[Weapon] Bren L4A4 LMG (PR:F) [WIP]

[strima]

The bottom ejection port cover slides forwards!!!

[{ZW}C-LOKE]

Don't know how I stumbled across this... But here's another golden reference!

Full pictures and discussion here:
A (perhaps) Silly Question

L4A4 ejector block on left.
L4A1 ejector block on right with hold open device 'button' behind the mag catch


FN (FAL) locking lug top (L4A1 type) (top)
Commonwealth locking lug bottom (L4A4 type) (Bottom)


Confirmed:
L4A4 used a 30 round mag, staggered rounds.
Looks like it also used a shorter 20 round mag as well, but I've already modeled the 30 round mag... I'm sure the guys on Goose Green will like how that worked out

It looks like the whole mag catch assembly swings upward on rotation of the pivot point (?) once the lever is pushed forward toward the mag (?)... Wait a second...

Here's the problem I have with this...
It looks like from the ref of the magazines that the locking lug is the part that is held onto and that's what keeps the mag in the receiver.

And the lever swings along a pivot that brings the most z-axis southern lip of the lever toward the leaf ironsight, which then releases the magazine locking lug and allows the lug to pass:




It also looks like there is a lip on the mag catch release, or a rim that slides into a slot in the receiver, along a very specific slot, then a bolt that keeps the mag catch apparatus in the receiver, not a pivot point. In other words, it looks like there is a very specific slot and position that the mag catch apparatus maintains at all times, and the only thing that moves is actually the release lever, which has a lip on it's most southern extremity that holds (or releases) the magazine's locking lug.




There is extra space that leads me to believe not that the whole apparatus swings, but that the apparatus has room to be lowered into the receiver and moved into position along the slot, then the bolt goes in to keep it in place. Maybe even a rivot (?).

Also, the diagram you provided, Strima, would only mechanically work if the spring was on the left like so:

Not to be a deushbag but more just because it didn't look right. That's what got me on the search.

Can I get some agreeance on these points, or naysayers (is fine as well)? Let's talk about this now and come up with a concensus before I get too deep into modeling this.

The bottom ejection port cover slides forwards!!!

Cool... Then just to confirm, this won't be seen in 1p obviously, but for 3p this should be a normal map?

[strima]

Cool, as I have said earlier it's been roughly 20 years since I've had my hands on one so my memory is a little vague. Go with what you find.

The 20 round magazine mentioned will be the L1A1 magazine as both were interchangeable. The springs were stronger in these mags and often caused the weapon to jam hence we never used them on the LMG although the 30 rounds came in handy on the L1...

[Rhino]

Ye we will be using the 30 round mag on the Bren as even 30 rounds is quite small for a LMG, compared to normal PR LMGs

Not sure how big the FM FAP's mag is however...

[strima]

I do like the newer version of one of the FN's...

[Doc.Pock]

Quite tacticool. Lol.

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How's this?

[Rhino]

Looking good to me

Although you don't need those bolts rotating, for both the mag release catch and the rear sight, I would have thought they would rotate around them, not they rotate with it. Not sure if its 100% correct however, strimia can you confirm if it is?

One thing I think would be worth modelling is this little lip at the bottom of the mag, wouldn't take that many more extra tris and a little more detail


BTW what's your tri count for the entire weapon now?

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7662...

The bolts don't rotate, they're just floating elements. Part of Base

[Rhino]

You sure its 7662? That's what your pic says above but you don't have the main body of the weapon selected in it and its your selected tri count (says 17 objects selected in the pic)?

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Sorry... It's 7552 with all 17 parts except the background ref plane.

I added another two bullets, for depth. Staggered now. Those account for roughly 200 a piece.

[Chuc]

Feed lips on the mag as per rhino's suggestion would be great.

[Rhino]

I think I see what's confusing me, looks like you might have all the edges selected on the body which is making it look like its unselected.

Ye you can afford to add a little more detail like that lip on the mag etc (although would add it right in front of the players view, like the mag) but the extra 2 bullets I don't think is really worth it as its unlikely in the animation that the player will be looking directly down the mag. Maybe another one (making 3 total) but another 2 sounds a little bit more than what you really need?

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How's this?




Got rid of one of the bullets as well.

EDIT:
Apparently, I didn't have everything selected... Real count at current time is 7842.

[Rhino]

Ye that sounds about right

Looking good but I would say you could use another edge to make it slightly wider and rounder:


Also should the front have one? Not sure about that, can't see any refs but if you don't have any refs showing it, would remove it since the player is unlikely to see that one, unlike the one on the back side which is staring him in the face as he puts in the mag/takes it out

[{ZW}C-LOKE]

Also cleaned up a bit. 7834.

[Rhino]

looks good but I don't think it should be going inwards at the bottom?

[{ZW}C-LOKE]

More like this maybe?:

[Rhino]

yep looks good

[{ZW}C-LOKE]

Nice... Did you want to take a look at this model? Or should I begin UVWunwrap?