Unauthorized Mods, Part 5

Well, the Overtime Monster provided a little bit of relief (and I popped a couple of Monster Energy drinks), and so I made a little time to sculpt today.

As I've stated in previous updates, the Dictator CAV is Reaper's baby.  I'm just doing a little exercise in exploring a couple concepts, and toying with a hypothetical update to the old girl.


On with the chemically-induced creativity...

 I decided to change a few things up from the last update.  The "death blossom" look wasn't going to work, since the open hatches were going to collide with the upper legs if the mech had to run or kneel.  I moved the two lower launchers outboard, onto the shoulders.

 I also broadened the rear "intake" section of the main hull, and shrank some of the intermediary parts of the upper arms.  The mech looks a little bit wider, yes, but a bit more menacing as well.

 I dipped into some OLD archives, and came up with the chin gatling from the old Borsig-Spline Wyvern model, my first original CAV for Reaper.  I nipped off its self-defense weapon...

 ...doubled it into a side-by-side configuration...

 ...and made a turret base for the weapons.

 A simple mounting point was created from a truncated cone, and a quick "beer keg" style ammunition drum was made from a line and the revolve command.

 All these elements were scaled to their proportions, and the result looks good.  I believe in the fictional universe of CAV, point-defense weapons like these were rotary shotguns.  I like it.

The first test models of CAV were kit-bashed helicopter gunship models.  This harkens back to those early roots.  Neat.

 Back to the main gauss cannon.  I wanted a more complex mount, with a greater degree of movement than the classic one.

 So I added a couple pivot points that could not just rotate in the horizontal plane...

 

 ...but could pitch up and down as well, without colliding with the mount.  I was inspired by similar mounts found on some 5-axis cnc machines.

 I attach the new cannons to their elbow mounts.  The proportions are off.

 So I shrink them about 8%.  They fit better, now.

 I like how this is starting to turn out.

 

The new build is starting to grow in proportion when I bring up the Classic model for comparisons.  So, I scale up the Classic legs under the new model to something that looks more fitting.  They'll get replaced and reworked, bit by bit, with the new concept legs, not to worry.

Yes, I know, she's starting to grow bigger than her predecessor.  If things start to spiral out of control in the size department, relief is only a "scale" command away.

Stay tuned for more.

Edited to add:

 

In case the missile pod hatches being open was too flamboyant for ya, here's the armored covers down in the stowed position.

Best,
JBR

Unauthorized Mods, Part 4

Here's part four of my own private redesign of Reaper Miniatures' Dictator CAV.  I'm exploring new concepts, and pushing my own personal envelopes.  This is not intended as a challenge to Reaper's ownership of the Dictator CAV.  It's just an exercise in digital sculpting.

Today's update is on weapons, or at least a few ideas I'm kicking around.

 These are the stock missile pods that were on the Classic Dictator.  Direct Fire missiles on the left, Indirect Fire missiles on the right.  These design themes carried throughout the early CAV designs.

 I didn't want a rehash of the same thing, though.  I wanted an enclosed design, with dual-use warheads that could fire both direct and indirect.  No separate launchers necessary.

 The solution I came up with looks like a crocodile's head, but it is also pretty sleek.  I will have to install a hinge, and figure out a mounting system, but I like it.

 I array the new crocodile launchers on the top and bottom of the new hull.  The raised-mounted arms collide with the new launchers, and look awkward...

 ...so I bring them down a touch.  Much better.

 

 Here's a couple more views of the new configuration, with missile hatches closed...

 

 ...and open.  Looks very "death blossom," no?

 

 I remount the old legs, and do another side-by-side comparison with the Classic Dictator.  You can see the family resemblance, but the new girl is starting to take on her own design identity.

 

 

Those aren't fingertips on that new weapon, by the way.  It's a rotary gauss cannon, derived from the old main gun.  This is just a bulk-out, but I think it conveys the general image I'm trying to get across.

That's all for now.  The Overtime Monster is stealing my sculpting time for a little bit.  For previous updates, here's links to...

Part One
Part Two
and Part Three

Enjoy!

Best,
JBR

Unauthorized Mods, Part 3

This is part three of my off-the-reservation redesign of the Dictator CAV, which in its original form is the property of Reaper Miniatures.

Here's a link to part two.  Here's a link to part one.

On with the carving.

 I'm using the old cannons for stand-ins as I rework the upper arms.  The newly-shaped hull pushes the mounting point pretty far back.  So, I sculpt up a new upper arm that has a cantilevered strut that brings the weapon's mounting point back forward.

 I like it.  I'll detail it later, and make it look like a bundle of power transmission chords, or an armored gasket material.

 I'm looking for a "swoopier" look on this revamp.  So, I bring the new shoulders up, and make their mounting points descend back into the hull.

 

 I put the old legs back under the new model, and do a side-by-side comparison with the Classic Dictator.  Looking good, so far, but there are many refinements ahead of me.

 

 

 

I start to rework the main gauss cannon.  I want to retain the styling, but rebuild it from the ground up, with an eye towards more detailing, and a smoother look.

More to come, including new missile launchers, a rotary gauss weapon, and other fun stuff.

Best,
JBR

Unauthorized Mods, Part 2

Here's Part 2 of an unasked-for redesign of the classic Dictator CAV, which is the flagship CAV mech from Reaper Miniatures.

Here's a link to Part 1.

On with the redesign.

 I left off with the widened cockpit being stretched and tapered for a sleeker, leaner profile.

 Here's the reverse angle of that change.

 I then extend the rear of the cockpit, so things fade away in an offset taper.  This will fill in the gap that was between the Classic Dictator's right and left shoulder mounts.

 Speaking of those shoulder mounts, they're a bit blocky.  I'm going to lose them, I think, for an idea I've had brewing.

 I "blank" off the older detail bits, like the chin plate's 10 holes on each side, and the detail plate behind the pilot's cockpit station.  Maybe I'll keep them clean, maybe not, but I want to distinguish this from the old design.  The triple slash stays, though.

 On to the shoulder blocks.  I want something smoother, and an extension of the hull, instead of a bracket that juts out from it.

 

 I like it.

 

 

 I have an idea for a new waist setup.  The rack and pinion setup will come into play later.  The hull will turn in the horizontal plane via the disk on the bottom of the large, armored spur-gear.

A pair of rounded blocks are inserted in the side sponsons as placeholders.  Will they be missile launchers?  Booster Jets?  Force field generators?  I don't know, at this point.

 Time for a little side-by-side with the Classic Dictator.

 The new hull is larger when sitting on the old legs.  Not a problem.  I am thinking that the design is going to be bigger than the standard 29ft Dictator.  Piece by piece, I'm going to redesign each major component into something new, while keeping design hints and elements from its predecessor.

 Here's a rear view.  The rack and pinion really stands out from this vantage point.

I taper the leading edge of the new right and left torso "wings," giving them the look of jet intakes.

Stay tuned.

Best,
JBR