I also do animation, perhaps not well, but I do it;)
First up is the Sasquatch Rover, A rugged ATV/Monster truck for realtime 3D - video games etc. This model has been around for a while now and is being put into Orbiter (thanks to my good friend Abhi) and other things.
And finally for now, a short experimental video from a few years back of a dogfight in space, gone wrong - the dogfight, not the animation...
Saturday, 18 February 2012
Monday, 13 February 2012
Microworldgames.com TEF 6mm Sci fi mini's
Here are the existing models for Microworlds TEF collection, apparently the last few vehicles are nearly ready to be added. I nearly fell off my chair when I saw them because i think they look great, better than I had expected... I would also like to share the wonderful paint jobs that Aaron Dickey applied to them.
I designed the vehicles and infantry myself, and although I'm biased, I think they turned out just great and will be one of the best 6mm fleets out there, thanks of course to Steve Salotti of Microworld who has patiently assembled the people required for production and got the designs out there, I hope they do him proud.
I've reposted my poster image of the fleet so you can see how they turned out compared to the 3d renderings, I think with the great paint job the production mini's look even better than the renderings.
(I'm extra pleased that Aaron chose similar colour scheme for the real models, as it makes it easy to compare)
I designed the vehicles and infantry myself, and although I'm biased, I think they turned out just great and will be one of the best 6mm fleets out there, thanks of course to Steve Salotti of Microworld who has patiently assembled the people required for production and got the designs out there, I hope they do him proud.
I've reposted my poster image of the fleet so you can see how they turned out compared to the 3d renderings, I think with the great paint job the production mini's look even better than the renderings.
(I'm extra pleased that Aaron chose similar colour scheme for the real models, as it makes it easy to compare)
Alright, I'll stop gushing now... Check them out and buy a set:)
All the vehicles seen here will shortly be available, currently you can get the jet gunship, the 4 wheel car, the 6 wheel APC, 10 wheel IFV, the motorbike and the infantry guys, click the link below!
Sunday, 12 February 2012
El Diablo de la Carretera
The following information is classified and has been leaked from a government insider....
*******
Currently in use with a black budget task force on the late night highways of the US and Mexico; it's existence is denied by the US Government, it's mission, classified beyond top secret. Never normally seen during daylight, the dark hunched form seen speeding around the border areas has become known as "The Devil of the Highway" and is associated with many burned out car wrecks (which appear to have been pummelled by high powered explosive tipped rounds) and mysterious deaths found in areas where the vehicle is sighted.
Based on the XMT-168 advanced APC prototype this vehicle is modified for use at high speed on paved roads: It features 6 wheel drive and 6 wheel steering, powered by twin turbo-shaft engines outputting a combined 2000 shaft horsepower. Aerodynamically arranged armour and double rear wheels help keep it on the road, along with a vacuum system (inspired by outlawed Chaparral race cars) that create low pressure areas under the hull around the front and side skirts allowing manuvering that belies its mass - which is minimal through use of composites and high tech materials. The turret has a faceted lenticular shape - similar to an AWACS radar that allows the turret to rotate and cause minimal wind deflection at high speeds.
To tackle rougher terrain, the vehicle can raise up on its double wishbone suspension and / or detach skirt sections for added clearance, it is also able to fit inside a C-130 transport and compact enough to be practical on a modern road network. The side effect of this is reduced carrying capacity for troops or cargo of its own. Effective Crew is a minimum of 2, typically 3 and provision for carrying a small number of passengers.
*******
The model itself is built to be 3D printable and while it's also a scifi concept model its also an experimental test bed for very real world technologies that allow the printing of miniaturised working suspension components, or of course any type of working mechanism.
*******
Currently in use with a black budget task force on the late night highways of the US and Mexico; it's existence is denied by the US Government, it's mission, classified beyond top secret. Never normally seen during daylight, the dark hunched form seen speeding around the border areas has become known as "The Devil of the Highway" and is associated with many burned out car wrecks (which appear to have been pummelled by high powered explosive tipped rounds) and mysterious deaths found in areas where the vehicle is sighted.
Based on the XMT-168 advanced APC prototype this vehicle is modified for use at high speed on paved roads: It features 6 wheel drive and 6 wheel steering, powered by twin turbo-shaft engines outputting a combined 2000 shaft horsepower. Aerodynamically arranged armour and double rear wheels help keep it on the road, along with a vacuum system (inspired by outlawed Chaparral race cars) that create low pressure areas under the hull around the front and side skirts allowing manuvering that belies its mass - which is minimal through use of composites and high tech materials. The turret has a faceted lenticular shape - similar to an AWACS radar that allows the turret to rotate and cause minimal wind deflection at high speeds.
To tackle rougher terrain, the vehicle can raise up on its double wishbone suspension and / or detach skirt sections for added clearance, it is also able to fit inside a C-130 transport and compact enough to be practical on a modern road network. The side effect of this is reduced carrying capacity for troops or cargo of its own. Effective Crew is a minimum of 2, typically 3 and provision for carrying a small number of passengers.
*******
The model itself is built to be 3D printable and while it's also a scifi concept model its also an experimental test bed for very real world technologies that allow the printing of miniaturised working suspension components, or of course any type of working mechanism.
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Snowbound! Christmas update / reposting old stuff in my blog:)
A couple of vehicles in the snow... Not particularly festive but it's the best I could do. OK?
....Wish i had spent more time painting the snow.
This model took me over 2 years of freetime and as yet I've only made this one image with it.
Merry Christmas
Friday, 16 September 2011
Alien Makers & more - Dennis Lowe's website
Memories from people who worked on the classic Ridley Scott movie, Alien... Plus many other talented individuals and other projects, documented by a truly great British artist - Dennis Lowe.
His Video productions are highly informative, entertaining and recommended to anyone interested in learning more about classic film and TV production, though many reading this blog will be familiar with digital techniques, you may find many things from the pre-digital era still apply today.
One of Dennis' major contributions to the films effects was the fantastically eerie looking alien planet, as viewed from space... In the following passage from the Alien Makers website, Dennis describes the sneaky process used to create this creepy looking surface texture:
An example of texture for the planets: This came from a trick I learned at art college, a tray of white spirit and pour in some aluminium paint, light with a lamp either side and convection currents will start to produce globules in a cellular form as detailed as the lens will resolve. The paint or spirit can be coloured with powder pigment and with a little patience it's possible to roll off a lot of surfaces. These transparencies can then be projected onto a white painted sphere. I still have 30 trannies of the original surface textures but most of them weren't used. A Hasselblad was used to take these shots.
His Video productions are highly informative, entertaining and recommended to anyone interested in learning more about classic film and TV production, though many reading this blog will be familiar with digital techniques, you may find many things from the pre-digital era still apply today.
One of Dennis' major contributions to the films effects was the fantastically eerie looking alien planet, as viewed from space... In the following passage from the Alien Makers website, Dennis describes the sneaky process used to create this creepy looking surface texture:
An example of texture for the planets: This came from a trick I learned at art college, a tray of white spirit and pour in some aluminium paint, light with a lamp either side and convection currents will start to produce globules in a cellular form as detailed as the lens will resolve. The paint or spirit can be coloured with powder pigment and with a little patience it's possible to roll off a lot of surfaces. These transparencies can then be projected onto a white painted sphere. I still have 30 trannies of the original surface textures but most of them weren't used. A Hasselblad was used to take these shots.
(try recreating this with procedurals;) - Coolhand)
Friday, 29 July 2011
Tech Dice
Another oldie, A range of dice I designed, The D100 took a looooong time to put together!
Update: due to the huge amount of attention these items are getting I've made a REAL plastic (or whatever material you want, stainless steel anyone?) version available.
Simply order and you'll get the dice from shapeways in 2 weeks
20,000 Leagues - Nemos Organ
An oldie from early '09, this semi-exploded (ok I admit as an image it doesn't work well) view shows all the separate parts I made for this kit.
2010 Discovery Artwork / Desktop background
Box / Promotional Artwork for the Discovery 2010 Model Kit
(which was also built by yours truely)
Soon to be available from Admiralty Modelworks.
Terran Expeditionary Force - Desktop Wallpaper Poster thing.
Emphasis on the 'Force'
Coming soon to Microworld Games
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
John Bear Ross
I only started this blog today, inspired by a man I just call "The Bear." or to his face; "Sir."
He's a fantastic sculpter and easily the most experienced digital prototyper I know as well as being just supercool and supportive and a really nice person, a true professional also. A vast number of miniatures out there today and enjoyed by so many started off life on his computers and machines.
Be sure to check out his blog for some more way cool designs.
http://johnbearross.blogspot.com/
He's a fantastic sculpter and easily the most experienced digital prototyper I know as well as being just supercool and supportive and a really nice person, a true professional also. A vast number of miniatures out there today and enjoyed by so many started off life on his computers and machines.
Be sure to check out his blog for some more way cool designs.
http://johnbearross.blogspot.com/
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