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Made in us
Terrifying Wraith




Houston

*+*+* THREAD UNDER CONSTRUCTION*+*+*

Good Morrow All,

If you are like me, you think that the GW Stormtalon is a giant flying turd; It's as if the designers figured that air resistance will no longer exist in the 40k century. However the concept of a airborne weapons platform is good, if the model could be made appealing. Enter the Dru. After some due diligance, i found a conversion online that was acceptable, but not quite there IMO*. After completing the first of two stormtalons, i wanted to chronicle my fairly easy and effective conversion. I will be breaking down the project into 2 areas: Conversion and Assembly.

We are gonna go from this:

To this:



CONVERSION!
There are four distinct areas that you will be converting, The twin-linked assault cannon, The side-cockpit weapons mount, The engine compartments on the wings, and The tail's landing shoe.

Twin-linked Assault Cannon.
Spoiler:

My problem with the original design is the amount of surface area added by this weapons mount, particularly when looking at the plane's silhouette. In order to accommodate the assault cannon without adding too much to the profile of the vehicle, I chose to ignore the vast majority of the weapons mount, and just glue the guns directly to the fuselage. This conversion will eliminate the need for Bits #5-8,72,73, as well as removing the pivot option of your assault cannon.

First, assemble the individual cannons, Bits #9+#10 and #11+#12, respectively.

Then, if you align the cannon so that the rounded pegs are 'out' you will notice that the assault cannons will notch into each others vents. Glue the two cannons together as shown.


Lastly, take the ammo hopper Bit #45 and glue it to the underside of the cannon assembly.



Side-cockpit Weapons Mount
Spoiler:

This was the second major problem for me, there is no reason that anyone would ever mount the weapons like they are designed, and that ruins the imagery for me. This conversion will eliminate the need for Bits #21, 22, 61-66, 68, 69, 84-89. They make excellent land speeder tornado upgrades!

Starting with the stock model.


First, remove the blocky nodes that protrude from the side of the cockpit. (this is a soft plastic, but the cut is still fairly thick: use a heavy duty exacto knife, and be very careful!!)


Now, remove the bottom edge of the rectangular opening.


Next, trim the back of the Lascannon batteries, BIT # 55+56, so that they will lay flat, and nestle into the newly created nooks.





The Engine Compartments
Spoiler:

There isnt much need for conversion here, but rather finding the space to accommodate the missiles we removed in the previous conversion step.

Starting with the stock model:


First, Cut/Grind the do-dads below the jet intake into a flat surface.


Then, Starting with the Stock Missile Bit #61:

Cut a missile from Bit #61 to fit inside the nook you just created. You can create missiles for both engines from one of the stock bits(this is a soft plastic, but the cut is still fairly thick: use a heavy duty exacto knife, and be very careful!!)


Last, slide the reduced missile bit into the nook we created in the engine compartment.



The Wing Shoe
Spoiler:

This is minor, but i wanted to include it anyway. The designed landing shoe is modeled in a landed position with the pneumatics deployed. this annoys me as the stupid thing is designed to be flying.

Starting with the stock piece Bit # 54:


Remove the pneumatic extenders, they make great bionics/techmarine doodads!




* http://www.beastsofwar.com/warhammer-40k/fixing-storm-talon-conversion-guide/

*+*+*Will Return tomorrow with pics and continuation of assembly.*+*+*

This message was edited 11 times. Last update was at 2014/08/06 16:58:06


Fantasy: 4000 - WoC, 1500 - VC, 1500 - Beastmen
40k: 2000 - White Scars
Hordes: 5/100 - Circle of Orboros
 
   
Made in gb
Witch Hunter in the Shadows





Earth

Pics would really help this tutorial a lot.

   
Made in us
Thunderhawk Pilot Dropping From Orbit





Dayton, TN

It would help a lot I agree to have pictures, instead of direction to another forums.

Click the images to see my armies!


 
   
Made in us
Terrifying Wraith




Houston

Thanks for showing interest fellas. The 'pic:picname' you see spread through the post are place holders for the very pictures you desire!

I'm not the best photographer, and ive never made a how to before, so im learning as i go!

Fantasy: 4000 - WoC, 1500 - VC, 1500 - Beastmen
40k: 2000 - White Scars
Hordes: 5/100 - Circle of Orboros
 
   
Made in us
Gargantuan Gargant





New Bedford, MA USA

Kiwidru wrote:

I'm not the best photographer, and ive never made a how to before, so im learning as i go!


General Advice on how to make a better Tutorial.
1.) Take PIctures of all steps before posting tutorial.
2.) Crop Photos before posting.
3.) Comparison Shots Since this tutorial is how to convert a Storm Talon to look different, it would have been awesome to have shots of a regular Storm Talon included as well, as a frame of reference, so the changes you made will be clear. There is no guarentee that your reader has more than a passing familiarity with what a Storm Talon looks like.
4.) Descriptive Title Thread How To Convert a 40K Storm Talon to be more Aerodynamic

   
Made in us
Terrifying Wraith




Houston

Thanks for the advice. im making good progress, and am trying to incorporate those methods where i can!

Fantasy: 4000 - WoC, 1500 - VC, 1500 - Beastmen
40k: 2000 - White Scars
Hordes: 5/100 - Circle of Orboros
 
   
Made in au
Boom! Leman Russ Commander





Brisbane, Australia

Only thing that got to me here was the three weapon loadout bit. Surely you recognise that they can't mount all three guns? (the asscans, missiles and lascannons?)

Small gripe, but it ruins the model for me.

 
   
Made in us
Terrifying Wraith




Houston

Thanks for the comment! You are welcome to take whatever you want from the tutorial, even if you choose to focus on the negative. But, for the last time, stop calling me Shirley.

Fantasy: 4000 - WoC, 1500 - VC, 1500 - Beastmen
40k: 2000 - White Scars
Hordes: 5/100 - Circle of Orboros
 
   
Made in us
Death-Dealing Devastator




Rock Hill SC

Did you remove the pegs from the outside of the assault cannons?

Pre Renegade Soul Drinkers 7,000+
Khan's 3rd Company 1500+

 
   
Made in us
Terrifying Wraith




Houston

I didnt. Mostly because im lazy, and the bit is out of sight on the underside of the vehicle. But i see no reason why you couldnt.

ill finish this thing up over the weekend to fully show my work.

Fantasy: 4000 - WoC, 1500 - VC, 1500 - Beastmen
40k: 2000 - White Scars
Hordes: 5/100 - Circle of Orboros
 
   
Made in de
Masculine Male Wych






If it is a aerodynamic optimization, why are the elevators facing to the front?
   
Made in us
Terrifying Wraith




Houston

Because they dont actually function?

Thats a good catch, and one that kind of illustrates how dumb the designers really were. The tail looks better (more aerodynamic) in a swept back position, similar to how we design planes today. However, the elevators were molded for the tail to sweep forward, which is just another totally backward aspect of the original design.

You are welcome to mold a proper tailfin (and mail me a couple!) But barring that, this is the best i could do with the materials on the sprue.

Fantasy: 4000 - WoC, 1500 - VC, 1500 - Beastmen
40k: 2000 - White Scars
Hordes: 5/100 - Circle of Orboros
 
   
Made in au
Grizzled Space Wolves Great Wolf





Forward swept wings aren't necessarily unaerodynamic, they have pros and cons, the cons usually outweigh the pros for most aircraft, but they do have some aerodynamic benefits.
   
Made in us
Terrifying Wraith




Houston

Agreed, but he was pointing out the elevators on the tailwing, which are almost universally swept backwards.

(And i saw almost because i cant think of a plane that has forward sweeping tailwings off the top of my head, but perhaps a design somewhere does)

Fantasy: 4000 - WoC, 1500 - VC, 1500 - Beastmen
40k: 2000 - White Scars
Hordes: 5/100 - Circle of Orboros
 
   
Made in au
Grizzled Space Wolves Great Wolf





EDIT: Sorry, misunderstood what you said.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/08/08 02:15:54


 
   
Made in us
Enginseer with a Wrench





Fayetteville N.C.

Keep up with your good works. The only beef that I have with the Imperial planes, is that they have to lift capabilities. the leading edges are a solid wind deflector. When I convert my WH40K planes I tend to round the leading edges to give it a semblance of lift. Thanks for sharing and waiting to see more.

Strength and Honor
Silveroxide 
   
Made in us
Terrifying Wraith




Houston

Wow guys, over a thousand views... and i have only been a dozen or so of those. I hope that you are getting something from this How To, even if it is just inspiration for your own projects! feel free to post any of Storm Talons that you construct with this template, or any improvements to my design!

Skink, im sure my terminology didnt help there... i was calling the horizontal stabilizers on the empennage "tailwings".

Silver, thanks for the encouragement. The weird thing with the 40k aircraft is that some seem legitimately feasible, and others are jsut so blatantly wrong. orcs for instance fly something to the effect of a hot-rodded p-51 mustang... which to me is vastly more advanced in terms of aeronautic understanding than the flying bricks the spacemarines bring to the table.

(Edit: words are hard)

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/08/08 16:42:45


Fantasy: 4000 - WoC, 1500 - VC, 1500 - Beastmen
40k: 2000 - White Scars
Hordes: 5/100 - Circle of Orboros
 
   
Made in us
Death-Dealing Devastator




Rock Hill SC

Thanks for the inspiration!! Here's my Soul Drinkers storm talon.... Want to build 2 more when funds allow.


Pre Renegade Soul Drinkers 7,000+
Khan's 3rd Company 1500+

 
   
Made in us
Terrifying Wraith




Houston

Looks good! i really like that dark blue color scheme, thanks for posting a pic!

Fantasy: 4000 - WoC, 1500 - VC, 1500 - Beastmen
40k: 2000 - White Scars
Hordes: 5/100 - Circle of Orboros
 
   
Made in us
Death-Dealing Devastator




Rock Hill SC

Its actually tiger striped purple... The sun kinda makes it look blue in the pic.

Pre Renegade Soul Drinkers 7,000+
Khan's 3rd Company 1500+

 
   
Made in us
Terrifying Wraith




Houston

Derp, i can definitely see the purple stripes now that im on a pc... ill refrain from commenting while on my laptop from now on: too much glare, not enough video card.

It looks great anyway!

Fantasy: 4000 - WoC, 1500 - VC, 1500 - Beastmen
40k: 2000 - White Scars
Hordes: 5/100 - Circle of Orboros
 
   
Made in us
Death-Dealing Devastator




Rock Hill SC

Thanks. Can't wait to try it out.

Pre Renegade Soul Drinkers 7,000+
Khan's 3rd Company 1500+

 
   
Made in gb
Secret Inquisitorial Eldar Xenexecutor





Leeds, UK

Excellently timed, I'm just on with my first talon now and am in the process of weaponising it (or more specifically figuring out how many guns I can fit on the model without killing the silhouette). This thread will do nicely as a point of reference, thanks!

   
Made in us
Speed Drybrushing





TN

As a man at NASA once said, anything can fly, you just need enough thrust to achieve it. His response to asking about how do rockets fly.

Another fine answer from an engineer. You can fit a horses dong in a nats rear, you just need a big enough hammer.

BB's Trading Emporium - 6 Positive Trades

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Made in us
Death-Dealing Devastator




Rock Hill SC

Added one more....

Pre Renegade Soul Drinkers 7,000+
Khan's 3rd Company 1500+

 
   
 
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