306 replies to this topic

[Sentinel373]

Hi,
I figured I'd start my own thread after hijacking the other 3d print thread so showcase my work on MWO's mechs and other 3d prints related to battletech. For these projects I'm using the MWO game files as a start off point and i make modifications where appropriate considering alot of detail in the game files comes from normal maps which translate to a flat surface when printed. In some cases the detail is too small to worry about like for the Table Top miniatures

First off we have my first lance of TT size miniatures. (old pics for those who have followed the other thread)


The highlander is 4.5 Cm high or almost 2 inches (without the antennae) I should have these printed sometime around may 11. My next lance will consist of the black jack and the stalker (I havent decided what others i'm going to do next.

Also While i'm waiting for the miniatures to arrive I've started work on a bigger project.
Basicly its a catapult Toy. Fully poseable with full articulation and a cockpit interior, and most likely a canopy that can be opened.


In order to make this look good when printed at this scale I'll have to add alot of detail thats done with normal maps in the game versions as physical geometry.

Here is a pic of the work i've done on the leg assembly. If all works out as I planned the knee joint will have 8 positions in which it will lock. Combine that wil a foot and a hip which will have the same but also have a twist joint in them it will most likely have poseability that rivals most toy's on the market today. My target size is roughly 10 inches for this catapult.


As you can see I also modified the geometry to be higher resolution at the knee joint. Mostly because it looks better but also so the knee can rotate more freely without scratching and grinding over the other surfaces.

As soon as I receive my prints I'll post photo's

All critique's and comments are very welcome.

P.S. I'm trying to figure out what the pilots point of entry is in the catapult. At first I thought the canopy flips open but there is some geometry there that would block it from doing that. Any speculation on what it is? Maybe some of the developers can comment?

Update:

Edited by Sentinel373, 07 June 2013 - 04:34 AM.

[Adridos]

Can't wait to see the final miniatures.

I will try to find how exactly are people supposed to get inside the cockpit of that thing.

So far, I've only got to the point of knowing that Catapult actually has a sideways ejection system... which is certainly not represented on the MW:O art, or any Catapult art for that matter.

Well, here's a bit: "To get out in combat, the pilot needs to get out of the control chair, unhook his neurohelmet, and then climb through the hatch below the armored window." This is a desription of getting out of Spider in combat situations, since it has no ejection mechanism to speak of.

Edited by Adridos, 04 May 2013 - 09:07 AM.

[RH7N0]

As far as i could figure out from looking at my catapult ingame for an absurd amount of time is that the cockpit area is covered by a canopy (which the ingame model looks to be indicating). Hope that helps

PS: nice work on those models.

[Tennex]

wasn't there a catapult printed earlier. could you show us what it looks like without the supporting gunk

[Sentinel373]

as soon as my friend actualy picks up the model sure. but i havent seen it without the gunk yet either. That model is in canada and i'm in the netherlands so yeah still waiting for him.

[BFett]

I would guess the pilot would exit the catapult through the circular hatch on the top of the head and use the ladder to get off the top of the mech.

http://i1254.photobu...zps4ca0f262.png

[Grimmnyr]

If you could make them the same scale as the old Ral Partha mechs, I would buy some, would be fun to paint them up and play TT with them. I guess there would be copyright issues though.

Edited by Ed Steele, 04 May 2013 - 10:12 AM.

[Sentinel373]

I've never heard of those, what size are they? (in cm or inches)

[Nathan Foxbane]

They are just the original TT mini sizes. 1/60 scale I think. Or maybe he is talking about the museum scale and I cannot remember how tall those were.

I still cannot get over how amazing the Founder's style K2 looks. The pointy nose just works so well with the rest of the lines.

Fully poseable Cat looks nice. Will the feet be poseable too?

Edited by Nathan Foxbane, 04 May 2013 - 12:28 PM.

[Karyudo ds]

Ral Partha is the same scale as IWM, and in fact they use the same molds (or maybe recasts) because some mechs haven't been updated ever it seems. That scale is way under 1/60 though.

[Sentinel373]

Nathan Foxbane, on 04 May 2013 - 12:26 PM, said:

They are just the original TT mini sizes. 1/60 scale I think. Or maybe he is talking about the museum scale and I cannot remember how tall those were.

I still cannot get over how amazing the Founder's style K2 looks. The pointy nose just works so well with the rest of the lines.

Fully poseable Cat looks nice. Will the feet be poseable too?

Feet will have fully poseable toes, the ankle can twist and bend and knee can just bend and the hip can twist and bend. the torse can twist and tilt. and the arms can tilt

[Pupecki]

I would love to buy a highlander, both table top scale and whatever other scale there is to make them in!

[Grimmnyr]

Sentinel373, on 04 May 2013 - 10:51 AM, said:

I've never heard of those, what size are they? (in cm or inches)

Ral Partha made the original Battletech miniatures for FASA. Apparently, Ral Partha still exists in Europe and still makes Battletech minis. http://www.ralpartha....php/battletech.

[Sparks Murphey]

My assumption has been that the entrance into the Catapult's cockpit is through a hatch, the boxy thing immediately above the canopy with a circle on it (on the 'forehead' if you like). There are ladder rungs up the side of the 'Mech too, so I figure there's a fla nge there that leads to the hinges, so that it rocks forward. The pilot scales the ladder, stands on top of the 'Mech, opens the hatch away from them, and climbs in.

Edit: Really? I can't say fla nge?

Edited by Sparks Murphey, 04 May 2013 - 02:41 PM.

[Sentinel373]

Upon closer inspection i believe that canopy micht actualy be the point of entry after all. I'm going to add 2 small spring loaded pistons there that should hold it open. And a small tab on the front end of the canopy that holds it closed untill pressed. With a little luck i'll be able to use that same button to slide the obstructions at the top of the canopy back aswel.

I'm nearly done with the catapults leg. After that i'll move on to the foot. Once the foot is prepped and ready i'll print those andnslowly work my way up to ordering the rest over the next few weeks/months

Also i should have the tt mini's of the awesome, highlander, catapult and the raven tomorow so expect photo's

Edited by Sentinel373, 06 May 2013 - 06:24 PM.

[Joseph Ward]

really looking forward to seeing these printed. very interested to see how much resolution 3d printing can achieve in such fine scale. if this all works out well I am sure you will be onto a killer if you manage to commercialise it. So best of luck - because you will make the world a better place with these

Edited by Joseph Ward, 06 May 2013 - 08:30 PM.

[Sentinel373]

And here is my first wave of battletech tabletop mini's in MWO's style.


All of them


The Awesome



The Raven



The Catapult



The Highlander




Note the catapult is a bit darker than the rest, this is because there is a hollow space inside but it has no place to let the wax support material drip out. this makes it harder to see the detail. but once painted that wont be a problem. as you can see the catapult and the raven even have the ladder on their backs. i didnt know if this would turn out okay so i didnt put those on the awesome. something to consider for the next batch. also you cant see it clearly on the photo's but the highlander even has the holes in its chest and arms for the srm6's i put there. same goes for the gauss rifle's barrel on the catapult,
and as i specified the highlander is the tallest at 4.5 cm almost exactly.

I'm reading up on how to post process these and what kind of primer and other cleaning solutions i can use to make them look awesome before paint

Enjoy.

Edited by Sentinel373, 07 May 2013 - 04:09 AM.

[Feuerfuss]

Could you please change the "http://" to "http://" for better experience when trying to look at the great models?

*edit*: Did you change something? It's better now.

Edited by Feuerfuss, 07 May 2013 - 04:13 AM.

[Grenadapult]

Have you tried painting them yet?? Being plastic, what kind of paint is needed to really stick? And for S's &G's... Have you tried painting MOST of one, and leaving clear things like laser ports and windshields, then setting it on top of an LED?? Do they light up??

[Bishop Steiner]

Sentinel373, on 07 May 2013 - 03:13 AM, said:

And here is my first wave of battletech tabletop mini's in MWO's style.


All of them


The Awesome



The Raven



The Catapult



The Highlander




Note the catapult is a bit darker than the rest, this is because there is a hollow space inside but it has no place to let the wax support material drip out. this makes it harder to see the detail. but once painted that wont be a problem. as you can see the catapult and the raven even have the ladder on their backs. i didnt know if this would turn out okay so i didnt put those on the awesome. something to consider for the next batch. also you cant see it clearly on the photo's but the highlander even has the holes in its chest and arms for the srm6's i put there. same goes for the gauss rifle's barrel on the catapult,
and as i specified the highlander is the tallest at 4.5 cm almost exactly.

I'm reading up on how to post process these and what kind of primer and other cleaning solutions i can use to make them look awesome before paint

Enjoy.

now you just gotta let me know what I gotta do to get one of those Awesomes...... (and the K2. ah hell,... I wants em all!)