Dune 2 - Heavy Siege Tank

thingiverse

I once thought: Can I create a model using simple references like just a few pixel graphics images? I've always liked the game Dune 2 - The Building of a Dynasty made by Westwood Studios back in its time, and I've especially loved its mentat/building menu units' images. I think they were very well designed things. So I thought it would be a nice challenge to complete :)\nIt took a lot of time to make the model actually, since I didn't pay much attention to it. I wasn't fond of how the front and back of the tank's body looked like, but overall the model turned out okay anyway. I also thought maybe to create textures for the model and finally remake an original Dune 2 "slide", but got a bit lazy to do so.\nBut the reason I was lazy was that I actually wanted to print this model and paint it. I don't have much experience in painting tanks, since I'm too far away from stand modeling, but I just wanted to give it a good try. You can see the actual photos of the result and decide for yourself.\nBy the way, I've tried to find a lead Dune 2 designer - Aaron E Powell - to show the tank. It would have been an interesting salute after 20 years, but alas, didn't manage to find him - found three of his sites with (C)2014 stated there and no reply for those sites' local message system.\nI hope people who still remember that nice old game will like the fact it's now possible to look at it in real 3D and even be able to print it :)\nAlso, there is an article (though in Russian) about how I made this tank. It includes more WIP images, just in case someone would be interested:http://3dtoday.ru/blogs/harh/tank-of-dunes-or-sand-stone-axe/\nPrint Settings\nPrinter Brand:\nPrinter: FlashForge Creator Pro\nRafts: Yes\nSupports: Doesn't Matter\nResolution: 0.125\nInfill: 30\nNotes: Most was sliced using Slic3r and printed at 0.125 or 0.1 layer thickness with 0.4 mm nozzle with ABS plastic on a FlashForge Creator (not Pro version, just there is no standard Creator in the list). There was no raft, but I've used 5-7 mm brim. Model was done in 3dsmax.\nScale is 1.9% from the real size. Objects were scaled to that size before exporting. So if you want to scale it to the original values, you know the scale.\nThere are two sets of files. First set is:\nSiegeTankBodyBR (BR stands for Bottom Ready; ready for printing - it's already netfabbed, so there are no holes etc)\nSiegeTankBodyTR (Top one)\nSiegeTankHookER\nSiegeTankTracksER\nSiegeTankTuskER\nThis set is a complete set for printing the model. It doesn't need any support since all the supports are already included in the model. I've made these supports just because Slic3r didn't want to make good printable supports for the model. The supports made are a bit more hard to remove since they are solid with the model, but I decided it would be better to do it this way. Also, tracks model is made that way so it will not need any support and there are no supports in the model you would need to remove.\nSecond set is made in case you want to alter something. It is not completely ready for printing, but it's way easier to edit it:\nSiegeTankBody. This is a whole body that is not split into halves for printing purposes. Also, all these models are not netfabbed. Model was done without open edges (all the elements are watertight), but there are polygons that use the same space, intersections and things alike.\nSiegeTankHookE. This is exported version of the hook that doesn't have "integrated" supports and it also not netfabbed.\nSiegeTankTracksE. It's a way different model from the SiegeTankTracksER. Here is no model optimization for the printing. Form is original to the model I've initially made.\nSiegeTankTuskE. All the tusk without supports\nPlease note: The STL files I used for printing were a bit different from hosted ones - just tried to remove some bugs with the original models, but even I've tested the files in 3dsmax, I can't guarantee there are no mistakes there. There must be none, but in case you find something, let me know, I'll fix it.\nPost-Printing\n\nHow I Designed This Model