I implented the generous tips you gave as a reply to this question: How can I smoothly connect this cylinder shape with a torus ? Including half pipes and a curve from back of cylinder to torus (see side view)
However now I am stuck again, as I am not able to copy the smooth edge flow of the object. Maybe my dimensions are a bit off (I am not modelling with the pictures in the background as they dont fit together, are slightly distorted) and thats one reason. However I think there might be other problems too.
Here is what I am talking about (for reference photos without my drawings check other question). Please check my blender file to see my edge flow in edit mode.
Smooth Edge flow Front of object:
Squarish/unsmooth edge flow Front of my model (also pinching in the transition):
Smooth Edge Flow side with nice curve:
Unsmooth Side view my model only little curving effect.
Smooth but nicely defined back (with cylinder outline still visible):
Very squarish back of my model:
One more tidbit: I asked Ian McGlasham how one might model this (you should guys should check out his really nice youtube chanel, he is a pro). And he had this to say (sadly I am not exactly sure what he means). Maybe you guys know what he meant:
"You would create the basic topology by deleting a square of faces on your torus (maybe 4x4) extruding and scaling the remaining loop in slightly and moving it up in z. extrude another one or two loops up using the circle tool from looptools ( perhaps setting the influence to around 20% for the first loop, 50% for the second and increase that gradually until it is your cylindrical shape. This would just be your basic topology. Create a vertex group out of all of the "new geometry you have made and place your target cylinder shape inside it. add a shrinkwrap to the torus (project mode, tick the negative checkbox too.) Select the cylinder as the target and the vertex group as the..er.. vertex group! that makes it sound easy but you will constantly be damaging your topology so you will need to be going back and forwards using the circle tool and scaling loops to zero along their z axis. fiddly but fun! Hope that helps - I'll make a video about it at some point! edit: Moving the loops and faces along their normals or custom transform pivots will save you lots of continuity errors as loops move out of their natural planes."
Any tips you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!