Sci-Fi Traffic Hazards Kickstarter

[atropos907]

Hey, As there seems to be non-zero interest, and I was asked by a couple people to post, I would like to present my kickstarter...

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1628235004/sci-fi-traffic-hazards-28mm-vehicles-for-the-futur

This KS is designed for sci-fi vehicles that may be appropriate for some of your infinity games.

Why am I doing this? Originally I was producing a handful of copies for my tabletop UFO Incursion game and because I wanted to paint some sleek elegant sci-fi vehicles ( I love airbrushing). I wanted a bunch of vehicles on the roads full of futuristic high energy density fuel cells that go boom when hit by stray bullets. Since there was interest the thought was to do a KS to fund them to be produced within the year. Otherwise you will have to wait until my monthly expendable income can afford the production tooling.

Below are a couple pictures of vehicles in my UFO game to see what the painted vehicles look like on my map.



If you've any questions Ill check back every couple days, or ask the Q;s on the KS page for a much faster response.

If you don't like my paint job, im sorry. Its my vision of high-tech vehicles with forcefields rather than windshields... because hey if it can hover why cant it have windshields. The KS page shows some of the vehicles without paintjobs, and the video shows the designed detail in the second half, using simple 3d renders from the solid models.

Happy hunting everyone!
Steve

[kidterminal]

Hi Steve, your project is something the Infinity community has been looking for a long time. I have a few suggestions which I think will benefit you. First you need to list the prices for international shipping. The Infinity community and this forum is international. Secondly post pictures of your unpainted models here next to miniatures for scale. If you don't have Infinity miniatures use something everyone knows like a space marine. Third show pictures of the assembled models and an assembly video so we can see how hard/easy assembly is. Lastly talk about your future plans for your company. How will these models will be sold and marketed.

[atropos907]

Shipping============================================
On The KS page, this is located after the intial set of pictures about halfway down. It was suggested these pictures go first to get attention.

Prices for International shipping are planning on using USPS mail flatrate boxes due to the size of these. Rates range from 15-40 depending on weight. IE most vehicles with post under 4 lbs and under a certain size can fit in the smallest box. All rates were based on website estimates and a handfull of boxes I took into the post office. For combining packages most of the minis have an international chart halfway down the KS page that notes shipping addons. You will notice it is not favorable for the larger vehicles especially the train which weighs over 1 lb.

If you pledge for 1 reward, then International shipping is noted in that reward at the bottom "add XX to ship outside the US"
If you want to mix and match, then please read this update. It gives a few examples.
Note- International shpping in the chart is folded into the International model prices based on weight and volume addition. Ignore the right column in both charts except as a quick reference as to what Intl shipping is if just that set is purchased.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1628235004/sci-fi-traffic-hazards-28mm-vehicles-for-the-futur/posts

Long story short, pledge for the most expensive reward on the right, Then add the most expensive of the international shipping of the rewards you want to add (often between 15 and 22 unless you want a map) Then add the price of the cars based on quantity from the chart. again... see the update above for examples.



If you actually want to make a pledge whose value is over 400USD please contact me via KS first so I can get an accurate estimate of shipping since it explodes at a value of 400USD.


=====================================================

How will these models be sold afterward.

That depends a lot on how this KS goes. If it fails then I will probably have a fairly informal store in which you need to email me with a purchase list and Ill reply with the invoice. If it very nearly makes it I will likely establish a store for the sales with website purchasing. If it makes it, then I will probably poll backers for advice as backers will probably give a good cross section of future customers.

[atropos907]

By request, some images with a known infinity mini for scale.
These will all be in resin, the pewter is just for the masters.
Vehicles were designed to be smooth and elegant for most of them.
The base is just a quick and dirty copy of some 30mm bases I sent off as a stretch goal.
edit: sorry for the mislinked picture, its fixed below for the utility vehicle.

[Pierzasty]

One question: If I eat your brain, will I gain your airbrushing skills? If not, how can I learn to paint like you? O_O

[Lampyridae]

Goddamn this is the most compelling KS since Sedition Wars. I've lusted after these cars since I first saw them on TMP. And now you tempt us with a 28mm URBAN MAP.

[IdConstantine]

@Lampyridae indeed.

I love the variety of vehicles and they sure would spice up the table. But can I afford another KS
Heavy Traffic pledge level is soooo tempting

Id

[kidterminal]

HEXAGON BASES!!!!!! The holy grail of Infinity . So these are a stretch goal?

[atropos907]

HEXAGON BASES!!!!!! The holy grail of Infinity . So these are a stretch goal?

Most likely. Stretch goals haven't been declared since
1. we are no where near close.
2when we get close I will ask supporters which goals they want to see up first. Depending on costs the caster gets back to me about replicating the bases, and ratio of people pledging for high shipping vs low shipping overhead items (bundled items loose less KS money to shipping) I will probably include bases with at most an additional fee of 1 dollar per vehicle that needs a base. If the Shipping overhead is low enough then they will just be free when the stretch goal is reached, or make the stretch goal immediate and just add up to a dollar. I need to consult the excel sheet when we get closer to calculate the offset.

To see the rest of the bases look at the last frame in the KS video.

[atropos907]

One question: If I eat your brain, will I gain your airbrushing skills? If not, how can I learn to paint like you? O_O

No but if you turn my brain into paste, then filter and spray it up your nose you may...

Just check out my webpage Thirdfatecreations.com and look at the tutorials to the left for some basics on airbrushing. I never wrote more advanced tutorials... because once you have the basics there really isnt much more Its like knowing how to blend with a paintbrush. The rest is just careful application.

[kidterminal]

The last vehicle pictured is the armored train yes? Is that a one piece cast or a two part hollow cast?

[Guges]

I love the pod cars from Syndicate one... I will probably be kicking in for those...

[atropos907]

The last vehicle pictured is the armored train yes? Is that a one piece cast or a two part hollow cast?

That is indeed the armored transport/train. It is cast in 3 parts and weighs just over a pound. It is semi-hollow. It had to have sufficient wall thickness to mount the 2 rails on the side or bottom. I removed my initial alignment marks when a friend suggested I leave it a little more adaptable to rail position in case someone wants to fit it to a certain rail system they have. So while you can glue the rails to the flat surfaces of the side or bottom, I typically drill a 1.5mm hole and pin it in place with at least 2 pins for the weight.

With the rails on the side it is in "skimmer mode" and can travel on any street. With the rails underneath it is in monorail mode... which wont do most people any good unless you have a strong supported rail system. Ahh resin.

[atropos907]

Im curious for some feedback on these images instead of the images with the stick figures on teh KS page. They were the originals used for the artwork on the KS page before I cut the backgrounds out.

[JTM93]

If only I had the Spare Cash... So Beautiful...

[Pacific]

Great to see these on this forum! Some wonderful ideas here, and as I have said before I can see that Train being very popular, both with terrain modellers and for people who want as full an experience as possible with the Train mission in Campaign Paradiso.

Making the Cargo haulers fit the Tommygun containers is an inspired idea, and really looking forward to setting up one of those baby-strollers with one of my Antenocitti baby-sitting droids

[kidterminal]

The last vehicle pictured is the armored train yes? Is that a one piece cast or a two part hollow cast?

That is indeed the armored transport/train. It is cast in 3 parts and weighs just over a pound. It is semi-hollow. It had to have sufficient wall thickness to mount the 2 rails on the side or bottom. I removed my initial alignment marks when a friend suggested I leave it a little more adaptable to rail position in case someone wants to fit it to a certain rail system they have. So while you can glue the rails to the flat surfaces of the side or bottom, I typically drill a 1.5mm hole and pin it in place with at least 2 pins for the weight.

With the rails on the side it is in "skimmer mode" and can travel on any street. With the rails underneath it is in monorail mode... which wont do most people any good unless you have a strong supported rail system. Ahh resin.

That's a great explanation of the train thank you for that. Showing pictures would be better, as many people have many different track systems and pictures of the parts would help people see how adaptable the train really is.

As for your painted pictures, I think they look good. I'd recommend posting them on the kickstarter along with unpainted versions. I also recommend posting pictures of them on the sprue so people can see what they get.

[JTM93]

Maybe add in a Link to further pictures or such so that they can go and look through any pictures you have and makes it a bit easier to share the Pictures.

But I would love for the Rails to be Easily Magnetized or such so that they can be swapped between some positions. Say it can be the Armoured Transport in one position then switch to the other for the next game. It can be as simple as just some Vent Hole Motifs for those that don't want the Magnetization but then can be made into a simple Circle for those that do.

That would at least go over well in my Group... Especially since every Miniature we personally make tends to be Magnetizable.

[atropos907]

The magnets required to hold these rails on with sufficient strength to hold the 1 pound train on a rail system is not insubstantial. Probably 600-1000G magnets. Probably 3 sets of 3/8" diam by 1/4" deep (~ 8mm diam by ~6mm deep) per rail. so a total of 12 magnets. In the states magnets 4 less or KMJ magnetics are fairly cheap in bulk for ND42's Sorry I think in metric but the idiotic English system still has me buying parts in english units so Im used to the parts I buy for work

Good suggestions, I will attempt to implement within a day or two. Thanks guys

[JTM93]

Well you might could get some strip Magnets... And who said anything about you supplying Magnets with them?

Just offer the Option.

EDIT: Or did I misread your Post?

[atropos907]

Oh no, I wasnt offering magnets, I was merely suggesting types of magnets to use. I figure most people will magnetize their own way and will disagree with my method of magnetizing or pinning. Afterall I pin almost every mini. ahh 0.6mm drill bits!

[JTM93]

Oh yeah Pinning is wonderful. When it works.

[Pacific]

Sorry to sound like someone who is un-educated and with zero engineering background, but would it be possible does anyone think to make the train actually float, like a mag-lev train?

[JTM93]

Flight Stands and a few Bases placed right then yes it is possible.

[kidterminal]

Sorry to sound like someone who is un-educated and with zero engineering background, but would it be possible does anyone think to make the train actually float, like a mag-lev train?

A 1/4" thick clear acrylic strip pinned to the bottom might work.

[Pierzasty]

Or strong magnets (until it flips over ^+++^)

[JohnnyM]

They are just too cool. How are you doing the effects on the vehicle screens?

[atropos907]

Ways to make it float, Heck its so large a simple base with 2-3 wires for stability will cover the base fairly well especially a 1/4" acrylic strip as suggested.

If you want to talk about actually levitating it... its over 1 pound... good luck. But I like to take a stab at silly ideas!

Looking at the crude calculator on KMJ magnetics. Assume a set of 1" diameter magnets as a starting set.
http://www.kjmagnetics.com/calculator.repel.asp
A set of 1" dia by .125" thick ND42 magnets paired will repell eachother at 1/2" distance with about 1/2 lb force. If we are dealing with a train
then assume you have probably a set of say 1/2" diameter .125" magnets somehow glued in the cavity of the train at the right place, paired and all nearly touching for the length of the train to give a continuous potential minima in the axial magnetic field. Then with a close tolerance rail system, and a few more magets placed at the bottom of the rails to oppose in the opposite direction for some stability you could potentially float this. I think it can be done but It would take some careful mounting of the entire magnet array in the train(probably on a scaffold), and rail system. Though with this method the rail system needs to only have 1 primary magnet spaced every 4-6cm on the rail to have at least 3 magnets contained under the train at any given time to maintain sufficient repulsion force. So double the density to be safe.

Then put some careful engineering in the magnets in the bottom edges of the train's rails to push down so the train doesnt want to just pop off the track. so the potential minima for the train is seated mostly on the track, then gravity pushes it down a bit further till an equilibrium is reached.

If anyone has actually built such an array please share the difficulties youve had at mounting the primary array of magents at sufficient packing density to get a fairly continuous linear field along the axis of the train. I imagine that will be one of the hardest parts as those magnets will NOT want to be near eachother all pointing the same way. Plus Im probably way oversimplifying how hard it is to mount the entire array without it wanting to just fly apart.

[atropos907]

They are just too cool. How are you doing the effects on the vehicle screens?

The windshields are simple Spray the base (white or dark) then lay a mask over it (I like netting) then spray the perimeter a contrasting color (not quite black) then do some streaks for glare to give hints at a hidden hexagonal or whatever structure in the HUD windshield. Thats the simple ones. THe more complex ones with semi circuitry takes a few more steps, floating hexes a pair of additional steps for shadows, then some lighting on the mustang to look like a high power output force shield visor.

[finklehelm]

This may sound cheap but when I initially looked at the kickstarter, I was put off by the prices.

After looking at the paintjobs again, I got really excited. Add in the fact that you shared the tech for painting them with us,
pushed me over the edge. I just chipped in for a Medium Traffic package.

Hoping more people join in.