1911

Texture Tuesday / 1911 Pistol

Today we're featuring a 1911 pistol created for an unannounced project in 2018. The 1911 Pistol is a single-action, semi-automatic, magazine-fed, recoil-operated pistol chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. It served as the standard-issue sidearm for the United States Armed Forces from 1911 to 1985. It was widely used in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Diego Ross, the 3D artist behind the pistol, says it was his favorite historical/modernized firearm with a long legacy. It’s an iconic weapon so it was important to him to make sure the proper silhouette and details were there while taking some creative freedoms. Since the design is so recognizable, it’s quite easy to tell when something is off. Diego didn’t have a 1911 on hand so he went down to his local gun store and browsed through their collection of 1911 pistols. After taking a ton of images, Diego started the modeling process. He says, “If I had to do it again, I would add some filigree engravings to the slide and frame to give it just a bit more character.”

We love creating smaller, more simple assets like these, as it gives us a chance to focus on what really matters in texturing and modeling. Our main focus with this one was creating something not only believable but interesting, and somewhat accurate to the real thing. Diego struck an excellent balance highlighting all of those elements, from the subtle oil buildup in the gloss map, or the subtle nicks and dings on the slide near the rear sight. All of this reads somewhat exaggerated but notably so for visual interest.

Created by Diego Ross:
https://www.artstation.com/dross3d
Art Direction by Alan Van Ryzin:
https://www.artstation.com/polygoo