Hivehand Model?

Black Mesa Archive The Cafeteria
#1

Hello all,

Since this is a rather unusual topic, I wasn’t sure it’s best location in the forum, so just plopped it here until a mod finds its proper place.

So to start, I’m a sculptor and prop-maker, and of course, big fan of the Half-Life franchise. I’ve been casually following Black Mesa: Sources development, and was elated when it was released. Played the ever loving crap out of it, and enjoyed every second. Great job. In Half-Life, my favorite weapon to use, and worst to have to deal with, was always the Hivehand, and in BM:S, even more so. Your version of it is amazingly well done, and whoever modeled it did an amazing job. Hell, the equip animation is well…creepy as hell.

With Volpin Props doing the Gravity and Portal Guns, and since I currently lack the equipment to do a ‘traditional’ weapon prop build, I wanted to do something from the franchise that I could use my skills at, and the Hive Hand popped into my mind.

I’ve taken a few screenshots, and unfortunately my code-fu is weak and do not know how to get better reference shots of the model in-game, or in an editor (if that even works), so I wanted to ask the developers if they would supply reference shots, or if the community could help as well.

I already have sketches for the armature, and will definitely be posting updates here (in the proper forum of course).

Thanks for your time everyone!

And remember, its for science!

You can see some of my work at:
https://www.allanh143.wordpress.com
https://www.facebook.com/frogmanstudio143

#2

I don’t have any shots at the moment, but if you have/download the Source SDK (not the SDK base you had to download to run the mod, but the tools themselves) You can load the model up in the modelviewer. It’s located in the weapons folder; w_hivehand for the model you see on the ground, and v_hivehand for the model you see when wielding it, which is more detailed but also probably has parts you never see removed for performance reasons.
You’ll need to set up the SDK to have a game configuration for Black Mesa, which you can use this handy guide for.
I look forward to seeing your finished product!

#3

Thanks JeffMOD, I knew that might have been the easiest way to do it, but when I’ve attempted to get reference shots using game editors, the experience has been…interesting, and completely fruitless. I’ll give it another go using the guide, most times, it’s been attempts without any sort of foresight involved.

#4

I love your work, man! Your sculpts and props are very nicely done. :awesome:

#5

Thanks Jack! This winter has been a little slow for me with new work, so I wanted a good project to sink my teeth into. I have a few friends who do a lot of prop builds, and I’ve been wanting to do a new one myself.

Hopefully figuring out working on SDK will help with reference photos.

#6

Make sure you’re using the model viewer and not the Hammer Editor. If you still can’t figure it out I guess I could take some screenshots for you if needed.

If you make one, I want one. :slight_smile:

#7

Thanks Crypt19, currently in the process of trying to set it up, so hopefully I’ll be able to get it rolling. If so, it will be good to have the model ‘on hand’ so to speak to move around and not just rely on reference shots at certain points.

#8

Actually, I appear to be having a hard time locating the model, or hell, how to even open it.
Assistance anyone?

#9

If you’re in the model viewer, go to file> Load Model, then go to the folder “weapons.” Your model would be either v_hgun or w_hgun, depending on which you wanted.

#10

Oh sweet thank you. I didn’t click on it as the file extension showed as .jpeg.

So…how the heck do I move things around in here.

#11

BMS\models\weapons\v_hgun.mdl

#12

Left click towards the center to rotate/orbit, left click towards the outer edges to roll it, shift+left click to translate it (move it) and right click and move the mouse vertically to zoom.

#13

Is there a way to hide the lower panel in the model viewer at all?

#14

Alright, running into more issues.
Posed the model in some reference positions and used the ‘Make Screenshot’ option in the Model Viewer, which saves as a TGA file, but when I open in Photoshop, it appears to be corrupted and only part of the shot shows up.

Anyone had issues with this?

#15

Well got a few shots. I’ll have the model open when sculpting starts.

So here’s a few shots.

889×403 245 KB

846×443 293 KB

830×444 195 KB

889×391 220 KB

809×443 248 KB

Also, once work gets started, where is the best place to keep the thread, or just keep this one updated?

#16

Probably the Show Off subforum.

#17

Word. Thanks Jeff.

#18

Just about ready to get started (new thread in the Show Off section tomorrow when I start), but I wanted to look at the Grunt model for reference as well, but can’t seem to find it in the Model Viewer.

#19

xenians\agrunt.mdl

#20

I love the Dr. Fate & Hawkman helmets you made.

Founded in 2004, Leakfree.org became one of the first online communities dedicated to Valve’s Source engine development. It is more famously known for the formation of Black Mesa: Source under the 'Leakfree Modification Team' handle in September 2004.