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So I don't really like a lot of IRM mechs, and I like using the tech manual, so here is my first printed mech and my soon to be 3d printed mech. Also, click on the 3d print to see actual detail- yes, you can see the windows if you look closely in the picture(clearer in person)

It's a grey area, but yeah, a lot of the battletech mechs are crap. Everything looks like an 80's reject, and while that works for some, the nostolgia only goes so far.

I think there's versions of the Mechwarrior Online mechs ready for printing, I saw some in person a while back. Say what you will about MWO, the mech designs are excellent.

Yeah, I was trying to make it themed more toward mechwarrior online than battletech. What do you think?

It's off to a really great start. 3d printing can achieve a lot of really nice results that are hard to match with hand sculpted models. It takes a bit of tinkering to get adjusted to how the details on the 3d model come out on the physical print but once you get that feel you'll get a ton of mileage from it. Since every printer has it's own strengths and weaknesses there's also a little bit of a learning curve for each type of printer before you'll be at an optimized point.

I don't care all that much for the IWM models, they get the job done but a lot of the sculpting is either really dated or it's kinda sloppy. There's some pieces that I love but for the most part I find most of their models to be a bit lacking. It's always cool to see somebody with their own take on doing mechs particularly when it involves 3d.

If you need any help with the printing process just let me know.


Here's one of the old style Warhammers I did in 3d. (aka Robotech Tomahawk)

I really don't mind a lot of the mech designs, in fact a lot of what I like about Battletech is that all the mechs are really awkward and clunky looking. It never made any sense to me that these giant 50 ton war machines should be just as nimble as humans (grumble grumble japanese mecha). Of course I do love a lot of the redesigns for the MWO game as well. Take some of the more ridiculous designs and make them more practical.

The thing that really makes me sad about the game is, like the person above me says, their sculpting on the "official" models is just awful. It's like what state 40k would be in if GW never updated their models after Rogue Trader back in the 80s. And some of the pictures I've seen make me wonder if they've been using the same mold for 25+ years since a lot of the detail is just bad.

I'm pretty sure they're at least using the same masters from 25 year old mechs.

Thing is, getting a good artist that can both design mechs, and render then in technical art linework is difficult and expensive since they are in high demand.

However, that's changing with the new digital workflows. You can get someone to design mechs in a sketchy style then have him render it in 3D software.

Of course, it all harkens back to the way Battletech books are "supposed" to look. Changing that might upset the old timers.

Dang it Paulson, release your full game already!