Machines will Rise

[squirmydad]

Not a short term project as it'll take a while to mod-up, but I will be making color variations on the Skelebot troops.
Skelebots have analyzed the perception filters in the many organic races they've encountered (and eliminated) and have found that organic beings react to color in different ways.
For instance, the now extinct Phalangian race perceived the red pattern Skelebot chassis as soothing and harmless.




The skelebot forces also need some kind of heavy hitter with lots of legs or big tread units...hmm...

[Parduz]

OHHH YEAH!!!
Black or Black/Red bots, chrome/satin alluminium, grey/yellow....

But a think i always missed on the bots is some better "quality line" or shadow that gives better depth where the shoulder "pad" join the chest. I never understand what's in front and what's back.

[whiteknight06604]

looking forward to these.

[Rhannon]

Also I can't wait for the new color variants.

And even in this case I have a little story about these sets. ( I'm sorry, I'm on vacation today )

In 2006 Great Jim drew a skeleton soldiers set ( Omega Series brand, then not used when he sold his sets ), with a first skelebot soldier prototype. Then it was replaced by the current.



After a month or two, there was another free set. With ten mixed figures ( They will be then included in the four official commercial sets. Assault, Attack, Support and Tactical Skelebots ). But some of them will no longer appear in the new sets.



The second figure from the left.



The first from the right



The first and the third.

So another great series is going to be re-released. Another opportunity for all. Thanks.

PS: There are several excellent figures mods in the forum ( I remember skelebots priests, large skelebot ... )

[squirmydad]

Huh, I don't think I ever saw the Omega series, nt sure if I have them in the old files I acquired either, interesting look to them.
The multi-colored layered pdf project for the Zeroids will get added to their files at OBS once they're done. I'll post previews here once the project is farther along.

One thing I've always felt the Zeroids were lacking was heavy-hitters; tanks and artillery but with a cybernetic spin. One of my favorite movie images is in the first Terminator with the giant treads of a cybernetic tank crushing the remains of humanity. Some big mechanical beastie like that is where I'm leaning.

[onemonk]

I think the omega design is hiding somewhere in a old Hoard folder.

The final Skelebots were from my clean vector period, far before I started adding deep shading, which I prefer as well.

This range does need to be filled out with more troop types, vehicles and such.
JIM

[Rhannon]

Hi Jim,

I'm not a stalker but I like to think that I'm one of your first fans.

"Skelebots" are a great series. They are still excellent, after a few years, and they are still the best available sets ( as well as many other your sets, including Terraforce soldiers ).


You are a great artist, and this is certain. And you are the founder of the modern approach to the paper minis ( and even this is not a compliment but a fact ).

I like paper models but I'm not a ( paper ) models' builder. I am mainly a paper figures' collector ( which when he can, a few times, use them ). and I started to like paper figures with your first drawings on old forums. Today I love good paper minis more than any other minis' type ( and I have many boxes of metal, plastic and resin miniatures that gather dust for years ).

So I, like everyone else here, I was worried about your health and I was sorry for your separation fom your hobby. But first comes your health and immediately after your pleasure ( if you have the need to do something else then you have to do something else, because to do something that don't like more is always very stressful and it's not good ). So I'm happy for you.

But your absence, as artist and as leading expert, feels. And not just in this forum.

... Ah! Jim, do you know that there's the annual Papercuts showcase awards, and there is also the "single figure" category?

[onemonk]

I'm working on more designs right now. I am still trying to organize myself, print out more eyeline sketch paper, doing thumbnails, making notes, setting up the software, finding the old files and templates, etc...

I'll be doing a page of stuff for the papercuts, right now it's looking like fan art, Torchlight 2 Netherim monsters. I'll start a topic in the papercuts when I have some nice drawings done.

In any case, I am gearing up to design paper figures again, for free and for sale to go along with all the re-releases. Hopefully it doesn't take too long to get back into the groove.

[cowboyleland]

Glad to have you back Jim. Enjoy yourself and don't push for quantity.

[squirmydad]

Finally getting back to this project, the new colors expansion will start after I finish the last two Terra Force sets. Right now I have a red/black version, I need to come up with two more variants, any suggestions? Reference pics will help.

[squirmydad]

Playing with prototypes for heavier Skelebots;

[cowboyleland]

For some reason when I read your post asking for colour suggestions Ikea blue and gold lept to mind.

[squirmydad]

Sept 22, 2017 18:13:09 GMT -9 cowboyleland said:

For some reason when I read your post asking for colour suggestions Ikea blue and gold lept to mind.

[cowboyleland]

I think I would have gone mostly blue with yellow high lights, but, yeah! BTW the only explanation I can find for my association with these colours is that the Skelebots pack flat.

[marzman]

I like the half n half color scheme, how about the quartered color scheme left leg color of right arm and such.