Studio Scale AT AT With Full Animation Armature

[Big C]

Sweet Jesus What swgeek said: knowing now what it takes to do such work on the legs makes me doubt my abilities to reproduce such stellar workmanship! I'll just stand back and relax, looking at you and your efforts into engineering the whole thing by yourself
You're raising the "Cool Bar" at every update!

Thanks joberg! Having a CNC mill really helps with having stuff look perfect. Even though these parts were made the same way on the originals, I still sometimes feel like I'm cheating CNCing it all.
I'm looking forward to the body and head modeling. I haven't done that kind of hands on model making in a very long time. Keeping that work up to standard will be challenging and fun!

 

[Big C]

And here is the knee plate rotator mechanism mockup! Tan parts are CNCed ABS. Grey parts are 3D printed. I thought printing the ring holder and ring would save time but the cleanup and fitting took longer than if I had CNCed 'em in the first place. Live and learn.

Gears are CNCed Delrin. I might do them in brass on the final parts just for fun. Some small tweaks need to be done but overall it works well.

I have no idea if this is how the mechanism was put together on the originals. With the exception of Phil Tippett mentioning in Light and Magic that there was a mechanism and two small clues from photos, there really is no other information I have been able to find.

I guess I'll just have to wait for George to invite me over with a bag of tools so I can dismantle one of the original models and see how it was done.

Short video shows it working. Set to some funky music of course for y 'all's viewing enjoyment!

Now that this thing is working, I'll be getting back to making aluminum parts.

 

[JediMichael]

Was thinking I hadn't seen an update in a while....and then saw I missed a few posts from the last page.
The more I see, the more you just have to really appreciate how the model was made back then. Just that level of engineering for a few mins of screen time.
For a long time, knowing they were stop-motion, I just figured every single part on the model had to be moved just a tiny bit every single frame.
So all that engineering sure helped with that with moving part of the leg and the little moving parts moved with it.
Like the music from the little video, been listening to 60s music the past few days, so its very similar.
And just that you have been able to recreate all these little parts and are making them work....amazing.

 

[joberg]

Show-off!! No, seriously; every update means pushing the bar higher with you build.
I ain't worthy Big C

 

[Big C]

Show-off!! No, seriously; every update means pushing the bar higher with you build.
I ain't worthy Big C

Thanks for the kind words joberg! Judging by your models and comments here on RPF I'd say I have a LOT to learn!

 

[Sym-Cha]

Okay, I'm out the door ... walking the dog ... this is way beyond my comprehension ... ciao

Chaïm

 

[joberg]

Thanks for the kind words joberg! Judging by your models and comments here on RPF I'd say I have a LOT to learn!

Well; I'm learning right now Big C. : looking at every update/video and at your workmanship is an invaluable tuto

 

[Big C]

Getting taller! Got the lower leg parts machined this morning. Next up will be the aluminum knee discs. The lower leg is nearly the easiest part to machine. And yet... I crashed the mill on the first one and had to throw it out. I somehow forgot to set the Z origin on the CNC which caused a 1/4 inch endmill to plunge through the leg. !$@@#$!##!!! Time for a checklist me thinks.

 

[Junk Pilot]

Damn those legs are beautiful. I wish I had the skills (and machinery) to make these.

 

[RayLuis]

You are definitely not the average modeler, You have ILM skills.

 

[JediMichael]

Looking good. Once all the metal parts are complete, hoping it will look like some Terminator exoskeleton version of an AT-AT, which then need to be photoshoped in the Battle of Hoth.

 

[Big C]

You are definitely not the average modeler, You have ILM skills.

Thanks! You made my day!

 

[Big C]

Looking good. Once all the metal parts are complete, hoping it will look like some Terminator exoskeleton version of an AT-AT, which then need to be photoshoped in the Battle of Hoth.

My original plan was to paint the finished model and leave the fifth leg unpainted to show the construction. As the build goes on, I'm having more and more trouble imagining covering up all the beautiful metal. So yeah, photoshopping into battle sounds great!

 

[JediMichael]

My original plan was to paint the finished model and leave the fifth leg unpainted to show the construction. As the build goes on, I'm having more and more trouble imagining covering up all the beautiful metal. So yeah, photoshopping into battle sounds great!

Covered or uncovered, its a work of art.

 

[joberg]

I'm hyperventilating Big C If you decide to be true to the film model and paint those gorgeous legs, we'll know what's under that paint: a work of Art

 

[Sym-Cha]

Anymore updates Big C ????

Chaïm

 

[Big C]

Anymore updates Big C ????

View attachment 1697351

Chaïm

Nothing new sorry to say. I got distracted when spring happened here in the Pacific North West. New deck, landscaping, maintenance etc. Hope to get back to more important work when I'm caught up with all the stuff around the house.

 

[swgeek]

Spring? You mean it stopped raining for a day? Ha

 

[VFX Freak]

I haven't stopped by in a while. Oh wow! Such glorious updates! This is looking absolutely fantastic! Love the engineering and admire the craftsmanship. Beautiful work!

 

[JediMichael]

Nothing new sorry to say. I got distracted when spring happened here in the Pacific North West. New deck, landscaping, maintenance etc. Hope to get back to more important work when I'm caught up with all the stuff around the house.

Yep, always too many projects going on....the mix between life stuff and hobby stuff....its like we like to punish ourselves.....lol.