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Hilt part 1

We have now the basic outline of a sword, but what is really the recognition property of the rapier, that is the hilt.

 

First create three Circles of r = 2.5 r = 4.5 and r = 6. Move these to (0,0) and create three ellipses. The dimensions should be L = 3.666060556 W = 1.6, L = 8.333066662 W = 5.6 and L = 11.5082579 W = 8.6.

Now select a Circle and apply an Edit Spline modifier. Attach the corresponding ellipse to it and delete the lower segments of the circle and the upper segments of the ellipse.

 

Now drag copy one of the segments of the ellipse and snap it to the circle. Do the same with the other ellipse segment. Weld the vertices into one spline and repeat these steps for the other circles and ellipses.

 

Now set spline level (3) and snap the bottom vertex to (0, 0) make sure that snap to grid point is checked and then set x = 0 (should be 1.7 or -1.7).

This causes the pivot to be on the bottom and in the middle.

 

Finally set the x rotation to 90, 67.5 and 45 respectively and move them all to (0, -7)

Next create an Ellipse with L = 7 and W = 8 and move it to (1.7, -3.5). Add an Edit Spline modifier and delete the left segments.

 

Now we are going to make the knuckle bow. Create an Ellipse of L = 14 W = 14.6 and move it to (-1.7, 7). Apply an Edit Spline modifier and delete the right segments. Now go to vertex level and click on create line. Create a vertical line crossing the top of the ellipse. Got to spline level (3) and select the vertical line and move it to x = -3.6 still crossing the ellipse.

 

Scroll down the Edit Spline menu and click on trim under Geometry. Click on the far end of the ellipse to trim it and delete the vertical line afterwards. You must be on spline level for trimming.

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Create a new line as indicated above. Make sure that the segments are exactly vertical and horizontal respectively and move it to (0, 0). Select the end vertices and transform them into Bezier Corners. Now the handles point straight down and straight left.

Delete the middle vertex and snap the left vertex to the leftmost vertex of the knuckle bow. The right vertex is snapped to the top vertex of the largest ring. Set the interpolation of the knuckle bow to adaptive and do the same for the line you just created.

 

Adjust the handles in only one direction. To do this, click on the green y arrow or the red x arrow and then move the handle.

Now shift hold rotate the large ring -90 to make a mirror copy. Next shift drag the line to copy it and apply a Mirror modifier. Set the mirror axis to Z and move the copied line back to the original (0, 0).

 

Select the copied large ring and attach the copied line to it. Best is to hide everything except for the two copies. Delete the left segments of the ring and weld the pieces together. Click on Refine and insert a vertex at about x = -4.

 

Go to Front View and create a new vertical line and move it to (-1.7, -0.7, 0). Select the top vertex and move it to z = 0. Now transform it into a Bezier Corner. Go to spline level (3) and make a copy of the segment. Place the copy on x = 1.7.

Snap the lower vertices to the inserted vertex at x = -4 and transform them into Bezier Corner.

Now adjust the handles in Front and Left view to let them smoothly flow into the other spline.

 

Unhide the whole hilt and select the smallest ring. Attach the previously created spline to it and weld them together.

 

Now we have the complete outline of the hilt. Now we are going to finish it with a lot of lofting. If your lofting doesnt work out as shown on the picture, it is usually due to the spline direction. Select the spline and the yellow vertex is the first vertex. To change the direction, select the other end vertex and click Make First.