Viewmodel

“

Now that is what I wanna see! Click to listen — The Soldier, upon seeing his new weapon's viewmodel

”

Viewmodels are models that represent the player's hands holding their current weapon. By default, viewmodels in Team Fortress 2 have a Field of View (fov) of 54 and are mostly right handed, but this can be changed through the Advanced Options or through the usage of console commands. In the Advanced Options menu, the viewmodel's fov can be adjusted to a maximum of 70, but using the console command viewmodel_fov the maximum possible value can be 179. Setting r_drawviewmodel to 0 disables the viewmodels entirely, but does not disable some some particles such as fire. Some viewmodels feature jiggle bones.

For a list of individual viewmodels, see the gallery on the weapon's page.

Flipped viewmodels

By default all viewmodels, except for the Spy's watches, are right handed. Viewmodels can be flipped in the Advanced Options menu or by setting cl_flipviewmodels to 1, making the viewmodels left handed. Switching the viewmodel makes some projectiles, such as rockets (except for the Original's rockets), originate from the left side of the screen instead of the right side. This can only be done in Spectator or outside of a server.

Minimized viewmodels

In the Meet Your Match Update, minimized viewmodels were added. Enabling them in the Advanced Options (or using tf_use_min_viewmodels) lowers the viewmodel to take up less space on screen. This option allows players to see more of the battlefield while not entirely disabling the viewmodels.

Customization

Players can download custom viewmodels to replace the game's default ones, often changing animations or the appearance of weapons, as well as turning viewmodels transparent. Custom viewmodels cannot be used in Casual or Competitive Mode, but can be used in community servers.

Bugs

• The Hot Hand's viewmodel is not affected by the "Use minimized viewmodels" option.
• When viewmodels are flipped, some viewmodels do not appear correctly:
  • The Spy's watch animation is not visible, unless looking down. The white meter on the HUD is still visible.
  • The Holy Mackerel's first person viewmodel becomes twisted, making the upper half of the weapon inside out.
  • The Sandman's and Wrap Assassin's baseball and bauble are displaced, merging into the Scout's right hand.
  • The Ham Shank, Bat Outta Hell, and the Disciplinary Action's popper appear to be partially hollow.

Gallery

• 

  Scattergun viewmodel, as seen from above.

• 

  Scattergun viewmodel, as seen in-game.