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My first attempt at "scratch" template building. For a SoB/Imp/Nid Campaign I put together.

Why on earth did you use foamcore? This project would have looked great if done with plasticard, or maybe even card...but foamcore?

If you even added plasticard to the outside of it now, it might save it and clean it up a bit. Also might help the heavy warping you have going.

I didn't know whitewings made a Valkyrie!

Don't ever apologize for trying to save some duckets man! Those FW kits may be beautiful but if you can get something on the table that looks good at arm's length on the cheap then I say go for it. That looks pretty cool anyways for a quick base. I'm assuming it'll be skinned in sheet styrene or something?

Sadly I have crap for supplies where I am. Planning on touching up the edges with the ole Exacto knife and then see how it reacts to either careful covering of paper or some form of tape. Took me two weeks just to find the stupid foamcore and had to pay $10 bucks for a 2 ft by 2 1/2 foot sheet.

I think it looks sweet. It ain't perfect... but you made one, and most people are too lazy to make one.

I agree. Looks good for scratch built. Keep going.

Best way to get better is to work at something. I agree that plasticard would have been preferable, but gotta start somewhere.

Foamcore can be quite a bit to handle.

I've done several all plastic scratchbuilds, and some all paper. But my attempts at anything foamcore end in disaster.

I always end up with the nasty looking edges you have there. Foamcore's advantage over all plastic is this tho: speed. You can build a bulk out far faster.

My suggestion>
Sand it down nice and even and plate it with plasticard. Then you'll have a nice solid, lightweight, nice looking model.

I say keep it up. Maybe if more of us followed your example, we could put those resin-monkeys out of business.

Thanks for the ego boost. I definitely don't like the edge problems that I'm having with the foam, but thats have cause I can't draw or cut a straight line to save my life. Once I get the edges evened out I'll tape it up and post some more pics.

It's better than anything I've ever scratch-built, that's for sure. Keep at it!

Dude... don't give up. That's just step one. I've only scratch built infantry but this is not bad for a first stage.

Yeah, looks good. I once made three SM Bikes and an Attack Bike out of card. They were terrible.

Taped with masking tape and a coat of primer to make it all the same. Masking tape doesn't seem to want to stay down at some spots.

Now look at that, a little bit more work and its looking much better

A good looking scratchbuild, especially for a first.

An Idea - Why not cover it with a thin layer of gap seal putty, and then sand it down? I use some which is similar to plaster, and doing this will add bulk and flatten it.
Has anyone tried anything like this before?

Not familiar with the putty you mention. I'll look into it. Here are some add-ons I've done tnight.

You need some filler, plaster, high build primer (paint with extra filler material in) anything to bulk out and smooth out the body... you can then sand it back gently with very fine paper once dry to get some seriously smooth surfaces.

But you need to do that BEFORE you start adding the fine details. Good luck though, it's looking really good and there's a lot of potential here.

I am not meaning to sound harsh here but... I think you may need to just stop where you are at on this project or refocus you efforts.

I've been here. Scratch build project going poorly because you don't have the right materials, things are not coming out how you envisioned, etc. Just stop. Decided if it's really worth gluing all the (expensive) plastic detail parts and bits to it. Obviously you are only going to be using this for fun games, ie: no tournament or official style events. So how extremely detailed do you need it to be if you're only going to use in a handful of games ever? Spray paint it grey, use a black marker to draw some Imperial Eagles and stuff on it and call it done. Chalk it up to experience. Maybe build a bunch more this way, cheap and easy.

Now, as for your lack of materials and the ridiculous amount of money you are paying for foamcore... You have the internet, you have access to forums. Message a friend or something, maybe arrange something through Pay-Pal and have them ship you like an entire case of foamcore or other materials. Order it off an online craft store or something. You are seriously getting ripped off on the price of materials.

Truthfully this was more of a can I do it at all project. I've been into 40k for over a year and a half but maybe played eight games. This flyer is gonna be used in a evacuation mission i got planned for a campaign if that ever happens.

Sharp knife (exacto or scalpel) and metal ruler. First draw the lines on the foamboard with a pencil. Then score through the top paper of the foamboard. Use ruler! And hold knife straight up. Then score once more and last time cut through the bottom paper.

Clean straight lines are no problem on foamboard if done right. The method of gluing several identical foamboard pieces like chuckachu has done is actually a really good one if you want a stable structure.

My second try, I sanded all the edges down before I stuck them together. Gonna have to figure out a way to model the turbine. FYI its supposed to be a vulture.

I'm using foam core at the moment to build another warhound. Its tricky stuff but quite strong when done.

Yours is getting there, I keep meaning to try a vultch/valk, one point though...your wings are on backwards.

sleazy wrote:I'm using foam core at the moment to build another warhound. Its tricky stuff but quite strong when done.

Yours is getting there, I keep meaning to try a vultch/valk, one point though...your wings are on backwards.

haha Holy crap. I think I should double check or just keep open a the picture in the Imp armor book.

I would say it looks like you aren't using a sharp enough blade to cut. Foam core in particular can dull your blade too, should always start with a fresh exacto (or equivalent). Good luck.

On the first model I definitely was using a dull knife. Now I got a real xacto. still not sure handed but I am using Xedric's idea with the ruler.

I'm stumped on making the fins inside the turbine. But I think this one is turning out to look pretty okay.

Cut a lot of thin strips of card, and layer them on each other. Each strip would be one fin, so you'd just be building it as it would be in real life.

Today's progress with the main turbine

Looks really nice keep it up