Blackadder's Attempt To Build a Lucius Patten Imperator Titan 'Invictus'

[Blackadder]

Twenty One To Go:


The basic shape of the greave portals


https://i.imgur.com/Nepf1Ip.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/nsORmOc.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/elNjknV.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/aPf0N08.jpg

 

[Meph]

Looking good! Oh the things you could do with a 3d scanner and 3d printer...

 

[Blackadder]

Where's the fun in that.

 

[Meph]

True, true, there's an added value from the Arts & Crafts approach.

 

[Blackadder]

Sorry to have been so long in responding:


The tedium of making dozens of these structures; revising, chopping and rebuilding better representatives of them seemed like not the most interesting aspect of this build.


https://i.imgur.com/OYc5SIe.jpg

I finally have enough, eighteen, for the first tier of the greaves and, with slight modifications, I have devised of a better way to produce the second tier, eight in all, that is less labor intensive.


Couple that with an abscessed tooth, a root canal, and a mild case of the flu made me less than amenable to communicating my meager progress with my peers.


The castle portion of this construct will necessitate a lot of repetitive work and no I am not going to "cast" or 3D print any portion of the requisite components. In my warped OCD way I consider that cheating


Of course I am hypocritically not above using bitz.

 

[nels0nmac]

Good to see you back again. TBH I thought you might have gone on holiday over the Easter break. The work you have done is looking fine and it's always great to see your progress.

 

[Blackadder]

Blackadder is Back In the Groove


To be a bit self serving I'm feeling much better and the past few day have been most productive. The gabled naves in the first level greaves give the appearance of homogeneity even though they aren't exactly the same.


https://i.imgur.com/BYJ02mZ.jpg

The first attempt at a stain glass insert for the naves for lack of a better name.


https://i.imgur.com/8d8LHKb.jpg

A side by side comparison I stumbled across on my imgur preview index. Even though my Emperor will be taller the proportions are pretty close. Whew!


https://i.imgur.com/wdDpheK.jpg

Note to self, "I have to shorten the second and third tier. And hip region needs to be beefier."

 

[Blackadder]

Supporting Cast:


A flurry of activity this week finally putting the finishing basic touches on the spaced corner greave armour and casting the hip joints with aircraft grade industrial resin.


I'm particularly proud of these hips and knees as they are an inch wide and barely a quarter in thick but they will bear the weight of bowling ball mass of the torso and a lot more but still not give a clunky appearance. Once the Hips are mounted I can add decorative gewgaws and details and the huge hydraulic cylinders that will stiffen the structure so it can be posed........


https://i.imgur.com/CiJVhyI.jpg

Further detailing of the second and third tiers will commence tomorrow.


https://i.imgur.com/9ahxtKa.jpg

I've decided to make the troop egress through the rear of the greaves and under the foot pad area as opposed to the traditional staircase down the front toes although I shall be keeping the center doors on the three sides as well but the design of the Epic Emperor was poorly thought out and made no real allowance for the purported troop transport alluded to in the rules and text description


https://i.imgur.com/pHK0Zmf.jpg

Besides I don't like the staircase concept; Period!

 

[Blackadder]

Those Crazy Ideas:


Of the questions I get most often is; where do I get these crazy ideas and those that question my sanity, but is really it's just my questioning how would something like these Titans actually work.


In the images below there are actuators that seem to serve no function and if they did they would be far too small to be effective.

Drawing on my aircraft experience I liken the actuators here to the landing gear on jumbo jets such as B747 and L1011 airliners. In particular the 747 has landing gear struts that are as thick as a man's torso. How much larger would the walking hip and knee actuators have to be on an Emperor Titan to be adequate to support the mass and function as a real mechanism would need to.

The biggest problem I have with most of the scratchbuilt Titans is the hydraulics when represented are totally too small in diameter to do the requisite job they are supposed to do.


So the next few posts will be dedicated to the walking actuators and hopefully I can make them sufficiently large enough to be believable.

 

[Blackadder]

Hair of the Dog:


I've raised quite a few hackles with my last post (At least on threads where I get responses) I pointed out the inadequacies of some renderings of 40K machina.


Part of the charm of many Forge World vehicles is the anachronistic technologies; battle tanks that look like they would be at home on a WWI battle field. Treaded tanks that compete with a-grav skimmers. hulking great bipedal automata that stretch the limit of credulity.


Apparently I have crossed the line by attempting to rationalize the designs to make them appear functional in the real world.


Don't get me wrong, I love the FW genre for the charm of the components but to my mind, things have to function realistically. I've already compromised myself on the lateral shifting component of walking dynamics.


Regarding the caveat of, "it's only a game," and, "Who needs realism?"


Need I remind you that the game can be played with coloured shoe boxes, blocks of wood and chess pieces if realism isn't necessary. No one needs to spend a couple of weeks salary on a highly stylized ten kilo chunk of resin to field a Titan.


That said I offer my version of the leg actuator system.


As some have pointed out, the shock strut of the landing gear is a closed passive hydraulic system (Oleo Strut) relying on compressed air and hydraulic fluid to provide a metered cushion for landing.


I liken the force of impact with each step in the same category as an wide body commercial aircraft touch down albeit much more frequent.


Forge World provides no source of hydraulic pressure in any of their models and it is the cross section area of the cylinder that determines how adequately the mechanism protects the mechanical vitals of the machine. Land a 747 with a collapsed strut and you are likely to incur structural damage necessitating a very detailed inspection not to mention numerous lawsuits from irate passengers with suddenly occurring compressed vertebra.


https://i.imgur.com/lA1lGWu.jpg

My shock struts will provide indication that the situation exists and allowances have been made for the problem plus they will serve as a function by locking the knee in any configuration other than a straight legged stance.


https://i.imgur.com/fOKNgVE.jpg

All without compromising, too much, the overall appearance of the model.

 

[Blackadder]

Here's Johnny:

Now we'll real put your faith in my decisions to the test when I lay this down upon you all.


I've decided to cut the second and third tiers down about 2 inches (5 CM) Gasp!


The legs looked too long and gangly


https://i.imgur.com/sGYBtVc.jpg

It took a lot of nerve and we'll see the wisdom or folly of this decision but right now it seems the right thing to do.


https://i.imgur.com/kbt3AiE.jpg

I went through these evolutions with my warlord until I got it right (To my eye anyway) lengthening and shortening the upper and lower legs about three times in total each.

 

[nels0nmac]

The shortening of the legs seems to look OK at the moment and from a realism point of view, the shorter the leg the less force is applied onto the structure.

Realism isn't GW greatest point when it comes to scale and forces applied to moving structures - just how do you fit 10 marines in full power armour into that little Rhino tank on the table (without putting the marines through a blender that is)? Tee hee.

Personally I would follow your route of making the titan look right from a mechanical point of view with the larger actuators and such like - or at least more right than the skinny ones in the picture. Even then they're probably still too small from a real world point of view - but you've got to draw the line somewhere; and they do look good as they are.

 

[Blackadder]

The New Helsreach Chapter 11


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqUSHhWErdY


Has revealed a heretofore unknown area of detail under the greave skirt ( Yeah I know what I've said.)


https://i.imgur.com/mi7Tgk1.jpg

Anyway I knew there were actuators there but I fought the temptation to make the toes movable as the effort I put into movable toes on my Warlord was pretty much for nothing. I rarely pose it with the toes flexed.


Another tidbit of detail is the corner spires have pointy bits on both ends.

 

[Meph]

Well, I too applaud your dedication to plausible realism. It's just adds so much more flavour when you see it 'could' actually work.




On the a side note, I think it's also widely accepted that 40K vehicles are actually on a slightly smaller scale than the infantry models because, indeed, every hatch, cockpit, and cupola is too small to fit the shoulders of any model they transport.

 

[Blackadder]

Details Details:


The Devil is in the details. Since I found out last week courtesy of HelsReach 11 that the corner spires are pointy on both ends; Egad!!!!! I've come up with a way (I think) to make the legs pose-able to a degree. The image in my last post shows internal cylinders that while I know they had to be there. None the less; it is nice to have verification.




https://i.imgur.com/0ZezakH.jpg

I've also worked on the Upper leg housing and made the foot pad ankle gimbal system a reality that I believe will be strong enough to support the 10 kilos of mass this model will ultimately have.


https://i.imgur.com/dI41YB6.jpg

It took a bit of scrambling to make up for that deficit............


https://i.imgur.com/GYfmdur.jpg

Right now I am just toying with the components to see what can be done.... I may have to scrap the idea of the internal mop handle for a more utilitarian center column.


https://i.imgur.com/HTPFpjl.jpg

Which would be a pity but I'm not exactly wedded to the idea; one of the benefits of designing on the fly.

 

[Blackadder]

Zounds!


I hate to toot my own horn but this actually worked out as a surprise to even me.


https://i.imgur.com/GutkRnb.jpg

The above view is of the internal structure where I hope to be able to house twenty to forty troop harnesses and still have room for the stabilizing cylinders


https://i.imgur.com/Iaisvly.jpg

The view above is of the rear disembarkment doors which I feel are much more practical that front mounted doors as it give the troops the ability to form up before confronting their adversaries. Not in the best Imperial tradition I know but definitely saner.


https://i.imgur.com/1JzNvHK.jpg

The friction gimbel works as designed and I am hoping with the 20 odd pounds of Emperor Titan they will provide the requisite stability. The stabilizers may offer assistance there.


https://i.imgur.com/LS5xiMs.jpg

Front clearance also seems adequate when assuming the classic combat pose.




https://i.imgur.com/VIXWH91.jpg

and with the second and third tiers in place we begin to see the entire leg become a reality.


Finally the interior structure that will house the troops.


https://i.imgur.com/n1EB95i.jpg

This structure will slide out of the greave to reveal the inner transport chamber and the mechanical walking devices/components. I'm going to be hard pressed finding room for all that needs to be here and still have room for activation.

 

[Meph]

Awesome work man. i love how you're going all the way for both mechanics and detailing.

A way to squeeze in 40+ troops might be to work with vertical stacking of drop harnesses. A bit like the drop pod harnesses combined with the troop dispenser for the Star Wars droid army

 

[Blackadder]

You've read my mind and it's not like I have to make the conveyor functional to deposit rank upon rank of troops to the egress doors but just indicate they are released there. Of course it would be cool to have them release at the doors but the solid plastic figures probably wouldn't cooperate and I have to uncouple them manually. I initially thought of decks; also toyed with the idea of chutes and ladders; but ultimately the conveyor belt system seemed best and easiest to represent.

I also just thought of them standing around a cantina doing tequila shots until the "Call goes out Mount up!"

BTW I already have the Drop Pod Harnesses, about 40 of them.

 

[Blackadder]

First Time Assembled:


I worked yesterday evening into the early morning hours to assemble the working joints of both legs albeit with temporary diameter screws 6-32 until I found out if the design is viable.


And it WAS!


https://i.imgur.com/fXNC3DN.jpg

In the basic pose, legs straight, the inner side toes had just the right amount of clearance between the greaves at the most minimum width adjustment of the pelvic block.


I had made allowances for up to an inch per leg but it wasn't needed. If the model could actually walk, the inner toes would clear each other with each step.


https://i.imgur.com/NTpVqrQ.jpg

Next I adjusted the pose with one foot forward as if stepping out. The adjustment was made gingerly as all the friction axles aren't in place yet so the knee joints and hip sockets are rather stiff in appearance,


The dual axle hip sockets worked as planned, allowing the legs to be placed one behind the other as would be necessary if this contraption could walk as a true biped instead of a baby's rocking waddle which would look comical on a battlefield.


https://i.imgur.com/s8E7T0S.jpg

Again the limited range of motion due to the small temporary hardware limited the viability of the pose. With the right diameter hardware the poses will have a more fluid appearance.


Finally the spraddle legged Classic Titan Pose.


https://i.imgur.com/FbjPGwI.jpg

Again made viable by the dual axle hip joints is thankfully a reality......


https://i.imgur.com/F6p0kQx.jpg

In the Immortal words of Dr Strangelove; "Mien Fuhrer! I CAN WALK!"


MARTINI TIME!

 

[nels0nmac]

OMG that is sooooo cool. Truly a wonderous piece of plastic engineering. As an ex-professional model maker I love viewing this blog to see how you get around problems and generally just make this up from scratch.... that and I love seeing how this awesome piece of kit gradually takes shape and I can't wait for the next installment .... let alone seeing it totally finished.