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It has been a while since I last modelled…well anything really. My old computer had died on me and the one I was using really wasn’t up to the task of modelling anything beyond the basics. But Christmas 2009 finally came and my wonderful wife gifted me with an amazing quad core Laptop from HP!

After playing through an obligatory run of the Mechwarrior 4 series (Vengeance, Black Knight and now Mercenaries). My mind turned to modeling a Mech. Unfortunately with the exceptionally rich Battletech (MechWarrior) universe, there is literally dozens if not even hundreds of existing mechs. Creating something fresh would be difficult.  I normally sketch out on paper a basic outline of what I’m building before I begin but this time I didn’t do that. I just booted up my program and began modeling from cubes. As I began the modeling process I had intended to start something unique, unfortunately…this didn’t happen.From now on I’ll start with a sketch to make sure I’m bringing something fresh.

The more I worked on this model though the more it looked just like the standard mech…the Madcat/Timberwolf. A little wider and a little less spherical in the cockpit but essentially the same design. Its ok though, I needed the modeling practice since it had been so long since I had worked on a mesh.

Arms

The beginnings...the first arm!

I started first on the arms. Having never modelled a mech before, I didn’t really know where to start and the arm seemed like a natural place for me. Progress was initially slow because again, not only was I working without a sketch, I didn’t even look at other people’s works to get some detail ideas. Another mistake. I eventually sorted it out though and created a workable arm solution. Installed in the lower arms were Ultra AC5s, topped by twin medium lasers for additional up close punch. The AC5s are fed by drum magazines that I didn’t add until later in the creation process.

Again, this being the first mech that I’ve modelled in a long long time, I tried to figure out the basic of the arm mechanics in my head. I created some gears and such to affect the fluidity of movement of the arm but I don’t think I did such a great job.

Torso and Cockpit

Updated Torso with LRM missile packs and main cockpit

Once I made enough progress on the arm(s), I moved quickly onto the torso and cockpit area. I actually didn’t save many renders of my initial progress which is a shame but I guess the end product is the main thing. I added LRM missile packs to the “shoulders/wings” and drafted the main torso with the necessary vents for overheating from the laser weapons.

The cockpit was supposed to be unique, and although its certainly not asspherical as the prototypical Madcat design, it does bear an uncanny resemblance.  I was going for a more hunched back design but instead wound up with basically a wider Timberwolf. I guess if you’re going to plagiarize a design, make sure you plagiarize from the best.

You’ll notice in this picture the updates done to the arm, I added plating lines and tweaked the medium lasers. I also added the big drums for the AC5’s in the arms. I also reworked the gears slightly in the lower arm.  I also installed a machine gun in the main torso but in this render the machine gun barrel is way oversized.

The finished project with a fake dossier...

Later on I reduced in size and put one on each side of the torso.  Still, progress is sure and steady. Last update: Here’s the finished project. All in all a bit of a disappointment but it turned out mostly alright.