3D Printing - Customizing to the Third Power!!

It is a technology in it's infancy, at least on the consumer level.  3D printing is finally becoming somewhat affordable to the average GI Joe fan.  Even though it has its limitations, it is something that every customizer should look into.

There are a billion different models out there to choose from.  Some you have to build yourself.  On Black Friday last year, amazon.com had on special the XYZprinting Da Vinci Jr 1.0 for a mere $250 (on sale from $349).  At that price, it was worth taking a chance on (considering it was less than a GI Joe Convention set)!

The Da Vinci Jr 1.0 is aimed at consumers, but I would recommend having some modicum of tech savvy to operate it.  After a few initial prints, I had to make some adjustments to the x and y axis.  It also has a habit of making some strange clicking sounds.  After reading online, this appears to be a shortcoming of this model having to do with the stepper motor that feeds the filament slipping.  I also had an issue with the printer not recognizing the black filament as a valid spool (it uses RFID to sense that you are using an official XYZprinting filament spool).  I simply returned it to amazon for a new spool, and that seems to work just fine now.  Each filament spool costs around $25-$30, and so far, I have not run out of filament.

While all this sounds kind of negative, once you get past the shortcomings, it is a great tool.  I have printed endless GI Joe scale weapons.  With a 3D program, you can design your own stuff to print.  I use Strata Design 3D SE 7, which is easy to use.  A free online 3D program called Blender is also useful, but definitely has a huge learning curve.  Some people use Google SketchUp, but I am not a fan of the interface.

So what have I printed so far?  Tons of GI Joe scale weapons, helmets, and diorama pieces for my collection.  Need a desk for General Hawk?  Design it and print it!  My Wayne Manor playset was missing a chair, so I took some measurements and printed one of those too.  The possibilities are endless.  I would love to scratch build a vehicle using exclusively 3D printed parts.

A sampling of some of the weapons I have 3D printed so far.  There are some resolution lines on the finished prints, which can be sanded, if you so choose.  It doesn't bother me that much.

Some of my designs are on Thingiverse, you can find them here.  Feel free to print them as much as you want.

Keep your eyes open!  Other printers will start to come down in price, and even some that can scan as well as print.

The Basement: My Fortress Of Solitude (A GI Joe Memory)

One of my best memories from way back when, was the epic GI Joe battles that took place in my Grandparent’s basement.  At first, I was afraid to go down there.  It was dark with wood paneling and thick red carpet, remnants from when my Uncle made it his bedroom.  As I got older, I found it a great place to let loose with my Joes and not have to worry about making a mess in the more heavily occupied parts of the house.  I could open up the shutters to the window wells and let in more light from the outside.  

My Grandparent’s house was an old farmhouse built in 1909.  As some of you know, a house that old is rare in Arizona.  When my family bought the land in the 1940s, they expanded the farmhouse, adding extra bedrooms and the infamous basement.  My Grandpa grew up there, my Mom and Aunt and Uncle all lived there as well.  I spent lots of summers, weekends, birthdays, and holidays in that yellow farmhouse.  

Anyway, back to the GI Joe aspect of it.  The stairs leading into the basement were a frequent site of many bloody battles.  I used to pretend it was a steep hillside, where each side would fight and die to capture an inch of territory.  The Condor would fly over and bomb GI Joe positions (I would have to be careful not to lose the red bombs in the deep red carpet).  The Joes would be teamed up with A.J. Moon and his Battlecopter (from Bronze Bombers).  Up in the “sky”, the Night Boomer would be dogfighting the Condor, while the Dragonfly would unload its armaments on the Mamba.  I could spend hours doing this, until Grandma called me to lunch and a rerun of the Andy Griffith Show.

Courtesy:  Yojoe.com.  Bronze Bombers were a GI Joe-like line aimed at African-American kids.  I was probably the only white kid who had this.  A.J. Moon was a great addition to the GI Joe team, and bailed out his fellow soldiers many times.  He disappeared some time after the Basement Battles.  If only I knew back then how much these were selling for on eBay now!

The biggest and most fantastic battles took place in the main room of the basement.  One day, in the midst of intense combat, I had a great idea.  I took inspiration from Tomax and Xamot’s zip line handle accessory and decided to make a network of zip lines all across the basement.  Grandma’s sewing notions were pressed into action and before you knew it, cables were strung everywhere.  I fashioned gondolas from boxes used to store player piano rolls and binder clips I “borrowed” from the farm office.  The piano roll boxes could hold quite a few figures.  So years before Jon Chu thought to put a high-wire battle into the Retaliation movie, I had my Joes dangling from thread in the basement.  The gondolas would slide down the thread and the Joes and Cobras would be shooting at each other.  Every so often, a Cobra Trooper would fall to his doom (great falls were one of my favorite ways of killing off Cobras).  Meanwhile, the Locust and the FANG would be playing a game of cat and mouse, desperately trying to avoid tangling themselves in the “cables.”  Air superiority operations were launched from the green felt of the antique pool table that no one played on.  I played this scenario out many times, luckily my Grandma didn’t care how much of her black thread I used and no one seemed to miss the binder clips from the farm office.

I don’t remember when exactly the Basement Battles ceased.  Possibly when my Grandparents built a new house on the property and moved into there.  I had a few battles there, mostly the Joes versus Megatron in the spare bedroom.  It wasn’t the same.  Gone was the privacy of the basement, my fortress of solitude.  The new spare bedroom was not the best battleground.  It was filled with too many porcelain dolls and every surface was covered by a nick-nack of some sort.  Plus, I was growing older and the battles were fewer and fewer.  

As a father to a 5-year-old girl, I love to watch her play.  Her Barbie Dreamhouse is a constant “dolly party” as she calls it, where Bratz party with the Equestria Girls and Doc McStuffins.  I see in her the imagination that I had and I hope she looks back on her “dolly parties” just as fondly as I remember the Basement Battles.  

The HAVOC: A Military Oddity

The HAVOC 

(another in my series of fictional histories of GI Joe vehicles

Never has there been a more controversial military vehicle.  Both military experts and fans alike are equally divided as to whether they love it or hate it.  There are questions regarding its safety and survivability.  All issues aside, the GI Joe team has made a success out of the HAVOC.

HISTORY

The HAVOC did not start out as a military design.  It was developed by Trakker Industries in 1985.  The company had developed a lightweight hovering air vehicle and needed a mobile platform to transport and service it.  The main vehicle was designed around the airborne vehicle.  Trakker considered fielding it with Mobile Armored Strike Kommand (MASK), but shelved the idea in favor of more disguised designs.  He offered it up to GI Joe to field test it and it turns out they loved it!

APPLICATION

The HAVOC is classified as a reconnaisance vehicle.  In its main usage, the truck part of the vehicle stays well away from danger and launches the air vehicle to get a bird's eye view of troop movements or do some artillery/air strike spotting.  The weapons mounted on the tracked vehicle were designed mainly as defensive in nature.  The 2 large recoilless cannons next to the driver's seat have excellent range and have been put to work as tank killers and light artillery pieces.  The HAVOC has been found to be very effective in hunting down and destroying HISS tanks.  In another role it was not designed for, the HAVOC has served as an armored personnel carrier, carrying soldiers in the armored compartment where the air vehicle is usually housed.  The HAVOC has been used in transport roles where a standard deuce and a half truck would be in a disadvantage due to its wheels.  The tracked design of the HAVOC gives it traction on all terrain.  

Sky HAVOC

The sub-team Sky Patrol needed a ground based vehicle in addition to the various aircraft they already employed.  The HAVOC was a natural for this role and had the added bonus of the hovering air vehicle.  The only difference between this vehicle and the original HAVOC are cosmetic; the Sky HAVOC having a highly polished, chrome style finish.

HAVOC II

The HAVOC II is nothing more than the Snow Cat re-deployed in non-arctic environments.  It is painted green instead of white.  

Equipment Profile: XMH-1 Helmet

For many years, the tell-tale sign of a GI Joe Greenshirt was the distinctive helmet they wore.  It is the XMH-1 helmet, an advanced prototype military helmet that never made it into the mainstream army.  Nevertheless, the helmet was way ahead of its time and just may have been to expensive to deploy with the entire U.S. Army.

History

The M-1 "Steel Pot" helmet of World War II and Vietnam was starting to show its age by the early 80s. The Army wanted something more advanced, with greater ballistics and shrapnel protection.  Trakker Industries, headed by Matt and Andy Trakker, designed the XMH-1.  The Army brass were impressed by the design, but did not like the cost per unit.  General Austin decided that the new GI Joe team would employ the helmet.

Description:

The helmet provides excellent protection to the head of the soldier.  It has a dense layer of Kevlar that can stop small rounds like a .38 Special or a 9mm.  The design and shape give excellent protection to the wearer's ears.  A unique hole on the side of the helmet allows for a modular system of equipment for different duties.  A variety of visors and riot shields can be worn with it.  An advanced comm system for vehicle crews works with the helmet as well.  

Service Life:

The helmet was the standard battle helmet from 1982-1988, when it was replaced by the PASGT helmet that was Army standard at the time.  GI Joes always have the option of choosing what gear they want to equip themselves with on any given mission.  Some still choose to use the XMH-1 helmet, even though it is heavier than current models, due to its excellent protection.  The helmet is still being produced in limited numbers by Trakker Industries.

The VAMP: A History

Background:

In 1977, a number of vehicles competed for a government contract to replace the aging M-151 MUTT Jeep the army had been using since the late 1950s.  One of the entries, the Lamborghini Cheetah did not make the cut, the contract instead going to AM General for the Humvee.  The Cheetah caught the interest of General Austin, who wanted something faster, lighter, and more manueverable than the new Humvee and the old M-151 MUTT Jeep.  He got together with MTI Technologies (who was building the cheetah for Lambo) and asked them to build a 2 seater prototype with a larger, more powerful engine mounted in the front.  The result was satisfactory and the VAMP was born!

VAMP Mk. I

The original VAMP was meant to be a multi-purpose vehicle.  It was to perform recon, anti-aircraft, towing, infantry support and general transportation duties.  Its engine was a beefy turbocharged V-12 that could propel the VAMP to nearly 140 MPH.  It was lightly armed with twin 7.62mm machine guns that were remote controlled by the passenger or driver.  Mounted under the hood was another simple 7.62mm machine gun.  It only pointed forward and its usefulness was minimal.  The VAMP was very popular with GI Joe and served on many missions.  Clutch swore by the VAMP and remained a driver of the vehicle for over 30 years.  Of all the Joes, he could push the VAMP to the limits of its capabilities, and had destroyed quite a few in his time!

VAMP Mk. II "Desert Vamp"

After the success of the original VAMP, a new version was created.  The cooling system of the Mk. I was found to be a little inadequate in warmer climates.  The Mk. II improved on this with a larger radiator and improved hoses.  More firepower was added in the form of a box missile launcher with 4 surface-to-surface missiles.  Gone was the hood mounted 7.62mm machine gun and the twin guns mounted on the rear.  To protect the occupants from the elements a soft top and doors were added.  The additional weight of the missile launchers slowed the top speed down some, but the popularity of the added firepower made up for it.  Although meant for desert climates, the VAMP Mk. II ended up being used in all sorts of weather and terrains.  

Cobra Stinger

The Cobra brass were impressed with the VAMP on the battlefield and made several attempts to get the plans.  Finally, they managed to capture one.  The vehicle was transferred to MARS Industries and they engineered a virtual copy of the VAMP.  The Stinger had a few differences from the VAMP it copied.  The turbocharger and air cleaner were enlarged and protruded into the hood.  The missile system was a gargantuan thing on the rear deck of the Stinger.  It was more advanced than the box style on the VAMP Mk. II.  A rear bumper deck and hand rail was added to allow additional troops to ride along.  The doors were a gull wing type design that allowed the easy ingress/egress of the occupants.  Despite the improvements, the Stinger and VAMP Mk. II were equally matched, due to the inexperience and poor training of the Stinger drivers.  

Tiger Sting

A few of the first generation of VAMPs were converted for use by the Tiger Force.  The box style missile launcher was used and the 7.62mm hood mounted machine gun was retained.  A tiger style paint job was applied to denote its affiliation with Tiger Force.  

Desert Striker

Some VAMP Mk. IIs were heavily modified with a new rollcage and a reinforced front end.  Added was an M-60 GPMG mounted on the passenger side.  An unusual feature was the mine deployment system on the rear bumper.  It was a simple mechanical device that used 55 gallon drums that contained simple anti-tank mines.  The lever would tip the drums and dump the mines over the ground.  

VAMP Mk. I & II, 2nd Generation

The second generation VAMP was a complete departure from the original VAMP from 1982.  It was sourced from the chassis of a Ford Expedition and based on the Humvee.  It was slower, with a top speed of 90 MPH.  It was built for utility and not speed.  It could carry an additional 2 passengers in the passenger compartment, and a few extra could tag along in the rear cargo box.  

Yes, it featured a cargo box, where a pedestal mounted mini-gun provided fire support.  This mini-gun plus a single rocket launcher could be mounted on a number of hard-points on the roof.  The new generation of VAMP was everything the older VAMP was not.  Still the 1st generation VAMP remains in service.

NINJA Combat Cruiser (Night INfiltration Jeep, All-Terrain)

Up-armored and equipped with a missile launcher, this all new version of the 2nd generation of the VAMP is equipped for night fighting in urban and suburban environments.  The entire passenger compartment and cargo box are covered with a kevlar reinforced micro-Chobham armor.  2 inch thick gull-wing steel doors with hydraulic open assist allow entry and exit into the vehicle.  The missiles can be configured for both surface-to-air and surface-to-surface capabilities.  The NINJA Combat Cruiser is being tested as to its usefulness in battlefield environments.  

In The Future:

After 30 years of service, the original VAMP shows no signs of slowing down.  A parts recycling program keeps certain units on the road, well after their initial service life has expired.  In 2007, new VAMP Mk. 1 units rolled off the assembly line, nearly identical to their 30 year old counterparts in the motor pool.  The 1st generation VAMP was built to last 20 years in a normal environment, but the fact that they have lasted this long, is a testament to their quality.

A Guide To The F.A.N.G.

Early on, Cobra had a need for an inexpensive, light weight, easily transportable attack helicopter.  Destro's MARS Industries came up with the FANG chopper.  It was first fielded in 1983 and was found to be effective on the battlefield.  In an urban setting they are usually deployed one at a time to perform terrorism operations.  In a theater or war, they are deployed in large numbers to overwhelm opposing forces.  The early FANGs were armed with 4 air-to-air missiles, one 500 pound "dumb" bomb and a chin mounted cannon.  The FANG was easy to fly and required a bare minimum of training.  One downside of the FANG was the open cockpit design, which exposed the pilot to small arms fire.  You could theoretically knock a FANG out of the sky with one well placed shot with a .22 rifle.  Pilot safety was of no concern to Cobra Commander though, and he ordered thousands of the aircraft over the years.  The original design remains in service.

FANG II

The FANG II was conceived to compliment the original FANG, not to replace it.  It was designed as a missile platform to provide air cover for swarms of FANG helicopters.  Its design was a departure from the original FANG in that it abandoned traditional helicopter design and went with the more experimental tilt-rotor function.  The tilt-rotors gave the FANG II extra speed and the ability to carry additional weapons.  Bristling with extra missiles and twin chin cannons, the FANG II was formidable.  Again, the downfall was its open cockpit design.  

FANG III

Military experts say the third incarnation of the FANG was an upcycled version of the original FANG.  This couldn't have been farther from the truth.  The airframe was strengthened with composite materials.  An all new turbine engine was developed.  The rotors were a radical new forward-swept design which allowed for maximum speed.  The FANG III was faster, lighter and stronger than its predecessors.  Once again, Cobra sacrificed on pilot safety by going with the open cockpit design.  The chin cannon was upgraded to a 20mm dual vulcan type design that proved to be devastating in battle.  Missile armaments were reduced to just one under the belly and 2 optional on the fusilage.  

BLACK DRAGON VTOL / FANG IV

The fourth version of the FANG was radically different.  It was much larger than any of the previous FANG aircraft and utilized 2 large turbopop engines on nacelles to power the tilt-rotors.  Gone was the ubiquitious open canopy design and in its place was a reinforced opaque cockpit shell.  No longer could the average Cobra trooper pilot this thing... you needed an Air-Viper to do the task.  Since there was no clear canopy to view the outside, everything was done by instruments.  These differences caused the FANG IV to be re-named the Black Dragon.  It was an aircraft all its own, mainly used as an attack, bomber, or transport aircraft.  

The Future Of FANGs

Over 30 years after its conception, the original FANG remains one of Cobra's most numerous aircraft.  Current versions are still being manufactured to this day.  FANG IIs are still in limited service, but are being phased out through attrition (crashed FANG IIs are used for spare parts for flying models).  The FANG III is slowly replacing the original FANG, although some units prefer the older model for its missile configuration.  Only one squadron is equipped with the Black Dragon, due to its cost ($1.8 million per unit, compared to $118,000 for a FANG).  The 9th Air-Viper Squadron "Black Dragons" takes great pride in flying the aircraft and they are considered an elite unit in Cobra's Air Force.

*FANG is a registered trademark of MARS Industries.

Casting A Spell On Me

So, I have finally decided to enter the world of casting parts for my Joes.  Last Christmas, I got the Alumilite Super Casting Kit for Christmas.  I thought it would be too messy to use inside, so I waited until the weather got cooler to bust it out.  That way I could work out in the garage in case of nasty fumes.  I also procrastinated because it seemed like a huge thing to tackle.  Casting seemed like a huge complicated thing that only master craftsmen could do.  

Nothing could be farther from the truth.  The most complicated and time consuming part was using the silicone mold compound included with the kit.  It was a little hard to mix the 10 parts of silicone to the 1 part of setting up solution.   I decided to pick up their Quick Mold Putty kit to speed things up.  Once you mix the 2 parts of the putty together, you have a short amount of time to make a mold.  My first mold was a simple press mold of a fedora hat from Bob, the Joker's Goon, who was a minor character in 1989's Batman film (don't get me started on how much better that is than any other Batman movie since).  I mixed the A part and the B part of the casting resin and poured it into the mold.  The resin starts to harden up real fast!  You don't have much time to work with it.  It turned out good!  After it set up (about 10 minutes) I dremeled out a hole in the middle so it can fit on someone's head.  

I did end up using the silicone mold maker on a junk Super Trooper head I had lying around.  I had lots of difficulties casting the head.  Air bubbles tend to congregate around the chin and mouth parts of the mold, so I had to make about 8 bad heads before I got one useable one.  It helps to follow the instructions and warm up the mold in the microwave and dust the inside of the mold with baby powder.  

I made more press molds of Indiana Jones' fedora (I have a thing for fedoras) and an M1 helmet from a generic figure I bought years and years ago.  Both have worked great.  I spent most of last night making molds of other GI Joe hats.  Tonight, I plan on a mass casting fest, making tons of chappeaus.  I haven't quite decided on selling the extras, but maybe I will.  Next on the agenda will be vehicle parts.  I had much success casting a deck clip for the USS Flagg.  I'll post some pictures when I finish them up.

Here's a sampling of some of my work si far!