First Mech of 2008.
Picture shows concept from sketch dirctly to 3d mod.

next here another goodie ...

The “Firedrake” Incendiary Support Needler!
first image is tha original linart (not my work) [found here http://www.classicbattletech.com/downloads/Combat_Equipment_14-15.pdf]
second image is the actual 3d mod.
third image the quick-rendered 3ds, has been opted in Photoshop

Interesting methods.  You make the model in 3D, then instead of texturing it you render out an image and then paint a texture onto the image in photoshop?  You have got skills because I see the textures you are doing and although I'm not a huge fan of the camo these are great textures.  But if you are going through all the trouble to do that you might as well learn to texture in 3D instead of photoshop.  It just isn't any use in a game art pipeline except as a way to make reference images, but if you are doing all that work anyways you might as well just make the final thing.  I gather from your post you have been using Max for about 5-6 months?  Put unwrapping and UV layouts at the top of your to-do list and you will definitely be able to make some quality work. 

something from the To-Do-List

Yep you know it´s your little sweetheart.'

First more or less real try on making a UVW-Unwrapping successfully!

Thanks for the use of the sketch!

And for looking!

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timestamps for mwl-cl-srm.max

modelling
- start 21:32, 25 april 2008
- finish 01:22, 26 april 2008
[moddel prolonged due to erroneously save of version 0.0.0.3.max as a collapsed object (23:53), new moddel from version 0.0.0.2.max made.]

uvw-mapping
- start 01:22, 26 april 2008
- finish 03:07, 26 april 2008

texturing (p.1)
- start 03:07, 26 april 2008
- finish 05:22, 26 april 2008

found out that some modelling was still to be done, so what to-do?
- make side-boxes higher!
- make srm launcher longer? (optional, that the model matches the (original) cl-srm.jpg. The 3D model still feels to small)
- make corrections to uvw-map
- make corrections to texture

correction made
- on model 16:50 > 16:52
- on uvw-map 16:52 > 16:54

texturing (p.2)
- start 17:02, 26 april 2008
- finish (partially), 9 may 2008
- timeframe 6hr. 46min.
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[edit: upload image :giggle:]

correcto mondo! mi amigo.

p.s. see the SRM, mine is a little shorter. http://www.mechlivinglegends.net/content/view/148
uh I forgot to put your sketch here too .. done!
 

Very cool. Actually, I think it looks quite a bit better than the ones you photoshopped the textures on.

Agreed, it looks great.  I see the timestamps and figured that was what was going on..   So is this an official application then?

Also, lets see your unwrap and texture!