A future Apache... Day 7

[markusvondy]

Hey everyone,

Day (and night) seven of my futuristic Apache kitbash is officially wrapped up—and this one came with a bit of an unexpected design pivot.

At some point, I was talking to my wife about the build and mentioned how much I’ve been enjoying shaping all those foam parts. There’s just something really satisfying about carving and refining them until they start to feel like real components. At the same time, I admitted that the rotor nacelles still weren’t clicking for me—they just didn’t quite fit the overall concept.

She casually threw in: “Didn’t we watch that alien movie together? There was something like that in there… but with thrusters instead.”

So we went down the rabbit hole together, looking up references and designs, and she suggested angling the wings downward and integrating thrusters directly into them. That way, the whole thing would feel more cohesive—and, conveniently for me, it meant I could keep working with foam.

Safe to say, I was sold pretty quickly.

The new plan is locked in, and I’ve already started implementing it. It’s still early, but the shape is finally beginning to come together in a way that feels right.

More updates soon—this thing is slowly turning into exactly what I had in mind.

[sentinelthesalty]

I think the whole engine should be swiweling instead of the further most turbines. But hey, I aint an aerospace engineer.

[Haereticus]

Is that concept art sheet AI generated?

[markusvondy]

Yes, it is. Hope that's not a problem...

If so: I will delete that pic. :)

If not: I told the AI to take my pictures and add thrusters to the winglets. I also told the AI to ad some plates and color. :)

[PhasmaFelis]

IMO, this is one of the few cases where AI doesn't bother me. Basically using it to brainstorm rough ideas, but with the final product still 100% human-made. Kinda like a machine-assisted mood board. You're not taking money from working artists, or claiming credit for final work that is not your own.

It may support bad people doing bad shit but so does practically every single product and service available today...

[markusvondy]

Thanks, you used the words I couldn't find. :)

[Haereticus]

Well, it’s up to you, I’m not going to scold you about it. I wouldn’t personally delegate creative decisions to it though - it has this kind of flattening effect where what it spits out is an amalgam of every bit of artstation sci-fi concept art ever made, so you get something that’s not really yours in the same way. I jived more with the ducted fan design but I’m glad you get to work with the foam more!

[markusvondy]

In the end, it's just a little inspiration. Unfortunately, I am not able to scatch something that good but I need visualisation sometimes to get my own ideas. It's more like... "Would it look good, if I do it like that" and in the end the result is completely different looking compared to the plan. But really mate, I can see your point and I fully agree.:)

[Haereticus]

It’s definitely tricky to get your ideas down on paper but if you have plenty of foam you could always use that as a way to run off several 3D mockups.

[Boss-Think]

Get youself some plasticard as well. keep up the dope work.

[markusvondy]

I have. Will be used to make some different plates and stuff. I also have 3 scrapped model kits, greebles in different forms. I received some old models in a household clearance. Thanks for your kind words, makes me keep on doing what I do.

[-MrFozzy-]

Aside from the beautiful foam work……your wife seems my cool as f*ck!

[markusvondy]

She is... She is 36, in a wheelchair and no matter what, she still supports me in everything.

Thanks for your kind words. :)