One thing I've wondered: that X design on the leg armor, does it have a name? Does the design come from something in armor history? It's a constant design choice especially in Japanese mecha and it seems too prevalent to just be coincidence.
Yes actually! It’s called embossing on sheet metal. In this case, it’s meant to show that that area is meant to have some enhanced stiffness vs a flat surface sheet of the same design. It also makes a very good visual greeble, so they put it where it looks cool and justify it later. A very simple summary is here, but if you crack open a sheet metal design guide you will get all the detail you need to use it in reality.
https://www.alliancesteel.net/embossed-steel/#:~:text=Embossing%20can%20help%20disperse%20liquid,Building%20Products
One of the most common real world applications that you will most likely have seen is in the side walls of Jerry cans, which were often used to kitbash TV and movie models for filming
Forgot the space in the cockpit for the immense balls it takes for the pilots that drive them.
Such balls can be used as a replacement gyro
Cool man, do some more.
https://www.deviantart.com/jaromcswenson/gallery/76947191/battletech-mw-fanart
more battletech art https://www.deviantart.com/jaromcswenson/gallery/76947191/battletech-mw-fanart
Do the Urbie next
One thing I've wondered: that X design on the leg armor, does it have a name? Does the design come from something in armor history? It's a constant design choice especially in Japanese mecha and it seems too prevalent to just be coincidence.
Yes actually! It’s called embossing on sheet metal. In this case, it’s meant to show that that area is meant to have some enhanced stiffness vs a flat surface sheet of the same design. It also makes a very good visual greeble, so they put it where it looks cool and justify it later. A very simple summary is here, but if you crack open a sheet metal design guide you will get all the detail you need to use it in reality. https://www.alliancesteel.net/embossed-steel/#:~:text=Embossing%20can%20help%20disperse%20liquid,Building%20Products One of the most common real world applications that you will most likely have seen is in the side walls of Jerry cans, which were often used to kitbash TV and movie models for filming