| The model was built, rigged and textured, in LightWave 8.5. It's also been tested and works in versions 7.5d and 9.0. Three scene files are included, one which has the tripod open fully, one which has the tripod closed (both are ment to be used with the Load Items From Scene command), and the final scene was the one used to make the renders of the tripod. Rig info:
Different object layers are used for the major pivotable parts, the Heading, Pitch and Bank layers are so named because those are the only directions those parts are allowed to rotate. The minor knobs and screws are animated via bones constrained by weight maps. The leg rigging relies on the Follower Motion Modifer plugin (included with LW). The plugin applies the motion of the first leg to the other two (cloned) legs, the plugin is also used to move the strut joint up and down (and compress the spring) as the legs are opened. | 
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