NEXT-GEN Nescot Year 3 HND - Creation of a Character (Skeleton Figurine Model/Board Game Figurine) (Modelling / Development of the model)

For this project, we were tasked with creating a 3D printable model in Maya of a character or creature that could be used in a board game. I decided to create my character as a fallen skeletal soldier, with an intent to create a anatomically correct body. However, I ultimately needed to change my design to a more stylistic appearance due to the 3D printing material and size constraints.

Firstly I began by creating the torso, starting with the ribcage and head. The head was taken from a previous project that I had worked on where I used it as reference for the shape of a head. As for the ribcage, I started by creating a square, elongating it and making extrusions along the sides, wrapping them around in an arch before reconnecting them in the middle. Once this was done I started to improve the design by making higher ribs smaller and curving the ribcage in a more angular pattern.

After making the ribcage and adding the head, I started work on the pelvis. This was done by making a square and shaping it

into the proportions of a pelvis and positioning it in the same direction. Once this was done I bridged any gaps in the model and added it to Mudbox to sculpt and shape the model into the final version of the pelvis. I also made sure not to re-import the model at a high polly count so that it could still be used in the final version of my model.

Next, I added the spinal column, vertebrae and scapulas (shoulder blades). This, again, was done by using squares by extruding and shaping different parts of the bones. The vertebrae was created by making a few different spinal pieces before adding them to the neck and duplicating the last one down the rest of the spine. The scapulas were made by creating an approximate shape and using the cut tool to make topology and changes where needed. After creating the scapulas, I created the connecting bone from the ribcage to each scapula for additional detail.

The fifth part I focused on were the arms and hands. Once again using elongated squares to connect together and show a realistic appearing set of arms. Unfortunately, the hands were later replaced due to the immense amount of small pieces on the model. This was because of the 3D printing constraints given.

Then, I added the beginning of the leg bones alongside adding extra accessories such as a sword, shield and helmet that I had created during my free time in-between projects.





Soon after adding the accessories I created the legs and feet. However, again the original design of the feet had to be changed to shoes due to 3D printing restraints. Also due to printing restraints, I decided to fill the gaps inside both the ribcage and pelvis to avoid any future problems during the 3D printing process.

Finally, I created clothing for the upper body of the skeleton as an additional accessory and to cover any parts of the skeleton that could easily be broken during the 3D printing process.

In conclusion, I believe that I did well on my assignment, however, if I could I would improve the clothing to be more detailed and to fit with the theme of old decrepid armour and I would enlarge many of the smaller parts of the model to fit with the 3D printing standards.