Shaldoll Rogue ver. Wrecked

One of my long running projects this year is a modified Shaldoll Rogue. There are many things I like about the current design: the skull faceplace motif, the shoulders, the axe and gun arm---asymmetry works for this design. On the contrary, the MS seems kind of...naked and the gun arm is kind of plain. 

Image owned by Sotusu-Sunrise-MBS

The gun arm doesn't make a lot of 'sense' with the pirate theme, so what could I do to fix that? What kinds of weapons fit the pirate theme? I really like the peacock smasher fashioned by Crossbone Vanguard's X1 Full Cloth...how can i adapt and simplify that?

peacock smasher line art

Gun Arm Upgrade

At first I designed a folding crossbow attachment, that formed a claw or blades, but the prototypes were out of proportion with the gun arm, and I couldn't reconcile the hinges needed for this motion.

v1 collapsed

v1 deployed

v2 collapsed

v2 deployed

v3 collapsed

v3 deployed

v4 collapsed

v4 deployed

This is a grunt MS, so the upgrade doesn't...shouldn't be fancy. Simple is best, so what does that look like? Why not just add a crossbow attachment?

But I wanted to make it fit the nautical theme and use something that looked like a crossbow. How about a ship's anchor?

The curved end resembles a crossbow, doesn't it?

Using polymorph and sheet styrene, I built a crossbow attachment shaped like an anchor. It's supposed to look heavy and blunt, and it looks like an anchor when the gun arm is resting in a down position. The anchor crossbow can be used to deflect or block melee attacks, or for bashing at close range.

styrene and a cuff from RB-79 Ball 

Anchor? Not quite yet.

test fit #1 w/ Shaldoll

adding 'fins' gives the anchor shape

top view with fins added

overlay with polymorph

2nd overlay over middle cuff

Weaponized Peg Leg

Conceptually, I like the idea of space pirates, like the Bisidian, being limited on resources and utilizing 'old' technology. Similarly, MS that get damaged or wrecked utilize make-shift solutions or patchwork repairs. Like traditional sea-fairing pirates, replacing severed limbs with a hook or peg leg. Not only do pirates find a simple fix, but they also find a way to weaponize it, which results in something crude but deadly. What would it look like if Shaldoll Rogue lost a leg? What would be used to replace it? What kind of weapon?

Initially, I thought of employing a gatling gun peg leg, like Kshatriya Repair, but a custom Crossbone Gundam recently debuted, sporting a gatling gun attached as a peg leg.

this gatling leg is ugly, but now we know how that looks

I felt even more motivated to attempt my own gatling leg...but I ran into many challenges and it just wasn't panning out. Making a chamber for a gatling gun is pretty difficult, and then there's the issue of attaching a hollow foot.

the first cut is always the scariest

shoulder from Age-2 bullet

gatling leg is too long, needs shortening

test fit with Shaldoll

One of my friends suggested a pile-driver leg...so I started researching it. Another term for this is a pile "bunker".

too skinny

I like the frame & chamber

Very epic, but difficult to replicate

Parasite Evil Pile Bunker: I like how it's offset from the frame

Infinite Stratos: Standard cylindrical chamber

Alteisen's Pile Bunker

Like the gatling gun leg, the two hardest things about the pile driver leg are: (1) creating a hollow chamber to house the weapon, and (2) attaching a foot unit, but leaving room for the weapons head (e.g. gun barrel or spike). I tried the offset method, but it didn't look like anything was driving it, and because it was offset from the leg, I was limited on how big I could make the spike.



I've been struggling a lot with designing a leg that meet these requirements, but it finally came together last week.

Scratchbuilt pivot hinge

grooves added to fit the heel (age-2)

other half of gatling gun (MG Astray Blue Frame)

Drilled holes into styrene plate,

This wasn't my initial design plan, but it works out great

test fit: stands up just fine

I like the side view the most

The front toe can rotate out of the way, giving the pile driver a more streamlined look. To model the pile driver mechanism, I added a plunger/hammer to the chamber (butts up against the spike) and made two spikes, one retracted and one deployed. The leg can separate midway to replace the spike.

Leg mode w/ toe engaged and long spike

Attack mode w/toe disengaged

Spike can be replaced by separating the leg

Laying down pose

Upright pose

Overall, I think I'm done with designing the upgrades and I just need to finish some cleanup. (1) The crossbow has some gaps where the polymorph meets each other. Polymorph can be reheated and reshaped, so I may do it over again. (2) The hinges on the toe need to be capped (on the edges) or I'll use a bit of super glue to tighten up the insertion points. (3) The styrene plates under the knee need a lot of clean-up. I've tried putty and sanding, but it's just not shaping right. I picked up some thin, brass sheets (K&S brand) from the hardware store; I will cut a strip and wrap it around the white part, which should give a grafting effect.

K&S brass sheets