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Post by Slick on Jul 21, 2009 11:55:52 GMT -9
Well after almost a year of learning I feel that I have gotten to a point where i can revisit an old project the Terran MBT. Below is a picture of the rough model. The base geometry has remained the same but gotten a little more complex except for the turret. I have been beating myself over the head for the past few weeks about how to make a good tank turret. Alas I came up with a modular design that will allow the builder to customize the tank to his or her liking. The turret has a center stem that parts are attached to on the sides. I will be making a small amount of parts such as command module, main gun, AA gun, small guns, large and small rocket pods etc. Later i will post pictures of the turret broken down so you can get a better feel of what I mean. Enjoy Nate
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Post by onemonkeybeau on Jul 21, 2009 12:36:07 GMT -9
Nate!
I'm so glad you're starting this up again!
Looking forward to what you come up with.
onemonkeybeau
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Post by squirmydad on Jul 21, 2009 14:08:17 GMT -9
Once you get the white model designed and test built, I'd be happy to draw out panel lines, treads, armor details etc. You can trace these to make clean art, and I can color it... if you want. JIM
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Post by Slick on Jul 21, 2009 18:02:21 GMT -9
Thanks guys! and I would love it if you could do some art for it Jim after all its based on your ideas and sketches. Here is an exploded view of the turret and the parts. Left to right is the turret base, Missile pod, main cannon, command modules and in front are the small guns/AA guns. I still need to tweak things and make them look a bit better but I think you might be able to get some cool combinations out of combining these few parts together. Enjoy Nate
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Post by squirmydad on Jul 21, 2009 19:06:54 GMT -9
I like it. It has the right combination of complex shapes, but simple overall shape. And the chunkiness is perfect.
All I need is the parts all flattened out for assembly, and I can do my art. I think for simplicities sake, I might just do it my inked method. I also want to see what kind of weathering and battle damage I can do. I can also do this in layers and provide the thing in a layered photoshop file when done.
Should only take me a week or two to detail, color and texture while I work on other stuff. JIM
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Post by Slick on Jul 22, 2009 18:39:57 GMT -9
Just a little update for this evening. I think I'm done making parts now just to refine them. I made a generic turret for though of you who don't want the modular one. I also added long range missiles, Artillery cannon and loading platform as well as a few detail parts. here is a pic. Nate
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Post by squirmydad on Jul 22, 2009 20:03:13 GMT -9
Simple blocky shapes are good. A lot can be done with artistic details and coloring to break up large sections of flat space. JIM
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Post by Floyd on Jul 23, 2009 3:42:25 GMT -9
Nice looking tank man.
You build a prototype yet?
~f
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Post by stevelortz on Jul 23, 2009 18:25:21 GMT -9
I've built some scale model paper tanks where the gun barrels were rolled up tightly instead of folded square. I liked the way they looked a lot better. Apart from that caveat, I think you do a whiz-bang job, Nate!
Have fun! Steve
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Post by Slick on Jul 24, 2009 5:02:04 GMT -9
I've built some scale model paper tanks where the gun barrels were rolled up tightly instead of folded square. I liked the way they looked a lot better. Apart from that caveat, I think you do a whiz-bang job, Nate! I agree with you on the barrels but I'm looking for simplicity and ease of build. I know when I build paper models for games I want something that goes together fast and can be reproduced easily. If I want to build something complex there are a TON of models out there already. Also if the texturing is done right the low polly count and bulkiness of the objects will look smoother on the finished model. But I don't see any reason why you could not roll the barrel even though Its designed to be a square ;D. The Diameter should still be smaller then the breach. Nice looking tank man. You build a prototype yet? Working on that as we speak I have taken a step away from the modular turret design (I need to do some major tweaking to get the parts to fit together in a way that does not look like its modular) and have made a basic 3 part turret. I should have finished pictures latter tonight. Here is a pic of the model with the simple turret. Enjoy! Nate
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Post by jabbro on Jul 24, 2009 6:12:59 GMT -9
This is a very cool project. I like all the options. You could end up making an entire army off the one design.
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Post by squirmydad on Jul 24, 2009 7:01:20 GMT -9
Once you get the basic tank done, I can see doing add-on bits, like side turrets, optional main turrets, dozer blade, extra armor, that sort of stuff, but get the basic thing done first! JIM
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Post by kane on Jul 24, 2009 8:04:50 GMT -9
Hurry up! Jim's boys need some armor!
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Post by Slick on Jul 25, 2009 7:53:57 GMT -9
test build is going well! I ran out of card-stock (don't ask me how) so all i got done is the turret. below is a before picture from my old model attempt. and now for the new one. It went together just as easily and looks way better in my opinion. I also made it a bit smaller to give the tank a more imposing feel. New turret is below. Nate
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Post by kane on Jul 25, 2009 12:03:05 GMT -9
Lookin good! Can't wait to get the finished model.
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Post by rjstacey64 on Jul 27, 2009 5:04:29 GMT -9
To quote the Dark Lord of the Sith; "Impressive"
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Post by squirmydad on Jul 27, 2009 6:46:58 GMT -9
I am eagerly awaiting the finished part for coloring. Looking great so far! JIM
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Post by Slick on Jul 27, 2009 7:04:30 GMT -9
Just got back from the store with cardstock. Ill have the finished test build later tonight and you should get the files by tomorrow ;D Nate Edit: I have the finished model all done and built. I made a few changes. I added 10mm height to the treads and the armor skirt. This should make the model a bit higher and make it look more imposing. Here is a picture before I made the changes. The final files are off to Jim for approval and texturing. Nate
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Post by Slick on Jul 28, 2009 17:19:26 GMT -9
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Post by jabbro on Jul 29, 2009 4:24:29 GMT -9
Turned out very nice, Nate. You have a knack for 3d modeling. The shapes are simplistic enough, but together they have the appearance of complexity. Depending on the scale, it would make a great rampaging Bolo. ;D
Very cool.
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Post by onemonkeybeau on Jul 29, 2009 7:40:15 GMT -9
Yeah Nate!
NICE job on the 3D modeling! You make it look so easy!
Do you have any other plans for more 3D vehicles? I think having a ton of vehicles to field would be amazing!
onemonkeybeau
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Post by Slick on Jul 29, 2009 7:58:12 GMT -9
onemonkeybeau, I want to get the modular turret thing worked out next and then the future depends on what Ideas Jim throws at me. For my own personal line I want to do some stuff for the near future/sci-fi range I am working on.
jabbro, Thanks my 3d work uses the KISS method. Simple polys and let the texture/artwork make the model shine. Its in 30mm scale to go with Jim's TF range but aside from the barrel the whole model can be easily built in 15mm.
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Post by squirmydad on Aug 16, 2009 9:15:34 GMT -9
I'm ready for all the turret variations. I'll work on them intermittently. I'd also like for you to design a turret with a side mount gun, both one sided and two sided mounts. I want to do cannon variations of the Terra Force heavy weapons. I'll design the guns, they will be basic boxes. Here is a sketch for the turrets. I hope these make sense, just let me know if you have any questions. The plan is to make an entire set of optional turrets that will work with all the future Medium tanks and APC's. JIM
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Post by Slick on Aug 16, 2009 12:41:50 GMT -9
Give me a day and ill have some pics for you!
Nate
EDIT: Question Do you want the base and the turrets height to be equal to the origonal or just the turrets?
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Post by squirmydad on Aug 16, 2009 15:49:20 GMT -9
The height is not critical, maybe make it 15mm. This way I'll design the weapons around the 15x15mm square box shape with different barrels, and also gives me some options to have the weapon parts stick out or up. This way the combo of the base and turret is only 25mm high.
The base plate thing can also be 5mm high if the parts aren't too fiddly. JIM
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Post by Slick on Aug 16, 2009 18:44:38 GMT -9
Ill keep it 10mm and see how it looks 5mm is workable but the larger the parts the better.
Nate
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Post by Slick on Aug 17, 2009 16:58:23 GMT -9
How do these look Jim? Let me know if you want them unfolded. Nate
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Post by squirmydad on Aug 17, 2009 17:30:42 GMT -9
Perfect! I'll take those and all the other turret variants you have. Now that I have the design style established for the tank parts, it shouldn't take too long to get these ready. JIM
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Post by Slick on Aug 23, 2009 19:41:30 GMT -9
Here are my versions of the modular turret designs. Jim let me know what you think and ill unfold them. You have right and left everything (except for the middle spar) module order from left to right back to front. Command, main gun, middle spar, twin auto-cannon, large rocket pod, small rocket pod, artillery, searchlight, extra armor and dozer blade. The dozer and armor will be simple 2d objects just to give a little depth to the model. Heck Jim might have a better design in the works already. Enjoy EDIT: I redesigned these to fit the turrest base that I made for Jim in the above post. Nate
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Post by squirmydad on Aug 23, 2009 21:19:51 GMT -9
Yes please, I'll take them all! The ones you did earlier and these! That dozer blade turned out better than what I had in mind to do, so your saving me all sorts of time!
This is going to be a huge upgrade package! Thanks, JIM
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