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My Blog (Featuring WIP Pics Of Builds For Clients) Sculpting File Downloads (Or Just Take A Look At The Mech Images) Other Free Downloads (Open Source Art) 4-Axis Prototyper (Featuring My CNC Mill) Concept Sketches and Prototypes SciFi Concepts and Design Yahoo Group In Memorium: Carlos Saenz, KIA, Iraq, 5-5-06. Friend, Mentor, and Patriot. Contact Email: johnbearross@gmail.com
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Hello, I'm John Bear Ross, a digital sculptor, writer, and idea man. I'm also a millwright by trade, a former Marine 0331, a former DOE security contract worker, a husband, and father. Welcome to my site. Using a computer program called Rhino, I digitally sculpt vehicles, armor, and other figures on my computer, then bring them to life using a number of methods, such as Rapid Prototyping, CNC Machining, and Manual Sculpture. I try and concentrate my efforts on science fiction concepts and designs. <<<<<<<<<<=========>>>>>>>>>> July/August 2009: Khurasan Man Of War Here are some shots of the Man Of War grav tank I did for Khurasan Miniatures. You can see more WIP pics, including the original sketch, and pics of the final production model, by heading over to my blog.
<<<<<<<<<<=========>>>>>>>>>> Previous Updates <<<<<<<<<<=========>>>>>>>>>> June 2009: Schedule Full I'm happy and sad to report I can not take on any new sculpting work until September 2009. My clients range from New York to Tennessee to the U.K. to Poland to the subcontinent of India. I'm happily busy. I learned early that the curse of the freelancer is the inability to say "no, I can't do that at the moment." I've been around long enough to know when my plate is full. If you're thinking of commissioning some work, register with the Yahoo Group "SciFi Concepts and Design", or SFCAD. Post up a "wanted" listing asking for digital sculptors, and you'll probably receive a message within a day or so. There is a good group of people assembled over there. In the meantime, please feel free to follow the in-progress sculpting of the WolfMech on my blog. I'll be posting weekly on the progress of this agressive mechanical beast. Also, I've added a banner to the top of the page. It's a self-serving advertisement for my first writing work, the Wrath of the Valkyrie, as found in Secret Agent X: Volume III, from Airship 27 Productions. Until then, have fun, and buy lots of 15mm scale minis. The scale is making rapid strides, and I'm happy to see it happening. Those of you who have stuck with me from the beginning know that I was a rabid advocate of the 15mm/1-100th scale from way back (!) in the year 2000. Do an archive.org search on hellionproductions.com, and you'll see a rant or two about why 15mm scale should be the gamer's scale of choice. Good, I say. Best, John Bear Ross <<<<<<<<<<=========>>>>>>>>>> May 2009: How My Digital Sculpting Process Works ...And Remembering Carlos Saenz, My Friend 3 Years Gone. I've been getting a number of inquiries and new clients lately, which is great, so I wanted to share with you all (y'all?) how the process generally works...I've also included a few Youtube links to show how 3d printing works, as well as spincasting production. Click On The Thumbnail Below for an unimpressive flowchart, or read the text that follows. This isn't an iron guide to how I do things, and I'm always open to options a client would wish to offer.
How The Process Works
Want to see how an Objet 3d Printer works? Here’s a few Youtube links… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwOaoMxELmo is an explanation (kinda dry) by the CEO of the Objet company. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgPXY8ktbLE is a video showing an Objet at work. The music’s a bit wacky, but at 1:50 you can see the final product emerge from the build table.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_tBbr0wF30 is a great explanation of the spincasting method of production. I’ve never used the video author’s services, though, and can’t vouch for their either way. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqM03GYwlEg is the short version if you’re into the whole brevity thing. In More Serious News, if I may... May 5th was the third anniversary of the death of my friend, Carlos Saenz, who laid down his life in Iraq during some of the bloodiest days (2006) of that campaign. There is still work to be done in that Godforsaken place, and there are still people dying, despite the latest Congressional or budget scandals that have pushed it off the front page. Please take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices of our Marines, Soldiers, Airmen, and Sailors, and the families they've left behind, this Memorial Day. Best, John Bear Ross <<<<<<<<<<=========>>>>>>>>>> March 2009: Updates and Blog Reminder Hello, folks. Well, I've been busy as all get-out, balancing life, family, career, and side job. I've been sculpting like mad, for a variety of clients. 15mm scale gaming has taken off, and I've added Rebel Minis, Wargames Factory, and Comfy Chair Games to my client roster. Life is good in the sculpting department. I've also been picked up for publication by a Superhero quarterly journal, called A Thousand Faces. You can visit their website here. My Chandra story has been reworked, and should see print some time this year. Also, I have a Mars McCoy story in the can for Ron Fortier and Van Plexico, my editors on the pulp fiction story I turned in a few months ago. After editing and illustrations, that should also hit the stands. Stay posted. As you may notice, updates are few and far between here on the main page. Most of the time, I'm sculpting or writing, and have only a few minutes to update. When you notice droughts of updates here, skip on over to the Blog I've been hammering out. Click Here for the blog's link. <<<<<<<<<<=========>>>>>>>>>> December 2008: I'm Published! Secret Agent X: Volume III Is For Sale! Just to let you guys know, my first piece of pulp fiction has been published, and if I may be allowed to shill, is now for sale. The setting and genre was a stretch for me (I'm a science fiction type), but it was fun, and I look forward to doing more. Here's the cover. Click on the image to see a larger view.
I've been authorized to release the first chapter of my story as a teaser. Click here to download the PDF of Wrath of the Valkyrie, Chapter One. You can purchase the print book, or a download of the book, from the Airship 27 online store. Here's the link to Airship 27's store. I'd like to thank Ron Fortier for giving me this chance, as well as my wife Rachel for supporting me. Best, John Bear Ross
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December 2008: Moonfleet Miniatures Civilian/Police Car Just wanted to show off some of the latest prototyping I've knocked out. Here's a civilian car that can be turned into a police car with the addition of an overhead lightbar, or can be turned into an assault/escort car with the addition of a small turret, or the two accesories can be stacked, for a police cruiser with some serious traffic enforcement muscle! Final model should be roughly 2 inches long, scaled for 15mm/1-100th scale, and will be available from Moonfleet Miniatures soon. Click on each thumbnail for a full-sized pic.
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November 2008: Blog Link Added, and Secret Agent X News Well, it was kinda inevitable: I've caught the need to blog. It's not a compulsion like some have, more of an easier way to update folks on what I'm working on. Think of it as a tawdry marketing ploy. Heh. I'm updating roughly once a week at http://johnbearross.blogspot.com, as well as here. Blogging is a bit easier than updating this main page, but this is still my main repository of information, new projects, as well as my gallery and showcase. Not that anyone is viewing, but hey, what the hell. Also, here's the cover image to the Secret Agent X book in which my story will appear. Coming soon, from Airship 27 Productions and Cornerstone Publishing. Wow. My name, on the cover of a book. It's been a long road, but here I am!
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September/October 2008: Who Is Secret Agent X? You might have noticed that I went all summer without a site update. The reasons were many, but among them was the fact that I was hammering away at my keyboard, expanding my writing horizons. Back in the 1930's and 40's, even into the 50's, Pulp magazines ruled the newstands, and captured the imaginations of young and old alike. Many of "The Greats" of science fiction started in the pulps, including Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Philip K. Dick, and a host of others. Classic heros like The Shadow, The Green Hornet, Zorro, Buck Rogers, Doc Savage, and others emerged from this era. Modern-Day equivalents such as Indiana Jones, Dirk Pitt, and Hellboy continue this pulp tradition in their own larger-than-life tales. Secret Agent X was also one such hero. You can click the link to see who Secret Agent X is. Suffice it to say, over the years he became a public domain character, able to used by anyone, much like Huck Finn, Sherlock Holmes, and Count Dracula. Ron Fortier, from Airship 27 Productions, has offered me a chance to lend a little bit to the ongoing adventures of Secret Agent X. I thank him, and can't wait until the book is available for purchase. When I know, I'll let you guys know. In the meantime, take a look at some of my other writings, if you've got some time to kill. They're not classic Pulp, they're more Science Fiction and Superhero Fiction, but I enjoyed writing them. I hope you enjoy reading them. Send me an email at johnbearross@gmail.com if you've got any comments or critiques. In the meantime, I'm still sculpting, doing a bit of work here and there when real life doesn't interrupt. Moonfleet Miniatures is one of my current clients, and has a lot of nice 15mm offerings planned for the future. Here's a sneak peak of a modular hovercraft, which can have different hulls bolted on top of a common hoverskirt. Some things have changed since this pic was taken, but it will give you a general idea of what Moonfleet has planned. From left to right...Hover APC Hull, Combat Flatbed Hull (modular vehicle), Weapons Sprue, Back Hatch for APC, Reactive Armor panels, Hover Skirt, Hovertruck (can be converted to a Technical), Flight Base, Light Tank Cannon and Main Hull, and Light Tank Turret. Click On the Pic for a larger view.
<<<<<<<<<<=========>>>>>>>>>> Sculpting Files Now Available I am offering "Starter Files" for download. Payment is accepted through Paypal, and Google Checkout , though the checkout cart system has been changed. Requests for the files are now through email, and sent back via download. Among the first offerings are the Universal Mecha Parts File, the Universal Vehicle Parts File, and a completed mecha file called the Defender. Detail of the builds is oriented towards 1/100th scale, but like all rapid prototype files, everything is able to be scaled and changed.
Clicking Here or On The Pics Will Take You To The Sculpting Files Download Page, Where You Can See Turntable Movies Of The Parts Files, along with detailed descriptions and prices. A note on the Intellectual Property rights thing. These files are copywritten to me, but they're purchased by you. Reproduction and resale of the files for commercial use is not granted. Reproduction and resale of whatever you make FROM the files, though, is all your's. If you want to crank out a thousand Defenders, in scales ranging from 1/300th scale to 1/35th, you're entitled to, and you don't owe me a thing beyond the initial purchase of the file. Same thing with the Universal Mecha and Vehicle Parts. Bear in mind, though that the Defender is a finished file. Some additional Rhino prototyping work is required for the Universal files. A beginning user will be able to take these file parts, and with a little patience and creativity, make their own new mecha and vehicles, without having to worry about joint segmentation or parts fitting together. Some "blank." or unfinished parts, are in the files, but others will be completely sculpted, ready to be prototyped. Think of it as a model kit combined with clip art, and you're the one who can make an original design from the ground up, with a little help from the parts in the files. All files are offered in Rhino3d's .3dm format. If you haven't downloaded the Rhino tryout, you're missing out. They offer a free sample, which is the same as the purchased version, with the exception of being limited to 25 saves. Rhino is also available from Novedge.com and Computersculpture.com, among others. Another program out there that uses the ubiquitous .3dm file format is Moment of Inspiration, another program that can interchange files with Rhino. The price is a bit nicer than Rhino, but I haven't had any first-hand experience with the program. MOI appears to have a free trial version as well. Enjoy! <<<<<<<<<<=========>>>>>>>>>> Snakemech! I've created another public domain design, the 'Khaah Jha'Jhesh Assault Mecha. Here's a small version of the file.
Clicking on the Pic will give you the full size version, about 120kb, and you'll be able to read the compressed descriptive text found on the image. You can also go to the Free Downloads page to retrieve the file, or the Jha'Jhesh's battlefield opponent, the Devastator Mk.1. <<<<<<<<<<=========>>>>>>>>>> Also available is a zipped folder containing .jpg source art for the Devastator Mk.1 Main Battle Mecha, a revision of a sketch I've had on the books for the better part of 8 years. I have hundreds of designs waiting to see the light of day. I wasn't doing much with this one. I figured you good folks could do something with it. You don't have to call it the Devastator Mk.1. You don't have to follow the hurried and scribbly source art line for line. It's now a piece of work that is in the public domain. I have no copyright on it. The only copyrights that can lay claim to it are original works by other artists. All I ask is a concept art credit in the name of John Bear Ross.
Click Here To Go To The Free Downloads Page <<<<<<<<<<=========>>>>>>>>>> I've established a new Yahoo Group at the following address. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scificonceptsanddesign It's a nexus for those who enjoy creating visions of the future that you can hold in your hot little hands. Feel free to drop by, join, and discuss your concepts and designs. A public domain section has been founded to distribute some source art that will be available to anyone, as long as the original artist (in the case of the Devastator Mk.1, myself) gets a credit. Enjoy! <<<<<<<<<<=========>>>>>>>>>> I've updated the Future 1/100th Scale Project page, to show off some new sketches of the Dreadhulk concepts I'm starting to crank out. Here's a peek...
<<<<<<<<<<=========>>>>>>>>>> Here are pics of the "proof of concept" vehicle and fixture I have CNC'ed (yes, that's a verb) from blue machinist wax on my prototyping mill. It's a hover combat utility vehicle, and looks like an armored cheese wedge with a pick-up bed in the back.Also, congrats to Chad Hardin on his landing of work with DC Comics. You can find Chad's artwork at your local comic book store, in the title "Countdown to Mystery", issues 5, 7, and 8. Great pencilling, Chad-o-mite! <<<<<<<<<<=========>>>>>>>>>> Welcome to the new incarnation of my website. Most of the material on here was once on my old site, Hellionproductions dot com. This is now my talent showcase, showing what I'm capable of producing in the arenas of digital sculpting, writing, and other creative avenues.Here's a new page giving you a look at my writing. Clicking the links download the stories in PDF format. Here's a page detailing my new 4-Axis prototyper, a Taig CNC Benchtop Mill. Also, I've updated the Reaper Gallery to show the builds that I did for CAV, and have included some thoughts and design notes that accompany each design. Hey, got nothing better to do for a few minutes? Read an Ugly Story! I've crafted a small writing submission, called "Five Ugly Stories". It's available for download, free, in PDF format. Truth in advertising: These stories are science fiction, with a bit of graphic violence and mature themes in them. No sex, just violence, but I want to warn you just the same. Click here for the PDF. <<<<<<<<<<=========>>>>>>>>>> My friend Carlos Saenz, in whose honor I had named one of my hovertanks, was killed in action in Iraq, May 5th, 2006.
Carlos Saenz was a friend and mentor to me. He was gregarious, loud, larger than life, and the finest human being I have ever known. He loved his family, career, and nation with an enthusiasm and zeal that can only be described as "full throttle." I will miss him more than words can ever tell. I will attempt, however, to distill my years of camaraderie, friendship, and admiration for this great man with a paraphrased quote from a person he admired, General George S. Patton. "Do not mourn the fact that a man like Carlos N. Saenz died. Instead, rejoice that such a man lived." Go easy, bro. We may not see each other soon, but you'll be the first one I look for. God bless Carlos and his family. Best, Here's a screen capture of the Saenz Heavy Hovertank I've had in the works since early 2006. It's now prototyped, and has found a home in the UK with a buyer. I might be able to make it available here in the US. Stay tuned.
Click on the pic to see a full-size view.I think it will be a small, but fitting, memorial to a man who was an infantryman, tanker, military policeman, and civil affairs bubba during a long and varied career. Regardless of how this thing is sold to the public, be assured that a portion will go to Carlos' son's scholarship fund. It's the least I can do for a man I considered a true friend. Best, John Bear Ross Rachel's Husband, Little Bear and Olivia's Daddy
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