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1/72 scale Battletech
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Storm
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PostPosted: 21-Dec-2019 23:44    Post subject: 1/72 scale Battletech Reply to topic Reply with quote

Been gone a long time. One of the things I picked up recently was 3D printing. I've been learning how to do 3D modeling, and creating my own minis. Along with that comes scaling.

I still have my old plastic Italeri 1/72 scale troops from when I was...my son's age. I was recently toying with the idea of creating some 1/72 scale battlemechs and putting together some sort of game system. Of course, I came to ask the experts here your thoughts, because I still recognize a lot of names, and I've learned to value your opinions.

Why 1/72 scale?


  • Availability of models versus cost. There are 3D STL files, papercraft, and of course, styrene for just about any vehicle you can name that can be found on Amazon Ebay, or Thingiverse. Over the years I have built a few 28mm mechs from papercraft, and even converted one to 1:18 scale (or whatever GI Joe/Star Wars Action figures are). And of course there's nothing like slapping a FedCom paint job on a Macross Veritech to create a good LAM and torque Harmony Gold.

  • Details, details, details. That's mostly for the kitbashing/converting/people who paint a lot better than me crowd. There are some people who can put amazing details on a Classic-scale mini. I ain't one of them. My mechs are all black for a reason, and it's not just to make them stealthy. It would be fun to see how detailed we could paint our forces if they were a bit larger.

  • The other reason is that even though there are a lot of 28mm games out there, it's hard to have a truly large battle on your average ping pong table, without all the units tripping over each other. Normally in those games, things like tanks and 'mech-equivalents are used sparingly.

  • There's also the range factor. Battletech ranges, scaled up to 28mm, comes to somewhere around 4 inches per hex. So a Gauss rifle would fire a whopping 88 inches--7 feet 4 inches, the perfect weapon for camping munchkins who want to sit in a corner and pop everyone without trying. 1/72 or 15 mm (I think that's about what it equates to, but that's a brawl for another time) would alleviate that somewhat.

  • Finally, as far as I can tell...no one's ever done it with Battletech before.


So, my knowledgeable friends, what are your thoughts?
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Storm Cool "The More that thou sweatest and swearest in training, the less thou bleedest and diest in combat."--Dick Marcinko
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Mordel
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PostPosted: 22-Dec-2019 10:28    Post subject: 1/72 scale Battletech Reply to topic Reply with quote

I'd always love to get into 3D printing, but then I realize as much as I'd love to do it, I don't really have a need for it. But I suppose the kids would use the printer more than I do!! Smile
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Storm
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PostPosted: 01-Jan-2020 22:14    Post subject: 1/72 scale Battletech Reply to topic Reply with quote

We homeschool our kids through Tech Prep Academy. They got us a good deal on an Ender 3, and I taught myself to fumble my way through Fusion 360 because it's more or less free. I haven't attempted any mechs, yet, but I did slice up an Elemental from Thingiverse so it could be posed better.
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Karagin
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PostPosted: 02-Jan-2020 00:14    Post subject: 1/72 scale Battletech Reply to topic Reply with quote

I have two 3d printers and they have come in handy for a lot of projects and fixing broken stuff that well parts aren't made for anymore.
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Horhiro
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PostPosted: 21-Jan-2020 18:59    Post subject: Re: 1/72 scale Battletech Reply to topic Reply with quote

Storm wrote:

  • Finally, as far as I can tell...no one's ever done it with Battletech before.


  • Ya, it's been done

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    Karagin
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    PostPosted: 22-Jan-2020 23:45    Post subject: 1/72 scale Battletech Reply to topic Reply with quote

    Nice. Very nice!
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    PostPosted: 24-Jan-2020 20:29    Post subject: Re: 1/72 scale Battletech Reply to topic Reply with quote

    Someone in that photo looks VERY familiar to me Smile
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    Horhiro
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    PostPosted: 29-Jan-2020 08:05    Post subject: Re: 1/72 scale Battletech Reply to topic Reply with quote

    Mordel wrote:
    Someone in that photo looks VERY familiar to me Smile


    Who? Hanse? Laughing
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    PostPosted: 29-Jan-2020 19:13    Post subject: Re: 1/72 scale Battletech Reply to topic Reply with quote

    Horhiro wrote:
    Mordel wrote:
    Someone in that photo looks VERY familiar to me Smile


    Who? Hanse? Laughing


    I guess everyone in that photo looks familiar. But there's only one good looking one in the lot!!
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    PostPosted: 29-Jan-2020 21:37    Post subject: Re: 1/72 scale Battletech Reply to topic Reply with quote

    Mordel wrote:
    Horhiro wrote:
    Mordel wrote:
    Someone in that photo looks VERY familiar to me Smile


    Who? Hanse? Laughing


    I guess everyone in that photo looks familiar. But there's only one good looking one in the lot!!


    Courtney?
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