The MercInc experience (Part 5)

Tricky. This is the word best describing creating the design of the crane. Made to reach mech's parts and in the same time fit inside the space in the back of the ship, around the main elevator. It had to look massive for it was intended to carry load of several tons.

The concept - a robotic arm actually, with 3 fingers. Also a moving platform that could attach to straight and arched rails. And a platform on top of the straight rails that could carry member of the crew if an operator was needed on spot.

Rigging was made with bone tools and smart parameter wiring to control shapes. Joints were the trickiest parts to wire. They had to rotate according to other segments. It was a bit crazy. I remembered one day I just woke up and had all the needed linking and wiring planned step-by-step in my mind.


(Pictures will be added here soon - scheme of the wiring and bones)

(Video will be added here someday)

This is all for the crane. In the next (last) part I'll show you the latest work on the exterior of the dropship.