One very nice reference picture I came across is a shot of someone else's 3D rendering of the BTR-70. It is very interesting to study this, as you can see what compromises they made in leaving out certain of the more intricate detail.

In this case the model is highly detailed, with a lot of surface ornamentation. I hope my model looks as nice as this when I'm finished!

First steps to a 3D model...

The very first thing I do inside SketchUp is to arrange my 'template' schematics. As this is a very quick and dirty model, I will be tracing my profiles directly off the templates (and then extruding the profiles to make the correct shapes). But before that I must scale the schematics to the correct size - this is where the measurements - conveniently included - come in very handy!

I centred the templates up on the main axis, but on two separate layers which I could turn on an off when I wanted to check the plans for reference. This is the beauty of SketchUP, it makes the process of acquiring your principal shapes from pictorial imports very easy.

Sketch, pull....Taadaa!

Studying the overall shape of the vehicle, separated out the sub-component shapes in my mind. Obviously the largest cohesive shape is the crew cabin - everything else hangs off this, so it was a good place to start.

Looking at the profile plan and cross-section you can see that the main body of the BTR-70 is an odd shaped tube, made up of several flat panels at sloped angles. This makes it very easy for me to draw out the profile and then extrude the shape of the main cabin. No nasty organic sweeping curves here, comrade!

The above picture makes the first step in the modelling fairly clear - trace the profile, and then pull the cross-section into a long tube shape. Inset is a view down the tube - all other parts of the main body hang off this tube, it's now a simple matter to shape the 'nose' and the rear of the BTR-70.

Just a little note (principally to myself as usual!) that I have chosen what will be my next - and sadly last - Google SketchUp 3D model. I will be doing a 'speed modelling' project based on the Soviet/Russian BTR-70 amoured personnel carrier.

I have done these 'speed modelling' projects before, they are designed to sharpen my expertise in a program and also make me think laterally about how best to model an object in the quickest and most logical way.

That this will be the last major project I undertake in Google SketchUp is because I have decided to advance my 3D skill set upwards one level, and have already chosen a replacement package of intermediate expertise - Cheetah3D. Although I won't be dropping SketchUp altogether - as I have many projects on the go with it - I want to investigate more organic modelling, rendering and animation from inside one comprehensive package, and Cheetah3D will allow me to do this.

I will be starting my model of the BTR-70 this week - with my self-imposed deadlne of next weekend! Click on the schematic above to see a larger version.

Moving on to the receiver - the main body of teh assault rifle -  I took these couple of screen shots of my progress. I particularly like the pencil drawing effect that you can apply within SketchUp, the blueprint effect (above) is quite interesting.

I have two versions of the AK-74 airsoft replica made by two different companies, and I was quite amazed by just how different in the details that they are when compared side by side. The model I am recreating in SketchUp is made by Kalash (D-Boyi) and I believe it is supposed to be more faithful to the real AK-74.

I have a fair amount of detailing to do on the reciever, and shaping of the top cover, some of it quite tricky.

Here's another of my little Milgeek characters, this time representing me in my Spring season loadout. In this case I am wearing Russian Tiger camo BDUs, chest rig and tote my Kalash AKS74U assault rifle.

This was my first real attempt at an authentic impression of a modern Russian soldier and I am very fond of this uniform. It certainly gathers comments whenever I wear it, and this Tiger pattern camo seems to be very popular.

The general idea was to create a Russian 'Spetsnaz' uniform, but I wasn't too specific about a particular unit or period. The headgear is a simple olive drab bandanna, although I did buy a proper Tiger camo patrol cap to match the rest of the uniform.

Oh! Here's a link to a picture of the real thing - Milgeek Russian Tiger camo loadout at South Yorkshire Airsoft, 2008

Take the rear sight, which I have modelled this week. In weapon terms it's a fairly simple design, as you would expect from a Russian arm, but from a modelling point of view it's a nice collection of parts which really give you something to get your teeth into.

As usual, I have somewhat simplified certain aspects while trying to remain true to the overall feel of the mechanism. The dimensions are based on my airsoft replica of the AK-74M, so any error in proportions made in this replica are reflected in my design - but I think it's close enough to be a fair representation.

This has been a bit of a surprise - I mistakenly let the fact that Tom Hanks (who I cannot abide) starred in the movie version influence my opinion about the book. This could not be a more foolish way to judge the quality of a book, as it is turning out to be a stunning page-turner.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in covert military history as this story could have so easily been named 'Vietnam - the revenge!'

Of particular interest - but given fleeting reference - is the part played by British Intelligence and the SAS during the Afghan war against the Soviet occupation. Americans being Americans, their concern to appear to have been central to the winning of this war has skirted over the part played by the SAS, so I would now love to read a book about the British involvement in this war.

One thing 'Charlie Wilson's War' does impart about the British involvement was - apparently - 'our'  willingness to 'fight dirty', and one of the most memorable and chilling quotes about the British, in my opinion, is:

I'd been working on doing a full body character version of my Milgeek avatar, and this came in rather handy when I wanted a picture of me in my latest airsoft 'loadout' (uniform).

I had made up a rather nice replica of a Russian paratrooper (VDV) recon scout uniform. The basis of this is the rather snazzy 'Flecktar-D' camouflage suit - a light green, black and khaki mottled affair - with big floppy hat ('boonie' as the Americans call it) and my new Kalash AK-74M airsoft rifle.

This outfit got it's first outing last week, and I was very pleased when one of the other players mentioned how well the camouflage worked in the bright green summer foliage of the woodland site I visited (NSC, Durham). But, unfortunately, I forgot to take a camera and so did everyone else, so my photo record is a few dismal snaps from my mobile phone - so I did the little cartoon version of me to illustrate how 'good' (or ridiculous) I looked!

Building this model is certainly giving me an insight into the design and manufacture of the AK74, and it's surprising how I have used this airsoft replica in one form or another for about 6 months now and yet never looked this closely at it. I'm really getting to know my favourite AEG a lot better and how knows, this might inspire me to examine the internals of my AEG as closely once I have finished the external modelling...Maybe!

Here is my basic Milgeek, I've taken the opportunity to improve the beard - which I was never really happy with in my initial drawing. I am not sure about the skin tones, they may be a little on the yellow side, but if I remember correctly the example I based these new drawings on was my 'Commie Ranger' avatar which had a Chinese/Vietnamese theme.

I hope to produce a whole range of these avatars, for use on this site and on forums I visit. And eventually I hope to expand the avatar to be a complete character, with a body and everything!

My second example is a full avatar with background, ready to size for use in the 'Red Alliance' forum. I really find the huge Russian Army dress hats very comical, so couldn't resist an attempt at producing one for my character.

I'd like to create an avatar in this style for the whole Team AKA membership, that would be fun.

Be interesting to do a little character to match all the uniforms that I collect for my airsofting. I may end up with a little army of these fellows, all in various camouflage.

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Monday 14/07/2008

12.00 Dogfights: P-51 Mustang
16.00 Dogfights: Dogfights Of Desert Storm
17.00 Hell's Battlefield: Kursk (repeated at 23:00)

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Tuesday 15/07/2008

17.00 Hell's Battlefield: The Bulge - The First 15 Days (repeated at 23:00)

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Wednesday 16/07/2008

16.00 Dogfights: Luftwaffe's Deadliest Mission
17.00 Hell's Battlefield: D-day, Omaha Beach - Eight Hours Of Defeat

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Thursday 17/07/2008

23.00 Desert Generals: Tobruk - Triumph & Disaster

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Friday 18/07/2008

16.00 Dogfights - Death Of The Japanese Navy
17.00 Desert Generals: Victory & Controversy At El Alamein (repeated at 23:00)

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Saturday 19/07/2008

17.00 The Lost Evidence: Battle Of Britain
20.00 Battle 360: Call To Duty

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Sunday 20/07/2008

15.00 D-day: The Lost Evidence