Steampunk Storm Trooper!

I just had to finish the trio. I tend to be a bit obsessive in terms of realizing something I find inspiring and doing Star Wars inspired helmets in steampunk style has been a total blast. It just needed the storm trooper helmet to finish off the trio.
Oddly, I found this one the most challenging to do. I didn't want to just push parts into one another from a library of pre-existing bits. I wanted it to feel like heavy castings mixed with internal mech that is suggested on the outside. Doing the giant monacle/lens was the idea of Chris, my eldest son. I really liked adding the assymetry. It not only helped to make it unusual but it solidly brought the whole Gestalt into the world of steampunk.
I hope you enjoy. check out The Vader and Boba Fett inspired helmets as well.
Cheers, Kev

Steampunk Stormtrooper

Steampunk Stormtrooper

Steampunk Stormtrooper

Steampunk Stormtrooper

Steampunk Stormtrooper

Steampunk Stormtrooper

Steampunk Stormtrooper

Steampunk Stormtrooper

Steampunk Boba Fett

Well, I just couldn't do Darth without doing Boba. In some ways, he's even more fun because the forms are more severe. I haven't yet "dirtied" him up as a proper Boba should be but thought I'd share where it is now. He was a one day project.
I've just added a closer detail shot of the antennae set up on the side of the helmet from some email questions I've been getting. Thanks all for the great comments and encouragement. The response and traffic has been way past what I imagined.
Enjoy and cheers, Kevin

Steampunk Boba Fett

Steampunk Boba Fett

Steampunk Boba Fett

Steampunk Boba Fett

Steampunk Boba Fett

Steampunk Bobba Fett helmet detail

Steampunk Darth Vader

So, My sons and I enjoy watching Star Wars a great deal. I was taking in episode #4 (the first movie) and had this idea for another take on Darth Vader. I've already done one sketch of him on the blog earlier but this time I wanted to spend time on the leather work and make the eyes much more watchworks and important. There's something so very prussian about his design anyway so leaning into that was fun. I didn't want to do the typical spike on the helmet and opted for a central metal spine instead. I've always enjoyed seeing the various takes on a Steampunk Darth Vader so what's one more...
Cheers, Kevin

PS - I've just added an additional shot with more dramatic colored lighting...just cause it makes him more ominous!

Steampunk Darth Vader

Steampunk Darth Vader

Steampunk Darth Vader

Steampunk Darth Vader

Steampunk Darth Vader

Steampunk Darth Vader

The Colonel

Just for fun and to loosen up I did a digital speed sculpt this morning of this animated character I've had in my head. It's not for Frahnknshtyne but then one must change up the diet once in a while to stay fresh. This character is "The Colonel" also known as Colonel Brumphry T. Trenchman. He's long on stiff upper lip and short on flexibility. He came up through the ranks as a drill sergeant and saved the generals dog one day resulting in a lovely promotion. (I always have to think about story before drawing or sculpting, even when doing it just for fun).
He's been sculpted in zbrush. I love realism but I also love true carricature. I think it forces one to boil out the elements that aren't revealing the characters.
Enjoy and cheers for now, Kevin

Steampunk Colonel Trenchman front view

Steampunk Colonel Trenchman lft 3/4 view

Steampunk Colonel Trenchman left side view

Steampunk Colonel Trenchman rt 3/4 view

Steampunk Colonel Trenchman rt side view

Steampunk Motorcycle 3D completed!

Here it is. The Gyrostator with all the elements on it. I've added the electricals, the hand brakes, the quilted seat and seat suspension and lots more. The drive is complete as well. Now I want to drive it! I've posted a number of angles on it to get a good sense of the form and details.
Cheers for now, Kevin

Steampunk Motorcycle Gyrostator

Steampunk Motorcycle Gyrostator

Steampunk Motorcycle Gyrostator

Steampunk Motorcycle Gyrostator

Steampunk Motorcycle Gyrostator

Steampunk Motorcycle Gyrostator

Steampunk Motorcycle Gyrostator

Steampunk Motorcycle in 3D!

I've gotten well down the road on the 3D model of the Gyrostator, the illegal invention that Vyctor creates. In Travaille, invention is carefully metered and controlled to keep the structured society stable and in compliance with the Praetor's grand plan.
Vyctor is rogue inventing at night in secret locations and the Gyrostator is as illegal as it comes. He takes to riding it through the darkened city in the middle of the night and it plays a very interesting role later in the story.
The Gyrostator has a locomotive drive and it weighs nearly a thousand pounds. That makes it very rough on the ankles and legs when it's not moving and Vyctor has to hold it upright.
It also makes it one heckuva battering ram.
There are no lights as the windscreen lenses are powered with an energy that acts a lot like night vision goggles.
The rear drive isn't complete yet as it will receive eccentric drive elements to run the valves and such. Still, I felt it was far enough along to start sharing.
Hope you enjoy. Cheers, Kevin

PS - just posted the completed design. Be sure to visit that post HERE!

Steampunk Motorcycle (Gyrostator)

Steampunk Motorcycle semi-front view

Steampunk Motorcycle front view

Steampunk Motorcycle Frahnknshtyne

Steampunk Motorcycle top view

Steampunk Motorcycle Gyrostator

Steampunk Aether Rifle on tripod!

Wow! it was quite a wrestling match with my computer to get the final models together in one document and get them rendered off but it's finally done. Here's the images showing all the details. I'm planning on making this into a poster for mounting over mantles like it is a real rifle. I've also gotten a number of inquiries about duplicates of the quarter scale model when it's done. Drop me a line of you have any interest and I'll look into the economics of it.  I'll let you all know when that's done but for now, I hope you enjoy the results so far. more to come.
Cheers, Kevin

Steampunk Aether Rifle Lacette's moment

Steampunk aether rifle tripod

The design for the tripod that supports the immense Aether Assassin Rifle is well underway so I thought I'd share some of the images with you. It has to be built quite sturdy to steady a rifle that is shooting from almost two miles away with lots of ability to adjust it. It's also an artisan item, fully handcrafted and a one of a kind design. Lacette has very strong beliefs and specific rituals she adheres to as she prepares to take a life and that obsessive attention to detail is seen in all the unique tools of her trade as well.
Best, Kevin

Aether rifle tripod

Aether rifle tripod raising mechanism

Aether rifle tripod crank handle

Aether rifle tripod attached plumb bob