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Wow two posts in a week, does that mean you're back for good Jabba?


A Bit of a Recap:

Just a recap to bring the detailing up to present before I add the final necessary components namely the deploy-able air-brake panels to the aft fuselage.

All the other major detail is completed including the yet-to-be-installed landing gear and ball turrets; it's just a matter of attaching them during the priming episode. Yes I am that close to applying pigment to this work after four years of intermittent effort.

Below, the frontal view shown 'The Albatross' in unnatural light where she looks much cleaner than her aged yellowed styrene appears in person.

http://i.imgur.com/IQXL1ZI.jpg


There is still a bit of side details including the hull number and Aquila to be synthesized and installed.

Below, the rear quarter showing the air-brake panel interior visible and the wing spoiler cavities which is an interesting feature unprecedented in actual aircraft:

http://i.imgur.com/H5TxZNe.jpg


Note the size of this model dwarfs my 26 inch steel scale. She is actually longer than my Warlord is tall.

And the side view in pretty much flight configuration nose up attitude as the poorly designed L-1011 and DC-10 were wont to fly.

http://i.imgur.com/IgclCxl.jpg


The fact that I now refer to her as 'she' signifies I have finally accepted her into my fold.

Just mind-blowing.

Outstanding skill for an amazing result. And enlightening "on-the-side" guides and steps-by-steps to stir it up.

Glad to see it closer to paint.

Well, I'm on summer break from engineering school, so I've got time to waste. I wish I could be building stuff though. Sometimes I find your blogs discouraging. It would be one thing if I was building a T-hawk as pretty as yours. But instead I just log on look at all the cool stuff I'm not building/painting and get depressed. I'm here more often that you think, I've been doing mostly lurking the last couple years (since starting school). Someday I will be employeed, and have money, and maybe some free time. Until then I just marvel at the detail and craftsmanship of your work.

Nice work on the wing tips.

I have a FW Thunderhawk I been wanting to repair (as I got it from a friend) and modify and plan to look over your thread as I do so. Just got some other projects that need my attention first and I can start this one in a few weeks. =D

Would love if I could get my hands on some fiber optic cable so I can light my thunderhawk up. But alas I have no decent source for that around here. =(

Thanks for reminding me, I need fiber optic cable as well. I'm buying mine on ebay; the best source I know.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Air Brake Panels:

Cutting the slots in the air brake panels would be tedious except for one of the specialty items in the 'Evergreen' inventory.

http://i.imgur.com/xKIAf3e.jpg


To get the proper spacing of the six slots I used 'O' gauge boxcar siding available from 'Evergreen'.

http://i.imgur.com/qgm6onY.jpg


There it was a simple matter of scribing and punching out rectangular slots.

http://i.imgur.com/eUHG00d.jpg



After reinforcing the back side and angle of the panel I installed the right side panel this morning;

http://i.imgur.com/QIz5paz.jpg


the left side held in reserve until I photo'ed them for the blog.

 GamesEtc wrote:

Would love if I could get my hands on some fiber optic cable so I can light my thunderhawk up. But alas I have no decent source for that around here. =(

um, internet?

111?

Well the airbrakes are installed and are deploy-able but they are so laughably small as to appear ridiculous. How deploying such small panel can have any perceptible effect on slowing this flying brick outhouse is ludicrous.

http://i.imgur.com/QbS9CIn.jpg


But they are on the original so they are on my model as well.

http://i.imgur.com/muE2Xti.jpg


The left side airbrake still needs to be adjusted.

http://i.imgur.com/wIQrLQj.jpg


The right side airbrake works easily

http://i.imgur.com/kkN2khg.jpg


In case you were wondering about the title of this post 111 is the hull number of this craft.

Yeah if you think I chose this number because it was easiest to make you are probably right.

http://i.imgur.com/Az9rWVp.jpg


Meanwhile the interminable detailing proceeds.

I would have gone with flight 216 and nicknamed it "The Beast".

It's an inside joke from the Tim lahaye "Left Behind" series. 216 is the product of multiplying out 6*6*6=216. It was the flight number on the antichrists super jet.

not that I'm calling you the antichrist, just that this thing is so much larger than the FW version it needs a special name.....besides AWESOME.

Thanks for the suggestion but too convoluted; I could never remember the explanation.....

Way Too Much Effort:

I'm putting too much effort into a model I wasn't that enthused about in the first place.

But in for a penny as the saying goes.

There are some beautiful colour 3D renderings of T'hawks available and of all this is by far my favorite.

http://i.imgur.com/9V6NhiQ.jpg


The rendering actually makes a T'hawk plausible and real.

http://i.imgur.com/ZreDRQV.jpg


BTW this is the colour scheme I've decided on so anyone know what chapter is this please?
So since I am committed to finishing this model I may as well duplicate it the whole way and revamp the nose cowl/door.

http://i.imgur.com/278Y6Hz.jpg


So since I am committed to finishing this model I may as well duplicate it the whole way and revamp the nose cowl/door.

The front end of the 3D looks so much more brutal than the FW design..... Brutal is good....

http://i.imgur.com/Hq9Njxc.jpg


This is an Lord Inquisitor insignia?

http://i.imgur.com/kGMvnUt.jpg


These wings are a proper be-atch to make..............

http://i.imgur.com/lWN8GIP.jpg

Yes, it is inquisition, from the Lord Inquistor movie thing. Grey Knights in particular.

The Grey Knights have a pretty cool color scheme. I've wanted to do a small side army of them because of how they look.

And yes the "I" with the three lines is the insignia of the Inquisition in general. It's not's Grey Knight or "Lord" Specific.

Okay so everyone thus far has told me that the scheme is 'Grey Knights but almost all Grey Knights vehicles are grey accented in red.

The scheme I picked is grey-green and red, why is that discrepancy?

Also each chapter has it's own fleet of navy vehicles? seems a bit excessive and how does the "Lord Inquisitor" enter into it; is that yet another subdivision????

No, the 'Lord Inquisitor' is just the movie that the still render pictured above is from.

The winged I is the Inqisitorial Heraldry in general

The green in that grey seems to be an artifact of the lighting, or maybe an artistic interpretation, but I don't believe there is any green in their scheme technically.

Cargo Door Take Two:

Cargo Door Take Two:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxJXrrTqJfI

In the video above the convoluted door opening procedure is a amazing tour de force but infinitely impractical plus the mechanism prevents large pieces of equipment from egress or ingress. My solution employs the brutal beauty of this door in comparison to the rather bland FW door/ramp but offers a more practical solution without the incredible monkey motion plus I can still release the Rhino........

http://i.imgur.com/UHKGo3G.jpg


It necessitated cutting back the locking detents and modifying the upper locks.

http://i.imgur.com/Aj8hWsW.jpg


The opening is actually larger which will faciltate the embarking and debarking of the larger equipment from the caverness cargo bay.

http://i.imgur.com/gw1oMB3.jpg


Finally a redundant image just because it came out so well with the prototype image in the background.

http://i.imgur.com/e4fUo8q.jpg


In the video above the convoluted door opening procedure is a amazing tour de force but infinitely impractical plus the mechanism prevents large pieces of equipment from egress or ingress. My solution employs the brutal beauty of this door in comparison to the rather bland FW door/ramp but offers a more practical solution without the incredible monkey motion plus I can still release the Rhino........

http://i.imgur.com/UHKGo3G.jpg


It necessitated cutting back the locking detents and modifying the upper locks.

http://i.imgur.com/Aj8hWsW.jpg


The opening is actually larger which will faciltate the embarking and debarking of the larger equipment from the caverness cargo bay.

http://i.imgur.com/gw1oMB3.jpg


Finally a redundant image just because it came out so well with the prototype image in the background.

http://i.imgur.com/e4fUo8q.jpg

Is the hull one piece at this point, I'm curiouser just for interior detailing. How much are you going to do inside?

Back at the beginning of this thread 3/4 the way down page two I made all of the interior elements they are all ready for installation but I have left them out so the electronics can be applied.

Fortunately I didn't install the the interior earlier as it would have been sacrificed or significantly damaged during recent modifications.

Ah, I see. Thanks for pointing that out for my lazy self.

Cant exactly remember how many times i have commented on this build... but i think i need to again! The detail shown here and the accuracy and quality is unreal!

IMHO i really like the airbrakes actually... even if as you say... they are slightly small! I think i said also about the ball turret additions being a great addition!

Waiting intently on the next update!

.... hats off!

That's What I'm Talk'n 'bout:

Yeah this looks a lot better to me. Granted it departs from the classic T'hawk look but considering the newest additions to the transport navy fleet it's about time for a T'hawk face lift.

http://i.imgur.com/Geaz295.jpg


The old locking mechanism is still in play so it doesn't change the internal configuration and now I have space for the fold away cargo ramps for tracked and wheeled vehicles, the dentations should house the hinges nicely. A problem I could not resolve with the old style door.

http://i.imgur.com/QcI379p.jpg


Of course with the one step forward resolved there is also a one step back. The forward door and nose cowl should act as an ablative heat shield for atmospheric entry, so how to justify the decorative cut outs on either side of the door. surely all those surface angles and pockets would serve to hold and intensify the heat of re-entry causing great strain on the door mechanism. Just saying so you know I am aware of the quandary

http://i.imgur.com/oBEllJ8.jpg


H*ll, I just build the D*mned things; I haven't the vaguest what makes 'em go.

If it makes you feel better, the electronic shielding of the future could account for heat shielding. I'm just saying you're always going to find something wrong until you build your own spaceship. These things are theoretically capable of launch from planet. Seeing as how you've built it from the inside out, there clearly isn't any fuel pods in there (a point I'm sure you've brought up somewhere). All aside, I love the look and although part of me want to be a purist (it was a dream to own an original metal thunderhawk, and those things look ugly!) I love what you've done with the changes and I agree with your facelift. It will inspire my build one day.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Do you have the model files for the Thunderhawk?

I'm not sure what you mean by files; all I have is what I post on various forums of which I would say Dakka is the most comprehensive....

Shades of Past Work:

Last year in April I decided I wanted operating retractable landing gear on this beastie, the problem was Forge World did not allow room in their model for the gear in the stowed position; especially the nose gear which as designed by FW would have taken up a significant percentage of the forward cargo bay. My dilemma was compounded by the mechanically impossible retract cylinder mechanism represented on the FW model.

BTW I totally discounted the 3D rendering gear altogether. Besides being mechanically unsound the gear pads were way too small.

Below is the nose landing gear removed from the gear well shown in the completely collapsed condition. The shock strut (oleo strut) is completely compressed so it will fit into the well. I am in the process of adding the gear well detail at the moment. Where does the time go.............


http://i.imgur.com/SmISksz.jpg


Here we see all the nose gear components including the foot pad and gear well reinforcement panels on the left. The lock pin forward of the foot pad, the gear well itself at the right rear. Forward of that is the shock strut and retract cylinder with their associate trunnion pins.

http://i.imgur.com/NsCl05l.jpg


Here is the assembled nose gear showing the shock strut in collapsed position and the exterior of the well showing the axle sleeves for the trunnion pins that lock the gear trunions in place but allow them to swivel.

http://i.imgur.com/8QcmyX2.jpg


Front view of the nose gear assembled with the shock strut in full extension and the retract cylinder in full extension and foot pad attached.

http://i.imgur.com/IfYIiRg.jpg

That strut is pretty awesome looking, I dig the functionality.

By files I meant some sort of 3D files that I could open in a CAD program to study.

Sorry, I have no 3D files.............

Mounting the Landing Gear:

The heretofore unmounted landing gears have been held on back burner until today. I have many pieces including the forward cargo bay interior that are ready to install so much of the work to be done is done just not installed.

http://i.imgur.com/a3s1YVL.jpg


I have made so many modifications since the inception of this project it would have been prohibitive to disassemble and modify prematurely mounted parts.

http://i.imgur.com/MBE3p4m.jpg


I shall continue to only tack some parts into place so the model can be disassembled for painting.

Looks like I'll be able to sling a LandRaider under the belly after all; that and a Rhino in the cargo bay will make this a formidable addition an army.....

G*D I cannot believe I am actually considering painting this finally.

The Nose Gear Continues:

The following chronicles the manufacture of the nose gear:

I barely had room for the light module bitz on the foot pad although everything else fitted with room to spare. still have so detailing to do on th top surface of the landing pad and the tread on the underside. but I am winding down for today and considered it time for an update.
http://i.imgur.com/qatEePo.jpg


Still can't make up my mind whether to cant the gear forward or make it vertical.
http://i.imgur.com/k4tFtCO.jpg


The detail inside the gear well is pretty much complete but I still need rivets etc on the reinforcing framework.

I am still in awe every time I check on your progress. Then you mention fitting a land raider under it and a rhino INSIDE of it I am floored yet again. Outstanding.

Thanks for the dreaded 'Auto Appendus' interuptus,

She's Got Leggs:

Okay the landing gear is installed, the nose gear at this time can retract but not the main gear. There seems no problem that even un-reinforced the spindly struts can support the massive weight of the model, 3 kilo of styrene.

http://i.imgur.com/aCVHZDR.jpg


Now that I have length of the struts established I can go ahead and beef up the main struts and make them retractable. I also need to design torque links so the pads do not swivel.

http://i.imgur.com/c4wBfv2.jpg


The front landing pad has a spring loaded strut extension which facilitates stowing so the pad can lock in when retracted.

http://i.imgur.com/qeEr64X.jpg


Here we see the ground clearance allows for a belly hung LandRaider even though I have been apprised T'hawk transports do not carry LandRaiders.

http://i.imgur.com/DbzoHBX.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/gRcuOxW.jpg


The forward cargo maw can comfortably disgorge an 'slick' Rhino (Sorry, the only Rhino I have is a cripple Chaos model) with plenty of headroom and side room to spare.

http://i.imgur.com/wKxHFc5.jpg


The ramp angle is a bit too extreme which will have to be remedied with fold-able ramp extension tracks.

http://i.imgur.com/QW7zeKz.jpg

A thunder hawk transporter can carry one land raider or two rhinos... But I like your version better .

"In the war torn future there are no good loading angles"

I don't know who told you that. Thawk comes in two variants, the gunship and dropship, the later can be outfitted for two rhinos or one land raider (you can even see that at the FW site). I've never seen a combo unit, are you really going to add clamps for a raider?

Well it wasn't on this forum.

My contention is that necessity and innovation is rampant in front line conditions When I was in the military we did a lot of things not officially sanctioned and as long as it got the job done nobody complained. Of course things might be different now with equipment costing millions of dollars but I doubt it.

My version is capable of slinging a LandRaider and the design of the underside of the hull seems perfect to receive the large rhomboid shaped tank Its just that the FW version T'hawk is too undersized to take advantage that capability. My model dwarfs the LandRaider enough to make this possible. Whether I will actually hang a 'Raider underneath remains to be seen.