Doors, Doors, Doors, and Titan

We've been brainstorming a game table that can support multiple titans, have plenty of room for multiple players and their armies to maneuver, and be able to accommodate a 2-day battle with models securely in place overnight.

In a stroke of good fortune this week I ended up with four sliding door panels that may fit the bill. These panels measure 24"x 80" and appear to be up for the job.

I have several sawhorses for redundant support, but they may lower the tabletop a few inches compared to a standard table. 

I brought the titan out to see how the beefed-up plasma annihilator is looking. This was a good, sneaky way to procrastinate from painting.

I'm actually looking forward to starting renovations on the torso and head, considering how well progress seems to be going on the primary weapon arms.

And finally a dramatic angle to usher in the weekend.

Swervingly Bellicose Ruminations

Today I had some anxiety issues early on. The new meds my psychiatrist prescribed seem to work, but are taking too long to kick in. Regardless: Spray paint. Plasma Annihilator. Seems okay.

This morning I scored some door panels that the neighbor had left out for the garbage men.
 

Door panels are awesome. I've got FOUR of them, all with the same dimensions, which is rare.

I'm done talking about door panels. You've earned a reprieve. No more door talk for now.

Doors.

Doorsdoorsdoors.

Meanwhile & Wean-Mile

My days are foggy. Sleepwalking through to lunch. Glaring into the fridge, the microwave. A furtive glance at the coffee pot. Is it time for afternoon coffee yet?

The kids go quiet every few minutes. My parental gland twitches and I look over to make sure everyone's still breathing. Usually there's a squawk, a staccato drumming of little feet on linoleum, the plaintive wail of a wronged party. Something to sort out. A snap judgement. Weak alibis all around. Wronged parties. More squawking a moment later.   

By instinct I feel for my phone. It must always be in reach. We are not the savages of bygone days. Where is it? Stomping with efficient indignation from room to room. Find the phone. Where? Why?

My meals are often the leavings from the kids' plates. Maybe a chicken nugget. Mac and cheese. Some strange fruit compound. I am the family dog. When nobody's looking I go to my secret stash and eat something chocolate. 

I love our church. I sing. I just close my eyes and sing and all the problems and pain go away.

Woof.

Vexing Extrapolatron

I feel like I want to be done with this weapon. It's reached a point of diminishing returns, like every step has started feeling forced. Like an unwanted house guest.

If I stop now, the plasma annihilator is a major departure from the vengeance cannon. No riveted panels, no green-stuffed tentacles, and no rotary tool damage. Can it work? Will it clash with all the other stuff going on?

I don't know.

These pictures may show the plasma annihilator in its finished state, ready for priming. I really don't know what to think. Does it need some extra oomph?

Is this burn out talking? And will I feel different about it tomorrow?

Hmm.

Churning Rigidity

I don't have a lot to say today, so this will mostly be progress pics. I tried my hand at making the titan legion "T" on the front of the plasma annihilator. I enjoyed making the rivets this time around. After drilling the holes I glued hollow styrene rods into them, and then stuck thinner rod into the center of those.

Overall I've had more fun working on this than the vengeance cannon. It feels more risky as such an oddball design, but it's grown on me.

Precarious Normality

I'm still muddling through this weapon design. It's been important to distinguish it from the vengeance cannon. This has lead to more organic curves over the boxy, angular look of the latter. This could work. It's still in a place of uncertainty, which is not terrible. 

The extra weight is a growing concern, but the connection point is at least snug. Once I wiggle the pipes together, they are tight enough that the forward weight causes the smaller pipe to brace against the inner wall of the outer pipe. Sorry, if that's confusing-- I have trouble articulating physics.

I smashed up an electric carving knife to see if it would yield any useful bits. The ergonomic grip had some interesting curves to work with. It reminds me a bit of the old Portal gun, so there's a nice homage if it keeps going in this direction.

What comes next?

Odd Coils and Adhesive Warfare

I've probably done more thinking than actual work the past few days. The plasma annihilator is a slippery foe. It really needs to look good. It's a focal point in an already-busy model. From a compositional standpoint it's a necessary place for the eye to rest.

I don't think the plasma gun would have gantries, handrails, and hatches like the vengeance cannon. Rather, plasma is probably such a volatile weapon, no one wants to get too close if it can be helped. So the design would require a different approach. This feels very similar to last month when I was ranting about Sleek, and Minimal, and Lethal, and Things.....  

I'm adding more plasma coils. We'll see if other elements start clicking into place as work progresses. 

There was some minor damage to the front of the weapon that should be easy to repair.

Oddly relaxing project in a difficult season.