Daisy the AT-AT

I've always loved the AT-ATs from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Officially known as the 'All Terrain Armored Transport', they're one of the most recognisable symbols of the Galactic Empire.

Yet despite their intimidating appearance, I've always found something strangely animal-like about them. They don't charge into battle. They lumber across the landscape on four long legs, almost like enormous cattle wandering across a field.

When I bought the Bandai 1/144 scale AT-AT kit, I discovered it featured fully articulated legs and neck. Rather than recreating the snowy Battle of Hoth, I decided to embrace that unusual comparison.

So I introduced

Daisy...

Or, to use her proper name...

Avid Turf Assimilating Transport.

The model was painted with weathering and dark markings inspired by a Friesian cow, while subtle shading around the cockpit transforms the armoured viewport into gentle eyes and a soft pink nose. Instead of marching into battle, Daisy simply lowers her head to graze peacefully in a meadow.

The base was built from modelling clay, textured with muddy footprints before being covered with static grass, scattered daisies and finished with a simple white picket fence. It's a quiet countryside scene where the Empire's fearsome war machine has found a much more relaxing purpose.

Sometimes all it takes is looking at a familiar object from a slightly different angle.