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Submitted: October 21, 2003
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Machina Knight sketchby *Inkthinker

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I found a few sketches I had forgotten about when I originally designed these iron knights. This is a layout of how the pilot sits in the harness. I've made some adjustments to the design, but it's largely still the same.

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~TeddyBearWithSexHair Dec 3, 2009

Hey Inkthinker? I came up with a color scheme, care to hear about it? And i came up with a story thats based around your Iron Knight design, that alright?

*Inkthinker Dec 3, 2009 Professional Digital Artist

You can show me the color scheme if you like. I have a story of my own for this design, though.

~TeddyBearWithSexHair Dec 4, 2009

Ok, thats cool. I just hope we get to see more art of these guys! There one of my favorites in your collection!

~joiless Feb 17, 2005 Student Writer

I like the backup weapon for the pilot on the MK designs. After all, this guy may have to bail out of his steampunkish fantasy mech, and you don't want to be unarmed when you do that sort of thing.

*Inkthinker Feb 17, 2005 Professional Digital Artist

Yep. It started off as a riff on the short knife that many soldiers keep in a sheath on the upper part of their harness, and many people mistake that weapon as a secondary blade for the mecha. But it's only purpose is for the pilot to remain armed if they need to leave their armor behind.

I've also considered adding a buckler to the armor's arm, which would serve as a medium-sized shield if the pilot removed it.

~joiless Feb 17, 2005 Student Writer

I figured it wasn't for the mecha itself, since I think the big brute would have some serious using a relatively tiny sword like that with those massive mitts.

Out of curiousity, what sort of system does the mecha use to translate pilot commands into motor movements? I figured its "muscles" are hydraulic just for the raw power (and keeping with the sort of steam-powered appearance it has), but how does the mecha take the pilot input and turn it into an action, like opening and closing a hand, or taking a step? You seem to have a pretty good grasp on what your anachronistic technology does, so I figured there was little harm in asking.

*Inkthinker Feb 17, 2005 Professional Digital Artist

I've been wavering in a couple of directions on that.

The pilot sits in the harness and the arms are placed in a crucifix-like position (yes, very uncomfortable, but the pilots are flexible

), extending into the shoulders and legs drop past a saddle into the thighs. The sleeves read the direction in which the arms and legs push, and the fingers are articulated with a waldo glove. Balance and weight distribution are controlled autonomously.

I've considered how advanced I want to make the "brain" of the machine, which translates the mechanical motions to the larger machine... it may or may not be semi-sentient, may be organic or may be mechanical.

The "muscles" are actually a sort of Shirowesque series of fibrous cables that extend and contract.

~joiless Feb 17, 2005 Student Writer

I think the single coolest sort of "brain" used to automate the functions of a big boilerplate mecha is definitely a sort of "difference engine". Clockwork automation is just too neat.

Interesting. I didn't think that it would have the quasi-organic muscles but it's a sort of high-tech angle that you don't expect from the design. Very cool.

~therealarien Oct 21, 2003 Student Digital Artist

oh i love concept sketches! thanx for writing out those notes for us to oogle at.
trust jason to probe the machine...hehe.

hey....question: what do you find harder to draw, machine things or humans?

*Inkthinker Oct 21, 2003 Professional Digital Artist

How long to draw? I dunno... depends on the idea. When something comes to a boil it sometimes happens very quickly, I just draw the image and everything works and I'm happy, hooray! And sometimes it takes a few drafts to build something that's even acceptable. And some ideas never work out at all...

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I don't know exactly where I have a higher-res version of this... The notes are just design ideas I wrote into the margins as I came up with it. I believe the notes say, in clockwise order from the upper right shoulder of the mecha:

"The pressure pads extrude and expand to hold arms and legs snug"

"Most Machina Knights (referring in this case to the pilot, not the machine) shave their heads. It gets very hot inside the armor" (all the more reason to draw sweaty girls in skimpy clothing, heh heh heOW!! OW!! Stop hitting me! NO, I am not a pervert! I'm just a healthy guy! OW!! Jeez, I'm sorry!!)

"The (mecha's) head is independantly removable. This is, in fact, the normal way to enter and exit the machine."

"The chest panels can be unlocked and removed, but it requires heavy tools and assistance to do so without extreme difficulty"

"feet strap in here"

"Shell is probably not really this thick"

"complex finger controls for manipulating hands"

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Actually all of those items are still part of the design, though I've since rethought the way the frame itself is built. I try to put a lot of thought into a good design, since I don't really enjoy it when I'm reading a book or watching a movie and things happen that don't make some sort of sense. It may be nonsense, but it needs to be SOME sense, or the creator's just not trying.

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