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Hey guys, started a new project I thought you'd be interested. This is a commission to build some Mk1 Rhinos along with a Predator using the current chassis and a resin conversion kit. For the Rhino the kit will consist of three pieces:

A set of exhaust pipes:



A side panel with the old, round Mk1 door:



And a new front plate that I'm still working on.

I won't claim to be the originator of this idea as it actually came from this guy and his awesome White Scars army http://heresywhitescars.blogspot.com/ I just hope he doesn't mind me borrowing his idea

So how the kit will work is that you remove the exhaust pipes from the current model and shave down the rivets and the step in the area of the side panel. Then you just glue it on:





For the Rhino I still plan to make some bubble top hatches with a bolter stand-in mounted on the top, and yes the Predator will have the classic old bubble top design as well

Now the conversion kit will not be available in my store but if you're interested send me a PM (I haven't decided on a price yet). I do hope to add the turret to my store when that is finished.

So what do you guys think?

Ah, the good old Rhinos. In a way, they had more character than current Games Workshop's offerings, but maybe it's just my sentimental side talking. And they were so easy to make from paper as well... Bile's templates were all the rage back when I used to play.

OK, more updates today. I finished the front plate and have been working on the new turret.



I got a wood lathe recently and turned this one out of a 1.75 inch round piece of polystyrene. I then cut the recess for the current Predator weapons and made it so they slide right in. The production model will of course use my own mantle and weapons but the customer will be able to use the GW ones if they choose.







Next up I need to add the details to the turret along with a hatch in the rear just like the original.

Now that looks very much like the original. I wonder whether back when original Rhino and Predator had been designed, the turret shape was deliberately "a little inspired" by T-54 and similar vehicles, or it was just a happy accident of the deodorant bottle kind. Anyway, as usual, great work... even if I'd rather see more of those spectacular Fellblades of yours.

More turret updates, I'm rather proud on how this turned out. Just needs some rivets and it should be close to done.

Although I am thinking of adding some mounting points for the smoke launcher on either side of the weapon mantle just like the original. What do you think?

Did you know there is a conversion kit from Chapter House Studios?

Mortalitas wrote:Did you know there is a conversion kit from Chapter House Studios?

Yep, but that's not what the customer wanted

These are fantastic, and give me a bit of a preview of what the future project you'll be working on in June will look like...

This is, and they will be, fantastic!

WHOA!!! That's some mighty impressive work you're doing there. Looking really nice man, seriously impressed. I particularly love the rivets on the front plate and the predator turret. I am sooo keeping an eye on this.

I bet whomever's commissioned these must be a bit of a gakhead huh?

Finally time for an update....

I've been racking my brain for the past week or so thinking about how to do the sponsons for this project. Not only did the design have to have the same Mk1 look as the turret it also had be able to rotate and be castable. In the end I did my own twist:





I also finished the new hatch today. Once again I turned this on the lathe from a piece of ABS, much easier to use then the Polystyrene I used for the turret:





So now it's time to start the molds and get some casting done.

Nifty looks like an accurate reproduction of the earlier design.

A fantastic take on a classic resulting in an Instant Classic!

Looking forward to more... much more!

Man oh man, makes me glad that I didn't assemble my SM vehicles yet.

Can't wait to see them finished! Might just have to pick a few kits up!

A really nice project.

Is nice, i like.

Well the Rhino part of this project is just about done. The molds are all made and the pieces are looking pretty nice all assembled. So here it is, the Mk1 Rhino:













Now I just need to finish up the Predator parts. As always, more to come....

Looks, really nice! Great halfway point between the two Rhino kits; I'd love to see peoples reaction to it on the tabel, I'd imagine them having to double check to see whether it's actually a Mk1 or Mk2 rhino!

Great job man, look forward to the Pred.

Awesome kit indeed - just as Just Dave (!) said before me, it looks 'natural', as if it driving out of the RT era!

Nice stuff, and looking forward to seeing more...

...especially looking forward to seeing slightly bigger versions!

Ok. this project is nearing its end. The master of the turret and side sponson is finally done. Now just comes making the mold and pouring the resin. The only thing left now is to make a new weapons mount for the turret that will use my line of weapons (coming soon....)

Fantastic!

Your ability to make high quality 'rounded' parts is awesome!

Looking forward to what comes next...

Sponson and turret look lovely man; balanced use of rivets and they both look nicely detailed. Really classy job.

Ooooh! I just noticed the checkerplate on the 'step' on the side; LOVELY little bit of detail there. That is a great touch.

One suggestion though; maybe put a sponson on the other side?*

*Maybe, just a thought, use the resin mold you're about to produce?!

It looks way diffrent than what we have now

That is the point, of course, as these are what the Rhino and the Predator used to look like - not only in "Pre-Heresy" times, but when GW first started making the plastic tanks!

Good times!

Is it just me, or are the Predator sponsons not going to fit past the exhausts without running at an outward angle?

Other than that minor quip, very, very nice stuff.

Very nice, I love the idea, a really clever if simple(?) conversion looking forward to seeing the finished product

Nice work

Popsicle wrote:Is it just me, or are the Predator sponsons not going to fit past the exhausts without running at an outward angle?

Other than that minor quip, very, very nice stuff.

You are indeed correct! Thanks for pointing out my mistake, you just saved me a boatload of trouble. The problem is easy to fix now, not so easy after the mold is made

Last thing we need is another Terminus Ultra Land Raider level snafu....

So this project comes to an end, but it's been a good one. I'm quite happy how these turned out and I hope the customer is equally enthused. So without further ado here's the Mk1 Predator and his Mk1 Rhino brother:



The turret and sponson weapon mounts have recesses for 1/8 inch diameter magnets 1/16 inch thick, which makes it easy to swap between weapons.



So it's a simple change to go from a Destructor:





To an Annihilator:







The molds for the turret and sponsons and they are now in production. Look for them in my store later in the day tomorrow. I will also have some custom made weapons (heavy machine gun, gatling gun, and laser cannon) that are designed for this turret and sponson (along with future turrets and sponsons) that can easily be fitted with magnets. But more on that tomorrow.

As for the Mk1 Rhino conversion kit, I have no plans to put this up in the store. However, I should be able to get about 25 more sets out of the molds before they are retired. So first come, first served. Send me a PM if you're interested and get them while they last

OK, the Libertor Tank Turret 1 and Tank Sponson 1 sets are now available in my store!

Also new are these swappable weapons:

The Heavy Machine Gun:





The Gatling Guns:





and the Laser Cannons:





All of these weapons have recesses in their mounts for a 1/8 diameter by 1/16 inch thick magnet that makes them easily swappable with the new turrets and sponsons!

Wondrous! Just enough call back to the old days of 40k to really bring a edge off...continuation of tradition.