If you’ve ever wondered how a semi-automatic pistol works without having to get anywhere within firing distance of one… then you’re in luck. 3D generalist and motion designer Matt Rittman has taken the liberty of animating a totally safe, digital recreation of the iconic Glock 19.
After doing a fair bit of research to learn how the real thing works and about the details of each part, Matt bought a pre-made Glock 19 model from Turbosquid as a point of reference. He completely modeled all 50 internal parts using Cinema 4D along with the gun’s frame and slide. Here’s a shot of the model
Once the pieces were fully modelled and in place, he created a rig using Xpresso within Cinema 4D and UV unwrapped the frame, magazine, slide, and barrel so he could properly texture them.
To finalize the models, he textures them using Substance Painter and Corona.
With the models finished, Matt starts working on the video storyboard and how the animations will play out. Using the Take System in Cinema 4D, he plans out the animations in each of his shots and organizes them into an easy to read timeline.
Making use of Pixel Plow, Matt renders the 3-minute animation on a MacBook Pro before composing the entire video using After Effects. All that’s left to do now is add some special effects for the gunshots, a narrator to explain what’s happening, and some music so the video doesn’t sound so dull.
Matt Rittman makes LOADS more how-it-works animations, all of which can be found on his YouTube channel or on his webpage. Be sure to check them out and subscribe.
