I've been working sporadically on the most complicated of the fifteen vehicles: #11, the one that forms Voltron's lower torso. I've attached a couple photos of a paper concept model. It's in a crazy, half-transformed state, so it might not make sense... but it's enough to guide me in the creation of a foam core concept model that will make sense to more people than just me. Tonight I'll begin to make the foam core concept model of the vehicle. It will be good to bring the concept model phase of this project to closure... finally! I'll share photos of the lower torso vehicle's completed foam core concept model -- uh -- once it's completed.
I haven't completed the foam core concept model of the lower torso vehicle, but I have completed the "hip caps" of the vehicle, and here they are: (What you're looking at are Vehicle Team Voltron's legs, with one of the lower torso vehicle's hip caps on the nose of each upper leg vehicle. On the right-hand side of the image is my crazy paper concept model of the lower torso vehicle. The objects in the lower left corner of the image are the rear legs of Panosh Place Black Lion.) The nose of each upper leg vehicle would have a small hole at the end. Each hip cap would have a plug that would insert into the hole of an upper leg vehicle. Each of the lower torso vehicle's hip caps would be connected to the lower torso vehicle's center by way of a ratcheting joint. The center of the lower torso vehicle would contain the ratchets for both hip caps. This assembly gives Voltron articulated hips. When the lower torso vehicle is in vehicle mode, the hip caps would be concealed by various panels that form the outer shell of the vehicle.
I just finished the new concept model for the lower torso vehicle -- #11. I now have concept models for all fifteen vehicles. And there was much rejoicing. You might have noticed that this model is "solid," and the place holder model used in previous images is "hollow." This is because I had planned to design the lower torso vehicle with panels that would flip open in order to reveal articulated hip sockets to which the upper legs would connect. The panels were to fold around to Voltron's back and fold flat against his back. One of my design goals with this project has been to make Vehicle Team Voltron as similar in height as possible to the Panosh Place (Lion Force) Voltron toy. Another was to give VV articulated hips like LV's. The placeholder concept model that I've used for this project didn't have those flip-open panels. I had planned to design them later, after completing the other 14 models, as part of designing the "real" model for the lower torso vehicle. Unfortunately I hit a snag. Because of the sizes and shapes of the other vehicles -- which I can't change much -- and because the panels of the lower torso vehicle have (surprise) thickness... I've not found a way to "cut" the panels and place the hinges such that this can happen without giving Voltron a mess of fugly flaps connected to Voltron's butt. The design worked as rough sketches on paper, and it even worked with an all-paper concept model, where the panels have effectively zero thickness. In the real world... it doesn't work. I tried four or five radically different designs for the panels and hinges, and nothing worked well. So I designed and constructed a new, "solid" model without all the flip-open panels. The upper legs will now connect to the lower torso in much the same way that they do on the Matchbox toy -- the difference being that the upper legs' nose cones won't flip back to give this Voltron a "nose cone butt." The articulated hips are internal to the lower torso vehicle. The major downside is that VV will tower even more over LV, to the tune of another 1.5" or so. (Thanks to the Matchbox toy, a lot of people have this expectation already, so maybe it's not that bad.) A major upside is that the increased height makes VV far less chunky and "mech-like." Expect many more photos -- and possibly a video -- sometime soon. After that the next phase begins -- creating all of the vehicles "for real" using a 3D creativity suite -- likely Blender. More to come...
I'm trying to figure out how to make the hip hinges that are internal to the lower torso vehicle. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
Thanks! Here are some photos of the Vehicle Team Voltron concept model with the new and improved lower torso vehicle. Although he's substantially taller than he was with the old and incomplete lower torso concept model, his proportions are less "chunky." Old version: I'm now beginning to design in greater detail how the fifteen vehicles would interconnect if this were a "real" toy. My plan is to model all fifteen vehicles plus the Blazing Sword and Spinning Laser Blades using Blender, with the ultimate goal (barring the ridiculous expense... sigh) of 3D printing this bad boy.
I've begun to draw how the various vehicles will interconnect. In this image the "old" schematics of the upper leg modules -- and the concept model created from them -- are on the right, and the "new" schematics, with connectors at the front and back ends of the vehicle, are on the left. Next I'll start to create a 3D virtual model of this vehicle using Blender.
That's pretty radical, bro! Keep it up! You used foamcore for the concept models, eh? That's awesome! I should look into that for some of my builds, too!
Thanks! Foam core has worked well for this project. Given the crazily complicated geometries and transformations of many of the projects that I've seen in the Radicons forums, it's probably not the best material for prototyping in all situations. Today I began to prototype using Blender. My previous 3D modeling experience was with 3D Studio MAX 2.5... so needless to say, the learning curve is steep. I'll share work-in-progress images as I develop anything that's worth sharing. Since I started playing with Blender, I've already modified the lower torso vehicle design somewhat. The overall shape, size and proportions are nearly identical to what's shown in the latest photos, but the hip articulation is being handled slightly differently.
And I'm Forming... the Head! I've begun to model the head vehicle (Unit #1, Air Team, piloted by Jeff) using Blender. I've used 3D modeling packages before, but this is my first outing with Blender, so the learning curve is a bit steep. Here's what I've done so far. I have a lot of work to do on just this vehicle!
Update on the vehicle that forms Voltron's head: Thanks! I'll probably take a look at Wings 3D for modeling Voltron's face -- unless you have a better recommendation. I've never tried to model a human-like face before. I dread it, to be frank...
I just noticed in your first post, there's a green figure in a black space suit with a bubble dome. I've had one of those since I was a kid, and I have no idea who he is. Can you tell me?
It's one of the Fisher-Price Adventure People -- a massively underrated toy line. The Fisher-Price Adventure People Figures Guide
Update: I've begun to model Voltron's face. In the past my process for modeling a face has been: (1) Create a sphere. (2) Mess around with it for a while. (3) Beg an artistic friend to make a 3D model of a head with a face. Fortunately Voltron's face is simpler than a human's face, so with any luck I'll be able to make a passable model without resorting to the tried and true process.
If Blender gives you too much trouble, give Sculptris(also free!) a try. Much easier to get organic shapes than dealing directly with polys. Plus you can swap between the two programs using the OBJ file type. =)
