MechWarrior Shadow Cats

[cfuruti]

I wanted some MechWarrior-based models, and decided starting with relatively simple models. They took forever to build, not only for lack of time but because I usually laminate and reinforce to the point of obsession

First of all, the MechWarrior 3 Shadow Cat by MadCatManiac and Cantaris, with Sturm's "Snow Tiger" texture, built at 50% of original size with a few modifications:

• I used Shiftdel's generic joint system, a set of peg-like male/female cylindrical joints. I articulated the shoulders, waist and hips, but not the knees and ankles, therefore the legs are not poseable (just added shims to the ankles making the pose asymmetrical). The joints do make the model easier to store, anyway
• made the guns cylindrical or conic instead of pyramidal, with hollow bores

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[cfuruti]

Also a MechWarrior 3-based Shadow Cat, the model available at Planet StarFreak's site has very different proportions from MadCatManiac/Cantaris's version. The hull is much shorter, and the legs longer. I built it at 60% scale to roughly agree with the previous model's height. In hindsight, perhaps I should have rescaled to match the cockpit heights instead.
IMG_5182_PM.jpg
Again, just a few modifications:

• due to a printer mishap, I ended up with some duplicated sheets. I laminated a few repeated parts to simulate raised details on legs and arms
• I used again Shiftdel's joint system, this time in the knees as well. I created a custom joint for the ankles (the latter when raised exposed a texture mismatch on the footpad, fixed with another repeated part) - I won't ever use my ankle joint again, it is too time-consuming. As a result, the legs are fully poseable
• again, made the guns conic or cylindrical, with hollow bores. The main gun on the right arm was entirey retextured
• the main gun atop the left arm was originally simulated with a texture. I replaced it with a true cylinder - the hardest part was fitting the black concave sleeve from scratch
• over the main hull, the texture with the missile launcher ports was redrawn, sharper and with better perspective (stretched front-to-back instead of left-to-right). I didn't change the port diameters, which looks a bit oversized to me

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[silveroxide]

Good build. On your next endeavor, can you do a build sequence thread. When I built my last mecha, I also did some heavy laminating as well as other details. Just would like to see your build methods,

[rockpaperscissor]

Great looking models cfuruti! You are a very skilled modeler. I have a Naga 'mech that's about 80% completed, and if it comes out anywhere near a good as your's I'll be a happy camper. I've built a few 'mechs over the years, and I try to keep them all around 1/100 - 1/120 scale. Of course, with the limited information out there about 'mech heights, the sizing is very subjective. Most of the models are just too large (for me) as designed, but one of the great things about this hobby is that you can print and build in any size you want. I have a collection of @ 75 'mech papermodels, and have built less than a half dozen. I'm happy to see your Shadowcat, and am looking forward to enjoying more of your models.

[cfuruti]

@silveroxide - I'm still considering what to do next (it helps that I'm out of ink). At my building pace, a build thread would be - let's see, one picture every other night?

@rockpaperscissor - information on MW scales is scanty and often conflicting, apparently even that from the game creators themselves. I build small for a sad and practical reason - lack of shelf and storage space

BTW the next and last Shadow Cat reflects that scale inconsistency - it looks like between MechWarrior 3 and MechWarrior 4, the game developers decided the mechs were too big and resized everything- instant modeler chaos! So, here's Shiftdel's own 1/40 Shadow Cat, an original model based on MW4. I built it at 50% size with Sturm's "Blue Ice" texture and all optional parts. The final height fortunately more or less matched the two previous versions's.

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Ironically, for this model I created my own set of peg-like joints, very similar to Shiftdel's:

• I needed a wider range of length/radius rates, but I don't have the full Pepakura designer, so can't rescale Shiftdel's in independent directions
• I find tiny cylinders are easier to build with regular ends when circular caps are not connected to the rectangular part - this avoids the irregularly sized tabs

The legs are articulated in three points and are therefore poseable. Fitting a joint inside each small ankle box using just paper was a bit challenging.

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An interesting feature of this model is that textures are repeated on overlapping parts. The pros:

• it's easy aligning parts when gluing, and small errors are easily hidden
• harder parts can be omitted and one can still get a recognizable model

The cons? a lot of ink wasted on faces which will be glued anyway. E.g., the shoulder sockets are printed 4 times on each side!

Since the exact nature of the arm-based weapons on this mech is not clear to me (what are the brown spots? Laser/PPC lenses?) I just recessed a bit the hexagonal faces to add some interest. I hollowed out the hull-based gun on the right, but the hole is so tiny, the effect is barely visible.

Compound curves were never my forte, but IMHO the nicest aspect of this model are the "cheeks" flanking each shin, I wish more mechanically-inspired models had curved faces like that, even though I didn't manage to get as smooth a result as I wished. Maybe next time; I have never used paint in paper models, but perhaps it could be useful to cover the seams.
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[cfuruti]

Almost forgetting:

• a big THANK YOU to all the generous model creators
• a group picture:IMG_5199_PM.jpg
• Planet StarFreak's model also includes joints, but only the male parts, and they seem too big - Pepakura shows some overlapping.
• I'm aware there's a MechCommander2-based Shadow Cat, but the model is a bit too blocky and the textures too flashy for my taste.

[Phil]

Kudos to the designers, and kudos for nice construction!

[Tars]

Hi! I'm StarFreak, by the way Your shadowcat looks really great! And all the joints are great, when I built mine I was a bit lazy so only the torso can be rotated
Also, you're right, the joints on my model don't fit too well since they are merely meant to show the principle so you can adapt the enclosed parts to your needs.
I really like what you did with it!

[legion]

Isn't there a MechCommander 2 Shadowcat as well? This one: The MechWarrior 3 Community Project :: View topic - MechCommander2 Papermodel Downloads Part 1 - Mechs&Tanks

[Blackronin]

Originally Posted by rockpaperscissor

Great looking models cfuruti! You are a very skilled modeler. I have a Naga 'mech that's about 80% completed, and if it comes out anywhere near a good as your's I'll be a happy camper. I've built a few 'mechs over the years, and I try to keep them all around 1/100 - 1/120 scale. Of course, with the limited information out there about 'mech heights, the sizing is very subjective. Most of the models are just too large (for me) as designed, but one of the great things about this hobby is that you can print and build in any size you want. I have a collection of @ 75 'mech papermodels, and have built less than a half dozen. I'm happy to see your Shadowcat, and am looking forward to enjoying more of your models.

What would be the size of a 1/100 mech? Could you please tell me? In cm? Thanks.