JSDF

[old squirmydad]

An old project of mine from January of 2008 bubbled to the surface of my brain again last month; modeling the Japanese Self Defense Force. I made a few vehicles years ago in 6mm scale and released them as part of a MMiP Showcase, then decided to make a few more.

I wanted to make a Type 82 Command vehicle, there's always one in the background of the more recent Godzilla movies when the scene is set in a military field camp, but it didn't seem practical to make one in 6mm scale. So I must have thought it would be easier to make it in 15mm scale...which is a scale I don't play in very much...so I lost interest in the model due to the scale. If I'm not going to play with it why should I make it?

The August Forum Hoard happened to be a Modern Military theme, and I happened to trip over the old files while rearranging my hard-drive. Nice timing that. So I decided to upscale it and finish it for the Hoard. Unfortunately I made some odd choices back in '08 and I wasn't entirely satisfied with the model I submitted;


So I decided to do a bit more research, get my measurements straight, apply a stronger build dynamic to it, and also see about making the variant versions of this vehicle. I'm presently at the xport and unfold step of the second version;


I believe I can re-use a lot of the textureing from the first version that I released last month, you can find it here if you want to play with it;
dl.dropbox.com/u/2320000/JSDF/Type%2082%20zips/Type82_Command-v2.zip

Hopefully I can get the rework done this week so I can get on to the variant aspects of this project.

[kiladecus]

Thank you so much, Squirmydad!

I can't wait to use this in my playtest of my game I am working on. Keep your eyes open because you will hopefully see this carrying my troops into battle.

[Vermin King]

Will this one have the sub-frame like was discussed on version one?

[old squirmydad]

Sept 6, 2011 18:12:44 GMT -9 Vermin King said:

Will this one have the sub-frame like was discussed on version one?

Yup. That's why the bottom section is a different color in the second render. Here's the layout in Photoshop;


Doesn't look like much yet.

[Vermin King]

Yes, but it is laid out well and just looking at it, everything looks like it should fit. That is a talent I lack. In the few things I have put together as a design, I always have to make the pieces and once I get them right, I have to lay them out on separate paper and scan it back in.

I appreciate those who can do the design work like you are doing.

[old squirmydad]

Moving right along, setting up layer sets to keep track of colors, effects, details;


And then shuffling everything around after importing all of the Detail layer sets from the first version;


One of the things that helps with modern vehicle model projects is that very often scale blueprints are available that show the vehicle from four different directions. The conversion scale that I've been using for the current version is about 1/48th-which works nicely for gaming purposes. At this rate I may be test-building by Thursday.

[old squirmydad]

Continuing to churn forward, I like to take breaks and play with colors, or rework a blending layer with more noise, different blur, different pattern combinations, etc. Keeps me from going batty when my brain gets tired. I think I'll be going with two colors this time around;

[dcbradshaw]

This is looking sweeeeeeet.

(I also have to admit, I'm totally curious about your clearly masterwork desktop art, which we're seeing the tiny bottom strip of.)

[Tommygun]

Wow, that was a big jump in quality.

[kiladecus]

Holy cow! I think this has the potential to be your best model yet! (And that is saying a LOT because I just built your Recon Hover today and that looked awesome)! You are a brilliant designer (one of the original masters that helped shape the world of papercraft back in the day).

I am very excited because you are going to offer this in different colors!

[old squirmydad]

Sept 7, 2011 16:58:27 GMT -9 kiladecus said:

You are a brilliant designer (one of the original masters that helped shape the world of papercraft back in the day).

I almost snorked my beer... ;D Thanks for the compliment, and for buying the Recon Hover. One of my favorite quotes is that, "I can only reach this high because I stand on the shoulders of giants." Patrick Crusiau, Jim Hartmann, Mel Ebbles, Shaun Austin, Erik Battle; those were my big inspirations and some times mentors over the years. I've still got a ways to go to be on their level. Thanks though.


My desktop and my daughter's birthday art for me this year;


It's the whole family involved in a snowball fight, in space, there's a monkey and a kangaroo wearing their air helmets, a flying saucer, and a walking noodle...

[old squirmydad]

Hrm, might be done;


Time for sleep, rearrange parts tomorrow, print, cut, build, and revise if necessary.

[kiladecus]

Well, I based that on the link at... possibly Ebbles site that showed you and Glenn Williams (among others) that had a site before there were great sites like this... that was where I found Glenn's original Mule!

As far as the model, I have one small criticism. (Well, not on this beastly version that you are wrapping up, but on the original). It is a simple thing, but on the tires, it would make it easier if there were fold-lines to indicate where the tires should be folded. You may have left those off intentionally, as to help with the appearance that it is a round tire, but if it is going to be folded, and the crease colored with a marker to hide the white of the cardstock, then there will be a line there any way... make sense?

Ok, just thought I would throw that out there. As I read over this, I can see Tommygun saying, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their cardstock!" (Maybe its just me...)

[cowboyleland]

And you haven't made up skirmish rules for zero G snowball fights with monkies, 'roos and anthro noodles yet?!?!?

What are you waiting for?!?!?

[dcbradshaw]

Sept 7, 2011 18:28:47 GMT -9 old squirmydad said:

My desktop and my daughter's birthday art for me this year;


It's the whole family involved in a snowball fight, in space, there's a monkey and a kangaroo wearing their air helmets, a flying saucer, and a walking noodle...

That is MAGNIFICENT. Is the space monkey in a snow fort? (there's a sentence I didn't think I'd utter today)

[old squirmydad]

Yes the space monkey is in a snowfort, he's actually holding a peach not a snowball though. The kangaroo has a banana.

I'm out of ink until tomorrow so no test build from me for a day or so.

Since I couldn't build today I got started on the mods for the Type 87 Recon vehicle;


It uses the same drivetrain/lower assembly as the Type 82 with a slightly modified (lower silhouette) upper body and a light turret. the Type 82 has a higher rear section for extra communications equipment. If you don't use the turret then you have a handy APC;


Once I'm done with this chassis's variations I'm thinking of working on the Type 73 and it's heavy artillery add-ons.

[Tommygun]

Squirmydad, what 3D software are you using?

[old squirmydad]

Sept 8, 2011 14:51:01 GMT -9 Tommygun said:

Squirmydad, what 3D software are you using?

Vectorworks 12.5 for MacOS, then exporting it through Metasequoia (PC) so that Pepakura (PC) can unfold it.

I keep meaning to learn how to fully use Metasequoia, MelEbbles does a lot of his design work with it, but I trained on and teach Vectorworks, so I stick with what I know.

[stevelortz]

Sept 7, 2011 18:28:47 GMT -9 old squirmydad said:

My desktop and my daughter's birthday art for me this year;


It's the whole family involved in a snowball fight, in space, there's a monkey and a kangaroo wearing their air helmets, a flying saucer, and a walking noodle...

Are you going to have her do backs for them? ;D

Have fun!
Steve

[kiladecus]

I see how it works at your house... your 7 year-old designs the Exterminator Tank and your little girl designs your figures.

[algoesnext]

Where's Wally

[Tommygun]

Don't worry he'll find you.

Attachments:

[kiladecus]

Well, I tried to think of a way to respond to your question...

You asked if I was thinking of something like Glenn William's Da' Boss Crash Truck. I was thinking more of another kind of warwagon. If you release a turret for your newer version of this, it should fit on the reversed frame as well.

Just basically thinking out loud. Afterall, the structure is a good design, simple to build, looks great when finished yet fairly durable. These are all good traits in an excellent paper model.

I dearly love Finger and Toe models. They offer all of these traits and more. So, I wasn't saying that this would replace Da' Boss... but simply be another. Model for us to build with VERY little effort from you... you have all of the framework done, it's simply a matter of retexturing it. (A lesson I learned from Todd McFarlane... reproduce the EXACT models with a different paint scheme).

Now, I feel I said everything in a way that doesn't take away from anyone else. I am not saying you should call it the "SPRINGSTEEN ASSAULT VEHICLE."

[old squirmydad]

Sept 11, 2011 13:06:23 GMT -9 kiladecus said:

Well, I tried to think of a way to respond to your question...

You asked if I was thinking of something like Glenn William's Da' Boss Crash Truck. I was thinking more of another kind of warwagon. If you release a turret for your newer version of this, it should fit on the reversed frame as well.

Just basically thinking out loud. Afterall, the structure is a good design, simple to build, looks great when finished yet fairly durable. These are all good traits in an excellent paper model.

I dearly love Finger and Toe models. They offer all of these traits and more. So, I wasn't saying that this would replace Da' Boss... but simply be another. Model for us to build with VERY little effort from you... you have all of the framework done, it's simply a matter of retexturing it. (A lesson I learned from Todd McFarlane... reproduce the EXACT models with a different paint scheme).

Now, I feel I said everything in a way that doesn't take away from anyone else. I am not saying you should call it the "SPRINGSTEEN ASSAULT VEHICLE."

It sounds like you're talking about more of a bulldog-looking vehicle, like this;

This is a sketch by TheMuffinKing over at the stardestroyer.net forums, worth a look, lot of good ideas there.

[kiladecus]

Ok. That will work!

When can you have this done?

Basically, the frame is the same, and instead of the tracks, keep the wheels on it.

Ok... holding my breath till I get this...

(I suffer from Varuca Salt Syndrome. I want it now)!

Actually, thanks for this picture... I am going to fire up SHUFFLER and see what I can do with it. I love to challenge myself, and let theMuffinKing know that I am stea-- exploring the likelihood of his design having merit in the realm of 3D papercraft models.

If I do this, please feel free to pass my images onto the other forum!

Thanks, Squirmydad!

[old squirmydad]

Finally was able to purchase ink and print this out, looks a tad dark to me. I need to check some of the lightness settings from the first version. Anybody else printed this version out? I often wonder if my printer is just crappy.

[kiladecus]

I did the original one (obviously). Email it to me and I will try to have photos up tomorrow!

[old squirmydad]

Test-build done;


It is slightly smaller than the first version. This is about a two-hour build, the longest part is the tires which took me about 40 minutes to complete, ymmv. These are hand-cut times, machine files will be along later. I like how the model goes together and looks when finished, some of my textures are too dark, some are too bright, and some are in the wrong place. So some texture tweaking for the weekend and then making the machine-cut files.

[kiladecus]

Look at that profile. I'm telling you, you have two models in one. Since you are redoing some textures anyway...

[old squirmydad]

Sept 16, 2011 13:50:34 GMT -9 kiladecus said:

Look at that profile. I'm telling you, you have two models in one. Since you are redoing some textures anyway...

I have a better idea;
dl.dropbox.com/u/2320000/JSDF/Type82blanks.zip
This is the model in blank .png for, see what you can do with in Shuffler. ;D