[LaserCutCard] Variable Geometry Scendship

[LaserCutCard]

I've started a new thread for our stuff as the old one, kindly created by Lampyridae, did not allow me to update the thread title when I added things.

So to kick off this new thread, here are some pictures of some work I did over the weekend... painting up some old test cuts of FUTUREHAB #1 with some corporate branding from one of our favourite sci-fi corporations

[Mob of Blondes]

For the record: old thread.

[LaserCutCard]

For the record: old thread.

Thanks for that - Totally forgot

Someone sent me a list of the top 10 evil corporations of all time and so I felt that #1 HAD to be represented on my table.











Here is a link to the banners and posters I used.

http://www.lasercutcard.co.za/download/futurehab1_corporation_labels.pdf

[TallonHunteR]

Weyland-Yutani: Because we're douchebags*

*this is a knock at WY, a netrunner reference, but not an insult to LCC

[Section9]

Weyland-Yutani: Because we're douchebags*

*this is a knock at WY, a netrunner reference, but not an insult to LCC

W-Y: Because personal profits matter more than the lives of our employees and/or colonists. Making Wal*Mart look like saints since 2023.

And W-Y first showed up in Alien or Aliens, long before the Netrunner game.

[MacAttack001]

Placed my order for this building and the corner bar. Now just have to wait for it to arrive...the hardest part.

[mouzerius]

had place a order for some urban scater terain and the lose windows and doors.
now i have them in my hands i can say great stuff i will shurly go for the buildings when i got some money

[LaserCutCard]

Futurehab #3: office block test cut

This is going to be the third building in our "Futurehab" range. It is a four-level office block with three levels of glass and a solid foundation level.

The basic pieces are all done... it just needs some detailing.

Some questions:

Should one of the glass layers be smaller to allow a ledge on one of the other levels?

Should there be roof access shown? And an actual door onto the ledge?

The way this is designed, we want it to be able to fit back to back with the other pieces or even be able to be back to back with itself, making a huge office block

[Icchan]

I think one of the glass floors could be bigger to make the ledge. Almost as big as the base.
And even if the backside is supposed to fit with other terrain pieces, it needs some detailing in there in case it isn't used in that way.

[Mob of Blondes]

I would make the glass levels be non square. That way if you assemble them all one over another, you get something like what you show. But if you rotate the middle one, you get an alternating pattern, with ledge in one side or the other. It would also hide the minimal differences in the lines. Glass building have near perfect lines, but non perfect surfaces (as checked by reflections), the contrary of above.

Wait a sec, if I count correctly (4 vs 5, with the curve in between) and all the windows are same size, this is already possible. Could you flip the middle floor to check?

Also, one unrelated question: would you offer "any 3 vehicle" packs? Pick any 3 from the 19.50 range of Buffel, Moffel, Casspir and Ratel (maybe APC too, but that one is 18.50). You already do that, but limited to Buffel and Moffel.

[LaserCutCard]

I think one of the glass floors could be bigger to make the ledge. Almost as big as the base.
And even if the backside is supposed to fit with other terrain pieces, it needs some detailing in there in case it isn't used in that way.

Good points, thanks. The back definitely needs some detail but it can't be too raised - but yes - it definitely needs an attractive back if you want to have just one building in the middle of the table.

I think what the situation calls for is a large curved advertising billboard that can be optionally attached (like the one on Futurehab #1.

Thanks for the feedback

[LaserCutCard]

I would make the glass levels be non square. That way if you assemble them all one over another, you get something like what you show. But if you rotate the middle one, you get an alternating pattern, with ledge in one side or the other. It would also hide the minimal differences in the lines. Glass building have near perfect lines, but non perfect surfaces (as checked by reflections), the contrary of above.

I take your point about having perfect lines. The reason that the levels are as they are now is so that you can lift them off to have access to the interior. But if that is not so important, then it would make more sense to combine the first two levels into one level and then make the third level a bit smaller so that there is a ledge there. I will do a test of this.

Also, one unrelated question: would you offer "any 3 vehicle" packs? Pick any 3 from the 19.50 range of Buffel, Moffel, Casspir and Ratel (maybe APC too, but that one is 18.50). You already do that, but limited to Buffel and Moffel.

This is a brilliant idea. I will do it in the new year once I can optimise the cutting file to bring down the cost of the other kits a little. Thanks!

[Mob of Blondes]

Ledge, two floors and then a ledge, and top roof? Boring. Really, try flipping the middle one if they are not perfectly square (otherwise it doesn't work).

Imagine you have a stack of cards, one big card (bottom level) and 3 normal cards. Rotate the middle one so it overlaps just a square with the other two. Or just check the brutal image editing.

Flipped middle level.

Of course, all this works for non square levels.

[Icchan]

OOh, that works.
Something like this?


Could even make it into a modular building, so that the floors above the base would be optional.
Backside suggestion:


2 buildings side by side:


2 buildings from the back:

[LaserCutCard]

Do you want a job?

Brilliant ideas all of them.

I can't have anything cut until the week of the 12th Jan so between now and then I will see what I can do.

[LaserCutCard]

I don't have the original cad with me but the idea is that the buildings back to back or side by side won't necessarily be the same height - but we will have to wait until Jan to see what they look like.

[Icchan]

Do you want a job?

I want a laser cutter, but somehow I don't think Santa is going to bring me one.
Hell, if any of my ideas make it into your final designs, it'd be like getting custom designed terrain when I eventually buy them. Others get to enjoy them too. So win-win for everybody.

[schoon]

I want a laser cutter, but somehow I don't think Santa is going to bring me one.

This does beg the question - and one that I've been curious about for a while:

What sort of set up is required for working on 3mm MDF?

What power laser, what accuracy and what sort of debris removal "attachments?"

[Mob of Blondes]

OOh, that works.
Something like this?

I was thinking of having a L-shaped ledge in the bottom level (as the mockup), but otherwise yes. Say bottom level is 15 * 20, and next levels are 10 * 15, so ledge is 5 in two sides of the bottom, and 5 in just one of the stack of levels above. With some extra adjusments, the overlaps could be even more interesting.

Your idea of back "balconies" is also nice.

Do you want a job?

I doubt it would work across country, too much paperwork. Otherwise...

[LaserCutCard]

I want a laser cutter, but somehow I don't think Santa is going to bring me one.

This does beg the question - and one that I've been curious about for a while:

What sort of set up is required for working on 3mm MDF?

What power laser, what accuracy and what sort of debris removal "attachments?"

I would suggest for starters doing what we do: don't aim to own the machine for now. Look in your local yellow pages for companies that do laser cutting (they are normally found in the section of people that make signage or else do etching on glass or metal)

Then spend your time learning how to design stuff. That is more of the challenge as you have to learn to think in 2d layers for everything.

If you want to buy a laser cutter though, whatever you do DO NOT buy one of those cheap chinese ones. Those are meant for laser etching and not for precision cutting and it will be a disaster.

I will ask a mate from the states who got himself set up recently what he bought but as I say, I don't own one. I outsource the cutting.

[LaserCutCard]

I doubt it would work across country, too much paperwork. Otherwise...

I am in South Africa and my partner, who does most of the CAD work, is in Australia. We do everything by email. Works like a charm.

[Section9]

I doubt it would work across country, too much paperwork. Otherwise...

I am in South Africa and my partner, who does most of the CAD work, is in Australia. We do everything by email. Works like a charm.

The advantage of the Internet.

@Icchan: Very nice image.

If I could ever get a :censored: job, I'd definitely place an order with LCC before the guys doing MDF. Shipping cardstock is sooooo much cheaper than MDF it's not even funny.

I also wish I had some design ability for this, as I'd really love to set up a co-licensing arrangement with a few companies. They'd make my designs for "local" sale, I'd make their designs for North American distribution.

[Mob of Blondes]

I doubt it would work across country, too much paperwork. Otherwise...

I am in South Africa and my partner, who does most of the CAD work, is in Australia. We do everything by email. Works like a charm.

The advantage of the Internet.

Didn't know Internet allowed avoiding the paperwork. Did a handful remote jobs years ago, before things were even insanier, had to do some paperwork. But it would be nice, live somewhere, comply with some sane place, not local.

[Section9]

file under "self-employed", assuming you make a significant income that way. Bit ugly on the taxes, since you need to pay the full 15% for Social Security and then income taxes on the rest.

But if you write a pretty decent contract along the theme of "I make designs and sell the entire design to LCC" it's a rather simple thing. It gets a lot more complex when you write a contract that says, "I license my designs to LCC and they will pay me royalties."

[schoon]

I would suggest for starters doing what we do: don't aim to own the machine for now. Look in your local yellow pages for companies that do laser cutting (they are normally found in the section of people that make signage or else do etching on glass or metal)

Then spend your time learning how to design stuff. That is more of the challenge as you have to learn to think in 2d layers for everything.

Great advice. I'll take you up on that challenge!

1st project will be a dropship model that meets with my aesthetics.

[LaserCutCard]

This is a late test of a new model to go with the "urban scatter" range... something to block LOS on the top of buildings. I need to make a few small changes in it but it will be in the store in January.

The main change required is to make the walkway optional... at the moment that piece is required as the base is bigger than the tower. So I am making the tower a little larger.

[LaserCutCard]

While we are waiting for the recut of the new Futurehab building, I thought I might try and figure out an effective way to do a plate glass effect onto the card

Here are some attempts using a small rectangular template and an airbrush:

Has anyone got any tips for alternative strategies for this kind of thing?

And of these three, which one works the best as plate glass?

[jherazob]

2nd or 3rd, but i really like the 1st

[H1ghlander]

I really like the first. It would work well for a dark lustrous material (plastic/solar panel). The third is probably the closest to getting a realistic effect, but I like the colours of the second better. The only thing that I think is a *little* off for it are the two dark spots on each pane. Depending on the direction the light is coming from, there should be one, continuous, dark spot.

[Section9]

Color-wise, the third version.

Effect&technique-wise, I like the first one. Mostly dark with a small reflection.