I recently started working on Grant Abbitts Course on gamedev.tv, in order to improve my 3D-modeling skills.
The tool of choice for 3D-modeling is Blender.
The first section of the course it about modeling a mech which can be described as hard surface modeling. Key topics of this section are:
- Modeling via extrude, inset, loopcuts
- Use of mirror-modifier
- Simple use von materials including bloom-effect
- Position & rotation of the camera for video render result
The result can be viewed as video or GIF below.
In addition, here are different views directly in blender.
Without textures 
Render preview from behind 
Edit mode 
Wireframe
