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I'm liking the landing craft. You need to buy the 6 rhinos for it to carry.

Love the Space Crusade as a stand in Contemptor dreadnought. Had the same idea, some images in the Gallery below...

@Gitsplitta: Hehe, thanks for finding my thread then! I really appreciate your kind words. This thread pretty much encapsulates everything I love about 40k and Space Marines, so it's always nice when others think well of my builds! FYI, I'm totally a fan of your many great blogs, which I've lurked over through the years!

@Commander Cain: Yes, you were there when I was still playing around with the idea! Little by little I'll get it done, I hope it meets your expectations in the end! I don't look forward to the six arms!

@akaMythos: I totally got 6 Rhinos, but this guy can carry 3 Land Raiders instead, so now my Achilles, Terminus Ultra, and Spartan have a ride!


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@ruralguard: Great minds!!! Wow, four assault cannons and four missile launchers, that's pretty wicked! Those are some great looking dreads!

What landing craft are you doing?


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Oh, you don't mean a thunderhawk drop ship with 6 rhinos do you???

Hey jabbakahut! I can see where the confusion comes from. Yes, I'm building the simply named Space Marine Landing Craft. It does share some similarities with the Thunderhawk gunship and transporter, but is a much bigger craft and can indeed carry 6 rhinos. It only appeared as an Epic Armageddon model. For what ever reason it was given a pretty generic name, it would have made some sense to call it a Thunderhawk landing craft or something like that! All the fluff written about it appears in the Epic Armageddon rules set, which GW had as a free download on their site for the longest time.

Yeah, I totally remember it, I just didn't realize you were doing one. I've got one of the SM company boxes (or two?) and I thought one day I have to build on just because I have so many Rhinos laying around. Figured it would be a cool overhead handing decoration for my game room. It's got to be one of the few things they don't have rules for, least not that I recall seeing (even in the apoch books!)

It's going to look sweet, I can't wait to see your take on it.

Well, I guess it's official now: You have totally lost it.

In the best possible way, mind you!

(Just make sure you either build it modular, or you do the final assembly in the right side of the ocean... Unless you are planning to actually fly it across when done...)

Will be following.

Thanks jabbakahut, my hope is to just keep it as close to the original Epic model as I can. Of course, that's easier said than done. One thing I've noticed is that on many Epic scale models the cupolas and weapons tend to be a bit exaggerated. For instance, the cupola on the SMLC is the same size as the cupola of an Epic Land Raider MkII. But, if the scale is accurate based on the cupolas than the MkII is pretty darn big and there is no way the SMLC could carry three such Land Raiders. So, in scaling up my build, I've decided to do it in such a way as to keep the cupolas and weaponry a tad smaller than they appear on the epic model. In the end I want it to realistically look like it could actually carry 3 LRs or 6 Rhinos. Funny thing, I think that according to the Epic rules it could carry 4 LRs, but I think this is a stretch. Yeah, it should be quite impressive when it's done.

Regarding why it's only ever been an Epic model, I have no idea. My guess is that the SMLC was concocted before FW came up with the Thunderhawk Transporter, and when this fellow came out it pretty much replaced the SMLC both fluff-wise and support-wise. I could be wrong, I have no idea when Epic Armageddon came out or when the T-hawk Transporter was released. It could be as simple as the SMLC was deemed just too big a craft to be feasible as a both a FW model and as a playable option in Apoc/40k. Although, it seems FW will soon be releasing a large SM flyer in the near future!

@Littletower: Hehe, I think I lost it when I built by mega-death tank several years ago! I'll probably lose it again when in a year or two I'll be building an old Codex Titanicus Thunderbolt dropship! Yeah, that is something I've been thinking about. Chances are looking good I'm already on the right side of the ocean, I just need space for this guy, hehe!

I've done some more on it by the way. Whew, just this first part and I'm getting beat. I finally finished the bulk of the neck assembly, just a couple nubs left to go and then I can finish up the top hull detail and riveting. Once I get my magnets from the mail I can complete the assault ramp.



After those above steps it will just be the massive landing gear on the bottom and, as you can deduce from the empty side face, the weird side detail (yay arches...).

Quick update! Finished top detail and assault ramp. Next will be the landing gear and finally the side arches!

Another quick update. All done with the landing gear, which was fairly simple since, even on the model, it doesn't look to be retractable due to it's large size in comparison to the hull. I scaled it down a bit also since I don't want it being bigger than the other two landing gears that are attached to the back portion of the Landing Craft.



The bottom detail was based on the FW T-hawk's landing gear.



For something a bit random, from Citadel Journal 36 was a tutorial for making a Tech-marine Terminator for games of Space Hulk. He comes armed with a chainfist and a plasma blastgun. Today, you can make this guy using the FW Iron Father and the appropriate Cataphractii arm and weapon bitz. The tutorial is pretty convoluted, requiring a lot of different bitz, which is why I had to do it!



For next time I'll be tackling the side hull arches, which is going to be pain!

Nice progress Heliodore.

How big will that thing be? Looks great so far.

Thanks Gitsplitta!

@Camkierhi: Good question, hehe, I'm guessing somewhere between 3 and 4 feet long. Thanks, though I must admit, this build has been particularly rough, as in I don't feel its coming out as clean and crisp as I would like. It's funny, for as long as I have been building models I still make these dumb mistakes and many times with a new project, like this one, I feel like a beginner all over again. After I posted the last couple of pictures last night I actually went back and pulled out the landing gear and repositioned it because I didn't quite like where I initially placed it. Once I finish the arches it will be good to put it aside for awhile and do some other things I think!

Gits! How could you not tell me about this awesome thread?! I was making a bunch of old school White Dwarf surprises for my blog, and heck, I could have just stolen, I mean... uh, acquired so much reference from this old god!

I feel like a Salamander on IIsstvan right now...

Awesome thread! I really loved the Vindicators. Vindicators were my first tank love, and I was going to convert a 2nd edition Rhino to a Dakka Predator but, now after seeing your conversions from WD 118, I'm not sure...

Also, love the Thunderhawks. Great work, you crazy devil. I had one halfway done and then I gave up and trashed it. (You were crazy enough to build two.)

Subbed wholeheartedly! I cannot wait to see what you do with your current project! (I know it won't be painting though. )

Quick Edit: So Legoburner just changed my username. I used to be Coldwill. Just so people don't freak out or go "lol who are you?" Not that I'm really popular anyways though.

I failed you my friend. I do apologize. I was just overwhelmed by Heliodore's awesomeness & forgot my Dakka responsibilities.
Mea culpa.

Geez you guys (Stormwall and Gitsplitta)! You're going to give me a big head at this rate! Hehe, thanks for your kind words!

@Stormwall: Hehe, I'm glad you found and enjoyed my thread! I certainly didn't write or create any of the old projects on here, so I'd never consider anything on here as something that could be stolen. My ultimate hope is that gamers and scratch-builders can enjoy my thread as a nifty 40k resource..

Yeah, I totally love Vindicators too! I was amazed at the number of Rogue Trader era variants to pop up (WD tutorial, Epic MkII, Epicast cannon, and the Tim DuPertuis cannon). To think that GW's first official Vindi kit was released only in 1999 (I'm pretty sure). Guess what I just found, it seems after the new Rhino kit was released GW took a long time to update the Vindicator to the new Rhino chassis. Sometime between the release of the mkII Rhino and FW's eventual Vindicator upgrade kit, GW put out a quick tutorial on how to make an updated Vindicator with the MkII chassis using a SoB Immolater and pieces from the original metal Vindi!

I hope I'm the best kind of crazy!

Thanks, I appreciate it! Well then, I'm happy to say I have completed stage 1 of my SM Landing Craft! Got the side detail done, which was the pain I thought it would be, but I think it came out pretty well!





So, as I said before, I think I'll shelve this for awhile and get back to it later when I have more supplies and space! I may go ahead and get the engines built since I'll need them to scale the large back-end of this guy, which is probably what I'll work on next whenever I get back to the SM Landing Craft. I do have other projects in the works, so I'll probably get to them. I have all the parts I need to make the British MkIV Land Raider except for the MkIV kit itself, just haven't had good luck finding a cheap EMhar, but eventually!

Paint the arches gold and add a drive-up window at each side and you'll have your own Imperial fast-food joint!

This stuff is amazing! It makes me want to go build all sorts of things.

Hehe, that might explain why I can't seem to fit into my suit of Terminator armor anymore!

Thanks EyeamRai! I think the world would be a better place with more scratch-builders in it!

What reference photos/models are you working with?

Looking awesome man.

Thanks Jabbakahut slowly but surely! Oh, I have the actual Epic model, picked it up a couple of years ago. I'm pretty much just eyeing it , keeping various things in mind in order to scale it up reasonably. For instance, I want it to be big enough to actually be able to carry Rhinos and Land Raiders. The Epic Landing Craft model is funny compared to an Epic Land Raider I have. The copulas and weapons match in terms of size, but the LR is way to big to actually be carried by it, so I have to assume the Landing Craft is bigger in scale to the copulas, weapons, and Epic Land Raider. However, in the end, the most important thing is that in the end it's at least a cool looking build even if the scaling is a bit odd!

I just love large projects. I grew up playing Epic! And dreamed of the day I would have enough money and skill to upscale the 40K world to the epic scale level of warfare! I'm currently in the the pre-build planning phase of the largest project I've done. I can't wait to see your progress. Please share updates often!

Sounds like you've got something exciting cooking up! I'm pretty curious now, hehe! Thanks for always popping by, I'll definitely keep the updates rolling as long as I have projects on hand!!

Very small post. Here's my mini pie-tin crater all covered up with filler, gravel, and rocks!



And here's a WIP pic for a Space Marine bunker I'm making based off of some bunkers featured in the SM 4th Edition codex and some White Dwarfs of the era! Somewhere down the line someone from the paperhammer circle made templates, which have proven to be quite useful!

That bunker is looking awesome!

Thanks Commander, it's always nice to take a break from plasticard and just make something from cardboard!
Here it is assembled and almost done!



There's actually a long explanation as to why I've built it a certain way, but I'll save that for when it's completely done. Right now I just need one more Rhino hatch/mount, sheesh!

Here's the transitional Vindicator I talked about several posts ago. I believe this simple tutorial was from a 2004/2005 issue of White Dwarf, which was during that time frame between the release of the MkII Rhino in 2002 and the release of the updated plastic Vindicator kit in 2007. FW released their upgrade kit around 2005, but it was clearly the more expensive option. This was back when you could still order individual metal bitz from GW's mail order, so along with the Immolator sprue you had a quick and easy mkII chassis Vindicator! You can't see in the pick, but it also uses the metal rear hatch from off the 1999 Vindi!



Honestly, it probably wasn't worth the bother, but I really love Vindicators, in case nobody noticed, hehe!

Vindi looks great. I too love those. It's just the total improbability of it. Where are the Shells?, and if that thing actually fired, the vehicle would shoot backwards a thousand yards.

The bunker is great, always thought I had seen that kind of idea somewhere, now I know where. Looks brilliant.

Helidore, that bunker is amazing. Is it shameful for me to beg for a template?

Your work is stellar still, and because of it I am now working on my first plasticard project ever.

@ Camkierhi: Hehe, I totally agree, in Imperial Armour 2 there is an interior shot showing how the shells are stowed, but even then seems a bit dubious, it must have one helk of a parking break!

@Stormwall: Thank you kindly! Awesome, plasticard is great, don't know what I'd do without it!
As I said before, so I don't accidentally take someone else's credit, I actually used templates that were put together by someone in the paperhammer circles and used the pics in the 4th edition SM codex for reference.

https://sites.google.com/a/goldenboltersociety.com/www/paperhammer40k

Scroll down and you should see some download links. It's listed in the "Buildings" download as "fire base bunker." It's a rar file, and I have no idea if it works, but I assume it does. If you search for just paperhammer fire base bunker you will see the templates show up in Google images, but those belong to a site that no longer exists. I hope that helps.

Since everyone seems to like this bunker, here's a fully updated pic showing the added defense wall!

 Heliodore wrote:

@ruralguard: Great minds!!! Wow, four assault cannons and four missile launchers, that's pretty wicked! Those are some great looking dreads!

Great idea both of you to proxy a Space Crusade dreadnought as a Contemptor. I'd forgotten how tall the legs on a MkX are, it makes that Sallies dread look short. I do love the SC Dread, I wish forgeworld would do an updated version.

@Heliodore: That SM Landing Craft is going to be very impressive.