Military Robotic Mech Modelling 6

In this entry I'll show you the work performed on the swap able/additional pieces that allow for the Robotic Mech to take on different job roles. Since I'm sticking more to getting the military side finished currently, Most of the pieces create have that theme in mind. As a reminder, the three vehicles types i'm focusing on are as follows:

. Main Battle Tank
. Missile Launcher Unit
. Communications Vehicle

With these three themes in mind, i'll show you what I created base off these vehicle types. Note at this point all of the pieces for the MBT were pretty much done, but since I created customisable parts, a mix and match system can be achieved similar to games like Armoured Core, which will allow for different match ups of parts to be created.

I'll split up the pieces into their main respective job roles, and into ones which are shared. Each section will come with two renders, a  blown up shot with the wireframe showing, and any major reference images used when needed.

Missile Launcher Unit

The Missile Launcher
For the ML, I knew that I wanted to make it big. As a missile unit, this variant would be tasked to rain heavy barrages of missile fire on the enemy. So I looked up reference on the internet, but couldn't find what I was looking for at first.

Then I remembered I had a certain tank image equipped with a giant missile Launcher unit when I the military references for my Image database, the TOS-1A Tank series, which had the perfect design that I wanted to reference from.

IMAGE EXAMPLE 1

IMAGE EXAMPLE 2

With this serving as a basis, I created the ML with my own design in mind, adding modular pieces previously created to speed up the modelling process. The most difficult part was making sure the hinge parts fitted onto the turret design, and didn't clash with any pieces that couldn't be swapped out.

RENDER 1 

RENDER 2

Blown up with Wireframe

In the end, I made it big and bulky, and was happy with the result.

The Anti Air guns

I also decide that I wanted to give the arm parts variations. Since this missile launcher could easily serve as an anti air unit, it would be appropriate to supply additional anti-air fire power through quadruple anti-air machine guns.

My main reference point for the machine guns was the NG7 Israel produced Heavy Machine Gun. I liked the shapes that formed its whole, so decided to use it to influence my own design. This process took a little while, especially in the turbosmoothing/hard edge editing process.

IMAGE EXAMPLE

RENDER 1

RENDER 2

Blown up with Wireframe

However once done, I replaced the Gatling gun attachment on the arm, duplicated the heavy machine gun, and attached it, as shown below.

Communications Vehicle

Extendable Torso
For a communications vehicle, I have discovered that height plays a key factor. In order to send out the radio waves required to enable communication over long distance, the higher the better. So I decided to give the communications vehicle an extendable torso, through application of a giant piston system.

This was more my own design based off of real life influences, as I couldn't really find examples of any vehicles were the cockpit extended up into the air. Cranes came close, but I did't want to implant the rigid criss-cross pattern of the metal structure.

RENDER 1

Blown up with Wireframe

This was relatively easy to do, with a lot of the shape being cylinder, which either went on to be cut up or turbosmoothed.

Satellite Arms

For the arm pieces, I wanted to create platforms that could hold small satellite dishes, to add to the idea of the communication theme. The shapes were easy enough to create, and this asset itself gave me very little trouble to do.

RENDER 1

RENDER 2

Blown Up with Wireframe

Additional Communications equipment

To further add to the communications theme, I created a few more communication pieces, to give this unit a little more variety.

RENDER 1

RENDER 2

Blown up with Wireframe

Shared

Turret Light
To replace the main turret, I decided to create a big set of lights, that could help the robotic mechs during night time scenarios. Easy enough to model, and made use of previously created modular parts.

RENDER 1

RENDER 2

Blown up with Wireframe

Hydraulic Riggers

Hydraulic riggers are used to stabalise heavy machinery, such as trucks with cranes, and hold them in place. This would be ideal for the missile and communication units, as they would need these in order to maintain their balance whilst performing their jobs. Additionally if I get the time I could also utilise it for my construction vehicle designs, which means I wouldn't need to model it again.

RENDER 1

RENDER 2

Blown up with Wireframe

Again easy to model, although difficult to find reference for at first as I didn't realise that this was their proper name.


Plough attachment

This was another shared piece that could be used for both the construction and military themes if time allows. Simple used to clear out obstacles such as debris and snow, this again made use of previously created modular parts.

RENDER 1

RENDER 2

Blown up with Wireframe

With all of these pieces created and checked through my optimisation method, I'm now ready to create the three different class types in high poly. I'll be showing these renders off in my next blog update.