Just wanted to share some sketches of this guy I've been working on with the help of another Skullbrain member. I've been a long time fan of giant robot toys, at one time I had an awesome Godaiken collection. Lately I've been trying to buy the vinyl versions of robot toys. I like the way the hard edges transition to vinyl, and the crude paint jobs, stickers etc.

So anyway, I drew up this guy "Fighting Dragon" who will be made into an 8 or 9 inch tall vinyl toy, by Unbox. Paid for by me, probably with kickstarter or my tax return .

I'm not sure where he fits into the Greasebat universe yet. Initially he was docked at an orbiting space station, but I think I'm bringing him down to Earth in an abandoned castle somewhere in western Germany. He has a medieval design influence.

Ideally I hope to be able to afford a chromed plastic chest piece when it's ready for production. Maybe a short sword, mace and shield also. I've already switched the legs from square to rounded.

I think you know by now how amazing I think this guy is Jeff, so I won't continue on ad nauseam. But it is hitting me in every right place I could think of, and many more I didn't know existed. Your fine refinements have worked excellently, and the design of him is perfect. I love the medieval aspect to him, and I think chrome stickers for his chest and/or accessories would be really great. Only one word to say (and if I say it often and anon forgive me): JUMBO. I am in. Yes, please.

And compatible with existing weapon attachments!

thanks guys, I was worried that it was just too generic, or too much of a copy of robots from an existing genre. But then I figured what the hell, I want to do it and have it in hand.

Jumbo- that is my dream to have a true Jumbo. Maybe someday !

He is shaping up really good. I like the castle idea, and seeing the influence of the medieval; like the chest plate, shoulder Shield/Spike ball , chain mail really adds to its character. The only thing I see that seems off to me really is the Japanese script on his torso. I know it is a take on the Japanese Godaiken/Shogun Robots but It just feels like something is off, if the builders made it to be medieval themed than I could see them replacing the larger script also. Maybe it’s to big or needs to be placed somewhere else (maybe his back?) or maybe a simple medieval / Celtic like design that incorporates it. Or maybe the Chainmail is too “much” Medieval and they should be smooth. I think just a little bit more mix of the Godaiken/Shogun style. I am just throwing out ideas is all, I really like it. I think your Stuff is awesome!!!

oh no, I don't mind input- if I did I wouldn't have posted it.

I agree with your points and have been struggling with the "does the Japanese text make sense?" question.

I did get rid of the chain mail design on the arms. I also may make the dragon more stylized, and less straight-up medieval shield looking. Suggest the medieval them rather than be blatant.

The text- I can't get around that, just wouldn't look right with out it!

THX

What about some meta action - Maybe a medieval crest style Greasebat instead of a dragon?

That is a cool idea, and could be fun to draw also!

Why not go all out then? Make this thing a jumbo. You already had in mind possible crowd funding as part of this project so why not do it? From what I know Unbox can easily do a 10 inch figure in a mold so going 20 inches or even 30 would probably be just as simple as adding a second or third mold. Sure it would cost twice as much or more but I have a feeling any kickstarter you put up would fund pretty easily. It's one thing when someone kickstarts their very first project because they can't or won't fund it themselves or when someone kickstarts every toy project they come up with again and again but you have put in the work to release great toys and great art for a long time so it's not the same thing at all. It's your dream, why not give it a shot?

I rarely ever support any kickstarter myself but a jumbo robot from you and unbox?

I'll take three.

Thank you, good points all around. I'll ask Unbox to price it out for me. I did get a nice quote once for a 14 inch figure, but I would only be happy with a 24 inch version As long as the final price is not outrageous. Really since it's being designed digitally it shouldn't be a huge issue to upscale it. For me it all comes down to the final retail price. We shall see!

Kickstarter stretch goal - JUMBO! Love the design Jeff, really classic and has all the right castle/mech/robot things I like. The wings and chest crest are nice touches.

Well, I personally really like the chainmail arms, have from the beginning. I think maybe if you do smooth them out, it will add to the 'generic' robot look of him which you were trying to avoid. They don't need to be silver necessarily, but I think the sculpted texture on the arms would go a long way to making this guy unique and emphasizing the medieval feel. Oh James, not everything has to be meta. I like the idea of a dragon or other typical chimera/animal logo, in that, should a companion fighter be developed in the future, you could have another different family crest for him as well.

Yeah, I’m actually into the chainmail arms, they could also read as dragon scales!

As far as up-sizing goes, I am sure the molds will cost considerably more - if they can do them - but at least some of that could potentially be offset by using the thinner 'poly' plastics rather than vinyl. A full size vinyl robot would probably not be doable, but I am down for a traditional jumbo style in lighter version. You could still have the smaller 10" version for the soft vinyl purists.

wasnt the unifive garada k 7 a fully vinyl in the jumbo scale? or was that a little smaller? im not too familiar with jumbo machinders in hand.

Thanks guys, talking with Unbox about jumbo size now.... pretty much doable in blow molded original style plastic. Really it all depends on what the final retail price would be for me, I don't want to put something out there that's way out of the average persons budget.

Chain mail upper arms- I'll take another look at it. The nice thing about digital rendering, somewhat easy to make changes. I like to utilize the repeating pattern aspects too, something that is a giant pain in the ass for traditional sculptors.

Fake animation cel art....



Random internet photo of some guy in a Norman helmet, in his Mom's living room...used for reference

Fighting Dragon, Otrovno, SMD5...are all these really going to happen?

What's Otrovno?

edited

Yes! I've seen the prototypes, . SMD5 (star eater) and Otrovno due for later this year, Dragon I'm hoping by next summer.

Haha! Nice one. I was actually thinking about attending a Ren Faire recently...no costumes though...well maybe... My neighbor has a decorative suit of armor sitting outside rusting, some WD40 and I could probably wear that....

I like the chain-mail, I think it’s a great idea and it adds a lot of character. the more I look at it the more I like it. I wasn’t really trying to say get rid of it, I was more trying to figure a way to balance the Japanese Script with the overall design, But you know most of the design sketches look well balanced, it was just one of them that seemed off to me, maybe I was just thinking about it all wrong.
Jeff, you have a lot of great stuff in the works!!!!

Imagine the endless possibilities of different sticker pack applications!