Mech Crawler - cardboard based model (COMPLETE: 7/6/2012)

[AttackGorilla]

Updated: 7/6/2012

After many many many hours spread across about a week I have completed phase 1, 2, & 3 of crafting a real life mech crawler cardboard model.
Building this took a lot longer than I thought it would, especially to cutting out and gluing together every piece...

Phase 1 Cardboard base structure (with fancy flush popsicle stick inlays in the leg connections to the body to help hold the weight, which made it pretty strong):



Phase 2: Paper mache (tried painting first without paper mache and there were just too many holes in the cardboard that I could not cover up with the paint). Paper macheing the legs/feet was such a pain (small tight curves are not fun).


Phase 3: Base paint (several coats).



Phase 4: Final Paint job.



Lime green beam lens per my wife's request.

Thanks to those of you that provided some helpful tips on painting techniques and the encouraging words.

bonus image so you can see the scale of the model a bit better:

[GigaDager]

Well, damn.

[Killious]

Looks damn cool so far. I can't wait to see the end result

[Rusty]

Am I to believe that you cut out each of those pieces by hand? That is dedication. It looks good! A really good job..

[Zidders]

Wow..damn dude, this is gonna look cool when it's done, I can tell already. Are you going to cover the cardboard with posterboard before painting it, or just lay on some white base and then paint?

[gold163]

so are you like a sentient 3d printer or something??

lol, j/k. Nice job. I want to see it finished.

[AttackGorilla]

Yes, because I can't bring myself to spend money on a 3d printer yet I am indeed a sentient 3d printer. Yes, I cut every piece with scissors by hand, which took a long time and gave me a good sore spot on my hand. I was debating between covering the model with paper mache to smooth it out or just straight painting it with a white base as it is. I think I will cover it with a white base paint and see how it looks at that point before paper mache (I am also worried that direct application of the paper mache might soften and destroy some of the cardboard structure, which hopefully the white base paint won’t do and will protect against).

I had tossed around the idea of going to kickstarter to raise funds to acquire a 3D printer, but I don't know. I will see... (TL the arpg boardgame anyone? j/k, would need Runic consent before doing so.)

[gold163]

Using Popsicle sticks as supports in the legs was genius, just saying. From the picture it looks like it would otherwise be physically impossible, but cardboard is light enough. I hope your hand gets better soon. Did you plan this all using drawings beforehand, or are you improvising as you go along? Either way, it's impressive.

[Witchlamp]

I had tossed around the idea of going to kickstarter to raise funds to acquire a 3D printer, but I don't know. I will see... (TL the arpg boardgame anyone? j/k, would need Runic consent before doing so.)

I am a board game fiend, and I'd love to play something like that. I've got a whole day devoted to the Game of Thrones board game in two weeks ß)

[AttackGorilla]

Yeah I think the cardboard would have held ok if the model set on a shelf, but now I can actually press down on it pretty hard and it takes the weight. I cut each piece out of a paper template first using http://www.123dapp.com/make by import/export through Blender and then into Autodesk 123D Make (so I had a lot of help in the plans - doing the model without these programs would have been ridiculously hard). So yes, anyone can create these models if you want to spend the time doing so and have some cardboard handy.

[gold163]

TL boardgame? Get together with DarkTails to make you figures for it; I'd actually love to see Runic do that eventually if they ever get the opportunity

The reason why it interests me is because it is now summer, I live in the city... blackouts.

[AttackGorilla]

Updated the top/first post with progress thus far. Check it out and feedback is much appreciated.

[Vasshpit]

VERY, very cool Attack!

As far as painting tips go, most hardware store or something like a hobby lobby store carry a vast assortment of cool, textured and metallic spray paints.

You will definitely want to put a coat of primer across your piece 1st. Then get some tape and mask off sections you want to paint at a time. This will give you nice clean edges.

One useful tip when using rattle can paints, spray across a section in short controlled bursts. Also don't be afraid to do 2-3 light coats instead of one heavy coat. This will pay off in the end.

Again, very cool piece. I have never done any kind of paper mache of cardboard sculpture, only clay (sculpy).

[DarkTails]

Primer > flat basecoat > flat colors of the different sections > darkest shades > mid tones > highlights > sealer

Repeat the shade/midtone/highlights until you're happy

That's a standard process, it's one of those things that you just have to do to get better at. Good luck if you're painting by hand with brushes or sponges lol I would do it that way though to drybrush the hell out of it and make that rough surface pop

Things to keep in mind:
-some paint will eat away at your project, sometimes it's a good idea to coat it with sealer before starting the painting process
-if you haven't painted before, it's probably gonna suck lol, keep at it

[hawkn]

Sexy. Now I want to make one lol.

[Killious]

Friggin' awesome! Make me one for Christmas! lol

[AttackGorilla]

Thanks for all the positive feedback and painting recommendations. I am trying to get by with spending nothing making this; I am trying to only use scrap and supplies I already have. I will be trying to implement your suggestions best I can (thanks for the tips) though I have no spray paint on hand so I will have to give DarkTails method a shot (DarkTail's paint jobs are pretty awesome so it will be hard to match that awesomeness).

[JBeck]

AttackGorilla,
This makes me smile.
Looks awesome.

[tigerfort]

Shiny. Looking forward to seeing the final painted outcome!

[zamalek]

You need to get some pew pew incorporated somehow.

Good work man!