|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
This page follows the construction of the Multibody Tactical Drones for the film Deployment Strategy. The budget for the props was given to me and I tried to work within the limits of it. But, I also wanted to get as close to the original drawings as I could while still taking liberties on the design of them. Listed below you will see the materials I used as well as construction methods for the Multibodies. More updates to come...... |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Visit the Official Movie site here ------> |
|
|
|
|
|
Multibody Design and Construction
|
|
|
|
 |
This is the original concept photo Mark had given me for the Multibodies general look. A few liberties were taken on the overall design so found items could be used but I stayed with the overall look of the units. Below is 3 of the 4 Multibodies under construction... |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
After some research and hitting every isle in every store I could, These are the items I came up with to construct a Multibody. The basic body of the unit is made up from pet supplies. Hampster ball, Bird feeders, flash lights, night lights, air fresheners, headband lamps, fishing items and model parts all play a part in the build up of one of these. |
|
|
 |
First step in the build up was to take the two halves of the hampster ball and fill in the air vents. Over 30 small strips of styrene are cut to size and cemented into the insides of the domes. This left the indents on the outer halfs and made for some nice extra detail. Once done, both parts are set a side to dry. This was done for each Multibody. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
Next step was to open packages of bird watering tubes. 4 of these are needed for each Multibody so 8 packages of 2 were purchased. Each one was then belt sanded to make the proper angles to fit the balls. Some being bigger than others so each one was carefully done to fit a certain section. Once they were finished, I began to lay out the upper dome covers with their required parts. Time to glue! |
|
|
|
 |
|
Upper domes are assembled. Front lenses are added as well as the two antena arrays and extra greebles. Wiring is run through the center to light the 12 Volt green LED behind the lense. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
Next up, the lower domes are drilled and the bottom thrusters are added. These are resin cast pieces I made and fit over a rubber washer so they stay snug when screwed into place. The side sensor port and gun mount is added as well. (The plug in port for the will eventually be moved onto the body to accomodate the cable plug for the attachable machine gun.) This will show up later on........
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
We now move onto the addition of the camera lenses. I have added different size lenses to give it a better look. The domes are drilled out and the lense tubes are epoxied from within. Lense caps are resin castings made from garnen hose adapters. Actual lenses are added to the exterior of each lense as well as layered platic disks on the inside.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
Next I assembled the lenses for the cameras as well as the censor dome. Lenses consisted of 3 laser cut rings layered together. The dome was glued to another laser cut detail piece before being attached to the flashlight face. This piece helps eliminate some of the light that shows through the outer edges. Once assembled the wiring was run inside. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
The two halves of each Multibody are then snapped together and glued from the inside. The main censor dome/light is epoxied into the opening between the lenses. Once dry, the entire unit is re-enforced with extra epoxy from inside. Next step is to ad the lighting array above the dome. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
The lighting array is the same item used on the power gloves. Its a small head band lamp with 3 LEDs. 2 white and one red. The lamps are removed from the package, disassembled, and rewired so they can be used without the holder. A hole is then cut into the Multibody and the lighting units are epoxied into place and wired up to the rest of the interior lighting............ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
Now that the lgihting is fully installed, one of the last steps prior to paint is to ad the rear thruster detail area. The air fresheners are disassembled and the front pieces is taken and sanded to match the curved shape of the spheres. Once sanded to shap, it is glued to the back of the Multibody. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
Rear detail area is shaped and added as well as the back thruster nozzle. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
The final small detail pieces are added to the camera mounts and they are now ready to be masked for priming, painting, and weathering details....... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
Each unit is now masked with tape, then preped and primed for paint.... |
|
|
|
Once primed, the units are painted with a chrome paint and left to dry. When ready, I sprayed them with a heavy metallic paint. This gives them a nice metal look. I then remove the masking tape and touch up any flawed sectiosn that need it. |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
Once the paint has cured a bit, I then make a bunch of masks for the lettering and markings on the sides of the Multibodies. A few strips of tape are laid out across a piece a plexiglass and placed inside a laser. The program then laser cuts out the lettering. The mask is then applied to the units side and painted.... |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
I then mask each one off in the areas where the blue striping was to be located. These are usually across the domes camera sections. I lightly airbrush them on and when dry, I remove the masking tape...... |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
Here is the three of them after all the primary painting is done.... |
|
|
|
Now it is time to show why I used all those layers of paint. I take each one and use a heavy file on them. This gives them that beaten and heavily used look. The scratches wear away the metallic paint down to the chrome and primer. Looks like metal under there! I try and match the weathering on all of them as one may stand in for one of the others during filming. Some of these guys will be destroyed and it may need more than one take. So this is why so many were made. Its sad to see them broken but its all in the art of fiim making. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Now moving onto the guns for the Multibodies. The script required the units to have the capabilities of having small attachable fire arms. Small semi machine style guns. I basicly did a build up of styrene sheets all laser cut into the desired shapes. Once the build up was done, I molded the master in silicone and did a few resin castings. Along with the other items used, they are assembled with epoxy and attached to the Multibodies...... |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
Now that all the guns are assembled, they are mounted onto the units. Once in place, the cable is plugged into the port on the side of the multibody and he is ready for some action. |
|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
More Updates to come in the near future.....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
