toolWith the help of Insert Edge Loop tool
With the help of Insert Edge Loop tool

Step 4

With the indicated face loop selected, extrude it a little bit inside as shown in the following image. 

Extrude the facesExtrude the facesExtrude the faces
Extrude the faces

Step 5

In this way, the robot’s abdominal part has been completed.

Abdominal part is doneAbdominal part is doneAbdominal part is done
Abdominal part is done

4. Creating Lower Torso

Step 1

Create a pipe primitive on the grid as shown in the following image.

Create a pipe primitive Create a pipe primitive Create a pipe primitive
Create a pipe primitive 

Step 2

Go to the Channel Editor and set the input values of the pipe as indicated and shown in the following image. 

Go to the Channel EditorGo to the Channel EditorGo to the Channel Editor
Go to the Channel Editor

Step 3

With the pipe mesh selected, move and place it on the spherical abdominal as shown in the following image.

With the pipe mesh selected move and place it on the spherical abdominalWith the pipe mesh selected move and place it on the spherical abdominalWith the pipe mesh selected move and place it on the spherical abdominal
With the pipe mesh selected, move and place it on the spherical abdominal

Step 4

Jump in the face selection mode and edit the shape of the pipe according to the reference images.

Jump in the face selection modeJump in the face selection modeJump in the face selection mode
Jump in the face selection mode

Step 5

With the bottom faces selected, rotate a little bit in X axis as shown in the following image.

Rotate in X axisRotate in X axisRotate in X axis
Rotate in X axis

Step 6

Turn the mesh into X-ray mode so that you can edit the shape easily. Once the editing is done, you can bring it back in the normal mode.

Turn the mesh into X-ray modeTurn the mesh into X-ray modeTurn the mesh into X-ray mode
Turn the mesh into X-ray mode

Step 7

With the bottom faces selected, scale down up to the surface of the abdominal mesh.

Scale down the facesScale down the facesScale down the faces
Scale down the faces

Step 8

Insert two edge loops at corners for hard surface modeling.

Insert two edge loops at corners Insert two edge loops at corners Insert two edge loops at corners
Insert two edge loops at corners 

Step 9

In this way, the base of torso has been completed.  

Base of torso is completedBase of torso is completedBase of torso is completed
Base of torso is completed
Shaded viewShaded viewShaded view
Shaded view

Conclusion

In the next part of the tutorial, I'll show you how to create upper torso of the robot.

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Soni Kumari
Soni Kumari
My name is Soni and I am a CG artist from India.
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