EuTytoAlba

Was collecting reference images for my next Voltron papercraft when suddenly it hit me:
the main characters are basically from "The Wizard Of Oz"!!

Hunk = The Cowardly Lion
Shiro = The Tin Man
Lance = The Scarecrow
Coran = The Wizard
Allura = Glinda The Good Witch
Haggar = The Wicked Witch
Pidge = Dorothy
Keith = Toto

DeviantArt says free members can't make a poll....
Well, we'll see what "free" members can't do.

Answer by leaving a comment.

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Suppose you were going on a manned mission to Mars. Doesn't have to be the first; you can wait for technology to advance.

Would you still go if the astronaut next to you was wearing a space-suit cosmetically styled after Dead Space RIGs, or even DOOM?

A)  I'll take the next flight, thanks.

B)  Um.....yes. *uncomfortably scooches away from said astronaut* :bademoticon:

C)  HECK YEAH! WHERE'S MINE?!

D)  Yes, of course. What's Dead Space?

E)  Other reaction. (comment)

F) NOPE! F this mission and F Mars!

G) *eyes glaze; deliberately causes O2 leak on board; lights prayer candle while muttering alien math formulas*
_{* I swear I'll tell someone at NASA who you are if you would really go with this option. ಠ__ಠ}

---

This question was inspired by a conversation I had with a sort-of-family-friend who actually works for NASA. Apparently, NASA just told its employees to go out and recruit some fresh meat for the race to Mars.

Part of their campaign is to give away these neat posters for personal, educational, and even some commercial use as background material in movies. Personally, I like the "Some User Assembly Required" one best; might even have that one made full-size to hang in my house, srsly.

So I told this guy, if they wanna make a lotta nerds REALLY REALLY happy and likely inspire a ton of signups from smart people who probably never considered endeavoring in a REAL LIFE Space-related career before, JUST START COSMETICALLY DESIGNING YOUR SPACE SUITS TO LOOK LIKE VIDEO-GAME CHARACTERS! Even just a little bit----if practical feasibility gets in the way. You know what he said? Just this: www.space.com/29769-spacesuit-…

I invoked the Kaiju-butthole scene of "Pacific Rim", called it a 'gray torpedo bag', and told him that if those "Mars Explorers Wanted" posters had depicted soft-suits like the ones in that article instead of the famous classic concept of a "space suit", it would 'let the appeal out of their recruitment campaign like air out of a balloon'. Final question: .........Was I wrong?

I figure if you wanna inspire laymen to become more than laymen, you're better off hearing straight out what laymen really think and whisper among themselves----no?

Basically, if I'm hanging around on DeviantArt, there is something urgent and important elsewhere which I should be tending to instead. If I disappear completely for days or even weeks in a row and fall behind on responding to comments, then I may actually be getting work done! I can only hope that, knowing that, you who who are waiting for responses from me won't consider me as rude as I feel I'm unintentionally being by letting your kind words slip by... Believe me, answered or not, I am deeply grateful for ALL of the encouragement I have received. Some days, you should know, it's almost all that keeps me going.... One of the few things harder than trying to make it as an artist is trying to convince those closest to you that you're not just a baseless dreamer grasping at lottery tickets. I am a dreamer, but the feedback I've gotten online is how I know that despite those jaded know-it-all doubters my dreams are anything but baseless.


That said, these are my current major projects:
I'm still in the process of modifying the 3D model of Master Eraqus' keyblade armor, after which I'll papercraft and cosplay it, as previously planned.
I've also begun working on the template for Adam Jensen's augmented-prosthetic arms from "Deus Ex; Human Revolution". I believe I've posted 49 papercraft downloads so far (several contain multiple projects, so that's not an accurate count of how many individual papercrafts I've released) so I wanted to do something fancy for my 50th submission.
I still plan to model and papercraft Edward Elric's automail, soon, but honestly I'm nervous about starting it, besides busy with the first two projects.
And, amazingly, one day a few weeks ago I suddenly remembered that (LAST YEAR) I promised to papercraft Cloud Strife's Fusion Swords! I have collected two excellent 3D models of this weapon----but though they look great, they're both riddled with issues that make papercrafting them extremely complicated. The best way to avert this is actually to take this great original reference drawing by Tetsuya Nomura which I found and 3D model all seven blades myself based on that.

That's officially all for now. If I make any more commitments of this sort, I'd have to start wearing a paper ring on my left hand.

But, don't be surprised if I suddenly post something out of the blue that is completely unrelated to anything I've ever mentioned before, even if I SHOULD be devoting the time to my high-priority projects. If I try to fight off inspiration when it happens, then the idea transforms into a heavy link at the end of a very long chain that I call a to-do list. I CAN NOT forget such things. So to spare myself, I take the idea and charge headlong with it. Sometimes I finish it, other times it expands into a time-eating monster that I ultimately have to bury...

There are a few requests I still haven't gotten around to doing. Way to the Dawn, Destiny's Embrace, Rainfell, Sora's hair, Roxas's hair, more Organization XIII weapons... Since I agreed to do them, I'll get to them as soon as I can, but only without bumping the projects listed above. Besides, the 3D model for Roxas's hair is a flat, sparkling-Pepakura-glitch nightmare, and Destiny's Embrace isn't far behind it in that regard.


And finally.... *pseudo-prestigious drum roll*

There is the impending yet frustratingly drawn-out launch of my personal, professional art website, Towerdweller.com. I've needed one for several years, but have always hated the idea of becoming a human factory and producing the same product over and over again, or seemingly the only alternative which was to make only one or two of each new thing. However, by offering digital downloads, I've finally arrived at a win-win arrangement!

A couple of things will be different about the papercrafts I'm going to make exclusively available through Towerdweller. First of all, NONE of them will be made from ripped video game models. MAYBE there's a clause in copyright law that MIGHT allow for that, but I'd rather avoid the whole issue. That said, all future papercrafts of mine which are made from ripped models will continue to be free no matter how long they took to make. I may just have to make fewer of them, because there's only one of me and I'm not an octopus.

Secondly, as much as I love making prop replicas, in order to further avoid the gory trenches of Copyright Dodgeball, I'm going to stick to 100% original designs. (As opposed to original 3D models of copyrighted designs.) However, despair not, for I have deep knowledge of nerdy subcultures and plan to express it through papercraft. I'm labeling Towerdweller with the genres of Steampunk, Dieselpunk, Cyberpunk, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and Historical, and the stuff I already have in mind is, in my humble opinion, a whole new level of epic.

Thirdly, though I don't bother applying textures fancier than flat coloration, or maybe even because of that, my original models have more mesh detail than what I find in ripped models. So, that means much more realistic-looking props after you strengthen and paint them, AND the option for me to papercraft simple machines that actually work!

[example] _{Click it, or else!}

All that's holding back Towerdweller's official ribbon-cutting is my intense dislike for making websites. I have decent skill at it, it's just hard, time consuming, and a miserable experience. My mom, who couldn't love making websites more, keeps trying to persuade me to use Wordpress. But, I've seen Wordpress sites, and they're not even on the same proverbial continent as what I want. Compounded with this problem is my slowness at drawing, for I require a few specific graphics to serve as a storefront...

No matter what other gibberish I might accidentally imply when I try to list eeevveerryyyttthhhiiinnnggg that I'm currently involved in, jusso you know Towerdweller.com is the real, honest to grapefruit, priority one.


Speaking of which, I finally produced a list papercrafts I would love to make someday that I'm actually satisfied covers most of the old ideas I've been lugging around in the back of my mind for so long; I wasn't even close to kidding about the analogy of a heavy chain.

_{indicates premium papercrafts reserved for Towerdweller.com
indicates something I may NEVER release to the public}
^{indicates that something has mechanical parts!}


In no sensible order whatsoever:

Broken Sword's sword  ("HERO")
Flying Snow's sword  ("HERO")
Fire Toa's sword  ("BIONICLE: Mask of Light")
Ice Toa's sword  ("BIONICLE: Mask of Light")
Zar'roc's sheath  ("Inheritance" series") to go with my Zar'roc papercraft
Brisingr, Eragon's sword & sheath  ("Inheritance" series)
Truth, fanmade purple dragon-rider sword & sheath  (inspired by the "Inheritance" series)
Edward Elric's automail arm false prosthetic  ("Fullmetal Alchemist")
Edward Elric's automail leg false prosthetic  ("Fullmetal Alchemist")
the black knight's helmet  ("Monty Python and the Holy Grail")
Dr. Horrible's freeze ray  ("Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog")
leper-king of Jerusalem's silver mask  ("Kingdom of Heaven")
Immortals' mask  ("300")
Phantom of the Opera mask remake  ("Phantom of the Opera" 2004)
armor stand
crossed-swords wall mount
Japanese three-tiered sword rack
Japanese 10-tiered sword rack
three-tiered katana holster  (right out of a crazy-awesome dream I had)
historically accurate full suit of o-yoroi armor
rubber-band powered hidden blade knockoff  (inspired by "Assassins Creed") only because my bro is an AC fanboy
steampunk lantern
articulated costume wings with an 18ft span [see prototype]
old ship's wheel
nautical hourglass
human-sized steampunk music box key
steampunk Plague-Doctor mask
articulated Plague-Doctor mask
Pinkamena Dianne Pie marionette  ("My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" creepypasta)
oversized cat ears
3D-printed mermaid ears
elegant owl "ears"
a character's metal gloves from one of the novels I'm writing
that same character's broadsword & sheath
that same character's dagger & sheath
the mask worn by a superhero in that same story
custom armor for several characters in an independent film I'm helping with
steampunk/gothic birdcage
steampunk/gothic parasol
medieval coal lantern
3D-printed masquerade-mustache
"Nemo gun"  ("20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" 1954)
model of the Nautilus  ("20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" 1954)
Vires Angelorum, an original sword from my fanfic "Heart of the Realm"
Anima Verglas, an original, "Souleater"-inspired sword from HotR
Towerdweller, an original keyblade from HotR
Iron Fist, another fan keyblade, but I won't call them "keyblades" for copyright sake
War Gizmo, another one
Paragon, another one
Anachron, another one
Rain Dance, another one
Star Stealer, another one
Sauroctone, another one
Bete Noir, another one
Distant Destiny, another one
Shards of Stars, what happens to Oathkeeper in HotR when Sora breaks his promise
Fit for a King, a fanmade ultima keyblade from HotR
Save the Earth, another fan ultima
Weight of the World, another fan ultima
World Razer, a fanmade dark ultima co-wielded by four characters in HotR
fanmade paladin armor worn by Sora as prisoner/guard of the door to Kingdom Hearts
Cloud Strife's Fusion Swords  ("Final Fantasy: Advent Children")
high-resolution mod of the SOLDIER sword  ("Final Fantasy: Crisis Core")
high-resolution mod of Stormfall  ("Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep")
Captain Daniel Gregg's portrait  ("The Ghost & Mrs. Muir")
high-res Jeannie's bottle  ("I Dream of Jeannie") so that my non-nerd dad can recognize something I've made
Imber's memory mirror, a device from the epilogue/'secret ending' of HotR
Ansem the Wise's Kingdom Hearts data-encoding device  ("Kingdom Hearts II")
ice queen crown
ice queen wings
ice queen pauldrons
3D-printed steampunk folding fan frame
3D-printed folding fan frame with ice crystal patterns
crest-sword of the king of Fanalia  ("The Vision of Escaflowne")
Secret Treasure of Fraid  ("The Vision of Escaflowne")
Atlantean war mask  ("Atlantis: The Lost Empire")
Edward Elric's transmuted spear  ("Fullmetal Alchemist")
Rainfell  ("Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep")
Destiny's Embrace  ("Kingdom Hearts II")
Way to the Dawn  ("Kingdom Hearts II")
Photon Debugger  ("Kingdom Hearts II")
Fatal Crest  ("Kingdom Hearts II")
Pumpkin Head  ("Kingdom Heart")
3D-printed replica of The Shadow's fire-opal ring ("The Shadow" 1994)
Victorian-lion ring
functional miniature of the Multiplane Camera from the 1930s
whole series of Venetian Carnival masks
dieselpunk pilot goggles
steampunk claw prosthetic
36'' steampunk wrench
a model of a classic car from the 1920s, 30s, or 40s
a life-size angel sculpture
a life-size cathedral gargoyle sculpture
Demetria the Deceiver's armor  ("Spy Kids 3D")
classic Megaman Zero armor  ("Magaman Zero" series)
low-poly Megaman Zero armor  ("Magaman Maverick Hunter X")
high-poly Megaman Zero armor  ("Marvel vs. Capcom 3")
high-resolution mod of Terra's keyblade armor  ("Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep")
cyberpunk visor
cyberpunk fairy wings
life-size sword of the guymelef Eescaflowne  ("The Vision of Escaflowne")
8-inch tall Sirena  (my MLP:FiM "horesfly" OC) figure
steampunk grandfather clock facade for cheap battery clocks
Victorian hat rack
alchemical scales
3D-printed custom tsuba
series of dragon horns
Starlight keylade  ("Kingdom Hearts X")
Noctis's engine-sword  ("Final Fantasy XV")
Jadis's ice wand  ("Chronicles of Narnia")
Shan-Yu's sword  ("Mulan")
3D-printed Victorian teacups
Two Across  ("Kingdom Hearts II")
Xigbar's guns  ("Kingdom Hearts II")
Demyx's citar  ("Kingdom Hearts II")
high-resolution Oblivion complete re-model  ("Kingdom Hearts")
high-resolution Oatheeper complete re-model  ("Kingdom Hearts")
Dr. Owl mask
Mickey's firefighter hat  ("Epic Mickey 2")
the magic paintbrush  ("Epic Mickey 2")
Oswald's remote controller  ("Epic Mickey 2")
The Mad Doctor's animatronic arms false prosthetic  ("Epic Mickey 2")
The Mad Doctor's mustache  ("Epic Mickey 2")
1700s tricorn hat
1940s fedora hat
big ol' slouch hat  (inspired by "The Shadow")
Jim Hawkins's pistol ("Treasure Planet")
3D-printed southwestern terracotta sun wall hanging with the face transposed
stuff for a steampunk short-film I've always dreamed of seeing done...


*scrolls off to infinity* 

My general idea is to print this list out and stick a pin in it whenever I'm ready to model something.


EDIT: Oh yeah... AND I wanna make several how-to tutorial videos so that if someone has a request, and they're darned determined to get it, they won't have to depend on me or any other papercrafter to to make it for them. At least one of these will be on how to 3D-model prop items from scratch with completely free software PLUS how to prepare them for papercrafting and/or 3D-printing. One needn't actually own a 3D-printer to have something made; there are online companies that will 3D-print your models and ship them to you.

Well, basically, my to-papercraft list has gotten way ahead of me. A few of you are even still waiting for requests from several months ago. Well, I'm learning new 3D techniques all the time, so I hope you'll find that the wait was worthwhile if it means they'll be better. In the meantime, I just thought people would like to know how my works-in-progress are going.....

There are two keyblades from KH2 that I've been asked to make templates for, but I figured it would be kinna nice to throw ALL the keys from KH2 together in a super-pack, right? Haha.... I may regret I said that.

I've also been asked to make Zack Fair's and Roxas' hair. Problem is, actually, the models are really tricky because of dozens upon dozens of short flat spikes, and I just haven't summoned the patience to sort them out yet. I kinna get bewildered just from opening and looking at their files.

There's also a large Digimon-related pack that I've been poking at since last September, but by now I'm almost convinced that I'll just have to post it as a forlorn WIP. Digimon cosplays aren't known for being easy, so I hope that this will help a lot of people who otherwise might never have considered certain characters.

Then, there's the Six Armor WIPs pack I posted so long ago. Truth is, I really haven't done much with them at all. For one thing, a full suit of armor takes me about three weeks at several hours every day to completely organize. For another thing, I was going to build Terra's suit for myself, and in doing so, finish that template first------but then I saw some images of Master Eraqus' armor, and have been trying to lay hands on that 3D model ever since so that I can build his armor for myself instead of Terra's.

And, lastly, Cloud's Fusion Swords! I first started working on it back in September or some such, but then my computer died and the model I had was out of my reach until about mid December. With everything else I've had to do since Dec, I just haven't finished it yet.


Now, are you ready to hear about some ideas that I haven't even started on yet?

If I make any more "enhanced" papercrafts like my recent Wayward Wind mod, the "enhancement" being depth added to parts of the model that were just flat in the original game model, don't count on anything other than Stormfall, Ends of the Earth, and the standard-issue SOLDIER sword. There's already a good sword in my SOLDIER super-pack, however I want one that better matches the higher-resolution pre-rendered cutscenes from Crisis Core.

I've also been asked by two different people, independently of each other, to make the T-45d power armor from Fallout. I've already got the model, so this is very likely. There are, in fact, papercrafts of parts of this armor already out there, but apparently they are hard to find.

In addition to trying to get Master Eraqus' armor model, I would also love to rip and papercraft Balmung of the Azure Sky's armor from the .hack series. You'll be lucky to see these turn up by July, though.

....Right along with my dream of modeling Megaman Zero's Mythos armor from scratch, and Edward Elric's automail arm and leg! I plan on attending the Phoenix Comicon this year, and, well, Vic Mignogna (voice of Ed and generally amazing person) is going to be there. So, for the later, I do have considerable motivation.

More realistically, as in between now and February: my original keyblade Iron Fist, the sword Brisingr, and a functional Pinkamena Dian Pie marionette. I probably won't build the marionette, though. I don't think I could sleep with such a thing in my house.

And now, alas, my ravings reach a crescendo-----I would love to 3D model and subsequently papercraft a series of steampunk kinetic sculptures. (The aforementioned marionette is for practicing hinges.) However, since I don't have a job, most of my steampunk templates will be for sale on an independent website. Provided I make enough progress in time, there's even a steampunk convention in my area in March that I'd like to display my work at.


I've been trying to stay quiet about most of this stuff since it's kind of a given/rule that nothing is set in stone until it's already finished. But, well, after a while I feel like it starts to look like I'm just ignoring everybody.



EDIT 2.18.13: Seems I forgot to mention that I'm also designing papercraft costumes for a short-film project. Haha.... Actually, although creative progress is agonizingly slow, this actually takes priority over everything else.

And, I will NOT be a vendor at the steampunk con I was hoping to debut my kinetic papercrafts at. It's two weeks away and not only am I not ready, I can't afford the table. I will continue to develop my website, however, and the success of my patterns (papercraft, woodcraft, and sewing) on that will determine whether or not I can get a table at other conventions this year.

Totally unrelated to papercraft: Speaking of cons, I'll be taking my brony bro to Appaloosa Con in April, and stalking Vic Mignogna with the Risembool Rangers at the Phoenix Comicon in June. Any of you nice folks going to be at either of those? I've ALWAYS wanted to do a flash mob of Kingdom Hearts characters---either Organization XIII or all of the various incarnations of "Ansem"---dancing the Thriller!!! Whoever wants to cosplay Xemnas in a red version of his white coat, as a parallel of MJ's iconic red jacket, will be my hero.

When I taught myself papercrafting, over time I ended up with a collection of dozens of freeware studios of the sort that I only dreamed of paying hundreds of dollars for before. I was rather irked that some ambiguous generality had led me to think these things were futuristic, even unrealistic. Anyways, I hope that I can pass on to others the sampler platter I never had. And not just 3D, but other useful art tools. 3D is just what I've done the most research on up till now. I'll keep adding more stuff to this list as I find it. If anyone has something to recommend, I'll gladly look at it!

_{3D Model Studios:}

MeshLab: meshlab.sourceforge.net/
_{- Seen used here: youtu.be/VVmVTrtx-wo and mentioned as used here: www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/sh…}

Blender: www.blender.org/

Metasequoia: metaseq.net/english/index.html

kHED: khed.glsl.ru/index.php?page=do…

gMAX: www.turbosquid.com/gmax
_{- Discontinued precursor to 3DSMAX. Requires registration.}

SketchUp: sketchup.google.com/
_{- Produced by Google and used to make all the 3D buildings in Google Earth.}

Wings3D: www.wings3d.com/

4D Blue: www.4dblue.com/

Seamless3D: www.seamless3d.com/

Misfit Model 3D: www.misfitcode.com/misfitmodel…

Art of Illusion: www.artofillusion.org/

OpenFX: www.openfx.org/

K-3D: www.k-3d.org/wiki/Main_Page

TrueSpace: www.united3dartists.com/forum/…


_{3D Model Animators:}

MikuMikuDance: www.geocities.jp/higuchuu4/ind…
<sub>- Plain example: youtu.be/sR3HP03xWH0
- Example with environments, camera angles, and lighting effects: youtu.be/QCTFC50gpa8</sub>

FragMOTION: www.fragmosoft.com/


_{Model Unfolders for Papercraft:}

Pepakura Viewer & Designer: www.tamasoft.co.jp/pepakura-en…

Ultimate Papercraft 3D: www.papercraft3d.com/upc/index…

DXF2Papercraft: dxf2papercraft.sourceforge.net…


_{3D Misc:}

3DVIA Printscreen: dassault-systemes-3dvia-prints…
_{- A handy tool for ripping 3D models right out of model viewers and saving them
to your computer as .XML models, but only works on viewers based on Open DX.}

KnowHow Laser Scanner: www.instructables.com/id/3-D-L…
_{- Build a 3D scanner with a common laser-pointer.}

TheHeroTutorials Fiberglassing Armor: youtu.be/a7T8rypEqs8
<sub>- Excellent instruction with excellent product suggestions.


PDF Creator:</sub>

CutePDF Writer: www.cutepdf.com/Products/CuteP…
<sub>- A PDF exporter installed as a printer. Very handy.


2D Paint & Vector Studios:</sub>

Inkscape: inkscape.org/download/?lang=en

GIMP: www.gimp.org/

Muro: muro.deviantart.com/
_{- I was on DA for years before stumbling across it,}
^{so just in case there may be others as dense as me...}

<sub>This particular list definitely needs to be longer.


GOOD Screen Recorders:</sub>

"Free Screen Recorder" by NBXSOFT: www.nbxsoft.com/screen-recorde…


_{Music Related:}

Linux MultiMedia Studio: lmms.sourceforge.net/
_{- Used to compose: youtu.be/_xGmcnXM8wM}

Synthesia: synthesiagame.com/

Finale Notepad: www.finalemusic.com/notepad/de…


_{Writing Related}

JWPce: www.physics.ucla.edu/~grosenth…
<sub>- Japanese kana & kanji processor
- have relied on it for years and found none that can compare.</sub>

Natural Reader 11: www.naturalreaders.com/
_{- reads text aloud.}

TTFEdit: ttfedit.sourceforge.net/
_{- a .ttf font file editor.}

Write Or Die: writeordie.com/

Tutorials by OokamiKasumi: ookamikasumi.deviantart.com/ga…
_{- Not a program, but still an invaluable resource.}

---

PS: Can anyone identify what this 3D modeling instrument is called? youtu.be/MICn6uyUw-s No search term I can think of has turned up any clues at all. I'd really like to get one, but can't search stores for something without a name, and that none of the clerks have ever seen, or even heard of such a concept before. "Sky Captain" (from who's special features those video clips are from) came out in 2004, so the technology is old, but I can't imagine that something like this wouldn't still be around.
Someone found it for me!
PHANTOM Desktop Haptic Device
.....Dangit, it's $13k.