3D Modelling - Latest Update (15/01/2012)

Latest Update for my Medieval Village

Hearth and Bellows









Furnace

Anvil

Grinding Stone and Bucket











And finally, how it all looks together.

Concepts for Blacksmith Forge

Some concept ideas on how the blacksmith forge could look when made in 3Ds Max.

Concept Ideas consist of:

• A Furnace
• An Anvil
• A Grinding Stone
• A Bucket
• Hearth with Bellows

Image Reaserch for a Blacksmith Forge

Below are images of the different tools, equipment, and 'machinery' blacksmiths used to create their weapon and armour.

Blacksmith - Research

Before making any models for the 'Blacksmith' section of my scene, I thought it would be a really good idea to research what kind of tools and equipment they would use, as well as what kind of items they would make for their village.

The Life of a Blacksmith

A Blacksmith was a very important member of the village in which they lived in, and their job would vary quite a lot depending on where they are situated.

• Village Blacksmith - They would make items, either to help their village, or defend it. This would include such items as tools, household objects and weapons.
• Castle Blacksmith - They would specialise purely on armour and weaponry, to protect the castle from invaders. 
• City of Tower Blacksmith - Belonged to a guild, and lived in towns.
• Monasteries or Abbeys - Monks were also blacksmiths.
• Blacksmiths also played a very big part in armies, as they had to keep up with the demand of weapons for combat, arrowheads and repairing/maintenance of old weapons and armour.  

Description of a Blacksmith Forge

This is where the process in which different items made from metal takes place by a blacksmith. This is done by heating up metal and hammering via a furnace that consists of a special hearth where the metal must be heated before it can be shaped. The term 'Forge' is also known as a 'Smithy'. Different tools were also needed to acquire the shape and size of whatever was being made, with a selection of tools available to the blacksmith. The main role for a blacksmith is generally to provide the village, town, city, or castle everyday items, weapons, armour etc.

Items made by Blacksmiths

• Weapons - Daggers, Swords, Lances, Arrowheads etc
• Siege Weapons
• Armour and Shields
• Tools
• Nails
• Church and Castle Doors - Hinges, locks, keys
• Portcullis
• Instruments of torture and chains
• Household Objects - Knives, light fittings, pokers etc
• Ornaments
• Jewellery
• Decorative Objects

Tools and Equipment

• Tongs
• Bellows
• Anvil - A heavy block of iron or steel that allows the shaping of hot metal by hammering.
• Variety of Hammers - Different sizes to allow different shaping and finishing.
• Fullers - A Hammer with a half-round end, used to form grooves and spreading iron. Also know as a 'Creaser'.
• Swages - Tools that have different shapes or grooves on the end or face used for shaping their work by holding the swage upon the work and striking back with a sledge hammer.
• Swage Block - A block of iron that has been perforated, by having grooved sides and adapted for heading bolts and swaging objects if a larger size.
• Sledge Hammers
• Punches - Tools used usually for making circular holes.
• Axe
• Chisels
• Drifts - Slightly tapered tools generally made from steel that are used for shaping or enlarging a hole in metal, by being driven or forced through it. Also known as a 'Broach'.
• Bit - A tool for boring, of various sizes and forms.
• Auger Bit - A bit with a cutting blade or edge.
• Moulds - For making popular and everyday items.
• Nails
• Tables, Stools, Shelves etc.

3D Modelling - Latest Update (06/01/2012)

Over the holidays, I have been continuing my modelling, and have managed to make a fair bit more for it during this time.

I started off creating a few more assets for the scene, which include a lantern, sandbags, and added some detail to the stall, by adding in some fruit to it.

After those were finished, I started work on one of the buildings. The building you can see on the right will be an Inn, and will probably be the largest model in the village, and will only be one.

Once that was complete, I moved onto making another building, which follows a similar style to the last model, since the entire village will need to follow the same theme of buildings for it to look right. This building will be the Blacksmith.




As you can see from the screenshot, I have also started arranging the models to see what looks right and where. Of course this will be done in a lot more detail later on, but this is just to see how it all fits together.

As it stands, this is the final screenshot I have, and again, I have started work on another building, but isn't finished yet. This however will be a house.