A.R.M.D. MK 1 3D model

[Firesped]

Hi, this is probable my first post. To where this started. When Star Wars Armada came out I kinda wanted to make a Macross fleet to fight the Star Wars fleets with so got a few diffirent SDF-1 kits, 2 of the 1/8000 scale kits, and 1 of the 1/4000 scale (which is actually 1/4500 scale) kits. The 1/4000 kit was for the A.R.M.D. MK 2. but I wanted an Oberth and A.R.M.D MK 1. so I started looking around for 3D models and I found some in a couple of places. I used the models from the Homeworld Mod, Robotech Assault to get a model of both ships. I did some basic modifications to the Oberth and a lot of work on the A.R.M.D mk 1 and had them 3d printed. the Oberth needed more detail and a lot of reworking. The ARMD I had to start over on. I used my other source of 3D models, an old macross pc game. I had it printed before I put in all the details. They had a SDF-1 with ARMD mk 2 arms. I extracted the ARMD mk 2 and started reworking it into the ARMD mk 1. The first 3D model is the first version and the second 3D model is the new model. The 3rd 3D model is from an earlier version at 1/1000 scale before I reduced the scale to 1/15000 to put the detail work on it. I still need to put some details on the bottom.

[Kelsain]

How did you extract the 3d models? I have the mod, but am still very new to these things. My 3d modeling skills also leave much to be desired.

Ultimately, I'd like to have a set of 1/5000 armds to put on my imai sdf-1.

[Firesped]

there's software you can use called 3d exploration or something like that. I found a hw mod tools zip file that had it. but when you remove the textures, It's gonna come out looking very plain and wrong. the scale I 3D printed the first one at was 1/4341 scale, the aproxamate Star Wars Armada sliding scale for that size ship. Other people asked me for it in 1/15000 scale. When I was compairing it to the Macross movie edition ARMD mk 2, besides noticing it was too wide, it seemed too long. or rather the ARMD mk 2 was not long enough. so I measured the ARMD mk 2 and found the scale was not 1/4000 but 1/4500 scale. When I was rebuilding it, I used the model from the Macross game, and made the model 1/1000 scale, so it was 450 mm long and 220 mm wide. I cut off the front rails and made the back engine really long to compensate for the 430 m length. then I just kinda went with reshaping it until it looked roughly right. Then I scaled it down to put on the details so that they met the 3D printing requirements for engraving and such. here's some more shots of what it looks like and the line art I was using to add details. Not sure how accuract the bottom is and I still need to add detail there. ultimately I'm looking at hollowing it out for a bigger scale.

[Mr March]

I noticed the line art you are using as reference is from my website, the Macross Mecha Manual. The next update to my website includes improved versions of these pieces of line art for the ARMD ship. If it would help, I'll post those improved pieces of line art here for you to use in building your model.

If you would like a larger version of any of this line art, just let me know and I can provide higher resolution images.

And welcome to the boards!

Edited August 15, 2015 by Mr March

[Zinjo]

there's software you can use called 3d exploration or something like that. I found a hw mod tools zip file that had it. but when you remove the textures, It's gonna come out looking very plain and wrong. the scale I 3D printed the first one at was 1/4341 scale, the aproxamate Star Wars Armada sliding scale for that size ship. Other people asked me for it in 1/15000 scale. When I was compairing it to the Macross movie edition ARMD mk 2, besides noticing it was too wide, it seemed too long. or rather the ARMD mk 2 was not long enough. so I measured the ARMD mk 2 and found the scale was not 1/4000 but 1/4500 scale. When I was rebuilding it, I used the model from the Macross game, and made the model 1/1000 scale, so it was 450 mm long and 220 mm wide. I cut off the front rails and made the back engine really long to compensate for the 430 m length. then I just kinda went with reshaping it until it looked roughly right. Then I scaled it down to put on the details so that they met the 3D printing requirements for engraving and such. here's some more shots of what it looks like and the line art I was using to add details. Not sure how accuract the bottom is and I still need to add detail there. ultimately I'm looking at hollowing it out for a bigger scale.

Pretty amazing stuff.

You do realize there really aren't any decent 3D models of the Spacy capital ships from the Great Space War around right?

Do you have any plans on putting together some detailed models of these ships?

Edited August 15, 2015 by Zinjo

[Firesped]

Those images will help, Thanks. Looks like i need to do some big changes on the bottom still. and I see 2 more turrets under the bridge. I'd have to say the original ARMD were more of battleships then space carriers. I love these images where the details are not drawn proportionally. the 2 larger images are have details shorter and longer then the side profile. reworked the bottom a little and made the bottom turret 50% bigger. I need an opinion on these shapes. type 1 is bottom shorter then side, type 2 is bottom longer then side.

[spanner]

that is sooo cool! Very nice work mate!

[Mr March]

The FIVE LARGE main turrets are supposed to be the same size as each other, according to all the available art work. Those are the two dorsal cannons mounted top at the bow of the ship and the three cannons mounted along the bottom/bottom-sides just stern of amidship. The SIX SMALL cannon turrets (3 per port/starboard engine pod) are supposed to be the same as each other as well, but much smaller than the FIVE LARGE cannons.

Edited August 16, 2015 by Mr March

[Firesped]

I had them all the same size but the one on the bottom just seems larger. I can change it back or maybe I just need to make them all bigger. It looks like there are 2 turrets under the bridge as well.

[Mr March]

Those could be turrets flanking the underside of the forward bridge, though keep in mind they may not be turrets at all. The official trivia for the ARMD does make mention of "small anti-aircraft beam weaponry" and "small anti-aircraft missile weaponry", so they could simply be stationary weapon ports. Could go either way.

[Firesped]

when I first noticed it I thought, "oooh more missile ports." then I saw it was on a round turret. tried making them bigger, didn't work so made one turret smaller again.

[Firesped]

I'm gonna go with the type 2 version because everything except the side profile seems to show the bottom longer then the side.

[Mr March]

Hehehehe. I think you're getting a bit wrapped up about the sizes; each cannon is supposed to be the same size. But it's your model, so build as you see fit. I think it's going to look great whatever you do.

[Chthonic]

It's amazing how old these models are. Lestat and I did them over 10 years ago.

[Boroboy]

Wow, just amazing work from everyone here...I can barely make a box in Blender!

[Firesped]

I had a lot of trouble with the first attempt. It wasn't semetical. then I spent the money to get it 3d printed. It didn't look right so I started over. so was this yours? I sorta enhanced it a bit. Just to note, this is not what I showed the 3D print of in the earlier pictures, it is a further enhanced model.

Edited August 19, 2015 by Firesped

[Mr March]

I've got some new scanned line art for the Oberth as well, if it would help with your model.

[Kelsain]

So, now that hasegawa has announced the 1/4000 TV Macross, I wonder:

Will you be making the ARMDs available for sale @ shapeways?

[Firesped]

so simular scale kit as the movie edition? so actually a 1/4500 scale kit? I would need to get the kit to make sure the scale is right. and to replicate the poly cap system. I have an idea on how to do that already. I'm gonna look into getting the kit.

I've been busy with work the past 2 weeks. so I haven't had time to play with this. I got some other projects I'm working on too.

[Kelsain]

From the HLJ description, I get the impression that it's based on the movie kit with a few new runners of TV parts.

Yep, confirmed that from Hasegawa's website.

Edited August 25, 2015 by Kelsain

[Firesped]

been doing some more work on the ARMD today. a friend shared another ARMD model with me, not sure if he made it or not. But it helped me figure out how I need to change the sides to make them look better. I also widened the hull runners slightly which gave me the space I need to put the recessed edge on the front. Then I worked on reworking the front bridge. I had to remount the turrets on the bottom since I change the hull shape, also the missile ports on the top. I moved them slightly forward. Instead of the side engines being directly connected, I put a small pylon in between. I also added what I think is a fighter launch bay on the bottom, the big black area shown in the bottom view image right above the center lower turret.

[Mr March]

Nice details. I like the horizontal vent-like sections on either side of the front hull, just before each port/starborad top gun turret. Model is pretty good.

[Zinjo]

From the HLJ description, I get the impression that it's based on the movie kit with a few new runners of TV parts.

Yep, confirmed that from Hasegawa's website.

Makes perfect sense coming from Hasegawa. They have survived this long by milking Macross molds for every yen they could find.

A business model that has served them well for decades.

Edited September 8, 2015 by Zinjo

[Firesped]

so I decided to render out some blue prints from the Hasegawa SDF-1 Macross Movie Edition kit today so I could make the important part needed to make this work as arms for those kits.

part F on spruce PC-05.

[Firesped]

did more work on this today, working on the 1/4500 scale model for the SDF-1 Macross.

I had setup a file with the instructions from the 1/4000 scale kit for the movie version that should be to scale. I placed the ARMD mk 1 over the ARMD mk 2 to get an idea of how it would match up. This has given me an idea on how to break the ship into parts so the poly cap from the kit can be placed inside. I have a 3D model of the polycap so when I get to that part, I can make it work. right now I am leaning towards making the central thruster be a removable part to reveal the polycap

moved the deck stripes detail back 2.5mm on the deck, placing them a bit behind the guns. changed that detail from a raised detail to panel lines.

I redid the how the upper angled deck works, more happy with it now.

put in a lot more detail for panel lines on the top. not sure if I want to put in the raised detail that is below 90 degree arc deck stripe.

also added the nubs on the 5 main turrents, I need to do a correction on gun barrels because they are coming up with thin edge issues.

I'm still not sure what to do to get the 3rd barrel on the little guns.

then we have the bottom, I haven't done much detail work on this yet. But there are some things I have inferred from the line art.

I put in a recessed compartment right above the lower gun. In the line art, there is a big black mark there and I thought it may be the main fighter launch bay on this version of the ship.

[Kelsain]

Looks great! I'll probably get a set for mine.

[Mr March]

Looking damned sexy!

[Firesped]

was watching macross in 1080p and got a critical screen shot or 2 showing the ARMD launching the missiles. I need to rework my deck lines to so I have room for the launcher on the left side. a friend of mine had a file that contained the missile that he had downloaded long ago.

I did some updating on it.

[Firesped]

got my raise3d N2 3d printer so for my first print/experiment with settings, I am doing this one. just as a prototype to compare to the ARMD refit from the DYRL SDF-1

[Kelsain]

😗

[Almaric]

Hello Firesped,

I don't know if it it is a common practice on this forum but is it possible for you to share the 3D file with other members ? Maybe via a link in a PM ?

I know that this represent a lot of work and that you could be reluctant to share it but maybe for those of us who are not fluent in 3D modeling it could be really great.

Whatever your answer is, let me tell you that this is an amazing work you've done here. Congratulations.

[ManhattanProject972]

This is too damn cool. Awesome Job!

[Photogirl]

Are these still available somewhere?