Daiman

I really must take another look at these guys...a good rendition.

A nice job on this build and good to see some activity in the Star Wars forum.

Thanks for the analysis on this one. It seems like the LDD team took a shortcut here. Removing the tiling sure helps with the creation of leg element decals at least in a predictable manner. One other thing which I would assume is unavoidable is that the generation of the bevel emits the decal information and just uses the leg color. So far I have a custom file which doesn't render bevels onto the legs and all looks fine. Not asking for a fix on this one just a little clarity for my own information as to how it is computed.

Once again thanks for the quick update, unfortunately the mapping is still translating incorrectly. See attached.

Many thanks I'll give it a whirl...

When I render figs with texture on the front and side legs I get a repeat of the decal some two thirds of the way down instead of covering the whole leg as it would in LDD. Can I fix this in the .pov file or is it a software glitch ?

I like this, would love to see some sort of temporary tarp over one section though I'm not sure how many cloth bits are in LDD.

Can the 'Oily' effect be programatically blurred after it is processed but before it is rendered ??

I am in the middle of testing out the LDD to PovRAY working cycle from a recent front page article to see some of my own designs better rendered. One thing I noticed on the test run is the ability to replace the decals on your LDD model with your own with a click or two in the converter. The downside seems the render time but I did a minifig in around seven minutes. Go to the site on the page article and download the converter then download Povray 3.7 beta. If you haven't used it don't panic they all work together pretty well. Make a fig in colour with a decal on the torso and save it as a file. Close LDD. Open up the new fig file in LDD2Povray to generate a Povray file. In the decorations tab select custom and scroll to the one you wish to replace. Replace with your own file. After the converter has made the povray file it will ask if you want to open Povray and render it. Say yes and wait. Not the quickest way to get the feedback your after but you may end up with a very pretty prototype image. Good Luck.

A brilliant little moc...

I just think these are fantastic, really nice job. A chibi trench to follow??? I have always felt that the chibi style more suits our pal the minifig moreso than the current 'tru to scale' models produced.

Your images just make me want it more...

Not to start a debate and with the best intentions but proves is a strong word...suggests is more accurate and already implied in my post. Although the set Pre Viz is a recent release on the shelves it was announced back in February and has been on display since then. I would suggest that the recent article that the photo is from has not.

Now as for the eagerly awaited Rancor pit, well it obviously butts up the the bottom of the palace and with sliding trapdoor many Oolas will be lost. I was confused as to the vertical gate being covered over by the upper section of the palace preventing it from raising and then slapped myself when I remembered that the wall behind Jabba swings out to make room. As for the tower on the side t is clipped on and so is removed easily. There is no facility to clip on a lower section below this and the slope above the people gate suggests no lower addition to the tower. It could however serve as inspiration for kids to build their own portion and that is one thing I think a lot of kids miss out on these days. I know a lot who are more content with just the pre fabrication of the sets and don't inquire their imagination at all with lego which is a shame. There is definately a hinge along side the gate at the back probably to ease play but also makes it possible to expand on the set for a larger pit experience. Now all we need is a massive lego hill to put this all in...

This picture although fabulous is from an article I think relating to the studio architecture of the lego company. Most , if not all of the models seen in it would be older tests and I would't go expecting any of them to be released. Firstly TLC guard there product designs very strictly and I can't see them accidently ending up in an online article related to business practice let alone letting someone walk around their main build space with a camera. This looks to be a showroom / workspace and I expect they have visitos all the time in there.My guess is that it is the graphic designers area. The yavin playset is an older model from some time ago and featured in one of the lego books from the last couple of years. Hope I haven't crashed any spirits as they are all good ideas for future sets...and god knows I've been wrong before.

I absolutely love this MOC, the size of it is right up my alley and the details are at just the right ammount. I think the canopy idea will be taken away by me and used in something later on. I would love to see that astromech cover sliding and my mind is churning over as I type...

I really didn't expect pictures so soon. What a fabulous sculpt I for one can't wait...

I think Cavegod has it right with the Rancor design, as for how big well there is a lot of scope with the minifig scale to make it fit. I really can't see it being brick built as the larger things get TLG seem to break out into Toy mode which suits me as I have always been a fan of their later sculptors. I can imagine pillars under the palace set with a rocky wall behind them and a Rancor around the size of Jabbas Palace as it sits at the lower roof top dome. Any way it comes it's going to be a welcome and sought after set. I for one am eager to see the pics...

I'm a little late in viewing this forum but this was a very nice surprise...

I would love to see more pics as well, maybe some with a lower camera angle. I also think that your idea has a lot of merit so don't stop here. My design advice for advancing this model would be... Instead of just adding the thruster cones to the side panels, remove the two orange guys and build a housing on each side of what looks like the exit ramp and incorporate the thrusters into that. Engines are big and need to look like they work and have some power source behind them. Extra detail on the side panels in the form of extra thick armour where the troops are. I think thats an awesome gun in the centre so why not two and put them on each side. I can't see if you have landing gear but it would be nice.

Just marvelous. A nice sized Moc for just the right ammount of detail. Cheers.

I love this build, and thanks for the history lesson. These are the little morsels that keep me interesting at parties.

Sandtrooper is one of the best real world designs along with its minifig counterpart.

Although a lot of us may never build on this scale your model serves as an inspiration to both adult Moccers and to all of the younger builders who have the chance to see this. If I was a blogger then you would be blogged.

The character is based on a night sister from the game Empire at War. The new version is more traditional.