How many decks? What exactly is this new VSS 002? Is it a carrier? Troop transport? Orbital space vessel?

The original VSS was designed to be an ocean vessel, an aircraft carrier actually. However, when I got my VSS kit, I thought I'll do something different: make it into a space carrier. As a space carrier the thought was two-fold: I could use the ship to store a lot of the vehicles I have (20+ HISS tanks) instead of having them on display taking up shelf space. Secondly the VSS would grant me excellent photo opportunities to showcase the latest DioWarriors props as each room in the ship is essentially a diorama. So it was planned to make my VSS space carrier around four decks tall. One deck would be dedicated to hold all 20 HISS tanks and troops and any other vehicle that could fit, and the other decks to be used for both photo and aircraft/space craft storage. This was the original idea, and that idea is beginning to change.

The reality is that the VSS does take a lot of space--it is a huge ship. Size is the primary challenge. The aesthetics to make the kit look like a space carrier is actually easy, especially when borrowing a page from Star Wars by adding greebles everywhere. Greebles help a lot. However, to make the VSS practical to a collector then storage for troops and vehicles is a must. Always the challenge comes down to maximizing the space available.

As a collector much of my collection are in boxes, so I don't get to enjoy them or even see them. I can invest in yet more bookcases and that will enable me to see the collection. Bookcases are static, though. Something like the VSS is dynamic. A diorama engages the mind. And although a diorama in a shelf also engages the mind, a diorama on display in the middle of the room engages even more. So the VSS will have to be at the center of a room, not in a shelf, and the only way I can think of to maximize available space for it is to make the ship double wide.

The ship would have to be stackable as well, but that can come in time. For the immediate concern Deck 2 would have to become twice as wide. A double wide Deck 2 would simply combine Deck 2 and Deck 3 of the original VSS 002 into one deck. The VSS is already wide -- an interior of two feet. Aesthetically the double wide look does seem to me a bit better balanced to the eye and doesn't look so boxy. Making the outer hull tapered with angled decks for a more streamlined look would also be easier with a double wide deck. And as already mentioned if another deck is ever needed, another double wide deck could be added.

So going forward my VSS project will be three primary decks. The topmost deck is half the height, so the entire project is seeming to be 3.5 decks tall. The double wide look will present some challenges aesthetically, but I think I have some ideas how to deal with that. It'll still be a carrier.

The next part of the VSS that will be extremely critical to get right -- as it will become a center point for photos -- is the engine room. In the previous version of the VSS this section was horizontal where the two large engine thrusters were side-to-side. In this version the thrusters are going to be vertical. The reason is partly for eye candy (me thinking this will give the new VSS a more space-ship appearance.) The second reason is the previous layout got very tight around the thrusters and ideally I wanted more spacing all around the engines. Having more spacing would help with photos and give a better impression how massive the VSS actually is. The tight areas were difficult for a figure to fit, so that limited photography in those areas. But this new vertical layout should alleviate that issue. In fact the issue now is there's a bit too much spacing that I now have to pad those areas. Not a problem, really. I'll just add more equipment.

Attaching the engine room extension to the main body of the VSS is done with a small linkage. I don't currently have an idea how I'll design the front of this VSS, but I have a gut feeling this linkage is going to get used again. The front of this VSS might be another vertical piece. Would the front be some sort of main gun or some Star Trek inspired "Ten-Forward" observation lounge, I don't know. Both sound intriguing to do.

Building this VSS is somewhat like building a modern day skyscraper where the superstructure is built first, then floors and walls are added. This approach does offer a number of advantages for a diorama system over a traditional approach. These days companies that produce a diorama system take the view that the market is about toys, and although it is, those who are purchasing the diorama system are adults and adults do approach handing toys and things like models differently than a child does. The level of realism can be increased. The toy-ish approach to a diorama system is simply to supply tiles for a floor and wall. The thought is one side of the diorama will remain open for accessibility. At DioWarriors we experimented with many different approaches and it was decided that since our audience are adults, the method if "play" an adult does is mostly to display a figure in a pose and admire the overall diorama. Much like how a cell of a comic book is, where in each cell depict a different scene, an adult will typically pose a figure in a scene and leave it at that, When the adult returns, typically he or she alters the pose and objects, changing the scene and again leaves it at that. Admires the scene from a distance.

So, with this in mind, building the superstructure like a skyscraper will enable the VSS to be a 360 degree diorama. Meaning that in every angle, at every point of view, the figures posed within the VSS will be completed enclosed by the VSS. To access the figures and props various hatches will open enabling access. But this also means that when the hatches are closed there will be no way to see what's going on inside the VSS unless through a window or if there are cameras mounted/hidden inside the VSS itself. Certainly another challenge to overcome.

Before Getting Started
This is actually the fourth time I started VSS 002. Unlike the previous versions which were based on the original VSS kit using MDF wood, this version will not be based on the MDF wood, but instead will be relying heavily on 3D Printing materials (PLA, PVB, ASA, and other such plastics) and foam board. This is actually a disadvantage for me since following the original VSS kit using MDF wood made it easy to build around and on that wood. The VSS dimension and shape was already defined and all anyone had to do was add to it. This time, though, I'll have to design everything.

Fortunately I did recreate models of the original VSS so that I could design props for it. However, I will not be using those models for this version other than basic width, length, height measurements. 

The first thing I needed to do was establish a basic width and height. The original kit had a height a little more than 6 inches. A modern 1:18 scale figure is around 100mm tall. Before dismantling my old VSS, I had settled on a height of 300mm. This would enable up to two levels on one deck with enough headroom at each level to appear realistic. So for this new version the goal also became 300mm tall for the interior.

Also, what gave me a challenge with the previous incarnation of VSS 002 was that it was going to be very long. Nearly 12' long. The MDF kit was around 4' long, and since 002 was going to be twice as long, that would've made it 8'. Then there was the engine room extension and engine thrusters -- all together a little more than 11' at the longest deck. Then there was the issue about the front of the ship as I had not given that part much thought.

This time around, though, VSS 002 is going to be constructed in a modular way. There will be segments. Length will be achieved by adding segments. The advantage here is that I can focus on assembling a segment before adding to the VSS. I can then make the VSS as long or as short as I need. Disassembly would also be easy as construction would require screwing the segments instead of using glue. The advantage here is parts can easily be replaced or upgraded by simply unscrewing that part.

So the design started. I started up SolidWorks and began by taking the interior dimension for the width of the original VSS. Then I designed a frame that would be that interior width. Interior height is 300mm. For added strength and keeping the segments a bit more rigid, stainless steel straws are going to be used. To cover the large open areas, the default material will be foamboard sandwiched between styrene sheets. These are all materials that should be easy to find nearly anywhere. To assemble it all, various screws -- Allen screws (aka socket / stem bolt / torque screws) -- will be used. Each segment will be built using a 3D printed frame (DioWarriors has invested in printers large enough to print these frames). The foamboard and styrene sheets would be laser cut. I will attempt to leave the stainless steel straws as is as I really don't want to have to trim them using a Dremel.

The VSS (Venomous Sea Serpent) is still a fantastic, self-contained diorama project by Victor Garcia. Before the DioWarriors Store closed I was designing my own VSS based on the original kit, but instead of an ocean going aircraft carrier, my VSS would become a spacecraft -- a space carrier for Cobra (GI Joe universe). VSS 002 (my VSS) would've been twice as long and at least twice as tall as the original kit. Unfortunately DioWarriors had to close down quickly and move to the other side of the world and the bulk of the carrier would not be able to make the trip. So VSS 002 was dismantled.

It's been one week since my arrival in Thailand. Firstly there's a struggle going on with jet lag, and then I caught a cold (probably caught something on the flight), it's been a challenge to get DioWarriors back on it's feet. But I've been in the mood and have now turned my thoughts to restarting the VSS project. I figure this would also be a good opportunity to document this new take on the project. Stay tuned to this blog for more updates.

Planetary assaults have never been easy, until now. Introducing the Planetary Assault Platform by DioWarriors.

​The Planetary Assault Platform may be coming to the DioWarriors Store pretty soon. The current thought is to sell a limited run of them in the store for a very limited time. If we do this and it works well, we'll repeat this approach of doing limited runs for other projects until the store can fully return. But how to do this? As a pre-order?

What Is the Planetary Assault Platform?
This is part of the DioWarriors Conspiracy project -- a space theme.

The Planetary Assault Platform is designed for supporting ground troop deployment onto other worlds, moons, or planetoids. A favorite go-to system among Non-Terrestrial Officers (NTO) for planetary siege, the assault platform is one component of a swarm system. This segment -- the weapon platform -- is deployed from orbit. Once landed the system immediately begins sentinel operations.

Onboard A.I. systems monitor a perimeter for movement and technological sources and then assesses this data for threat assessment. If the target is a threat the system will engage. Since the platform is one segment of a multi-segment system, other platforms will have also been deployed within an area. Functioning in tandem with other segments -- as a swarm -- an entire region can be denied to an enemy. When no threats are detected the system goes into a hibernate mode.

The Planetary Assault Platform is designed to be deployed in a stand-alone configuration, completely autonomous, or as part of a swarm. Variants include a mobile version and a manned version for when an NTO needs to manually use a platform. Other segments in this multi-segment system includes a communication configuration which functions as a hub providing long distance telecommunication linking platforms deployed planet-side with an orbital satellite. Other segments provide logistical support which include autonomous or remote droids for maintenance and supply deliveries. There are various configurations including weapon configurations for missile, energy, and projectile, as well as configurations for defensive technologies -- specifically shield and interceptor drones.

All platform systems are compatible with established NTO technologies including passive and active battlefield systems. Components also conform to NTO mandates for Modular Survivability (version B) design. Thus the assault platforms share common power systems, e-cells, etc. Even the weapon systems can be disconnected and repurposed onto other NTO systems as long as those systems also conform to the modular survivability standards.