The Life Size Hunter Gear

When Activision bought the Heavy Gear license to make computer games, they wanted to do something big. Fusion Models (who sculpt our miniatures) and DP9 were asked to build a true scale model of a Hunter-class Gear to display at conventions. Though Fusion rarely takes on outside contracts, they made an exception in this case, to ensured the model would be exact in every respect. Every part of the Hunter has been checked for accuracy, down to the individual panel labels. Even the markings are accurate, the templates being pulled from the original graphic files.
 
The Gear stands a little over 4 meters tall (about sixteen feet with the antenna), though it would be 4.3 meters at the head if fully erect, just like a "real" Hunter. The basic structure is made out of sturdy plywood, using techniques similar to those used for aircraft. This results in a strong yet light frame -- four persons can easily man-handle the torso, even though it is the size of a small car, and most of the large pieces can be carried around by two persons without much effort. Still, once fully assembled the machine weights almost one ton!
 
All sensor arrays and headlights are illuminated, the electricity coming from a small power supply hidden in one foot. Many of the Gear's access panels are functional and serve to maintain the wiring, change burned-out lamps and insert the various security pins that ensure the whole machine sticks together.
 
The resulting machine was very imposing, and drew rave comments everywhere it went. It came back to Montreal in the early spring of 1998 for a complete refurbishing, which gave the Hunter a new main weapon and a sleek stealth paint job. Though it is rarely showed nowadays, here are a few photos to let you see what it looked like. The pictures that follow were taken by Louis Desroches and various DP9 and Activision employees.

Bringing the Parts Down to the Loading Bay	Legs Being Put Together
Making Sure Every Part Fits	Lower Body Ready
Getting the Torso in Place	Checking the Alignment
Torso in Place and Secured	Installing the Rocket Pod
Hoisting Up the Engine	Bolting on the Generators
Backpack Completed	Bringing the Right Arm/Weapon
Hoisting Up the Right Arm	Right Arm in Place and Secured
Putting Up the Left Arm	The Completed Machine

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