"Bolo Mk XXIII wip" Topic

Finally started reading more Bolo. Read David Weber's "Miles to Go" and was inspired to make Nike, an experimental Mk XXIII. At 88m long (calculated 84m, but I needed a little extra space), she'd be 30cm/12" in 6mm… I guess Pico is starting to look better and better…

Everything is scaled per the description, except for height (I disagree with her being 30m tall given her length). Instead, I opted for a style based on how William H Keith did it. Yes, the wheels really are 5m high, 5m diameter, and interleaved. I opted to leave out the AP weaponry, assuming they're behind closed ports. Yes, I will add detail when I try to make a physical model.

Are you going to run it via Shapeways? I would love on in 1/600 scale if it will print.

Cool

Small update. Added sensor eyes to the main turret rings.

Probably won't go with Shapeways. Sorry.

For a Shapeways model you will need to look at their material guidelines for minimum wall, detail, and 'wire' thickness. You need to look at gun diameter, support on tread detail, and (One thing that caught me) the thickness of the rims on the wheels. Printing cost on Shapeways depends on volume… you will need to hollow it out as much as possible.

Richard Kerr

Thank you, Mr. Kerr, I do appreciate your input. I think I have it covered because I've been rapid prototyping for almost 8 years (and I was one of Shapeways' first users…not that anyone would know that, of course). But it's good for everyone not familiar with the process. I never expected to catch your interest. Your work on the Ogres is amazing. I'll never be at that level (Seriously, I won't, nor do I have any desire to. 3D play is something I do for fun and I'm not concerned with my lack of skills. Usually I farm out whatever I need done, but figured I'd give it a go on my own, for a change, for this gal)

The InfReps are currently 0.15mm wall thickness, 1mm OD, 5mm long. If I were to RP those, I'd make them solid and put them all on a sprue. Probably the same for the BL mortars (0.35mm wall, 1.8mm tip-OD, 3.0mm base-OD, 18mm long). The wheels and tracks definitely need a lot of work before even considering making a physical model. I might let someone else do that. The hull would likely be better off just being made from plasticard or some such.

That's all assuming 30cm/12" overall length and trying to keep scale parts true. Makes for a pricey model. But I really want to drop it down on the table during a game of Epic Armageddon. You know, because it's funny.

The 1st post pics should be disappearing shortly, but the next post should stay. The new ones are the same, except for the inclusion of those sensor eyes.

Interesting.

I'm using 1/600 (3 mm) vehicles and infantry from Pico, with Jackson's orginal 1/285 Ogres. The 1/600 look small, the Ogre looks like the Bolo series descriptions for scale and I can add vehicles scaled inbetween.

Dan