APC Design 6 - New roles begin

Since part of the original idea of this APC design was that the chassis would also be used as the basis of a bunch of other vehicles, it's about time some of these other roles were considered.

First up; Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns

Since there's so much room in the hull, I decided to try an unmanned turret design - it has the added advantage of being a lot safer for the operators.

This one was based on WW2 heavy anti-aircraft guns like the Flak '88, along with more modern automated turrets (such as the Stryker MGS).  I like the idea, but I think the gun design needs some work.

This one was done because the gunshield on the heavy SPAAG gives it a very WW2 German flavour, and I wondered what the first one would look like with the same sort of shield.  Combined with the gunshield from the previous post, there's a definite WW2 German aesthetic developing here.

APC Design 5

First some options to make operating the machine gun safer

And then some options for making being in the vehicle safer

APC Design 4

Trying out different styles of machine gun

Light Machine Gun

GPMG

Heavy MG

Water-Cooled Heavy MG

Seeing them in this order sort of makes me think of an upgrade tree for a video game...

APC Design 3

Updated the rough model with details worked out in the development pictures

Rotated the model to look at the only side not yet developed

Next step - developing options/variants

APC design 2

Continuing the new technique; working on the rear of the APC.

Step 5.  Rotate the basic model from the previous step

Step 6.  Experiment with different rear door designs

Hydraulic Ramp

Combined Door/Ramp

Double Doors

Step 7:  Experiment with different rear light arrangements

A big benefit of this technique is the ease of comparing different designs/details

New Vehicle Design Technique

Okay, I've come across a new vehicle design technique based around merging basic 3-D models and photoshop, so I'm giving it a go.

For the purpose of the trial, I'm trying to produce a bunch of different vehicles based on the same basic chassis (an APC) so the first job is to design the base chassis.

Step 1:  a very basic geometry block out, mainly just to get the perspective right.

Step 2:  draw/paint over the model in photoshop to add details

Step 3:  use the drawing to refine the basic model, adding detail etc.

 

Step 4:  pick an area and draw/paint more detail/options