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Hi folks,

I lurk here once in a while and even post a bit. I make odds and ends in plastic; www.proxiemodels.com

I am currently working on some various projects but planning the next. It will be a 28mm sci-fi combat vehicle with multiple build options.



I actually posted an ad on my local Craigslist for a tank designer but got no takers so I got to do it myself.

I keep thinking of something grimdark. I visualize futuristic fighting in a Mad Max setting with things patched together and junky.


If you got any suggestions, let me hear them because I am just getting ready to set down and design it.


BTW. This is not a kickstarter. It is the old fashioned way. I guess I am behind the times, I still make stuff first.

Awesome! Ken, I'm really excited to see what you can acomplish with your plastic machine. Any idea about what size you're aiming for with your tank? Rhino size, Leman Russ size, Land Raider size?

Do you plan on it just being it's own thing, or trying to get some crossover with it being a proxy for other games?

The one thing I'd say is try to make it modular so that you can just swap out a sprue or two to make the tank have different applications.

More pics please, even if only concepts!

This sounds interesting...

Here's an example of a 15mm scale tank he created in plastic






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Something that might be helpful is knowing the limitations of your machine. How thick/thin can/should parts be? What is the size of a sprue?

I dont know about his machine, but all that flash tells me it isnt processed in correctly. Not enough clamp pressure, too large of a shot size, injection/hold pressure too high, some or all of the above.

That being said, it is cool to see the little guys doing plastics.

Also...what are the basic hull dimensions on that tank? I might have a use for a bunch of them if the size is right...and where can I buy them?

I plan to order a bunch of his 15mm tanks after I get some sweet holiday cash. I hope the 28mm tank follows the same design cues.

Ken, please don't make the tank look too ramshackle, or 'orky'. Perhaps you can have some Mad Max style plates and gubbins as an option on the sprue for people who want that while also allowing the tank to be built 'clean' for people who just want some nice Sci Fi tanks for their futuristic soldiers.

I also second the clean tank look. It's easy to rough up a clean model, so if you want to use it for post apoc settings you can, or if you just want it straight military tank, then you are good too.

@kenofyork if you need a very reasonably price commission 3D modeler drop me a PM. I can work my magic on whatever brief or concept art you have.

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These are some 15mm tanks I have made. I only have a very small press and as has been noted I am clearly over extending its limits. I talk about this a lot in my blog, if you ever want to know the hows and why of learning plastic injection. The thing is that I have been doing some work with multi part molds, which means making about 4-5 molds and combining 1 of each to make something larger. This is how I plan to break through the barrier and do some 28mm stuff.

Here are some tank conersions i made and this is something like I hope to achieve.

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Thanks for the advice. I agree it might be easier to junk yard a good tank instead of having it made junky to begin with.

kenofyork wrote:









These are some 15mm tanks I have made. I only have a very small press and as has been noted I am clearly over extending its limits. I talk about this a lot in my blog, if you ever want to know the hows and why of learning plastic injection. The thing is that I have been doing some work with multi part molds, which means making about 4-5 molds and combining 1 of each to make something larger. This is how I plan to break through the barrier and do some 28mm stuff.

Here are some tank conersions i made and this is something like I hope to achieve.





Thanks for the advice. I agree it might be easier to junk yard a good tank instead of having it made junky to begin with.

Ok, sorry that last reply seems to have gone up 2 times.

When you first posted the img tags were broken so I just quoted you and fixed them. But I see you went back and fixed your original post.

Liking the 15mm tanks. With a better paintjob they could look very impressive indeed, not to mention that they are plastic!

I've purchased some of Kens buildings and bases and they are quite nice.

I highly recommend that those of you with design experience and some time to donate or just some good ideas get involved as Ken is someone who actually makes stuff himself and gets projects done. This is not one of the many "I've got an idea but no idea how to do it" topics that frequently show up on Dakka. This is a guy that has his own plastic injection molding machine in his garage!

Ken was polite enough not to link to his store or blog, but nothing keeping me from doing so.
Store
http://proxiemodels.com/
Blog
http://proxiemodels.blogspot.com/
Video showing how he injection molds the stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-g-SJ-P9Wg
My review of his bases.
http://chicagoskirmish.blogspot.com/2012/07/review-bases-from-proxie-models.html

Some of those could be used to do Mechanicus heavy weapon platforms. Very Sweet.

Do you sell any of those other 15mm kits?

Just checked out the website...wow. Some very cool stuff and great prices. Ill likely be picking up some of the business card billboards (cant have enough terrain) and possibly some of those 15mm tanks too.

I have bought a bunch of his bases and they're amazingly affordable, and just what I needed. The only ones that weren't were the 60mm bases- turns out they're actually 60mm, but GW's aren't

I had messaged you hoping you would make some 10mm buildings for Dropzone Commander! (Instead of the 15mm ones you have currently) But, this seems like a great project, too

I am a big fan of your process and the things you have made so far, so I will be watching with interest!