Blitz Panther MkIII (updated)

[Stompy]

Hi guys, long time no see.

[Hanyoutai]

Hey!
Your animations and custom CGs were one of the biggest inspirations back in the day. It's awesome to see this guy making a comeback, and with an insane level of detail. I'm digging the cockpit design, and the memorable translucent orange. The texture work is great, too.

[SteelRain]

Whoa, that looks amazing, both the design and the modelling! Any chance of some more fullbody shots, or even a turntable?

[Vig]

Ahh wow that is so cool! I love everything it's beautiful but especially that cockpit design, it has an eye!

Also happy to see you're still around zoiding

[Stompy]

Thanks Hanyoutai! I think the cockpit/head is my favourite part. Vig - the eye itself looks like a camera (with lenses) close up. I'm trying to bring out more detail there. SteelRain - I'm currently working on various animations, I'll keep y'all posted.

In fact I've got a whole bunch of animations, simulations and environments in my blog (shameless self-promotion - in sig). Any milestones I will post here though.

Although I've called it the Blitz Panther MkIII, it's really a whole new Zoid and as such needs a new name. Any ideas? It's the latest iteration of my old Panther Zoid line (cat with a CPC). It still has a CPC, and compared to the Blitz Panther MkII it's larger, has more weapons, stronger defences and is way more agile. It's also got a shield like the Shield Liger now. If the MkII was a glass cannon, this guy is way more rounded.

[SteelRain]

Yeah, I saw your blog when I looked at the post on desktop (originally on mobile, so couldn't see your sig), and seeing it full-size, wow. The amount of detail and engineering in this model is outstanding, especially the attention to actually making it a machine that moves like an animal. Those pistons on the underside - now, if only the HMM Command Wolf was articulated like that! Loved the animation on the Flame Skimmer's wings, too. Is it going to be replacing the Demonwing, or will it be flying alongside it?

The run cycles look good, especially the second version where you made it a lot heavier. Couple of small comments from someone who loves animal locomotion; you might want to consider making the shoulder blade able to slide back and forth to really replicate real leg motion. Compare the position of the shoulder blade in these two photos, for instance;



(click for source)

And in the run, the offset of the leg movement seems a little close together, kind of like he's bunny-hopping rather than gallopping. Have you checked out Aaron Blaise? He's a former Disney animator who does a lot of livestreaming, including a great one of a bear run cycle. Obviously bears and cats are very different anatomically, but it's a really good breakdown of quadruped running and how the legs cross over.

Aaron Blaise Stream (you have three guesses which Disney movie he was lead animator on, and the first two don't count =D)
And he's even done a sheet for a tiger run cycle.

All that said, I really like the run cycle, especially the toes. That detail is what really sells that it's hitting the ground, and that it's a living biomechanical thing - again, machine that moves like an animal! Also, of course, that eternal Zoidy bugbear, folding wrists!

(also can I just say I absolutely adore those three little dots on his muzzle that look like whiskers oh my goodness that is perfect)

[Stompy]

Thanks for the comments and tips! The shoulder blade thing is an interesting idea. The whole shoulder assembly moves around separating out what would be a ball joint rotation into three separate x, y and z hinges. It can't currently handle sliding, but I think when you see it in action the separate rotations will have a sort of similar effect. The middle plate of the assembly sort of floats out from the body. As for the offsets, you're completely right. I need to fix that. The tail is also a little stiff right now too. For me the fact Zoids are machines that move like animals - like they're a little bit alive - that's what really appeals to me. It's what keeps bringing me back. I think about that when I'm designing every component of the Zoids. As for the whisker bumps, yeah I like those too! They're actually proximity sensor pods, so they basically serve the same purpose

And no, the Flame Skimmer won't replace the Demonwing!

[SteelRain]

Your whole engineering approach sounds really interesting. Any sort of mecha necessarily has to find harmony between natural and mechanical motion, which is something I really like. I shall certainly be keeping an eye on your blog for updates!

(Flame Skimmer, that's the one, curse my short-term memory)

[Ernestotaku]

Continue doing this! I remember your first CGs!!!

When the forum was big and the community active.

[Stompy]

Haha, thanks. I will! I have a few Zoidy projects on the go.

[Stompy]

I've gone ahead and done some side-by-sides. For more info I've written a blog post about it:
zoidsgc.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/articulation.html

[SteelRain]

Wow wow wow. I cannot praise the amount of thought that's gone into your engineering enough. Here I was thinking 'man, it'd be great if they posted a breakdown of some of the joint design in the model', and my word you deliver. The system you've designed for the shoulders and hips is amazing, both mechanically and visually. I wouldn't like to put that together in 1/72 scale, though!

[Maethius]

Man, the Panther has come such a long way! Your skills have really matured, too. You should look into doing a full 1/72 scale 3D print. (I still have the contest prize one, by the way!)

[Stompy]

Ha, thanks guys. How is the little plastic guy? His twin is doing fine.

[Maethius]

He still resides in a place of honor in my competition cabinet. I'm curious how he would look printed in some of the new materials Shapeways has.