Project: Tachikoma

[dimtec]

Hi people!
This is my second worklog. My project is called “Tachikoma” For those who are not familiar with the Anime “Ghost in the Shell” you could read:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tachikoma
I have never made a theme mod. I was looking for something original, using fibreglass. First I thought of a Battlemech, but a walking mecha is very difficult and expensive to build. So I decided for the Tachi. I have been always a mecha fan since Robotech times.
My plan is to use fiberglass for the case, and aluminum tube for the chassis.
It would be radio controlled, with two electrical motors and car batteries to power them.
First of all, I would need a 3D model of a Tachi. I thought of drawing it using some photos, but I realized that it would take too much. After a little Internet searching, I found a 4D Cinema model for 20 $
http://planetpixelemporium.com/objec...tachikoma.html
I imported into my CAD software and spited into several parts

I had to rebuild the geometry with my CAD to have some functional and moldable parts. Draft angles are needed to assure that the part would pop out of the mold.

My plan is to install the batteries in the head, and the hardware in the back cockpit

To build the fiberglass parts, I have to build some plugs, which would be an exact copy of the final part.
I made some 2D drawings with crossed sections for every part.
I finished with about 200 sections.

I plotted the sections and glued to cardboard.

I build a skeleton for every part, with glue and nails.

To fill the volume, I used 2 part polyurethane foam. It expands 30 times its volume. Little mess I made.
After a lot of sanding and sanding, and filler and bondo (I think I am in the 7th layer)

Connector between the head and the cockpit

The two parts for the cockpit

To realize the dimension of the model -50 cm ruler

Elbow

Eye

Arm

Front Cannion

Upper head

Lower head
One or two layers more are need to finish.

[dimtec]

I was working on a storage room on a common basement of the building.
You know, the sanding process generates a lot of dust, and I was covering with dust everything. So because I am a good neighbor, I decided to move to another place.
I have been looking for a place to work for 3 weeks.
At the end, a friend let me a place. It was a non used industrial building. I have a lot of space, and no one to disturb;
This is a photo of the new place:

A week ago I restarted the works.
I have been working on the plugs, sanding and repairing the surfaces.

I have glued the plugs to a MDF table as a flange.

I have done my first mold. This is a trial to see if it works. I have used plaster, and apart of some minor Faults, it’s okay.
I decided to use plaster because there are some bumps in the plugs, and I would fix then in the plaster molds

This is what I use for mold reinforcement. They are cotton yarn.
I have covered the entire plug, after waxing it, with a 2 cm layer of plaster. When it started to cure, I cover with another layer of plaster with the cotton.

This is a special wax for molds I have used. It works really great, the mold popped out of the plug very easily

[dimtec]

I have found an assistant to help me with the details!! Courtesy of EBay

This is what happened to my test mold. I didn’t reinforce it properly on the back with cotton and it brooked a little. No problem since it was a test, but this shows the importance of a proper reinforcement of the mold.

I have been working on the molds. Six done, two on process. 5 more to go.

I am happy with the results of the molds. The normal mode to do mold for fiberglass is to make them of fiberglass, but if you don’t do them perfect at the first time, they are very difficult to fix after. I made my CAD drawings trying to maintain a draft angle of a minimum of 3 degrees, but it is difficult to assure with of all sanding and filling.
There are some minor fault with that I can fix sanding a little the molds, which would be very difficult to do in fiberglass molds.

[Scotty]

That render looks amazing for 20
And your work looks superb
+rep man for some awesome work

[Computer-Geek]

Welcome to the forums ! I look forward to see more progress The work you did so far is amazing ! *Subscribed

[Zephik]

zomg, yes. I love GITS! I have both the Stand Alone Complex and S.A.C series as well as all three films. Not too excited over the news about a Live Action movie though, not a big fan of live action. Although, the Death Note live action was pretty cool.

Newayz! I'll definitely be watching this thread. What you have so far looks pretty awesome! Doesn't look like your "half assing" anything. ^_^

[D1337]

Watched the series too, cant wait for the final result
goodluck

[|NQ|Squelsh]

Holy ****, that rocks!
I love GITS too and some years ago I started to model a Tachikoma in 3D Studio Max
Thread is subscribed, I am looking forward to the next steps! +rep so far for those huge molds.

Welcome to TBCS and good luck!

[SgtM]

Excellent work! +rep, and welcome aboard.

[The boy 4rm oz]

This is awesome. subscribe and +rep.