OK so today I was thinking about what updated D-man machines would look like. I figured the fire can would be the easiest to start with right? Also let me ramble on about my thought process behind this. These machines are made by humans, typically, so I think they would have a similar look to other technology they make as opposed to looking like something that is low-tech fantasy. Yeah, that may be stretching things. So anyhow the plan was to update the machine but still keep a similar feel to the original. It is a bit tough to make things work with wheels. Here are two rough concepts I came up with. The details aren't worked out and it is more a beginning process of looking at the overall shape. #1 has exposed wheels on top and is more armoured on the sides. #2 has the wheels armoured on top but less so on the sides. I'm curious what others think.

Good to see work on these! They both look good to me, uncertain which is preferable... but probably the second with armour over the wheel tops.

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I like #2. Can't really put my finger on why though

Armour on the top - clearance needed for suspension and rough ground at the bottom.

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I like the first one, lack of ground clearance fits right in with the games' aesthetic.

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never minnd

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I think #1 would look better with the side armor rotated 180 degrees (i.e. mirrored about a horizontal line). One problem with #1 is that, while I like the idea of exposed wheels, it's rare to see armor attached like you have it on an open wheeled vehicle in the real world.

You could compromise and have the front pair of wheels exposed and have just the rear 2 pairs enclosed. Or you could have the wheels enclosed like in #2, but have 'windows' cut out of the upper armor plates with the wheels sticking through. It's hard to describe with just words, and I'm not near my CAD program at the moment.

Either way, the vehicle looks good. It has a clear pedigree and I can easily picture it mounting a huge mid-line cannon or a quad-blood-mortar or a disease trebuchet or a dunk-tank full of blood on the back end of the chassis.

Of course, you'll have to make an upsized version for a diseased siege thingy.

An upsized version might sit well on a standard set of SHT's tracks?

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This is what I was trying to describe.

I like the #2 because of the armor on top of the wheels, but I also like the idea of exposed wheels, which is reminiscent of MK I Land Raiders and Chimeras.

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The visual certainly makes it easier.

I started playing around with some 3D. I was thinking of the side wheel armour being ablative if the wheels were exposed on top so it would be attached to the side between the 3 wheels. I am now leaning a bit more towards the closed top. While the exposed top of the wheels gives it more of a "rough" look, it reminds me some of a green skin contraption. I probably will rough out both ideas in 3d and show them.

Here is the open armour version. One thing I do like about the open top is it doesn't look too similar to regular IG or SM armour. Plus it adds more interest to the top of the model.

Here is the closed armour version. I think half an 8 pointed star could go on the top of the side armour to add interest. So does the open or closed armour jump out now?

Definitely open armor. I'd also suggest putting a bore hole in the cannon. Dosn't have to be more than a mm or two deep; just enough to make painting easier and not have to center the bore yourself with a pin vice.

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I am planning on it. The main body is just a rough mock up from me playing around.