Six-shooter robot scratch build

[lono]

Hey all, anyone remember me? After a few years hiatus from anything hobby related I have the urge to make some models again. Feeling more open and enthusiastic in my approach because I’m shaking off the shackles of sticking to the GW world, not worrying about scale or any of that sort of thing. I just want to make something cool!

I have always had a terrible habit of being fine with ideas and rambling on about them endlessly, then failing when it comes to execution. Not this time! I'm forcing myself to only post if I’ve made some form of progress on my project, so I'll either get plenty of stuff done or go very quiet very quickly!

Lots of feedback as I go would be great. Harsh critics will be particularly appreciated. I'm aware there are a lot of skilled folks here with very valid opinions. Feel free to hit me with them as bluntly as you like if it's going to give me a chance to improve my work. I'm a grown up with thick skin and won’t take offence if it makes me think about what I’m trying to achieve in a new way!

Sooooo, what am I trying to achieve? Well, it’s a robot droid type thing in a wild west style. Oh yes indeedy!

I think it’ll be from hips up, so a big bust, but I’ll decide scale and all that as I begin the build.

He’s going to be a gun for hire. I’m playing on the six-shooter concept by giving him six arms, each with a gun in. Should look pretty funky I reckon.

I’ve bashed out a very vague concept in Photoshop, but I’ll work out things as I build for the most part.

Am buying supplies after work, so I’ll hopefully be back tonight or tomorrow with some pictures of the top arms, which I’m planning on building first.

Good idea?

 

[Wyrmypops]

The pic looks a bit busy in the arm department. Just the placement really, all of them crammed into so small a space, the lower ones look a bit like they're stretching aesthetics at the expense of the six-shooter riff. but it's a robot eh, so could extend that body as long as it needs to go.
Still, could have a pair of arms coming up and around/over from the back perhaps. Protuding from the shoulder blades like those GW techmarines you're trying to let go.

Or go more weird. Have one appearing from a flap atop it's head, and for balance another appearing from the genital area. Like that sex-machine biker bloke in Duck till Dawn.

 

[Einion]

Hey dude, long time no see! Lookin' forward to seeing the updates in due course.

Einion

 

[DXM]

How about giving him a leather duster with top arms in the sleeves and the 4 other
coming out from under the coat. The jacket is being flung open and flowing back

 

[lono]

Thanks for the feedback.

The picture isn't really the best representation of how I'm visualising him in my head I guess. I just didn't want to get bogged down in planning!

I'll hopefully make sure the arms aren't so cramped up and fit together nicely as I build. The Techmarine style arms is something I considered and decided against, because it doesn't fit the low-fi and basic style I'm aiming for. Not so into the head and groin gun. I'm going to try and make this look quite gritty and that's a bit more comedic.

The duster is kinda the way I'm planning on going. Either that, or the lower four arms hidden and coming out of the torso in a transformers style. I definately want them a bit hidden, so the extra shooters are a serious example of foul play when it comes to gun fighting!

And just for you Einion, I have an update!

Sorry about the rubbish photo quality. My phone camera doesn't like all white parts!

A long way to go with these, but it's a start.

 

[lono]

The arms are coming together now I think. Still a rubbish picture though unfortunately, so I've pushed the contrast a bit with Photoshop. Apologies for the graininess.

The upper and lower hydraulics are pretty much sorted. I've joined the upper struts together with a Green Stuff/Miliput mix to make them look more secured and functional and I'll file that down to smooth it off a bit. The shoulder socket stuff will go above these, but I'm yet to build that.

I've tried to make the hydraulics interesting by varying the lengths. I will be putting some really fine tubing and stuff between the gaps towards the end of the build when I do more fine detail work.

I'm now starting to work on different kinds of paneling and cladding to go on the arms to add interest. and make them a bit more unique. The two bigger ones will probably sit behind the arms, with the small bits protecting the elbow areas.

Next I think I'll be building the guns, which should be really fun. Do people think that I should make all six the same, or do three different sets of guns, each with some variation?

 

[DXM]

Coming along nice.
A tip to lessen the burn out on the white. When you use your flash, place a layer or 2 of facial tissue ( kleenex ) over the flash. the tissue
acts like a defuser and lessen the white burn out.

 

[lono]

That's a good plan DXM, but the flash practically sits on the lens on my camera phone, so could be tricky. I'll have a go with the next pictures. That will have to wait for a while before I continue. Off on holiday on Wednesday and I need to start focusing on getting ready for that rather than nuilding a cowboy robot!

Once I'm back I should jump back into this build as I have a new airbrush. This should be the perfect test piece.

Thought I might as well show this little picture, which I just finished up as a gift for my girlfirend (we have four pet rats and it's about them going on a mission). Perhaps not exactly a cool mini in the strictest sense, but it is made with different levels of plasticard to give it a 3D effect and I'm quite happy with how it worked out. First thing I've painted in years too. Luckilly this didn't need really fine detail. I'm pretty rusty.

I've cropped out the rest of the story so I can maintain my cool. It's far too soppy and sickly to show you lot!

 

[lono]

Back from my holiday and here's where the arms are at now. Will start to progress this with a bit more pace now I hope. Would be good to hear what people think of them so far.

 

[dogfacedboy uk1]

I'm really impressed with those arms, they look great!!! That rat painting just oozes character as well!! Looking forward to updates on this one.

dfb

 

[freakinacage]

I'm really impressed with those arms, they look great!!!

yeah they do, can't wait to see the rest of it