Y'know... it's easy to make fun of these old sculpts when my experience with them is the BattleTech box set melty plastic from 2014-ish, buut clearly that plastic + mold degradation made them way less detailed because damn that Catapult looks so much better despite clearly being the same sculpt. (Also I've learned to appreciate the noodle arms, it really fits the Clans being a War of the Worlds riff and amplifies the feeling that mechs are agile, far-future machines rather than just walking tanks.)
Back in the day they did modify a bunch of kits for Battletechnology magazine. They also made use of some really clever manual touching up of images. There was another magazine called Mecha Press where they would showcase fully scratchbuilt large scale versions of mechs like the Hollander.
This is very interesting and helps illuminate some design considerations for these 'mechs that came later. Such as the Timber Wolf having the Catapult C1 like 4 ports on the front in spite of it not really matching up with what it was given loadout wise. I would love to see someone recreate these from the modern CGL models. I always love seeing kitbashes or splices being remade with modern counterparts after years or iterative design changes. Especially for say the Cataphract which at one point was a kitbash (and a canonical frankenmech) of the Marauder, Phoenix Hawk, etc.
Such cool retro designs which always give off a weird futuristic feel but at the same time look a little bit like they could come from the Soviet cold war era 🙂 Enjoyed this. Also, I'd love if Pirhana games went back to the old school stuff for the next game, and gave it a really gloomy atmosphere and music like Mechwarrior 3 and 4 had 😄😊
I discovered Charrette’s prototypes a few years back, and of all of them, I really like his early Raven concept. I wouldn’t mind trying to replicate the Vulture after I finish that mech. Thanks for the video!
Original story from it had the first Inner Sphere piloting facing it have it's targeting computer glitch out. It kept flipping between seeing it as a CAT (Catapult) and MAD (Marauder).
There is a significant difference between the BattleTech Catapult and the "BattleDroids" version. They're two completely different sculpts. I obtained my BattleDroids version from Charrette himself last year. It's also a misnomer to call it a BattleDroids sculpt, as the Catapult did not appear in lore until the release of TRO 3025 in 1987, two years after the name change.
Nowadays a 3D printer and CGI software do what it took sweat and tears from an artist. Very much like playing a piano vs composing with a tracker software. I admire the manual work involved and the artist skill.
Y'know... it's easy to make fun of these old sculpts when my experience with them is the BattleTech box set melty plastic from 2014-ish, buut clearly that plastic + mold degradation made them way less detailed because damn that Catapult looks so much better despite clearly being the same sculpt.
(Also I've learned to appreciate the noodle arms, it really fits the Clans being a War of the Worlds riff and amplifies the feeling that mechs are agile, far-future machines rather than just walking tanks.)
As a Battletech fan that never got into the tabletop, I had no idea Charrette did more than write! Thanks for this cool little history lesson.
same. I guess theres more than one reason for his status
I have a couple of pewter originals stamped "R Charrette" under their bases. I was thrilled to see it, being a huge Wolves on the Border fan.
The Ralpartha Unseen stuff was pretty incredible
Those look really good for 80s pewters. My compliments to Charrette, he's incredibly skilled.
Also, first.
Back in the day they did modify a bunch of kits for Battletechnology magazine. They also made use of some really clever manual touching up of images. There was another magazine called Mecha Press where they would showcase fully scratchbuilt large scale versions of mechs like the Hollander.
This is very interesting and helps illuminate some design considerations for these 'mechs that came later. Such as the Timber Wolf having the Catapult C1 like 4 ports on the front in spite of it not really matching up with what it was given loadout wise.
I would love to see someone recreate these from the modern CGL models. I always love seeing kitbashes or splices being remade with modern counterparts after years or iterative design changes. Especially for say the Cataphract which at one point was a kitbash (and a canonical frankenmech) of the Marauder, Phoenix Hawk, etc.
Such cool retro designs which always give off a weird futuristic feel but at the same time look a little bit like they could come from the Soviet cold war era 🙂
Enjoyed this. Also, I'd love if Pirhana games went back to the old school stuff for the next game, and gave it a really gloomy atmosphere and music like Mechwarrior 3 and 4 had 😄😊
I discovered Charrette’s prototypes a few years back, and of all of them, I really like his early Raven concept. I wouldn’t mind trying to replicate the Vulture after I finish that mech. Thanks for the video!
I always thought the name "mad cat" was a reference to catalina PBY airplanes instead of a catapult mech! this is some cool lofe indeed
Original story from it had the first Inner Sphere piloting facing it have it's targeting computer glitch out.
It kept flipping between seeing it as a CAT (Catapult) and MAD (Marauder).
@@icehellionx2226 ohhhh, hahaha , thats awesome
There is a significant difference between the BattleTech Catapult and the "BattleDroids" version. They're two completely different sculpts. I obtained my BattleDroids version from Charrette himself last year. It's also a misnomer to call it a BattleDroids sculpt, as the Catapult did not appear in lore until the release of TRO 3025 in 1987, two years after the name change.
Nowadays a 3D printer and CGI software do what it took sweat and tears from an artist. Very much like playing a piano vs composing with a tracker software. I admire the manual work involved and the artist skill.
Wow, a cool history lesson! Thank you.
Wow! i havnt seen this minis before
Yesss further down the BattleTech rabbit hole I go!
Cool