Project - Ratmen

[Dominic]

I've been doing some project-jumping recently, hence the lack of information here. I've startet a total of three projects I considered strong candidates for release - only to crash into one learning curve or another.

Anyway, I've decided to put the the two paper-model projects on ice for a bit, work part-time on the written stuff and go for something, well, you might say old school.

Enter the Ratmen, my first attempt to do minis. The current planning (and the sketches actually) seem to point at two sets, one with basic Ratmen food soldiers - or brawlers, more like, and one with arcane engines of war, of sorts.

We'll see how far I'll get this time, I need to convert an old scanner to a lightbox before I can proceed, though. Also, remember that this is the first draft.



(Reluctantly, I hereby invoke the allmighty parduz *burns failed sketches as incense*)

[Dryw the Harper]

Did they run into a farmer's wife, who cut off their tails with a carving knife? Poor guys need tails, tails I tell ya. Tails to be proud of, tails to show off to prospective mates.

Looks good so far, can't wait to see them all furry and ready to mug unsuspecting passersby.

Dryw the Harper

One more threat for Imperfect Townsfolk to deal with.

[cowboyleland]

I worked up some 2.5d ratmen a while back. Luckily I could leave them white because it was an "arctic" adventure. They really need some fur texture, if anyone is interested. I bring them to your attention, Satrek, because you seem mechanically inclined and I wonder if their isn't some kind of base that can be designed that would tab together the two base haves and help keep the figs curved.


ratmen by cowboyleland, on Flickr

Not to distract you again

[Dominic]

@dryw: Tails? Oh my... Yes, there was this tragic incident involving a cup of tea and two rubber bands a while back... . They'll get tails, probably on the backside for most of them (not the anatomical one - well, that, too - but mainly to cut down on the fiddly cutting). Thanks for poointing that one out. I completely missed it.

@cbl: mechanically inclined as my boss hopes that I am, I'm at a loss here - what do you mean by curved?

[kiladecus]

Looks nice, but I HATE mice... more reasons to have them! I can kill them all day long, and will consider it therapy!

(I used to work at a Grocery Store that looks like it might have been found in Dave Graffam's RAKE'S CORNER... the ceiling in the back room had the pink insulation with CLEAR plastic over the studs... as soon as the lights went on, the ceiling looked like a ladybug... only the black dots were mice that climbed up there to get warm, and suffocated. There was one that had almost chewed it's way free before it died, and was fused to a piece of plastic that hung from the ceiling, its legs and tail swinging in the wind... so that is why I HATE mice)...

Back on topic, I like what you are doing here Satrek, but I might suggest not giving them such long necks. It might be me, but I would think that having their heads directly on their shoulders might look a little more *realistic,* and not as much like a theme park icon. (unless that is what you are going for).

Nice start!

[cowboyleland]

Sorry, the preview showed I posted a pic. I'll try to revise the post above. Actually I'll post another


Ratfight by cowboyleland, on Flickr

[kiladecus]

Hey, those are pretty cool. Why do you have the big triangular bases on them? Just curious... is that to act as a counter-weight?

If you want to send them to me in a PDF, I can *try* to work with them and make them be adaptable to Jim's bases.

Let me know.

[e-mail]

[Tommygun]

That does give a good 3D effect.

[Dominic]

@cbl: Hm... they do give a nice 3D effect, but the problem is that I for one store my paper minis the afet-way, i.e. with card colelcting sheets, you know, the things with 9 pockets in them. Minis folded like that would not fit in there.

Also, I'd be worries that they might tear if I let my daughter near them (she's probably try to fix them by flattening them, seeing how most other minis look that way...)

Thas is, I was thinking you intend to glue the two triangles togetheras a base. It should keep them in shape, too, although I don't know whether the base will remain flat that way.

On a side note, I managed find the scanner in question, and I hope to get the lightbox done by tonight...

[Dryw the Harper]

Convert a scanner into a light box? What a great idea. I've been using those stick-up lights with the LEDs that run on three AAA batteries under an upside-down translucent plastic drawer from an old storage unit.

Dryw the Harper

[josedominguez]

Just make a plain white background on your desktop and lay the monitor flat

Or buy a lightbox.

Ikea do a superb drawing table with a lightbox panel set in it. Perfect (and pretty cheap).

[kiladecus]

I think that is a WONDERFUL idea about the light box. I used to have one as a kid that was an actual light box... You could trace super heroes. I actually learned most of what limited skill I have using one of those...

I would of course trace the general outline, and fill the details in by hand...

Speaking of "details," I can't wait to see your Ratmen once you get "details" on them! Looking good so far...

[Dominic]

I cobbled something together from forementioned old scanner, a flourescent light bulb, a construction site socket, a sheet of sandwich paper and a salvaged cord. In the last picture, there is a reflection on the glass from another lamp. As usual, the camera doesn't do it full justice.

Scannerlight 1
Scannerlight 2
Scannerlight 3

Now, as soon as the little diaper pirate is locked away, I'll see to the rats. Don't know whether I'll focus on the minis or the engines first, I've got sketches prepped for both actually.

And as for a light box, I didn't know what they were (that is I knew them from back in the day when photos actually came as negatives...) and never thought about using them for drawing until I read Jim's tutorial.

[cowboyleland]

Hi guys,
I store my these mini's in envelopes. I flatten them and slide them in. When I pull them out, it takes a second to "fluff" them up again. The paper kind of "remembers" how it was curled before.
The "big" triangular bases are actually 1" on the long side, so when you fold the fig and the long sides are parallel to each other they fill one sq are on the board. Their feet are at about 90 degrees to each other, which is why they don't fit into Jim's bases. I've thought about modding Jim's bases so that the slot is "V" shaped, but getting each foot into its own base would be really fiddly.
The way they are now there is a slight tendency for the feet to spread over time which is why I would like to design a base where each half would hook into the other and still be able to unhook to fold flat. I'd also like it to look good and be at the right angle. It is the kind of "challenging" thing I like to delegate.
The mention of rats reminded me of the unsolved problem. I didn't mean to hijack the thread.
PS. Satrek If you happen to be in Hof in the next few weeks and hear some guy with a Canadian accent it is probably me. I'll try too keep some rats on me at all times, for your daughter.

[Tommygun]

Dec 10, 2010 10:32:52 GMT -9 Dominic said:

I cobbled something together from forementioned old scanner, a flourescent light bulb, a construction site socket, a sheet of sandwich paper and a salvaged cord.

Macgyver Lives!

[Dominic]

Dec 10, 2010 15:13:19 GMT -9 Tommygun said:

Macgyver Lives!

Such high praise... but I thought to qualify for a Macgyverism you need to use the spring from a ballpen and a rubber band...

[kiladecus]

Well, there is ALWAYS gluing the "V" part of the base together, forming a "|" rigid upright, and cut a slot in either side of THAT. With this, it would basically for an "I" shape, and then cut tabs into your triangular bases.

Simply slip the bases under the "|" bar, and those should hold your minis.

(Do you understand what I am suggesting?
I know what I am trying to say, but it is hard unless I draw a picture).

[cowboyleland]

Hey, I can see that! I'm going to keep mulling it over.

[Dominic]

A quick update, I did the first sketch (one of the engines, actually), and was pretty excited with the ease that using a lightbox brings... But then I used my constructions felt tips (the ones I used back in school) to ink the sketch, but they turned out, well, runny. I scanned the ink art anyway, but I still need to fiddle with the settings for the tracing, the first trace I got was way to vector-heavy, with white specks all over the ink. It brought my desktop to its knees, not really something you can work with. So either I'll clean it up more thoroughly, or look for better trace settings (and pens for that matter).

[kiladecus]

Can't wait to see them!

[Dominic]

I managed to get the front of the first engine traced okay (although I meant to put them in a new thread, but since they are meant to be engines of war operated by the ratmen, I think that won't be necessary.

Keep in mind that this is my first mini and that it's far from done. some parts will receive textures, and I havn't been over the separating lines yet (that'll be a whole new can of worms I ecpect).