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I've done a few other scratch building projects in the past. Here's a picture of the rhino I completed for my Imperial Fist army last year. But I've really wanted to tackle a larger project. I was knocking around the idea of a Titan, but I really can't field that with my Marine list. So a thunderhawk was the obvious choice. I found a few different plans online for a start, but it has quickly become evident that the plans would only be a guideline as the model is progressing.

So I started with the plans created by Nova. I felt it was the most detailed of available, and the lack of instructions have made the project more fun.

The Thunderhawk will be primarily constructed from Foamcore, and abs plastic, with bits left over from several marine vehicles.

pure awesome, will it be painted in imperial fist colors? i feel sorry for you painting on that yellow. My first thread that i shall be subscribing to!

cant wait to see how this turns out.

Yes it will be in IF colors. I found a decent acrylic yellow spray paint. So I don't think it will be that hard to paint. But yeah I will be really sick of yellow.

Looks like you're off to a promising start!

I started one about a month or so ago.
Unfortunantly I haven't finished it yet as I was fired from my job. I'll get there some day.

I made mine wide enough to fit a Land Raider in the front area and a Rhino/Razorback in the rear cargo section.

Here is what I was able to complete on Sunday...

1. Scratch built the engines out of cardboard tubing, small bottle, sprue and paint bottle caps. Did some very basic greenstuff sculpting to add some texture to the engines.
2. Determined placement of the landing gear
3. Ran 1/8 inch metal tubing through the body to support the engines and wings.
4. Attached the rear engines using PVC 1/2 inch threaded adapters.

Good work Pylar! The Rhino is really quite good. Can't wait to see the thunderhawk finished and painted.

Not much completed yesterday, but I did complete an aquila that was added to the back of the Thunderhawk.

Here is another big update. I got a lot completed over the last few days. Completed the initial construction of the top turret. Though I am not currently happy with the cannon, that will most likely be replaced. I've figured out how I want the rear landing gear to work, and completed the pesky front hinge for the main bay door. I've also constructed the main wings, and it's support and added 4 heavy bolters.

Here's what I need to do to finish construction.
1. Rear tail wing
2. Secondary wings
3. Imperial Fist insignia
4. Gap filling
5. Find lots of assorted crap to glue to the side to make it look functional.

Then off to painting..

Here are the most current photos.

You are powering through the build at crazy speeds! Having helped out a little in the construction of a great Gargant I know these things take time, but you have showed remarkable dedication

Keep up the good work, enjoying your thread

BishopGore wrote:You are powering through the build at crazy speeds! Having helped out a little in the construction of a great Gargant I know these things take time, but you have showed remarkable dedication

Keep up the good work, enjoying your thread

Thanks BishopGore. I've had some time off work so I've been able to steam through the project pretty quick.

Today was my normal day to get together with the other 40k players in my area, so I was able to get a lot completed. The basic construction is done. Now I plan to add details like interesting bits, and raised armor plates to give the Thunderhawk some character. I started by ripping apart a VCR, there are a ton of interesting components that I plan to use. As always here's the picture update.

A VCR is much whiter inside than I would have thought. Electromagnets look awesome, I hope it makes it onto the 'hawk somewhere.

I will be watching this blog. nice work.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
So um, it doesnt look like its been asked but where did you get the plans for that? You know, in case anyone wants to follow in your footsteps.

Father Gabe wrote:I will be watching this blog. nice work.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
So um, it doesnt look like its been asked but where did you get the plans for that? You know, in case anyone wants to follow in your footsteps.

I actually covered that in my first picture post. Just do a search for Nova's Thunderhawk Plans in your search engine of choice and you should be able to find them. Just don't count on locating the instructions.

Started with the painting today. I need to complete the interior paint job before I can continue to exterior, and finally attaching to top and cockpit panels. I also scratch build 4 missiles that will be attached to the bottom side of the wing. Here's the pics..

Just a quick update this morning. Working on adding bits and other finer details to the model, and added the pair of twin-linked heavy bolters to the front. The next step is to cut out the Imperial Fist emblem, and paint the cargohold and cockpit areas, and get the prime coat finished.

So here is my question for you guys. Do you think there is enough demand and is the quality good enough to try to sell this thing? I don't think I'd get rid of it for less then 200 bucks, but if doesn't have the quality I'm not going to bother.

I think there is certainly potential for you to sell something like that, but if you were to do that, I would not add any emblems/symbols on, thus giving you a far wider range of buyers instead of just IF players.
Keep up the good work!
Cain

Go man go, I'd love to see someone screw GW out of a couple hundred bucks by doing the work themselves.

carabine wrote:Go man go, I'd love to see someone screw GW out of a couple hundred bucks by doing the work themselves.

LOL. Well I would kinda be screwing them over. But seeing as it would be going right into new GW models, and bits for my next build they would kinda be reaping the benefits too.

Another slow day on the build. After some debate I decided not to sell this model. I put way too much effort in this piece, and it will be a great center piece for my Imperial Fist Army. Today I completed some extra detail, and I cut by hand 2 large raised Imperial Fist insignia for the side. Here's the pics..

I completed the front twin-linked heavy bolters, and painted the interior of the hold.. Here's the images.

Frikkin awesome man.

The fist insignia is fantastic and I love the little motivational poster. The stairs are really good too, the yellow and black is just perfect, it looks very realistic.

Got to show this to a friend of mine who has started collecting Fists, he will love it.

Saw this in person today and it's even more impressive, great job!

MasterSlowPoke wrote:Saw this in person today and it's even more impressive, great job!

Thanks MSP, I'm glad the local gaming community appreciates my work!

Two weeks ago today I started the construction on my Thunderhawk, and I'm glad to say that the construction is finished! I painted the interior of the cockpit, and was able to finally attach it to the rest of the model. I was also able to get a flash suppressor for the main gun from one of the guys at my FLGS. And I completed the trim work around the wings, covering the exposed foam on the foam core. Here's the pictures

And just to show some perspective, I wanted to show off my entire army with the Thunderhawk as a center piece.

Here's what my IF army contains at this time.
10 Assault Terminators
10 Terminators
10 Assault Marines
10 Vanguard Marines
10 Sternguard Marines
20 Devastator Marines
50 Tactical Marines
15 Scouts
10 Tactical Marines on Bikes
1 Assault Bike
1 Command Squad (Apothecary, Standard Barer, Unit Champion, 2 Veteran Marines)
4 Chaplains (1 w/ Terminator Armor, 1 w/Jump Pack, 1 w/Bike, 1 on foot)
1 Librarian
1 Captain Lysander
2 Captains (On foot & w/Jumppack)
3 Rhinos
2 Whirlwinds
1 Predator
2 Dreadnoughts
1 Land Raider
3 Land Speeder Typhoon
1 Thunderfire Cannon w/Tech Marine
1 Lander Speeder Storm

Now I just wish it was all painted...