Blackadder Attempts to build an Emperor Titan

    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!

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    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.

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Hair of the Dog:


    I've raised quite a few hackles with my last post (At least on threads where I'm lucky enough to garner replies) 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 :D 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.

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    It‘s your game, so feel free to built your titan in your way. And it looks great so far.


    But don‘t forget that we play in the future with ultra durable materials like adamantium, so FW (can) design their models form over (real) funtion.


    Zitat von Blackadderz

    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.

    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.

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    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.

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    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.

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    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.

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    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!

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Thanks for the reply,


    In No Particular Order:


    Yesterday I replaced the temporary 6-32 hardware with 10-32 screws and this morning I beefed up the third tier to receive the full 10 kilos of weight it must endure for decades at the least. This little top hat style construction bears easily twice that even without reinforcement so I'm certain even with the top hamper it will serve.


    So in no particular order here's my assembly:


    https://i.imgur.com/0Ict0U8.jpg


    Everything looks rather slapdash and crude at this stage


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


    The excess framing needs to be cut down now that it is no longer needed


    https://i.imgur.com/ppzYPg9.jpg


    and the axle sleeves for the knee and 'medial hamstring tendon' actuator (For want of a technical term) need to be pared down and encased.


    https://i.imgur.com/TYj85h3.jpg


    I'm rather surprised at the interior of the second tier not needing further bracing but I'll add some anyway now that I have a good idea of the direction I'll be pursuing finishing up the articulation mechanisms.

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Einmal editiert, zuletzt von Blackadderz ()

    OMO:


    Oh My Omnissiah!


    After a bit over a year it is beyond gratifying to sit in from of this construction and gingerly assemble the dozens of components that make up imperius Rex (Not it's name but what came to me yesterday evening when assembling the legs. "First you have to vacuum the floor and dust the furniture" was my better half's injuncture when I proposed to display this creation on the rug in front of the TV. (lest it be damaged if it topples over)


    My primary concern was ameliorated when it stood without the aid of something to lean against.


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


    This first image is from ground level and appears a bit empty of detail which will be remedied in the coming months.


    https://i.imgur.com/iNud7xb.jpg


    The full on front view is more satisfactory. The proportions look right on to my eye.


    https://i.imgur.com/iE5VzZ1.jpg


    Now that the stability of the model is not in question I'll reassemble it on the console fronting my desk and assemble the rear components as well.


    https://i.imgur.com/p3mfbE0.jpg


    Finally; a 3 foot scale to show the height thus far.


    Whew!

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."