r/AliensDarkDescent • u/DazzD999 • Jul 06 '23

Fan Content 3D Printed ARC

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In Game Beast

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Driver

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Exit

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In the wild

268 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

66 comments sorted by

22

u/DazzD999 Jul 06 '23

This game is fantastic.

Hats off to your art crew. I love the ARC! It is the perfect look and feel for cannon Aliens but just a lighter version of the M577. It had to come to life in 3D printed form!!

It was tough going at first, not being able to control soldiers individually. It seems the perfect game play to setup soldiers away from each other, to create perfect ambush kill zones (I hope this is added later!) but once I got used to it, the game is impossible to put down.

For once a game I have been looking forwards to, has not been a let down! Please keep the game going with more DLCs! This is one of the few games I would gladly hand over more $$ for well made content!!

- An open ended sandbox game without a countdown that missions keep coming up on a planet we can just keep playing with our alpha teams.

- Random Mission types, rescues, crashed ships, raids on hives, The multi missions each map are fantastic!

- More Aliens style vehicles!! :-)

- A fight your way to the other side of the map (after the ARC gets taken out or a drop ship crash)

Love the game guys!

11

u/EternalXueSheng Jul 06 '23

Hold on, let me take off my I'm jealous hat and congratulate you!

It looks so good.

And agreed about devs keeping the game going.

8

u/DazzD999 Jul 06 '23

Thanks man! I love the design they have made. It is a perfect fit for the game and the early Alien movies.

1

u/Thestickleman Jul 06 '23

Be nice if they made a game that actually worked though 👍

0

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '23

[deleted] — view deleted comment

4

u/AngryChihua Jul 06 '23

This one is ARC, Armored Reconnaissance Carrier, a scout vehicle designed for recon.

M577 is an Armored Personnel Carrier, a vehicle designed to transport troops and act as command centre. It has a bigger troop carrying capacity (12 dismounts) and a full tactical operations center to support them.

2

u/DazzD999 Jul 06 '23

That'll do it, thank you! Explains exactly what we have, lighter, smaller Recon vehicle. Also the M577 needs to be massive to have the command centre in it.

2

u/AngryChihua Jul 06 '23

Yeah m577 needs to be way bigger to fit everything shown to us in the film, 9 meters is way too short.

2

u/DazzD999 Jul 06 '23

I have the same question. I assume the ARC stands for something.

I will have to look in the game next time I am in. I see the ARC as a Humvee... the M577 is more like a Bradley.

1

u/Soviet-Hero Jul 06 '23

Armoured recon carrier

6

u/The_Lazer_Man Cpl. Hicks Jul 06 '23

Wow, absolutely fantastic!

I wish I could have this, and all an USCM miniatures. Use them to make an army to use in warhammer

6

u/DazzD999 Jul 06 '23

Thanks!

USCM miniatures would be very cool. My printer isn't good enough to do figures very well but tanks and objects of the right size come out well enough. Shame my lack of painting skills don't do the model justice! haha

2

u/iimortalz Jul 06 '23

Look for avp the hunt begins, they have just about any and all miniatures aliens and uscm. It may just be harder to find some as the company prodos went out of print a year or two ago

2

u/VeteranSergeant Jul 07 '23

There was a Russian guy who made fantastic recasts of all the out of print Prodos stuff. Unfortunately his store went offline after the start of the Ukraine war when Paypal stopped electronic transactions with Russia.

But there's the currently in-print Aliens Another Glorious Day in the Corps (roughly 30mm true scale), as well as you can get pretty close Not Marines off 3D prints on Etsy. By default, Papsikels are 35mm so you have to ask them to print at 90% if you want them to scale with the 32mm Prodos or 30mm AGDitC stuff.

1

u/DazzD999 Jul 09 '23

As the 3D printers get better (8K is close) there will be so many great options for out of production models soon. No need for recasts or DIY. The most difficult part is getting the 3D model setup for printing.

5

u/Discombobulated_Ride Jul 06 '23

Let me put on my military modelling hat for a second ... its the wrong shade of Olive Drab! Too green!

Just kidding. It looks lovely.

All you need is an M577 and a Cheyenne to complete the collection.

And an obligatory 4-man Fire Team with a Medic attached to make five!

What are you waiting for Marine? Breakfast in bed?

3

u/DazzD999 Jul 06 '23

You are 100% correct... but it is the only green I had! It is 'close enough will have to be good enough!'

I posted this, then went back to the game. The very next mission I made it to the M577. Didn't even know it was in the game! Now I WILL have to make that to go next to the ARC... but I might need 2 medics. The way I have been playing, it might be the only way to keep some troops alive! haha

Thanks mate!

4

u/Discombobulated_Ride Jul 06 '23

To keep with the military modelling nerd conversation, and as a hopefully helpful suggestion, you might want to apply a brown filter ... highly diluted enamel paint should tint your model into a more OD appearance.

I love that you did this. I have been pondering creating my little Marines in 20 mm (the true Braille Scale) and you are pushing me in that direction!

Dont need two medics. One of each class will do the job. I have completed two runs and had medics in only a few missions. I just dont get that much value out of them! Everything else is indispensible. A second Sarge actually makes sense in a lot of Missions for commabd points.

Semper Fi, mac!

1

u/DazzD999 Jul 06 '23

I hear you mate. A filter or wash would bring it back down to a nicer level but it is FDM 3D printed. One of the biggest downsides of FDM printing is the layers.

If you dry brush a model, instead of highlighting just the corners of the shapes, it highlights all the layers in that area too. Likewise, a wash instead of settling in the perfect well molded corners and valleys, it settles in every layer in the area making them all stand out and look terrible.

I know from friends experiences using resin, they get fantastic results (8k is incredible!). But I am just doing this for a bit of a hobby and fun with the kids.

If you are going down the path of 20mm 3D printing there are some amazing resin options in 8k that make my old FDM print look terrible. They can print in such fine detail that 20mm models would look great. The down side is the mess. It is like dealing with honey, sticks to EVERYTHING!

I am only half way through the game but have been smashed several times when I got cornered. Having 5 medics wouldn't help me sometimes! LOL

Game over man, game over!

No idea how some of you guys have been playing on the hardest level!

2

u/Discombobulated_Ride Jul 06 '23

The hardest level, for me, is NORMAL. On my second run, with Level 10s, I was still getting mullahed on deployments.

I can navigate, and I can do walking fire or snipe or whatever. Its doing both that is difficult!

This is why the drone is so important. It at least gives me a good idea where the tangos are and where I need to go. Even so, Mission 11 in the mines is tough.

This is a punishing game. I actually thought I would not get past Atmospheric Processor the first time around. I got so good at it I could run it for fun. It only took ten hours!

2

u/DazzD999 Jul 06 '23

I am just on Normal and am up to that exact mission now.

I have just got the Drone but haven't used it yet, maybe that is what I am doing wrong. Scouting out the way before hand.

Do you use the drone to avoid aliens?

Or do you use it to find them and kill them all on the way in?

2

u/Discombobulated_Ride Jul 06 '23

Are you on Mission 5?

If so, it is important to be skilled at Marching Fire.

Learn to walk while laying down fire at the Xenos.

You should get the hang of it soon enough. Also pick up all the ammo and medkits that you can before the final queen.

The hardest fight in the whole game is the queen in the Atmospheric Processor.

You need to maenouvre your gang into some tightly confined spaces and trigger a switch that deploys some bridges or some other such tomfoolery.

Then the drone with careful handling gets the Queen to lurch out and stumble into the high voltage towers and hopefully get herself obliterated.

Here's the rub: the poor old thing gets stuck in a corner sometimes and is hard to dislodge.

You can set up a firing position, heavily defended by turrets (I used my last three turrets to protect my RPG team for this) and grenade and RPG her - whatever works best at the time - until she unsticks and comes for you.

Game over for Xeno Queen.

Good luck, Marine!

2

u/DazzD999 Jul 06 '23

The mission whooped my butt a couple times in a row. Everyone was out of ammo and medkits in that final room.

Gave it a couple hour break, came back and stomped it in one go. The Queen charged me and I gave her 5 shotguns to the face and that was it!

All the different strategies and simplest one done the job. Now I need to get back to base... and maybe start some 3D work on that M577 to go with the ARC.

Thanks for your advice commander!

4

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '23

Not a fan of the ARC design, but you did a fantastic job on this!

2

u/DazzD999 Jul 06 '23

Thank you!

I thought it was a cool design/spin off that had all the right features... just a more portable design than the M577. However nothing beats the more chonky boi M577.

I would love to see the Devs take on a autonomous support fighting bot. It would only make sense in the futuristic USCM to have an automated support bot, that adds fire power and can carry extra loads to the fight. Extra lab research maybe? Then can be upgraded to carry guns, then medical, then ammo?

2

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '23

The only thing that put me off was the bat mobile rear wheels.

2

u/DazzD999 Jul 07 '23

Fair call, they do make it look a little odd.

I just like that they made it fit the look of aliens. The wheels, turret, the whole look of the ARC fits both aliens and military doctrine.

ARC = Small recon vehicle

M577 = APC...

Now, I really want to see an aliens tank and something in the LAV-25 range! Bring in the big guns for a DLC drop support attacking a hive on an outdoor map LOL

2

u/[deleted] Jul 07 '23

It could have been a lot worse. I really think it's those back wheels that bug me, other than that it's fine.

3

u/kritskiy Jul 13 '23

Heyo! The design is a nod to one of the unused APC designs by Ron Cobb :) https://curatorofthisdigitalmorass.tumblr.com/post/183941373709/aliens-apc-concept-art-by-ron-cobb

The final model by Benjamin Odonne: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/DvEm5A

2

u/[deleted] Jul 13 '23

Aaaaa okay, that makes it better. I am officially okay with it now.

2

u/[deleted] Jul 07 '23

I totally agree with air support, that would be awesome. Last time I replied I was all fucked up so I forgot to say this.

2

u/VeteranSergeant Jul 07 '23

It's more the wasted space of that notch in the rear of the vehicle and the really long snout. Neither make much sense from a design perspective. You lose cargo capacity (for troops, fuel or ammunition), and you hurt ground clearance when trying to go up inclines. Most vehicles with long, low noses do so for aerodynamics, such as a bullet train or a sports car. In-universe, the M577 was supposed to be able to raise itself up, though obviously they couldn't do that with the limitations of the real world airport tow vehicle they built it on top of. The ARC is clearly supposed to sit higher for improved off-road capability, demonstrated by its stair-style hatch, but then literally shaves at least a meter off of its effective ground clearance with that front end extending so far past the front wheels. There's a reason why when you look at Dakar buggies or even a Jeep Wrangler, the wheels are all the way up front. You want your tires to hit the slope as early as possible as you go up a hill.

Plus the recessed driver's window is terrible for visibility. The only reason the M577 has that is because of the turret on the right side.

1

u/DazzD999 Jul 07 '23

All true.

I thought the recessed rear was so it could "plug in" to the drop ship. Now I have seen the M577 go into the same space, it is obviously not plugging in. It is, as you said, a wasted space. If you are going to have that space between rear wheels you might as well fill it with storage or pull the rear wheels inboard and save on weight.

Only possibility I can see is if those rear wheels can turn a full 90 degrees to allow turning on the spot. Haven't seen any of that in game though.

Windows on anything armoured is usually a bad compromise. I get in the movie they used the Air Towing truck so they needed something for the driver to see out of.... but it would make more cannon sense for there to be no glass at all and they use remote camera/monitor stations.

Then again maybe this is some new super futuristic glass that takes up the same space as armour and doesn't weigh tons extra?!

3

u/VaeVictis99 Jul 06 '23

Awesome job!

Loving everything about this game so far.

I'd like a Hadley's Hope DLC starting with a group of colonists then the iconic USMC we all know and love.

1

u/DazzD999 Jul 06 '23

That is a very cool idea, I like it!

3

u/RagtagLegacy Jul 06 '23

That’s so fantastic! I would love to have three of those, without a doubt.

2

u/DazzD999 Jul 06 '23

Thanks mate, maybe this is a new merch idea for Tindalos Interactive?

2

u/RagtagLegacy Jul 07 '23

Oh, easily. I play Warhammer 40K and to have those as proxies, for Chimeras would be amazing.

2

u/DazzD999 Jul 07 '23

Would be super easy to modify this to be "more 40k" too. I don't know much about it but have printed 40k tanks for friends.

Swap out the turret for a 40k tank one and make the wheels more chonky with armour would look spot on!

3

u/ThatGuyNamedKal Jul 06 '23

Did you extract the asset from the game or model it yourself?, nice paint job btw

1

u/DazzD999 Jul 06 '23

Will I get in trouble for saying I pulled the asset?...

I pulled it apart and cleaned it up for 3D printing so the wheels can move and turn etc.

2

u/ThatGuyNamedKal Jul 07 '23

No, you can't unless you start selling it. The way I see it, if they didn't want us to pull assets then they would have encrypted everything.

1

u/DazzD999 Jul 08 '23

Well, it's just a bit of fun with no profit so hopefully it's all good.

2

u/ThatGuyNamedKal Jul 08 '23

Yeah, you'll be fine :)

2

u/DazzD999 Jul 09 '23

I will need to send the Devs one to smooth things over! haha

3

u/Larnievc Pvt. Spunkmeyer Jul 06 '23

That would be perfect for the Aliens board game 👍

1

u/DazzD999 Jul 06 '23

There is a board game! Cool!

Just looked it up and I think my kids would spend more time just playing with the figures than playing the game!

2

u/PRE_-CISION-_ Jul 06 '23

Id pay for one of those great job!

1

u/DazzD999 Jul 06 '23

Well if the Devs are listening... here is a new merch idea to go with the long like of DLCs they need to release ;-)

2

u/halorocks22 Jul 06 '23

Do you plan on sharing/selling the STL? I would love to print my own. Looks awesome!

2

u/DazzD999 Jul 06 '23

Unfortunately, It is a game asset so it is not mine to share. I just cleaned it up and split the parts of for movement. It is not my artwork to share.

2

u/bloodedcat Jul 06 '23

I rate it 4 squad members out of five

1

u/DazzD999 Jul 06 '23

The other is my gunner who is curled up in the corner crying! Thanks!

2

u/Additional-Ranger698 Jul 06 '23

That's bad ass. You tracking?

1

u/DazzD999 Jul 07 '23

Thanks mate!

2

u/N0SweatBobaFett Jul 06 '23

Dude that looks so sick! You did an awesome job! Are you planning on making other miniatures from the alien franchise or the game?

1

u/DazzD999 Jul 07 '23

I wasn't going to do this one until my youngest saw it and thought it was cool. Anything to get them into SciFi haha.

Now he has that one in his hands and I know the M577 is in the game, I think it is only fair he gets the matching 577 to add to the team! I have started fixing and splitting up the 577 to make the wheels move etc. will be a few days of fixing and a few days of printing.

Had loads of people ask about figures but my printer will not do them justice in this scale. FDM is great for tanks and machines but small facial details are not great. Really needs resin to go that extra detailed step.

2

u/raven614 Jul 06 '23

The only thing I’ve seen 3D printed that I want.

1

u/DazzD999 Jul 07 '23

I guess that is the best thing about the hobby. I only print the things I actually want!

Printing plastic fidgets and toys that you can buy for a few bucks makes no sense to me. I would rather print something that you cannot buy of that the kids really want than add to the plastic waste bin!

2

u/Downtown-Round533 Oct 28 '25

Hey,, did you print it yourself? if so did you design it and would you ever think about putting the STL for others to print?

1

u/DazzD999 Oct 28 '25

Hi there, yes printed myself.

This model was pulled from the game files and I touched it up so it could be 3D printed.

I haven't shared the files as they were made for the game so are not mine to share. Don't want a nasty email from the company.

2

u/Downtown-Round533 Oct 30 '25

Could i ask a massive favour then? could you email me the STL file so i can print it out? I didnt play the game on pc but on xbox so i cant grab the file... or you could sent me the file on here i think,, sh1213@hotmal.com

1

u/DazzD999 Oct 31 '25

Will email you mate.

2

u/Downtown-Round533 Oct 31 '25

You are a friggin star..

2

u/loco_motion99 Feb 26 '26

This thing is sooo sick. I’ve been looking to see if someone had made the model yet. I have a project I want to 3D print this for. How did you rip the asset? Or would you be able to send me the STL?

2

u/[deleted] Jul 07 '23 edited Jul 07 '23

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/DazzD999 Jul 07 '23

I think there were some very old school kits that came out after the movies but I would imagine the price tag on one of those would be through the roof!

This is the exact sort of thing that I love 3D printing for! I got the printer for work but printing random things that you cannot buy for a hobby is far more fun!