Trencher Criticism

Hello Moonbasers! 

Before I could shout "Stop the Presses" I'd finished my Cultivator, but Woodsy had already published!

The Cultivator No.6 was Winston Churchill's WW1 dream of a Trenching machine that could plow across a battlefield cutting a trench, with troops marching behind it as it went.

By WW2 he had enough influence to have it built. But WW2 was a different tactical landscape and trench warfare was old hat.

It was built, it was tested, it was never deployed. The plans for dozens of dfferent sized machines were quietly downsized and deferred.

It's code name was White Rabbit -although White Elephant would have been more appropriate! Churchill later commented "I am responsible, but impenitant!"

I thought it would be a funny throw away gag in my puppet film, to suggest he was using it to drive to work in his war bunker beneath Whitehall!

In the tradition of the real vehicle, the journey from dream to reality was a fraught and lengthy process.

I originally intended to scratch build it out of cardboard, but quickly progressed to drawing it up in vector work for laser cutting.

My work pal, Warren had been experimenting with AI programs that converted 2D photographs into 3D printable meshes. As much as I detest AI, I thought as a simple tool, I should at least try to know my enemy...

As I quickly discovered, despite the instant, glossy look, there were problems.

I needed at least three sections for my model, and due to AI hallucinations, each generation started again from nothing and while cillectively they looked fine, when I fitted them together, nothing matched.

I spent an inordinate amount of time 3D modelling to reconcile everything. Some parts like the spill ejector belts, had to be junked and 3D modelled from scratch!

Anyway, here is the finished model. It's under half of the machine and it still clocks in at 750mm long! It comes in two sections, held together with a magnet. Getting the cable stanchions and spring steel cables to split and join up was a task. After yesterday's house paint base coat, it now sports custom printed waterslide decals and subtle weathering, with dry brushwork and my old favourite -polished graphite!

I was a little worried about the contour map surface effect of FDM printing not holding up to 4K camera scrutiny, but I suppose I'll find out on the shooting stage!

It's now all finished, bubble packed and laid aside as I get on with the Prime Minister's pin striped pants!

" This man will be our hero, as he attempts to do everything himself. His name: Bleedin' Insane..."

Looey,

Oz