15mm Anime Robot Build

Fleet Scale Mecha Project - Scaling

Just a really quick update on the project. I snapped this pic really quick this morning with my phone and did some quick editing. It's not a detail shot, but it shows the scale of these mecha along side of some of Ground Zero Games fighter miniatures. I think they scale up nicely and should provide suitable representation of mecha on a space battles table without dwarfing most of the ships on the board.

-Eli



Fleet Scale Mecha Project

Hey everyone!

So, if you frequent TMP or Starship Combat News, you may have already seen this, but I figured it was worth posting here for the fine folk of the blogosphere.

It has always surprised me that with all the fleet scale spaceship minis out there, and even some based on anime series, nothing has ever been done to create a solid line of fleet scaled mecha. I know Ground Zero Games made one and there are lots of micro-scale infantry that can be fudged into the role, but that still left a huge hole for purpose made, space action, fleet scale mecha. So I decided to make some.

          

Pictures displayed at about 200% actual size.

As you can see above, these are really early WIP pictures, but the basics are there and at an average of 6mm tall, there really isn't too much room for detail that won't end up lost under paint. The order of the day was the main features - cockpits, heads, shoulder,s arms, kneels, feet, hands, guns. More less details can be added by clever painting, but these should paint of nice and easy. 

I have about twelve of these going right now. Each is a different design from standard to heavy. Variations such as aerodynamic torsos, square or round armor are also in the works. I didn't sculpt any with the shields that are seen a lot in anime as I figure those are easy enough to add, for the serious fan, using bits of plastic or thick paper card.

So, what makes these different than using a converted soldier mini or something? Mainly it's the posing and the fact that they are going to be cast baseless so they can be mounted on flight stands. I have tried to make them look like they are operating in space. Because most of them will be mounted on flight stands in formations, I did try to keep the poses neutral, taking inspiration from anime I have seen and know of. Some have been posed a bit more aggressively or dynamically but these are intended as elites or characters.

The really cool part is that once they are done, I even have a green light to send them to 15mm.co.uk to get them molded and cast. This will be exciting and hopefully there will be a lot of happy mecha freaks out there who can now throw mecha onto their spaceship tables instead of fighters or converted army men.

Thanks for reading,

-Eli

RIP Carl Macek

I just learned that Carl Macek passed away April 17, 2010.

To many he may be an obscure if not unknown figure in the big geeky universe, but for many folks, like myself he was the one, more than anyone else, who opened our eyes to the world of anime. With his work on Robotech, he brought the power and majesty of anime into our homes and then continued to do so with a series of productions such as Akira and Vampire Hunter D.

I know that for me, Carl MAcek was the one who took my already existing love of anime and turned it into something enjoyed and known to many others. I remember being turned onto Robotech in my highschool days by my cousin over a summer vacation at our grandfather's and being upset that only he, who lived in California, could watch this awesome show. When it came to my area, I remember franticly dominating the family VCR making sure that I could capture every episode of Robotech which annoyingly enough happen to air after I had already left for school. I held onto those grainy video taped recording into my mid-20s when they were finally lost in a move.

There is no doubt in my mind that today's anime craze is the product of the work he started back in the 80's. Though he did not create the shows that he brought to America, it was his vision and hard work that brought them to us in a fashion that did not require skulking around dark specialty shops and grainy 5th generation video copies. The professional and often controversial productions of the anime he brought to us with his company Harmony Gold were surely the big, shiny red button that set the whole anime craze into hyperspeed. He blazed the trail for the dozens of other companies that began to import anime in professionally subbed or dubbed versions to the point that now days where the idea of an American release of anime is nearly a given not the exception.

To an anime fan, this is as sad a thing as the passing of Gary Gygax was for gamers.

I know I will be taking a moment to send my thoughts out to his family and to spend a little time reflecting on what he gave me.

For more on Carl and his work, here is a link to the Robotech news site -

http://www.robotech.com/news/viewarticle.php?id=418

Thank you,

-Eli