BACTERIOPHAGE

Let’s create a low poly model of a Bacteriophage.

Reference:

bacteriophage reference

Setup

  • Blender version 4.0
  • Blender empty file

Workflow

  1. Delete the cube with X

  2. In Edit –> Preferences –> Add-ons Activate Extra Objects and Curve Tools plugin for curves

    addons

  3. Go to front orthographic view with NumPad 1 or using the Navigation Gizmo

    Navigation Gizmo

  4. Add the reference: SHIFT-A add image reference bacteriophage.png
  5. GX to move reference to the left

  6. In the Outliner, Right mouse button (RMB) and add a collection named Virus

    Blender UI

  7. Add a Curve spiral archimedean

    bacteriophage sprial

    Parameter Value
    Turns 21
    Steps 24
    Radius Growth 0.0
    Radius 0.12
    Height 0.06
  8. In Properties –> Data –> Geometry –> Bevel, set depth to 0.035
  9. Add the baseplate, a cylinder with 64 vertex, Radius .2 and depth .1.
  10. Edit mode with TAB and press 2 for edge select
  11. Select edge loops top and bottom ALT-LMB and SHIFT-ALT-LMB
  12. CTRL-B and Bevel increasing steps with mouse wheel
  13. Duplicate for collar with SHIFT-D

  14. GZ to grab and move up collar

    bacteriophage body

  15. Edit mode with TAB and press 3 for face select
  16. Select top face of collar, extrude with E in place and scale, then extrude again to make the ‘neck’
  17. With top face of neck selected: SHIFT-S and 2 for cursor to selected
  18. Object Mode with TAB
  19. Add Head icosphere with SHIFT-A subdivisions 1 and Radius 0.5

  20. Move Head up with GZ

    bacteriophage body

  21. Join collar and head: select collar in the Outliner, SHIFT-LMB to select also head. Contextual menu with RMB and Join (shortcut: CTRL-J)
  22. Select Sheath and F3 convert to mesh (or Object –> Convert –> Mesh)
  23. In Properties –> Modifiers Add simple deform modifier to the Sheath
  24. Bend 0 degrees
  25. Test the bending changing the bend value and the axis.
  26. We need to connect the head now
  27. Select Sheat and go to Edit mode with TAB

  28. select 3 top vertex in the middle line of coil

    three vertex

  29. CTRL click Head
  30. CTRL-P and make vertex parent

  31. Test the bending changing the bend value and the axis. Head should Bend with Sheat

    bending

  32. SHIFT-S and move cursor to origin
  33. With SHIFT-A add and Empty object to origin named it BendPivot
  34. Set as Origin for the bend modifier, now we can rotate and bend!
  35. In the Outliner, hide the Virus collection (eye icon)
  36. Go to front orthographic view to make the Long Tail Fibers (legs)
  37. SHIFT-A –> Curve –> Point

  38. You are now in Edit Mode press E to add a point for mid leg, press E again for second point

    leg

  39. Select mid point
  40. N Edit Fillet/Chamfer
  41. In Properties –> Data, Set Geometry Bevel to 0.035
  42. Go back to Object Mode with TAB and convert leg to mesh with F3
  43. Select edgee loop at the end with ALT-LMB press F to close
  44. 3 for face select and extrude the new face, LMB to confirm
  45. S0 to scale at 0 the tip of the leg
  46. Go back to object mode and activate visibility for the virus collection
  47. Scale the leg with S
  48. In Outlier move leg to virus collection with M
  49. Go to Object mode and select leg, move in position with GX
  50. With leg selected and in Object Mode, SHIFT-S and move cursor to selected
  51. SHIFT-A and add an Armature
  52. Enter edit mode position top of bone in the middle of leg with G

  53. Extrude and put at end of second bone at the tip of the leg

    leg with bone

  54. Back to Object Mode
  55. Select leg
  56. CTRL-LMB select armature
  57. CTRL-P parent leg to Armature with Automatic weights
  58. In Properties –> Object set bones Object properties display as wire
  59. Move armature to virus collection
  60. We now have a rigged leg! Go to Pose Mode, select bones and test the leg poses
  61. Go back to Object Mode
  62. Select Sheat, CTRL select Bend pivot and parent with CTRl-P

  63. Parent Bend pivot to baseplate. Current objects parenting:

    graph TD;
    Baseplate-->Sheat-->Head;
  64. SHIFT-S cursor to world origin
  65. SHIFT-A inside Virus collection add an empty sphere with radius 0.5. Name the object “virus” (model control point)
  66. Parent baseplate to control point: LMBselect baseplate, CTRL-LMB select virus control point, CTRL-P and parent object.

  67. Current objects parenting:

    graph TD;
    Virus-->Baseplate-->Sheat-->Head;
  68. Go on top view with NumPad 7 or navigation gizmo

  69. Parent rigged leg to baseplate:

    graph TD;
    Virus-->Baseplate-->Sheat-->Head;
    Baseplate-->Armature-->Leg

    object structure

  70. Transform Pivot Point to 3D cursor on top of 3D Viewport
  71. Select Armature and Leg (with CTRL cick), Duplicate with D and Rotate 45 with R45

Blender file: bacteriophage.blend