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I finished my Dark Angel Ironclad Dreadnought

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/222976.page#453146

I want him to have a proper ride. The new droppod model is nice, but doesn't quite do it for me when it comes to more than 10 models or dreadnoughts.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/219557.page#397847

So I was thinking some "simple" modifications could correct the shortcomings. Basically it needs a 6 sided base and 3 doors/3 vertical spars. The advantage if I figure out how to make it is that I can make 3 Dreadnought droppods out of 2 regular droppod kits. The big potential stumbling blocks I see are that the doors are going to require major modifications and how to integrate a stormbolter or deathwind launcher. Here is a sketchup model of the basic vision:



I have ordered another droppod kit, while I am waiting for its imminent arrival I have gotten started on the base.



It is 2" on each side, making it slightly larger than the standard:







OK, so right now the plan is to make hinges on the sides of the three doors that go to half doors. Alternatively I could just expand the edges and make double wide doors and larger ramps. Anyone have thoughts on how to do this? Hopefully the new kit will be here by the end of the week.

wow this will be cool

ya I'm pretty sure they'll be like 500 SM copying your steps. so put a lot of details. I'm only suprised it took this long for someone to post a project on this.

You should maybe think about turning the final project into an article to help people out even more.

I need at least one Dreadnought DP, so please, continue

I'll add some stage by stage details of what i've made over here if that helps... http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/224391.page

I am at a standstill right now because I am waiting for a droppod kit to come in.... it is taking forever.

Finally my drop pods came in... that was painful. Hopefully tonight I will start working on the doors again. Should be some new pics soon.

Very cool idea! Keep posting pictures!

That looks like a solid, goodlooking project you got there.

Keep it up

I got inspired and made some nice progress

Finally got the droppod kit cleaned up the spars and started gluing them together.

Door extensions.

Extra reinforcement for the mid section of the door.

This is some 1/2" Diameter styrene rod sliced in half lengthwise. I think next time I would do this beofre closing out the base.

Here are the hinges, just some more styrene rod. It works OK, but it was hard to glue in place.

Size comparison with regular droppod shut. Basically no significant difference.

Open the footprint is similar. It is of course much more open for LOS.

Ah our first passenger, not a bad fit.

Sorry about the degrading image quality I didn't get all my lights setup for the photos. Anyway, I like the way it came together. I need to fill some gaps, add the stormbolter and a few rivets. C&C welcome. I haven't decided if I will make additional ones. I bought two droppod kits so if I have enough plasticard I can three out of thatassuming I can find some extra engine bits.

looks good

Awesome job, it matches the style of the GW drop pod perfectly.

A few final pics:

Closed - Not too much different, bascially just leaned up the area where the door mates to the side of the center column

Closeup of the closure mechanism, basically these are the explosive bolts that blow to open the hatch.

Open, I adjusted the engine housing a bit and put in a nice tile floor for the passengers.

Passenger with Stormbolter, I guess he may have to turn a bit to get through that door.

And the passenger with missile launcher... the droppod weapons are magnetized. I can't believe he actually fits.

I had some rivets but they failed. I have to look at something else to do for that. Other than that and painting it is pretty much done. I am contemplating if I want to do another one or two since I have the parts.

I had one other thought. I purchased two droppod kits with the thought of making 2-3 of these. That means I have alot of extra droppod parts including two regular bases.

So the question is, how big are reaver feet?

Can you actually fit a Dreadnaught in there and make it come out again with a base attached?
Other than that quite a good conversion.

I haven't tried too hard with a base attached but I don't think it would be possible. With no base it requires a bit of maneuvering but once in there is room to spare.

a simple mod, but really good!

Necro!!

Very nicely done mod. Very clean plasticard work. Is the round piece that buts up to the engine with the explosive bolts on it a very large segment of styrene rod or just a strip of card bent into shape and glued?

Over 2 years no less! that is some impressive necromancy. Drop pod is cool though!

Looks great, and your plasticard skills are superb! I'd like to see that Reaver idea get off the ground!

My only practical CC is that the top door extensions seem like they would make it a bit hard to get out of the drop pod.

I.E.

Streaking down from orbit came the Dark Angel drop pod carrying it's mighty cargo. The battle seemed to slow as all eyes peered throught the billowing dust. Auto-loaders chattered. The Assault Cannon began to spool it's many barrels. The external vox blared praises to the Emperor of Mankind. The mighty dreadnought took two powerfull steps down the ramp of the drop pod, ready to wage war on the xenos plaguing this world. The massive left foot struck the lip of the assault ramp and the dreadnought, instead of decimating the enemies of the Imperium, fell sarcophogas first into the loamy soil.

Any way to attach the top bit of plasticard to the super structure instead of the door?

Keep up the goog work!

Cheers,
Rawson

The reaver did get off the ground but has been lost in the warp for about a year and a half. The incomplete WIP is in my posts somewhere .