Warning: note this thread is quite old. It's just been locked away in a private section of the site, however Xeones has asked me to move it into the new 3D modelling subforum
- Mangozac
The Beginning:
Gentlemen, this marks the unveiling of something BIG. . .
. . . Ah, who am I kidding? It's actually kind of small (being a miniature and all), but I'm hoping to make some waves anyway. For a while now, I've been toying with the idea of using rapid prototyping to create miniatures. Rapid prototyping itself is fairly expensive, so at this point, I'm planning on just using the printed versions as the basis to create some masters and then cast the final models in resin.
The subject for this project started back about 18 months ago when Zac, Mark, and I (and a few other intrepid modelers) were working together on our own version of a battlesuit. Even though nothing ever really came of our efforts, one of the concepts that I submitted just kept begging me for attention, so eventually I gave in and started to work on making it into a real model.
As you can see in the images at the bottom of this post, a lot has changed in the design from that initial sketch, but I feel that, at least in essence, the design retains it's heritage. Many of the changes were made either to aid casting or to better articulate the model for posing by the modeler, but a few of the changes were made "just because".
The next image is an exploded view that shows the different pieces which comprise the model. Currently, there are 30 pieces to the model, but some of those pieces will be fused together before casting the final model. These extra divisions were created because I had to reduce the volume of actual printed material that will go into the torso so that it doesn't cost as much to print (as most companies charge by the cubic cm) so it was to my advantage to make a few pieces hollow.
The final image in the series shows some of my recent (and still very much WIP) efforts to create some accessories to the original model in order to make it into a beefier design --the XV88 to the normal XV8 chassis in Tau terms-- The additions include added shoulder pods that will house additional systems, and an armored breast plate and codpiece that slide over the existing torso. This design will also probably receive an alternate head or two as well as a lot of big, shiny new weapons that will mount onto the arms and shoulders.
Project Status and Projected Goals
At this point, I think that the basic battlesuit model is almost ready to print. My next step, after a few last-minute adjustments, is to print off a few select pieces in order to test their fit and see how well they clean up. I expect them to need some puttying, sanding, and panel lining --if not some more in-depth scratch-building-- to get them to a level where they are ready for casting. Once all the pieces have been prepared, I'll see about either trying to cast them myself, or perhaps getting someone else to help me cast them. We'll see how it goes. Here's what I'm thinking for the kit releases:
Phase One
• Get the existing battlesuit ready for a limited print run of perhaps 25 kits (maybe even smaller depending on interest).
-The model will come with one or two weapons options and little else.
Phase Two
• Release an accessories kit that will contain all of the parts for the heavy version of the suit as well as additional bits.
-This version will likely include: alternate head(s), armor plates, and a full spread of weapons and support systems for both the light and heavy versions of the 'suit.
So that's the plan. We'll see how well it turns out. Since nothing has really been printed out but a few test bits, this project could come crashing down in short order. But for now, I remain optimistic and hopeful. What are your thoughts on the design and my plans in general? I admit that because of the amount of work I've put into the model so far, I'm not likely to change things too radically, but I'd still appreciate feedback --both positive and negative.
-Nate
Oh yeah, dimensions: Right now I think I'm shooting for a height a centimeter or two taller than an XV8.