Camkierhi wrote:
Well it looks awesome, and brutal, as we have said. Need some rivet heads in the spaced armour. but I am probably a bit premature.

Thanks again, Cam.
Yes, rivets will follow sanding.

Seeing that turret all schurtzened up, I just wish to say: "Panzer Vor!"

Catching up, looking great!

Have I told you lately how much I love this tank? I never say that about (Originally) Marine stuff.

shasolenzabi wrote:Seeing that turret all schurtzened up, I just wish to say: "Panzer Vor!"

You go for it.

Littletower wrote:Catching up, looking great!

Thanks LT.

dsteingass wrote:Have I told you lately how much I love this tank? I never say that about (Originally) Marine stuff.

Good to see that I can sway you and that I am improving it's looks.
You should like it even more now...

I've added rivets to the turret and I primed it to see how it looks.
There's a bit of unevenness about the rivets from the glue, some I removed, some couldn't be removed and some resulted in what will become weathering/battle damage...


I also added some bullet holes/dents to the wonky-est plate. I think this tank is heading towards a non-factory-fresh look...

I've also started on the sponson details in the shape of some reinforcement strips and rivets...


The other sponson with be more tricky because of it's curves... Time to dig out a hair-drier...

Well if your wanting factory fresh don't look under the hood . When this tank is done I think you need to make a land raider using the captive catan shard from the monolith kit as the energy source . Loving the turret work, definitely not a standard marine upgrade.

Very nice work. I would actually have the odd hole where a rivet once was! Looking brilliant.

Turret looks good dude

Factory-fresh would be a bit weird considering your fluff with it driving through walls and the like

Theophony wrote:Well if your wanting factory fresh don't look under the hood .

Well there's no squirrels making a nest in this tank...

When this tank is done I think you need to make a land raider using the captive catan shard from the monolith kit as the energy source .

Can't comment on the likelihood of this working as I've not seen either in the flesh/plastic. So it will remain a possibility.

Loving the turret work, definitely not a standard marine upgrade.

Thanks.
Stoooopid marines don't know what they are doing...

Camkierhi wrote:Very nice work. I would actually have the odd hole where a rivet once was! Looking brilliant.

Thanks Cam.
There is one... oh, you can't see it in the pictures. One of the rivets fell off the turret and, like I did on the Hut, when a rivet falls off, drill a hole to show where it was. The sponson, however, appears to have been better built as none fell off (probably because they are plastic rod on plastic with poly cement and not putty rivets on card with superglue).

monkeytroll wrote:Turret looks good dude

Factory-fresh would be a bit weird considering your fluff with it driving through walls and the like

Thanks MT.
Indeed it would. I didn't intend to make it factory fresh from the start, just didn't intend the weathering to start before I'd finished building. But, that is the nature of true chaos; small differences in initial conditions result in huge differences over time.

As a bonus, here's a little more detailing on the sponson. Ventilation for the capacitors of the Electron Cannon.

Made from scraps of plasticard.

mirroring all the previous comments..... very cool!

Thanks Magos.

Someone once asked how the sponsons were going to be aimed...
This is what I was thinking:

Still needs some gap filling and sanding to even them out (and maybe a few more details, but you get the idea.

I know, in practice, you would normally put cables inside a tank. But the cameras sat there by themselves on a plain top looked wrong and needed something. So I went for armoured cable runs as a compromise.

I'd have gone for a couple of eyeballs on tentacles....but cameras do the job I suppose

Nice, very chunky. Where did you steal the barrels from?

monkeytroll wrote:I'd have gone for a couple of eyeballs on tentacles....but cameras do the job I suppose

I'm going to have to do something with eyeballs on tentacles one day. Thanks.

Here's some tentacles to keep you happy in the mean time:

inmygravenimage wrote:Nice, very chunky. Where did you steal the barrels from?

Thanks Graven.
Barrels?
The gun barrel for this sponson is mostly made from pen bits.

Woo! Tentacles!

Oh, but those are tentacles we've seen before They're lovely tentacles and I do love tentacles in a box....but they're not fresh tentacles

Ah well, hopefully I'll find a variety of tentacles and rotary cannons tomorrow to keep me satisfied.....(for a while at least...)

I don't think I've shown them in this thread before... so they are a network premier...

Or you could look on them as re-heated tentacles inna box...

OK, fair enough

that tank is developing into an abnormal cool vehicle... I have been slacking recently on the updates... but boy... this is awesome...and just when you think this doc is all about tanks...then you chuck out filled and ripped open boxes...
how did you do these tentacles? rat/skaven tails maybe?

 Viktor von Domm wrote:
that tank is developing into an abnormal cool vehicle... I have been slacking recently on the updates... but boy... this is awesome

No worries. Good to see you about these parts again. Especially with great praise. Thanks.

...and just when you think this doc is all about tanks...then you chuck out filled and ripped open boxes...how did you do these tentacles? rat/skaven tails maybe?

I did these a little while ago to try and advertise my boxes a bit better than just sprue pictures.

The tentacles, like all my current cables and tentacles, are all made from milliput, a flat surface and a comb. Whenever I have leftover putty, I make some more. Although, with the tank interior and this box, I've not got many left.

Added details; A couple of plates to break up the flat surface and some guards for the cameras.
Ignore the putty on the angled piece, that was an experiment that didn't work...


I've turned the tank around now, so it is time to start on the other sponson...

Okay,,,,,,,,,PANZER VOR!!!!!!

FAntastic detailing, love the cameras.

I hope you feel better for that, Shas.

Thanks, Cam. Here's a little more detailing.

Look! A rotary cannon for all you rotary cannon lovers out there...


Turns out it was quite easy to bend the plastic so I didn't need to dig out the hair-dryer.
However, I had made the edge of the top and bottom pieces of the sponson a bit too close to the size of the turret. This meant that if I had attached the edging as it was, there would have been too much friction to the horizontal movement. So I added small spacers to the edge to give a little more space. Then I had to fill the gaps, smooth it all down and add rivets.

Just started on the cameras, so they are still a little rough.

Don't know what other details I'll add to this one yet. It doesn't need the vents of the other sponson, but needs something...

Wooh....rotary cannons

And now just realised I didn't pick up anywhere near enough tentacles yesterday

Reinforcement strips look neat

Perhaps a small hatch for the space behind the cams? Not a lot else makes sense there apart from maybe stowage....

Or a sensor dish?

Or smoke launchers?

Or an HK missile?

Or a foot spa?

Ok...maybe not that last one. But actually, it seems there might be a few things that could go there after all......

 monkeytroll wrote:
Wooh....rotary cannons

I thought you'd like that.

And now just realised I didn't pick up anywhere near enough tentacles yesterday

Boo. Go fourth and make more tentacles then.

Reinforcement strips look neat

Thanks. There's a few bits that need revisiting, but I'm pleased how they have turned out.

Perhaps a small hatch for the space behind the cams? Not a lot else makes sense there apart from maybe stowage....

Or a sensor dish?

Or smoke launchers?

Or an HK missile?

Or a foot spa?

Ok...maybe not that last one. But actually, it seems there might be a few things that could go there after all......

Thanks... mostly. Something will happen here... probably not a foot spa though...

Inspired... That is all

Oh I will, dont worry Was after some squid or octopus type ones though....and I know I purchased from at least one stall that had some.....

Surely the little nid likes to soothe his hooves after a hasrd few days staring at screens........

Ruglud wrote:Inspired... That is all

Thanks Ruglud. I gain much from DD and I hope I give a little back every now and then.

monkeytroll wrote:Oh I will, dont worry Was after some squid or octopus type ones though....and I know I purchased from at least one stall that had some.....

Ooo, Octopus-like tentacles would be nice...

Surely the little nid likes to soothe his hooves after a hasrd few days staring at screens........

I'd have thought the Driver would welcome a rest more than the Gunner. Having seen Cam's latest build, we all know they like cosy sleeping bags and to have a nice bath...

 Dr H wrote:

Ruglud wrote:Inspired... That is all

Thanks Ruglud. I gain much from DD and I hope I give a little back every now and then.

monkeytroll wrote:Oh I will, dont worry Was after some squid or octopus type ones though....and I know I purchased from at least one stall that had some.....

Ooo, Octopus-like tentacles would be nice...

Surely the little nid likes to soothe his hooves after a hasrd few days staring at screens........

I'd have thought the Driver would welcome a rest more than the Gunner. Having seen Cam's latest build, we all know they like cosy sleeping bags and to have a nice bath...

orcs as libertines and sybarites... classic We all know it's true. Their goal is to make the galaxy their day spa.

I like the camera guards. Good detail. I think the backs of the sponsons may want a hatch of some sort. And the hanging chains some militaries put on their tanks, might make a nice add on to the turret.

Funny I was thinking, you could do with smoke launchers and a HK type thingy on top of there.

And iron boots play hell with your feet.......

 Red Harvest wrote:
I like the camera guards. Good detail.

Thanks. I thought they would be necessary. and cool.

I think the backs of the sponsons may want a hatch of some sort. And the hanging chains some militaries put on their tanks, might make a nice add on to the turret.

I did think of hatches, but I don't have any on the inside (I know you can't see it, but I would know). May still be able to get away with a small one for those hard to reach areas.

You mean for towing? That's also a possibility.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Camkierhi wrote:
Funny I was thinking, you could do with smoke launchers and a HK type thingy on top of there.

And iron boots play hell with your feet.......

I do plan to add smoke launchers somewhere, just haven't decided yet.
HK, maybe... I do have a variety of missiles and I did put one on the WS (that shouldn't have one). I was thinking of saving the official HK for a person-shaped model to carry...

Thanks for all the ideas people.

Nice progress. I've apparently been away for an age. You've made great progress. Turret looks much better now, as do the sponsons.

 Warboss_Waaazag wrote:
Nice progress. I've apparently been away for an age. You've made great progress. Turret looks much better now, as do the sponsons.

Thanks Waaazag. Good to hear you think so.

Progress here is either; Slow, while I think about things and plan actions. OR, Lots of progress in short bursts, as it's usually well planned...
So you can be away for a long time and not miss much, or return a short time later to find I've built a huge new addition.

Yeah, I can identify with those 2 operating modes.

The bars over the vision blocks/cameras are badass! I'd highly recommend getting a bottle of liquid cement (not Testors! Bondene, ProWeld, etc.) for rivets. it takes some getting used to since it evaporates so quickly, but it helps eliminate the glue globbing like that. Avoid the non-toxic stuff too (Weldene), it stinks worse and doesn't work as well

Not for towing. Chain armor, like this


and an explanation here http://www.g2mil.com/chain.htm (source of the image.)

Nice Merkava-III shot Red

Dr.H, I do feel better for having shout PANZER VOR! regarding the work done on your tank.

Thanks Chaps.

dsteingass wrote:The bars over the vision blocks/cameras are badass!

Thanks Dave. I'm quite practised now at bending copper wire.

I'd highly recommend getting a bottle of liquid cement (not Testors! Bondene, ProWeld, etc.) for rivets. it takes some getting used to since it evaporates so quickly, but it helps eliminate the glue globbing like that. Avoid the non-toxic stuff too (Weldene), it stinks worse and doesn't work as well

I do already, thanks. I use Humbrol (naturally). Here it is being modeled by Dire Avenger number 4:


The marks on the sponsons are only where it has smoothed the sanded roughness. They won't show through paint.
But I couldn't use it on the turret armour and that was card (as in, card card not plasticard). I could have used plastic, but I wanted it to be thinner than the thinnest plastic I had on hand.
So I used superglue there and should have tidied up the excess before it set. Not to worry, all will be fine in the end (or I will redo the riveting on the turret after a good sanding).

I've been looking at the various additions for the tank and I can't find a position for the smoke launchers from the kit that I like and the little radar dish just doesn't look like it can do the job (i.e. rotate for a start).
So, I'm going to make some smoke launchers to add to the front of the turret (just some tubes with caps on the ends, how hard can it be...), and I've found a little dome (I think a radar nose dome from a helicopter kit) that I will add to the top of the turret.

A question; Do we think that said dome should extend significantly above the neighbouring hatch?
As it is, It's no taller than the handles of the hatch and one of the issues I had with the kit's radar dish was that I wasn't tall enough to "see" above the hatch, so I feel like I probably should add some height to it... Thoughts?

I went ahead and raised the radar dome. At first it was going to be on a square plinth of sorts, but I didn't like the look of it and shaved it down to match the rest of the dome.

You will also see in the picture the start of the smoke launchers (need some filling around the bottom of a couple and the caps need to be done, and one of them may get re-done as it's not at the right angle - far side middle).

Also also, you will see the progress on the sponson.

That is shaping up sweetly!

Coming along real nice, on it's own crazy, unique way!

What I love about it is that it is still, unequivocally, a predator. Tremendous work,

shasolenzabi wrote:That is shaping up sweetly!

Thanks Shas.

Littletower wrote:Coming along real nice, on it's own crazy, unique way!

Thanks LT. That's the way we like it around here.

inmygravenimage wrote:What I love about it is that it is still, unequivocally, a predator. Tremendous work,

Thanks Graven. That is what I set out to achieve. Make it look unique, with the (Mad) Scientist twists AND still be recognisable as a Predator. Glad that it's working.

No pictures today.
Been planning the next additions and I've decided that the Gatling sponson will get a storage box on the back and a couple of bed-roll like things on top (that all tanks have). They should look good there next to the large camo' net roll that will sit on the side of the tank hull just above the sponson (this was already planned)

I decided that an HK missile isn't really what this tank is about (getting in close and dirty) and I couldn't find a missile that I liked the look of with the tank.

I have started to make a phone to go on the back of the Electron cannon sponson, but at the moment it looks like a few bits of sprue that have been glued together (which is what it is, but...).

In other news; The Cultists I was selling, have sold and are now on their way to their new owner. So, that's nice and I may pop off to paint the next model in the box soon (but I will do a bit more on the tank first).

Thanks for stopping by.

Hey ya Dr H! Just found your thread. I'm all in man... looking forward to whatever wondrous creation you come up with next!

 Gitsplitta wrote:
Hey ya Dr H! Just found your thread. I'm all in man... looking forward to whatever wondrous creation you come up with next!

Hey Gits'. Good of you to drop in. Thanks, creations will come in time.

Good work as usual H. That's a manly sponson that tank is boasting!! Looks shooty cant wait to see it all painted up

Thanks BB.

Now, this is what I've created by way of storage and tank phone.
I'm not entirely sure it works/fits with the tank. I'm thinking I may make a smaller box to go on the rear of the sponson instead of this, so I want opinions.
It may be the best model piece you've ever seen (I doubt it) but does it work with the tank?
Should I make a small storage box here instead and then a little phone hatch (which will have a phone picture on) to go on the other sponson?



Convince me to keep it, or am I right to chuck it (It'll get used for something else eventually)...

I like it... and besides... it's fantastically unique. I mean who does this???!!!!

Firstly ...great modeling, and great detail as always.

I would just do a box, and loose the phone. I can see it elsewhere, maybe a nice comms guy or something, but I am not sure here.
Also what the heck are you going to say and in what blooming language? I mean check out the crew dude.

Like Gits I love the idea, and it shows how nuts you are, but I am struggling in this specific place.

The infantry/tank phone is a good detail, but IMHO, perhaps it fits better on the back of the tank, where the caller can get cover from the tank hull while he is gossiping with whomever.

Gitsplitta wrote:I like it... and besides... it's fantastically unique. I mean who does this???!!!!

Thanks Gits'. Yeah, welcome to my blog, sometimes I get carried away with little details...

Camkierhi wrote:Firstly ...great modeling, and great detail as always.

I would just do a box, and loose the phone. I can see it elsewhere, maybe a nice comms guy or something, but I am not sure here.
Also what the heck are you going to say and in what blooming language? I mean check out the crew dude.

Like Gits I love the idea, and it shows how nuts you are, but I am struggling in this specific place.

Thanks Cam.

I'm not sure who you are talking to with the phones on the outside of a tank IRL, is it the crew or are you using the tank's aerial to talk to HQ?

I think another problem I have with it, is that it looks a bit too much like a bathroom cabinet... Not very tank-y really.

I may save it for a piece of terrain and make a more tank like box...

Still, it shows that I've been doing something.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Red Harvest wrote:
The infantry/tank phone is a good detail, but IMHO, perhaps it fits better on the back of the tank, where the caller can get cover from the tank hull while he is gossiping with whomever.

Thanks Red. Yeah, that's also a good point.

....And it's made of SPRUE! so you're just showing off your mad skillz

The Scions box set comes with a field phone for the Vox operator. Gotta call in airstrikes! Or extraction

 dsteingass wrote:
....And it's made of SPRUE! so you're just showing off your mad skillz

The Scions box set comes with a field phone for the Vox operator. Gotta call in airstrikes! Or extraction

Or a pizza drop

Remember those old phones? They could qualify as a CCW they were so well-built.

dsteingass wrote:....And it's made of SPRUE! so you're just showing off your mad skillz

Thank you Dave.

The Scions box set comes with a field phone for the Vox operator. Gotta call in airstrikes! Or extraction

Little bits like that are really nice. As I don't have one, I had to make one...

lol Shas. So that's what it's really for.

dsteingass wrote:Remember those old phones? They could qualify as a CCW they were so well-built.

Yeah, they're not reffered to as bricks for nothing.

So, I went with the "save it for later and make something else" route.
No sprue this time, just left-over plasticard.

Oh, and some glass beads for the hinge.
Oh, and the handle on the possible phone box is sprue, but that's all.

Thoughts?

And, does this look enough like a bedroll or some other kind of tank stowage to you?

Looks fantastic Dr H. You wouldn't even need to paint it, it's convincing as it is.

Hey... did you steal that out of my garage!!!

 Gitsplitta wrote:
Looks fantastic Dr H. You wouldn't even need to paint it, it's convincing as it is.

Cool, thanks.
I'd need to paint the "rope" to make it look like rope and it may get a dry-brush to pick out the texture, but you're right, it would work as is.
Depends what colour I end up doing the tank, I may want to make it a different colour.

And if I'm sensible, I will leave it off until the tank is painted... maybe...

Hey... did you steal that out of my garage!!!

That depends on whether you tend to keep lots of tiny bedrolls or sacks of potatoes in your garage...

I bashed out a quick tutorial to show you how it was made.
The material is a papery strip that covers the top of a sack of potatoes and has string passing through it to keep the sack shut.

Folding the sides in was mainly done to hide the holes, with the added benefit of giving the visible edges some thickness that would be lacking if you just cut those sides off. Also, because they don't meet in the middle, the centre of the roll is better compressed by the "rope" to give it a biting in look and makes the whole roll appear substantial (and not flimsy paper).

Using picture wire allows you to squash it into an oval shape and it will hold this shape unlike string or cotton. This also makes the roll look heavy and real (and not like flimsy paper).

I also glued the ends of the paper down with PVA, just so they don't stick out.

You can see the first one I made is larger. This is just because it was a longer piece of paper to start with.
I may not even use the second, smaller one. I just made it for the tutorial as I'd already glued the first one.

Sleeping bags? , I'd of thought the scientist would get rid of that nuisance, those must be body bags, or tarps to collect the body parts for he good doctor on.

Must admit I came in looking for some cool Preadator pics and instead was presented with a really cool predator tank. Love what you have done with the turret and sponsons, excellent work so far.

 Theophony wrote:
Sleeping bags? , I'd of thought the scientist would get rid of that nuisance, those must be body bags, or tarps to collect the body parts for he good doctor on.

Yeah, body(part) bags. That's what they are. I knew that... honest... Alright, I only made them because that's what you see on tanks and I needed something to fill the blank space.

I don't see the occupants sleeping at any time while out in the field. They're not programmed for that.
So, yeah. Body bags. Thanks Theo.

 GiraffeX wrote:
Must admit I came in looking for some cool Preadator pics and instead was presented with a really cool predator tank. Love what you have done with the turret and sponsons, excellent work so far.

Thanks Gir'. Welcome.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Ooo Oo! Maybe I'll do a filled body(part) bag instead of the camo' netting I was going to do...

Bags added, beautiful sponsons! I can finding nothing about this tank I dislike.

The bags/tarp rolls look great. I would advocate for a plastic strip under the vent on the left sponson to complete the bottom. It looks a little incomplete to me, but that's just my opinion. Still looking great, you're making excellent progress.

Nice detail work on the tank. Lots of cool ideas.

I'd suggest the bags/rolls be tied up with two or more ties though. I think that would give it scale. Otherwise, fanfreakingtastic!

shasolenzabi wrote:Bags added, beautiful sponsons! I can finding nothing about this tank I dislike.

Thanks Shas. Good to know.

Warboss_Waaazag wrote:The bags/tarp rolls look great. I would advocate for a plastic strip under the vent on the left sponson to complete the bottom. It looks a little incomplete to me, but that's just my opinion. Still looking great, you're making excellent progress.

Thanks Waaazag.
The vent does have a flat bottom. It's just that it's thinner than the sides (which I see as having the gears to open and close the vent) and it's made of the black plastic, not the white. I might differentiate the edging of the vent from the slats of the vent when I paint. Or if it's still an issue, I can thicken the lower edge.
Here's a couple more angles to show the lower edge better, see what you think.

pfibp wrote:Nice detail work on the tank. Lots of cool ideas.

Thanks pfibp. Welcome.

dsteingass wrote:I'd suggest the bags/rolls be tied up with two or more ties though. I think that would give it scale. Otherwise, fanfreakingtastic!

Thanks Dave. I'll see what I can do about adding ties. The current ties are glued on to these rolls and the ends snipped off so I can't move them without damaging the rolls and having to make new ties.

I've had an idea of how to make the filled body bag. I'll try it out today and see what happens.

Can you tell what it is yet?

Not finished yet. I'm going to add more layers to the bag to strengthen it.
Also not sure where this will go yet. It's too high to fit beside the turret as originally planned. It's also too long to fit on top of a sponson. I've left it so that it can be separated at the waist (to either be two separate pieces, or to bend it over the side), but I may try and make it look like it's well bound and so can stick out a little.

It's a tow cable with grappling end to it

Bag-o-rations?

Theophony wrote:It's a tow cable with grappling end to it

Silly Theo.

dsteingass wrote:Bag-o-rations?

That depends on your definition of rations...

This is what it looks like in the only place it will fit.


Thoughts?

I dunno..It's such a pretty tank, that MAY be going too far. The string is also a bit overscaled don't you think?

Yeah, I know what you mean. It breaks the profile of the tank.

It does also slightly get in the way of the main gun [grumble]Bloody great shoulder pads[/grumble].

Yeah, that was just a bit of string I grabbed to give an idea of what I might look like bound. Hence it's not been cut or glued on.

Those extra photo angles help a lot Dr. H. I see now. Looks good the way you have it.

I think it's a distraction, as well as an obstruction, as cool as it is.

That wrapped body doesn't quite fit. I have to agree with some previous dissenters in that it breaks the profile of the tank, at least in the spot you have it over the sponson.

Is he a future inductie into the scientists camp? Paint the string t look like heavy steel cable and I think your good.

The body bag is a bit, hmm, visually intrusive. A smaller body bagin some sort of cargo cage on the back of the turret (like on an Abrams) or the side of the hull (like they do with APCs and Bradleys) might be better.

Warboss_Waaazag wrote:Those extra photo angles help a lot Dr. H. I see now. Looks good the way you have it.

Good good. Thanks for the input though.

Thanks chaps. That seems pretty unanimous in leaving it off.
I'll save him for a future piece of terrain... or an objective marker for when I actually get around to playing the game... one day.

He is indeed a future member of the army. Gift wrapped for The Scientist. So it makes sense to use him as an objective marker.
As The Scientist only really needs the heads, I may look into a smaller bag of heads if I find somewhere to put it.

Next job... don't know actually... It's probably time to set about filling all the gaps before I do any of the remaining jobs...

Putty Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Actually, no, I've remembered something that I need to do before I putty the gaps.

Headlights!
I have to do these first, as I left the front removable just in case I needed to access the inside while adding the eyes headlights and I can't fill the gaps until that's glued in.

So, I have the clear fronts for the lights (that came from a previous model kit) and I want to build little searchlight type lights that look like they can move about (like the spotlight you see on American police cars).
I want them to have a domed back and this I'll do with milliput, but I wanted a ring at the front where the "glass" will sit in and give me a good base to mould the domes onto...

I had a look in my "tubes" box and would you believe what I found... Remember the RSC pens that I used for the Electron cannon, the ones that glow in the dark? Yeah... They are a perfect fit...

If I paint the outside of the rings, leave the inside of them clear, leave the milliput inside white... they should glow out through the glass at the front.

This should be very interesting.

Gotta bring the test subjects/new minions home right?

Camkierhi wrote:This should be very interesting.

I hope so.

shasolenzabi wrote:Gotta bring the test subjects/new minions home right?

That was the idea.

Well, the mad scientist has his creating to do! I have two new members of my Inquisitorial retinue and have selected their colors for their robes and hoods and armor/

I think the 'rations' may be just a bit much for the overall look dude!? a little big. and you don't want to clutter or go too far overboard, what you've done so far is outstanding and I'd leave it for paint now if I was you :-)

Oh and the headlight! great thinking!

Thanks.

Not a lot of progress with a family Easter. Can't complain about chocolate though.
But I can show you the possible headlights/eyes as they are and where they will go on the tank.


I've now got to come up with how these will be attached to the tank to make them look like they can move...

Disappointed - I thought it was a snow lion chomping down on an arm. I suppose a full body bag is more useful to the scientist...but not as cool as a white lion.

Body bags belong on a trailer type contraption that can be utilised by a variety of the scientist's vehicle pool Handy objective marker/terrain piece could come out of that...

Like the glow-eyes, and placement looks good.

 monkeytroll wrote:
Disappointed - I thought it was a snow lion chomping down on an arm. I suppose a full body bag is more useful to the scientist...but not as cool as a white lion.

Yes, I can see how the confusion could arise...

Body bags belong on a trailer type contraption that can be utilised by a variety of the scientist's vehicle pool Handy objective marker/terrain piece could come out of that...

I did think about making a trailer, but the Predator can't really tow a trailer due to having the door at the back. Something in the future will have one though.

Like the glow-eyes, and placement looks good.

Cool. Ta.
I'm working on the mounts now. Waiting for glue to dry...

Looks great Dr.

May I suggest, the corrugated bits from straws, as a connection from the light to the hull? Will look like it can flex any which way.

I agree that the body bag is a bit big, but what about slinging it in a hammock across the front!

 Camkierhi wrote:
Looks great Dr.

May I suggest, the corrugated bits from straws, as a connection from the light to the hull? Will look like it can flex any which way.

Thanks Cam. That's a good idea, I hadn't thought about that. I'll keep it in mind if what I have done doesn't work out...


Thoughts?

I agree that the body bag is a bit big, but what about slinging it in a hammock across the front!

Also, a good idea. Although there may not be much room on the front when I attach the dozer blade(s).

This thing keeps getting better and better.... soo much detail on one model! Really cool!

Mounts for the lamp-eyes look good, but may want to adjust the angle of them a tad, looks like they'll be pointing a bit down when attached at the moment....

Headlights look awesome, my friend.

Headlights good, very good. Need to protect them though, like you did with the camera guards... consistency and all that

Ah, progression. A good thing to see .

MagosBiff90 wrote:This thing keeps getting better and better.... soo much detail on one model! Really cool!

Thanks Magos.

monkeytroll wrote:Mounts for the lamp-eyes look good, but may want to adjust the angle of them a tad, looks like they'll be pointing a bit down when attached at the moment....

Thanks MT.
I had a plan for attaching them to the tank that lets them look ahead. See below.

Warboss_Waaazag wrote:Headlights look awesome, my friend.

Thanks Waaazag.

Red Harvest wrote:Headlights good, very good. Need to protect them though, like you did with the camera guards... consistency and all that

Thanks Red.
It is a good point. But the guards would have to be pretty big to reach over these and may not look as nice as the simple ones over the cameras.

I could put a grill over the front of each lens as you get on the kit's spotlight, but as the Driver is looking out through them it would be like looking through railings all the time and would make them look less like eyes (this will make more sense if you think about how it will look with the dozer blade attached ).

Speaking of the dozer blade, that will also be able to protect the headlights by being raised (like shielding your eyes with a hand).
Also, the design I'm thinking about for the blade will push things to the sides (which it why the cameras on the sponsons needed the guards).

Next, I need to finish these off: I think I may paint the back silver but be slightly darker in the middle (pupils). Then I'll attach the lenses.
Once those are finished I can then go back to filling gaps and maybe add a few more small details.
Then, It'll be dozer blade time...
I should probably look at the tracks at some point too...


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Co'tor Shas wrote:
Ah, progression. A good thing to see .

Thanks. Yes, progress is good.

Here it is:

Marvelous! That front hatch is really fantastic... Nicely done.

 Gitsplitta wrote:
Marvelous! That front hatch is really fantastic... Nicely done.

Thanks Gits'. I'm quite pleased with that hatch.

Here's the headlights with the inside painted, glass on, edges filled and sanded and primed.

I'm reasonably happy how they have turned out. May need another gentle sanding around the edges before painting, but done.

The glow is really hard to get a photo of (let alone a good picture), but here's a couple of shots that have been brightened by as much as possible (the original photos are pretty much black).

It looks good IRL, it's just that my cameras (mobile phones) are struggling to pick it up.

And I have decided what is going to be placed on the odd-shaped bit on top of the gatling sponson...

A disposable video camera that is either for propaganda or research, and is completely separate from the tank's systems. Could even be jettisoned if the tank is destroyed and the footage reviewed later.

Fills a gap anyway.

Also remembered that I still need to make the exhausts. That'll be before or after the imminent gap filling I keep talking about and not doing...

That's crazy awesome. Love it you old nutter

Brilliant, headdlights are spot on. And yet more little details.

I like the look of the camera. Nice and simple.

Camkierhi wrote:Brilliant, headdlights are spot on. And yet more little details.

Thanks Cam. Not many more details left, but a few still to go.

Warboss_Waaazag wrote:I like the look of the camera. Nice and simple.

Thanks Waaazag. Yeah, one piece of sprue with a suitable tube for a lens.
The external cable and little leg make it look less of a permanent fixture than the other additions to the tank.

Gaps have been filled and sanded. There's a few little rough patches, but they will be sorted next time I have the milliput out.
I have also made the straps to hold the body(part) bags roll on to the tank.

They could be better, but I'm satisfied with them. Yes, they are different lengths. But they will be painted up to look very worn and beaten.
Can anyone spot the "deliberate" mistake with them?
I didn't notice until well after the glue had dried and it's far too much effort to correct it.

In other news; There will be a brief interlude in the tank build...
I've pulled out the next commission piece, so keep an eye out for an update over in that thread. It's the chaos lord from the DV box so he shouldn't take that long.

I've also pulled the next "rescue" model off the shelf and I've given him a thorough sanding to even out the (less than last time) missed mould lines and the (worse than last time) thick-paint streaks. So, he will be appearing here soon-ish.

Also also, I've pulled out this carving I did a while ago as I've decided that she won't be getting extra details (like arms and hair) and will be painted up like marble...maybe...

She has had a breast-reduction operation, but that's all the changes.

Thanks.

All looking great.

Looking forward to the Choas Lord commission piece, should be great by the standards you have set so far on those.

Statue looks great, why not gold, high gloss finish and call her oscarette?

Oh and the buckle straps are the wrong way around btw! But great work and the straps do look brilliant.

 Dr H wrote:

Can anyone spot the "deliberate" mistake with them?

Oh yeah. But an easy one to make. Don't worry about length difference. It just means one was cinched tighetr than the other. (that's not the mistake BTW)

I think you've gotten more use out of the sprue than the bits that came on it. This is an excellent sign.

Camkierhi wrote:All looking great.

Looking forward to the Choas Lord commission piece, should be great by the standards you have set so far on those.

Thanks. Yeah, being a single model means that he will be my Gold standard, so I will put every effort into the painting. I think I even have a scheme ready for him too.

Statue looks great, why not gold, high gloss finish and call her oscarette?

Ta. Well as she is carved and with the base of the model left as un-carved sprue, I though she would look better as a carved material (marble) rather than a cast material (brass or gold).
Depends on if I can get her to look like marble as to whether she remains marble. Plans may change.

Oh and the buckle straps are the wrong way around btw! But great work and the straps do look brilliant.

Got it in one.
Thanks.

Red Harvest wrote:

 Dr H wrote:

Can anyone spot the "deliberate" mistake with them?

Oh yeah. But an easy one to make. Don't worry about length difference. It just means one was cinched tighetr than the other. (that's not the mistake BTW)

Ta. Yes it is.
Not worried about the length, although it was also a "deliberate" mistake, it's not a problem as the buckle thing.

Those buckles were such a pita to get on there (should have threaded them on before gluing the strap down), once I'd noticed I thought "well they stay that way then..."

I think you've gotten more use out of the sprue than the bits that came on it. This is an excellent sign.

Yeah, it's free building/conversion/carving material that comes with pretty much any model. I like "free" things.

If she works out well I may do more (I may do more anyway) and make them a range of "one off's" to see if they can add to my money making.
Miniature one off sculptures, there's a niche that I can "carve" out for myself...

Naw. It's the buckle thing that's the mistake. The other is just serendipty... gives the piece even more character

Well, you pay for the sprue too. It's GW remember. Nothing is free. I'm surprised they don't charge people for breathing the air in their stores.

The mini mini sculpt is very nice too. Once done, you could make a mold for it. It would make an excellent building detail, like a caryatid of sorts.

 Red Harvest wrote:
Naw. It's the buckle thing that's the mistake. The other is just serendipty... gives the piece even more character

Thanks.

Well, you pay for the sprue too. It's GW remember. Nothing is free. I'm surprised they don't charge people for breathing the air in their stores.

Maybe that's what all the people that complain about the cost of the models are missing, the wonder material that is sprue...
Use it to fill gaps,
As a spacer to add length/height or change angles (such as a models joints),
To make added details or extra texture to a flat surface,
Carve into a unique shape,
Can be bent, cut, sanded, carved and glued seamlessly together,
Make a terrain feature or even a whole building...

All you need is sprue (and lots of time and patience).

The mini mini sculpt is very nice too. Once done, you could make a mold for it. It would make an excellent building detail, like a caryatid of sorts.

Thanks. Yeah, I have thought about casting it. But then it wouldn't be a one off... decisions decisions...
She's only just taller than a Space Marine, so wouldn't be good for holding up temples. But it is possible to glue several bits of sprue together and then carve a larger one... So many things to do... so few hands to do them with...

So much sprue for you! that carving is excellent, I have an impression you were trying to carve yourself a little nerd porn? you naughty boy! go straight to my thread! :-)

Just cast the blank shape and then use GS for details to individualize them.

Also, if you glue the sprue upside down on cardstock or plasticard, space 25mm apart, it makes a nice slotted dovetail, into which slotta bases slide nicely. Makes for a good way to transport and deploy minis.

Now to see what paint scheme the Mad scientist comes up with for his creation!

nerdfest09 wrote:So much sprue for you! that carving is excellent, I have an impression you were trying to carve yourself a little nerd porn? you naughty boy! go straight to my thread! :-)

No, I have other means to scratch that itch without resorting to carving things...
Thanks. It was just an exercise to see what was possible and was a study of the proportions of a body (feet to knees to waist to shoulders to head) and the female body is just more pleasing to look at than a man's (as trim as your physique is... ).

Red Harvest wrote:Just cast the blank shape and then use GS for details to individualize them.

That is a thought. I need more practice with putty first (I picked up some Sculpey III recently for practice).

Also, if you glue the sprue upside down on cardstock or plasticard, space 25mm apart, it makes a nice slotted dovetail, into which slotta bases slide nicely. Makes for a good way to transport and deploy minis.

That's a good idea. I'll have to remember that one for when I ever need to move my models further than the shelves they sit on currently.

shasolenzabi wrote:Now to see what paint scheme the Mad scientist comes up with for his creation!

Now, let's not be hasty...
I don't know what scheme to use yet, but there is still plenty of time to find something as I've not finished yet...

Adding more details,,,still a scheme will come to mind

But in the mean time...

I've finished painting the sprue statue.

Guardian #5 for scale.

I went for marble using (well, attempting) the method used by Bebopdrums with a series of little, overlapping, blobs of various shades of grey.

Thoughts?

On the guardian or on the statue??

(just kidding!)

Purely personal choice here, but I would add a vien of a different hue running through. either gold or black, or maybe a dark blue. Almost like a flash of colour. It's great, but looks a bit stony to me at the moment. The vein makes it marble.

 Gitsplitta wrote:
On the guardian or on the statue??

(just kidding!)

Well either would be fine, although that's not the best picture of #5.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Camkierhi wrote:
Purely personal choice here, but I would add a vien of a different hue running through. either gold or black, or maybe a dark blue. Almost like a flash of colour. It's great, but looks a bit stony to me at the moment. The vein makes it marble.

Thanks Cam.
I hear what you say. If I could paint fine enough I might have added it, but this is done from dark to light, covering the dark to get the thin lines. I would either make a mess of it or have to re-do the whole thing again (it took two goes to do this).

I was using this picture as a reference:


I'll do more colour on the next one.

Painting marble on small surfaces... hoo boy. You need to 'float' the veins by adding a glazing liquid to the paint then spread it using a feather or something similar... I suppose an old cheap brush like a 3/0 would do. Build up the layers this way, then seal the whole thing with pure glazing liquid, and make sure to have a smooth finish. I've only tried painting marble once. I think I ended up with granite :S

The key is to keep experimenting. Then let us know what you did so we can do it too

On that scale you've done a great job :-) looks suitably marble or granite to me!

Red Harvest wrote:Painting marble on small surfaces... hoo boy. You need to 'float' the veins by adding a glazing liquid to the paint then spread it using a feather or something similar... I suppose an old cheap brush like a 3/0 would do. Build up the layers this way, then seal the whole thing with pure glazing liquid, and make sure to have a smooth finish. I've only tried painting marble once. I think I ended up with granite :S

The key is to keep experimenting. Then let us know what you did so we can do it too

Thanks Red.
I wonder if I can get glazes that work with enamels or if mixing with the various varnishes I have would work... I'll look into it.

She has got a coat of satin varnish to give the slightly polished look. Don't know if that comes across in the photos though, it's not terribly apparent in real life really...

I'm always experimenting, that's in my blood. This will be revisited at some point.

nerdfest09 wrote:On that scale you've done a great job :-) looks suitably marble or granite to me!

Thanks Nerd. I'll take marble or granite for now.
I did consider your method for marble, but didn't think it would work on her as keeping her wet would just make it run off or into her crevices... ... We'll call it a successful experiment for now and come back to it later.

Wow, that's some good texture-making. .

Nice details on the Pred.. Nice to see a full kitting out of an Armored Vehicle!

Co'tor Shas wrote:Wow, that's some good texture-making. .

Thanks Co'tor. Always trying to improve.

Solar_lion wrote:Nice details on the Pred.. Nice to see a full kitting out of an Armored Vehicle!

Thanks S_L. The building and painting are the fun bits for me. This is how I get my moneys worth out of the kit. Wish I'd known about this sort of thing earlier, my previous models may have taken a good length of time.

I'm not back on the tank yet. As I said, I'm painting a model to sell and that is, so far, part way done. Pop over to my commission thread to see that.

But I do have something to show here as well. The next re-painted model.
Welcome back Tactical Marine Number 2.

Here's a comparison of what he was like before (where his backpack fell off when I was having a look at him) and after.


and here he is in all his (new) glory.


I'll be back on the tank soon.

One of the enslaved Marines ? Much better redo very nice to see

Nice red marine! really nice! so many extremely neat line work

Sweet red. Love it.

shasolenzabi wrote:One of the enslaved Marines ? Much better redo very nice to see

Yep, everyone in the army gets a good brainwash, reprogramming and a free gizmo implanted in their brain so they recognise that the rest of the army are friends. The Scientist is an equal opportunities employer.
Thanks.

nerdfest09 wrote:Nice red marine! really nice! so many extremely neat line work

Camkierhi wrote:Sweet red. Love it.

Thanks Chaps. He was a lot of work. It's shocking how bad he was before the sanding and many layers of red. Glad you like him.

Lo. Sorry for the quietness over here. I've been busy with things.
One of them was Kranon out of the DV box. He is now done and will be up on ebay soon-ish.

The other thing I've been busy with is making some shelves to give me some storage space and to bring all (well actually, some) of my models together.
So, as I don't have progress on the tank to show, I can show you my new shelves and we can play "name that model"...

This is probably just over half of all my models, but the rest are still boxed up from when I originally ran out of space years ago.

also, while I was taking pictures, I snapped a shot of where I work on my models these days. Although now with the free space I've now made this will change around a little and may give me a little more space.


I'll now go back to work on the tank...

Nice set up Dr. H, extra shelving is always a bonus. Liking the brainwashed blood angel, I can see the good doctor changing the dreams of the marine into something akin to him fighting his way to the side of his primarch and saving him from Horus killing him. He could see all the others around him as members of the blood and his enemies are the foul traitors coming to kill them.

that marble statue look very good...

and I envy you for all those good looking models...

Wow, such a cramped work surface. Amazing what you do on it. I would feel claustrophobic. :(

Great helicopter collection. I may be a tad jealous

Yup heck of a chopper collection.

Also I see you have one (you have many really.) of my favorite jets of all time, the old F4 Phantom, don't really know why, just a shape and look I have always loved.

Looking forward to some more on the Predator.

Theophony wrote:Nice set up Dr. H, extra shelving is always a bonus.

You're not wrong. It was when I saw your additions to your hobby area (and that I was tripping over all those boxes you see on the top shelf) that made me decide to add shelves.

Liking the brainwashed blood angel, I can see the good doctor changing the dreams of the marine into something akin to him fighting his way to the side of his primarch and saving him from Horus killing him. He could see all the others around him as members of the blood and his enemies are the foul traitors coming to kill them.

Thanks. Yeah, that's pretty much what I see the job of the implanted gizmo that every member of the army gets. Anyone without a gizmo is recognised as an enemy.

Viktor von Domm wrote:that marble statue look very good...

Thanks Vik.

and I envy you for all those good looking models...

Thanks. While neat, the paint-jobs on them are nothing special. Some of these models go back 10-15 years (maybe more). I'm still happy with them though. Going to have to repair a couple of them at some point (most of them have been repaired numerous times over the years).

Red Harvest wrote:Wow, such a cramped work surface. Amazing what you do on it. I would feel claustrophobic. :(

It's not the size, it's what you do with it that counts...
I make the best with what I have and what I have is one room. I would love more space, but until I have the money coming in I can't afford it.

Great helicopter collection. I may be a tad jealous

Thanks. Yeah, I tended to pick models to make based on their difficulty and parts count first, and looks second.
Helicopters being more complex than planes and both being more complex than cars/boats/etc I tend to have more helicopters. Although, I never really looked at tank models, so I've missed out there... until now...
Having said that, the motorbike there was one of the most complex builds because of the scale(1/12th. Most of my models have been 1/48 or 1/72). It's even got brake and clutch cables, fully detailed engine and the shell is held on with tiny screws.

Camkierhi wrote:Yup heck of a chopper collection.

Also I see you have one (you have many really.) of my favorite jets of all time, the old F4 Phantom, don't really know why, just a shape and look I have always loved.

Yeah, My 40k collection may be smaller than most (as I've not been collecting them long), My plastic-crack collection is far from small.

That's not a Phantom, I'm afraid. You're looking at either the A-4 Skyhawk or the Super Étendard there. Very similar shape though.
The models pictured (for those of you keeping score) are:

Not pictured and currently in boxes are:
Panavia Tornado GR 1B (1/48, Airfix),
UH-1C Huey "Heavy Hog" (1/35, MRC),
Another Hind D (1/72 I think),
Westland Seaking Mk.41 (1/72, Fujimi),
Westland Lynx (1/72, Airfix I think),
Gruman F-14A Tomcat (1/72, Airfix),
BAC Lightning F3 (1/72, Airfix),
Another Sea Harrier (1/48, Airfix) This was my very first model ever,
Another 1 or 2 Harriers (I like Harriers ), probably GR-5 and/or 7 or 9 (1/72 I think),
SEPECAT Jaguar (1/72 I think),
Possibly another Tornado (1/72 I think)...

and there may be more I'm forgetting (and haven't saved the lids from ).

Looking forward to some more on the Predator.

More will happen soon.
Remember the belt buckles that I got the wrong way round. They annoyed me enough to fix them and I managed it without damage.

Thanks for popping by.

Here's a concept for what I wanted to do with the exhausts. I really didn't like the stubby excuse for an exhaust that-can-fill-with-water-when-it-rains that comes on the kit, so I wanted a downward turn to the exit. I can't go any thicker than this due to the turret.


What do we think?

Oh Doc! I didn't know you were also into other scale modeling! But I should've guessed by your detailed tankery you do! Are you involved with the IPMS-UK at all?

 dsteingass wrote:
Oh Doc! I didn't know you were also into other scale modeling! But I should've guessed by your detailed tankery you do!

I am indeed. That is where I started modelling and why I have such a big thing for little details and realism.
However, those were always built and painted according to the instructions with no modifications or advanced painting techniques, so look a little basic compared to what I do now.

I changed to the GW models as I was running out of space to store the models I was making (such as that Hurricane which is 0.5m wide. This predator I'm building could drive along the wings, it's that big...).


I thought I'd try smaller models that could be stored easier and I could take more time over (I could knock out a 1/48 model in less that a week).

The freedom with not having to replicate a real world vehicle has actually led me to discover techniques to make my models more realistic...

Are you involved with the IPMS-UK at all?

I'm not, and hadn't heard about it until you mentioned the US version in your blog. I wouldn't mind knowing more though.

I think it's a grea modification Doc.

Good call on the exhausts. There really is not much else to do with them. That looks sort of like the way exhausts on the old Mark I tank did, running over the top like that. I would either lengthen that last section though so it vents past the tracks rather than onto the hull, or angle it away.

And a proportion question. With a the modification making the tank taller and wider, have you given any thought to elongating it somehow?

Gitsplitta wrote:I think it's a grea modification Doc.

Thanks Gits'.

Red Harvest wrote:Good call on the exhausts. There really is not much else to do with them. That looks sort of like the way exhausts on the old Mark I tank did, running over the top like that. I would either lengthen that last section though so it vents past the tracks rather than onto the hull, or angle it away.

Thanks Red.
Interesting point. I see what you mean.
I was wary of the exhaust already being quite long. Lengthening that even more may start to make it look silly IMO (why have the exhaust go all the way up the side of the tank, only to have it run all the way back down the back).

I'm in the process of sticking the sections on, but I haven't got to that last part yet (I'm gluing bits of sprue inside them and then pining them together before I putty the corners). I'll have a look at different angles for it. Either slightly up from how it is above or out to the side.

And a proportion question. With a the modification making the tank taller and wider, have you given any thought to elongating it somehow?

Anything that I could have done to lengthen the bulk of the tank probably should have been done earlier and I hadn't intended to make the model much larger when I started... However, I have always planned to add a substantial dozer blade to the front. I'm hoping that this addition will make the tank look longer and therefore proportionally correct (as a tank can be).

I have done some research on dozer blades and how they attach. I even found a nice Rhino/Predator shaped tank that has a dozer attachment that actually matches what I had in my head... In fact... *frantic googling* ...Like this:

But the blade will be more pointy, snow-plough like, rather than a flat one like that.

Very nice idea with the exhausts forced down in the lengthened tubes

There's a huge array of models on your shelves, sir. I like the everything I'm seeing. The exhausts, the belts on the tarp, even that weird statue. I'm amazed you made her out of sprue.

Here's their site. In last month's Journal, Some of the US club took a trip over there for the UK's 50th Anniversary shindig.
http://ipmsuk.co.uk/

Great Idea for the tank's exhausts, the wire work looks really awesome, very neat and tidy. Damn I've missed a fair bit here.

Really nice scale model collection and helicopters at that! great taste

looking forward to seeing the WIP's of the dozer blade!

 Dr H wrote:

Anything that I could have done to lengthen the bulk of the tank probably should have been done earlier and I hadn't intended to make the model much larger when I started... However, I have always planned to add a substantial dozer blade to the front. I'm hoping that this addition will make the tank look longer and therefore proportionally correct (as a tank can be).

I have done some research on dozer blades and how they attach. I even found a nice Rhino/Predator shaped tank that has a dozer attachment that actually matches what I had in my head... In fact... *frantic googling* ...Like this:

But the blade will be more pointy, snow-plough like, rather than a flat one like that.

Ah, many moons ago I did something similar:

A little bit of faff to cut the angles, as I recall, but looks not too bad.

that exhaust style indeed does make sense...will you shape the connecting parts that way to suggest a true pipe or will it be segmented?

shasolenzabi wrote:Very nice idea with the exhausts forced down in the lengthened tubes

Glad you think so.

Warboss_Waaazag wrote:There's a huge array of models on your shelves, sir. I like the everything I'm seeing. The exhausts, the belts on the tarp, even that weird statue. I'm amazed you made her out of sprue.

Thanks Waaazag.
It's nice to have at least some of my models on display where I can see them again.

I like working with and trying new things with sprue, as if I make a mess of it or break it or it just doesn't work, what have I lost; a bit of sprue.
Whereas when I get the milliput out, I'm much more careful and always looking at how to minimise waste as it costs money.

dsteingass wrote:Here's their site. In last month's Journal, Some of the US club took a trip over there for the UK's 50th Anniversary shindig.
http://ipmsuk.co.uk/

Interesting. I might look into it when I have some money to spare.

OneManNoodles wrote:
Great Idea for the tank's exhausts, the wire work looks really awesome, very neat and tidy. Damn I've missed a fair bit here.

Really nice scale model collection and helicopters at that! great taste

looking forward to seeing the WIP's of the dozer blade!

Thanks OMN. More exhaust work below. I'm getting quite practised with the wire work, what will I do when I run out... well, will probably have to buy more. Can't even remember where I acquired all the wire I do have (might have fallen into my bag while I was doing electrical engineering at uni...).

Helicopters are really fun to make. Although, I should go back and take a hairdryer to most of the rotors to give them the "at rest" look. I've only done it on the Black Hawk.

Yeah, I may make a mock-up of the dozer blade in card first to get the shape and size right. Soon-ish.

Red Harvest wrote:Like this blade then, but with the hydraulics? Now that would be cool. Or heck even build some sort of a cowcatcher.

Spoiler:

Yeah, something like a combination of that and a cowcatcher, but sort of multi-bladed, very evil, looks-like-it'll-chop-up-anything-in-it's-way kind of thing... a mock-up will make or break the design I vaguely see in my head.

There looks to be space to put a smallish cargo cage on the back of the hull, something similar to that on the back of an Abrams turret. But everything looks fine as is too.

True, but that's the door. So can't really add anything there I'm afraid. Thanks.

And as far as looking silly goes, I won't bother posting images of certain Dark Angel's vehicles

and I won't be sick on my computer screen...

inmygravenimage wrote:Ah, many moons ago I did something similar:

Spoiler:

A little bit of faff to cut the angles, as I recall, but looks not too bad.

Yes indeed. Good job. I'll be scratch-building mine as what I see in my head doesn't match anything I own... Very much worried about how I will manage the angles, hence a card mock-up planned.

Viktor von Domm wrote:that exhaust style indeed does make sense...will you shape the connecting parts that way to suggest a true pipe or will it be segmented?

Thanks. A single angled pipe, See below.

The exhausts are glued and puttied and sanded.
They may require a little more work that will become apparent when they are primed (for the first time and hopefully only the first time).
I may also add a bracing strap thing to make it look like they are held on.


Thanks for the input.
I think it's come to the time to work on the dozer blade. This may take a little time to think about, but I'll try and show a mock-up asap.

Yes, very good! I had done so years ago with a M-113 kit I made into an IDF "Zelda" with the extra stowage racks, and other goodies, and the long bent down tube for the exhaust.

Can I pick on something really awkward? The back, particularly the back door, looks quite bland just now; it doesn't do justice to the rest of the awesome. Just an annoying thought, hope you don't mind.

Yeah... fix that. Otherwise graven will be a sad panda.

Thanks Shas.

Gitsplitta wrote:Yeah... fix that. Otherwise graven will be a sad panda.

We can't have that.

inmygravenimage wrote:Can I pick on something really awkward? The back, particularly the back door, looks quite bland just now; it doesn't do justice to the rest of the awesome. Just an annoying thought, hope you don't mind.

Not a problem, pick on anything, I do.

Yes it is quite plain. I could add something like the tow cable, or spare track links... I did actually intend to add spares somewhere, but as I haven't got round to the tracks yet, I haven't added them yet. I had, however, partially forgotten about them too...

Or I could leave it plain and do the planned tank-art there (as the slightly-larger-than-expected sponsons kind of filled the space towards the front where I was planning to add some...).

Thoughts?

Don't get me started on my panda hate, that's for sure
I'd say tow cables etc. Somehow accessories feel more apt, I think of the scientist being practical, not aesthetic.

Oooooh... Tank art!

I am with graven on the art issue... a scientist will not have not a lot love for art... what I could imagine tho would be some other "crew" member... some kind of nurgle or other chaotic influence... in essence some "eyes" that kinda work as a rear view mirror in a very terminal way...

inmygravenimage wrote:Don't get me started on my panda hate, that's for sure
I'd say tow cables etc. Somehow accessories feel more apt, I think of the scientist being practical, not aesthetic.

Viktor von Domm wrote:I am with graven on the art issue... a scientist will not have not a lot love for art... what I could imagine tho would be some other "crew" member... some kind of nurgle or other chaotic influence... in essence some "eyes" that kinda work as a rear view mirror in a very terminal way...

Hey, I'm a scientist and I like art... *sulky face*

It does need practical accessories though and I don't really like it when there's art on a tank hatch that falls to the ground. Kind of feels disrespectful to the art.
There will be some spare track links and maybe something else I find on my rummage in the bits.

And, anyway, you have seen what I did inside the Wave Serpent, haven't you?
Possibly NSFW, although could be better painted to fully warrant it.

The fluff at the time was, as you said Vik, that the troops were those that decorated the troop compartment. The Scientist sees it as healthy bonding behaviour for the troops (and with their installed gizmos, they all see what they want to see in the art).
Also, Gits', I was thinking of you when I did the spare helmet/trophy in there.

Gitsplitta wrote:Oooooh... Tank art!

Indeed. Tank-art.
There will be tank-art of some description. Somewhere.
It will be more clothed than any I do inside vehicles. You may even be able to show your wife some... maybe.
I may even have a possible "subject" lined up for the art, but you will all have to wait until I get there.

Old style bomber nose cone pin-ups FTW!

I must object to the notion that scientists do not like art. We see things differently, that's all.

Red:

In other news; the rumours about the new edition appears to show that my army will become slightly less illegal.
All I need now is to allow more than two codices in an army and mixed squads and I'm laughing. Well, I am anyway...

Hey, my wife's a biomedical scientist, and a brilliant artist it's more that that I don't think it suits him.

Exhausts looking good - you do need to add that bracing piece though.

And I like the idea of some more tank-art, ties in with the serpent...and hanging anything on the rear hatch is a tad awkward considering it hinges at the bottom for a ramp. It's the scientist letting his creations create for themselves...

inmygravenimage wrote:Hey, my wife's a biomedical scientist, and a brilliant artist it's more that that I don't think it suits him.

Indeed, I've seen her cakes...
I'm not entirely sure on The Scientist's view of art. In a way, breaking up a plain surface with a painting is making it less ordered and therefore a good thing.
But, is creating a piece of artwork by it's nature of bringing things together to make a whole, actually creating more order...

You could probably have a long conversation with a proper artist about that... Where's that Weety, She has qualifications in this sort of thing.

monkeytroll wrote:Exhausts looking good - you do need to add that bracing piece though.

Thanks. Not got a lot done today, but have just done that.
Pics when I have more to show. Still thinking about dozer designs...

And I like the idea of some more tank-art, ties in with the serpent...and hanging anything on the rear hatch is a tad awkward considering it hinges at the bottom for a ramp. It's the scientist letting his creations create for themselves...

It's nice that this has become a divisive topic. All valid opinions on both sides.
The Scientist in his infinite (Mad) wisdom has collected together a diverse group of engineers (to do the building) and artists (that do the painting), if only to combine their knowledge and therefore know more about everything. All in the name of increasing entropy.

But how does entropy and art work together?



Automatically Appended Next Post:
Well typing "entropy and art" into google has already thrown up a couple of large essays. This should prove interesting reading.

I say Tank art, maybe the scientist did it, maybe as a sort of rebellious side to the minions, they added it just for LULZ as the mad scientist rants and stomps and cusses

The Scientist is an easy going kind of chap. So long as the troop work for the cause, all is right with the universe.

This entropy and art stuff is quite deep.

If we take the process of drawing a painting - more specifically a Jackson Pollock ‘‘action’’ painting as an example - as a system, we can see this still holds true. Taking a very simple view at it, you start with a blank canvas (order) and you end up with an abstract ‘‘action’’ painting (disorder).

But on another level, you have the very ordered technique by which Pollock lays the paint on the canvas and the disordered product.

On another third level, you could see our interpretation of the painting as a system within itself. If you consider that the paint on the canvas has a low entropy, you could see that our interpretation of the painting has high entropy and so the entropy within that system has increased.

Going on to consider Pollock’s life as a system we can also observe how disordered his life became later on due to his alcoholism, so there is even another level where the second law can be applied.

Not only can the act of creating art be seen as an increase in entropy, but even analysing a piece of art increases it's entropy by altering your perception of "some paint on a canvas" (simple or ordered) to your interpretation of the piece (complex and disordered).

Stick that in your pipe and make it more disordered...

So, it all fits in with his entropy theorem

Nice collection of models you've got there, I'm no aircraft expert but I recognized the Apache, Hind D, warthog, the harrier,
and did I see a tiger helicopter as well, not too sure on that one .

shasolenzabi wrote:So, it all fits in with his entropy theorem

It does appear to, yes.
I'm still reading these things I've found, it's generally quite interesting and it has inspired a little fluff.

The Scientist's Scientific Journal.

I have written a second one, but it's a bit dark, so I'll wait until I have something lighter to balance it out before I post that one.

hk1x1 wrote:Nice collection of models you've got there, I'm no aircraft expert but I recognized the Apache, Hind D, warthog, the harrier,
and did I see a tiger helicopter as well, not too sure on that one .

Thanks HK. Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes and yes it is a Tiger (that's one of the older models and is quite rough up close).

No actual modelling progress today. I nearly made the mock-up of the first dozer concept, but I had to rearrange a load of my model research pictures (so I could find the dozer pictures easier) and I had some inspiration for some job search related stuff following a phone call from a recruitment agent the other day that has failed to phone back since.

Enjoy the fluff and I'll be back with something pictorial at some point.

Good fluf! so the Mad Scientist did get a bit of a philosophy education with his hard science as he went to University.

Now to see how he will be with the other fluff added.

Great work so far with the exhaust tubes, BUT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, let this scientist learn from all the other nutjobs out there and put some sort of over in the exhaust so grenades don't find their way inside .

Also the back door/ramp should have handles and a running board on it so the scientists observers can ride on the back until they get close to the action then hop off to watch the carnage from a safe distance. It could also be where your corded phone gets attached so they can tell the driver to slow down enough for them to hop off when the firing starts . True backseat driver.

Cool ideas Theo!

Truely a smorgasbord of delights! Everywhere you look on this build there are lovely details! ... THOSE EXHAUSTS!! And the rounded spaced armour is my favourite..... but i have to agree with the guys..... the rear ramp is looking sad and left out of all of the extra detailing... evan something like a hanging "cage" or trap....... so the scientists can collect up whatever it is they are studying..... a trap on a winch or something......!?!? just a thought!

Really loving the depth of this though!

My appologuise, for not earlier commenting, looks brilliant.

As to the back door........

A reinforced view port, for reversing. Also lets in light.
Casters at the top, so the ramp can be lowered while moving.
Winch at the bottom. To drag victims behind. Make it nice and streamlined so the door can still be lowered.

Remember this does lower, should have altered it to make it two side opening doors!

Cracking work, love everything.

shasolenzabi wrote:Good fluf! so the Mad Scientist did get a bit of a philosophy education with his hard science as he went to University.

Now to see how he will be with the other fluff added.

Well he started by accidentally implanting the memories and knowledge of the entire population of a planet into his mind, so this included all walks of life (and all animals), and he has only added more over the centuries. He is an expert in almost any field of knowledge... and slightly Mad...
So it has taken him a while to become curious of the possible thoughts and knowledge of the inorganic side of things... if there is any to be found.

Theophony wrote:Great work so far with the exhaust tubes, BUT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, let this scientist learn from all the other nutjobs out there and put some sort of over in the exhaust so grenades don't find their way inside .

You'd need quite a long arm to be able to shove a grenade far enough up the exhaust to make a difference.

And well, maybe "evil" genius' all like to give the "good" guys a fighting chance. Add that element of danger just to make life a little more exciting. They could wipe the floor with the uneducated fools, but where's the fun in that...

Also, damage and destruction of his own forces are still a good thing in The Scientist's mind. It all increases the entropy of the Universe. Obviously it is advantageous that his army does some damage to other things/places/people first, but an increase in entropy is and increase no matter the source.

But, if you like, and I can't find a way to visually protect the exhaust; rest assured that The Scientist has had special baffles fitted inside the exhaust manifold that prevent any item from entering.

Also the back door/ramp should have handles and a running board on it so the scientists observers can ride on the back until they get close to the action then hop off to watch the carnage from a safe distance. It could also be where your corded phone gets attached so they can tell the driver to slow down enough for them to hop off when the firing starts . True backseat driver.

Not a bad idea, I'll look into it. but there's not a lot of room under the door when it is open. I will have to check with the tracks on as they will raise the whole tank slightly too.

And if you're silly enough to hitch a ride on the back of a tank that is driven by an Ork that has a habit of driving through things, you have no right to request he slow down so you can get off. It's probably better for you if he keeps going...

MagosBiff90 wrote:Truely a smorgasbord of delights! Everywhere you look on this build there are lovely details! ... THOSE EXHAUSTS!! And the rounded spaced armour is my favourite..... but i have to agree with the guys..... the rear ramp is looking sad and left out of all of the extra detailing... evan something like a hanging "cage" or trap....... so the scientists can collect up whatever it is they are studying..... a trap on a winch or something......!?!? just a thought!

Really loving the depth of this though!

Thanks Magos.
As I say, there's not a lot of room on the door when it's open. Then, how do you fill or empty the cage if it's stored on the door...
This vehicle isn't really one for collecting samples or raw materials, it's become more of a front-line fighter designed to create destruction.
I do have plans for "capture" vehicles, so this idea will happen one day...

Camkierhi wrote:My appologuise, for not earlier commenting, looks brilliant.

As to the back door........

A reinforced view port, for reversing. Also lets in light.
Casters at the top, so the ramp can be lowered while moving.
Winch at the bottom. To drag victims behind. Make it nice and streamlined so the door can still be lowered.

Remember this does lower, should have altered it to make it two side opening doors!

Cracking work, love everything.

Thanks Cam.
A viewing port would need modifications to the inside and that's now set.
Casters are a good idea for a transport vehicle. This tank should stay sealed at all times in the field.
A winch is a good idea for the planned "capture" vehicle(s).

Before I started the build I did have an idea for making a split rear door, but decided to stick with the original.

Thank you all for the various suggestions. Most, if not all, will see use in the future if they are not used here.

And now, I have been thinking dozer blades.
At the moment, I have just been looking at what shape and size and how it will look with the tank. So, early days yet and there's no guarantee that the final design will resemble these.

I'll show you the two mock-ups so far and then I'll give you my thoughts:
Concept 1; the simple blade.
This is the kind of shape I currently want for the whole blade. Any changes I make for any other concept will be variations on this general shape.


Concept 2; the slicing blade.
Yes, there is a gap in the middle of the blade planes. Imagine the leading edges to be as razor sharp as the main edge and this will not only push things out of the way, but slice them up.


My initial thoughts;
I might reduce the height of the blade as it looks too high compared to it's width. I may also widen it slightly, but need to maintain a view for the sponson weapons.

With that in mind, I plan to flare out to lower edge of the blade so that it will chop down anything that will get in the way of the sponsons.

I may also create more of a dip in the top edge of the blade so it's more of a "v" shape from the front.

The multi-blade dozer, while a brilliant idea in my head, is not looking so cool as I expected. However I plan to try a few more variations will differing numbers of blades (remember the cowcatcher idea...) as my initial plan had 3 blades per side.

Have at it, what are your thoughts?

No.1 definately.

Been there done that! hehe


I would maybe try adding horizontal "blades" , just small triangles. Have you ever seen that V-Blade mandolin thingy, it has little triangular blades to dice stuff up.

You'd need quite a long arm to be able to shove a grenade far enough up the exhaust to make a difference.

I think theo made a star wars joke here...2m wide opening...kind of resembles the exhausts on yon tank...


I think the second version looks cool...but is so weird and unknown still that I also vote for the first option...

Overlapping blades would be very impractical as they'd get hung up on everything. Extra blade sections should be behind the leading point, not in front of it.

That's why I want to do something slightly different with the blade. Got to be a (Mad) Scientist original...

I want it to look like something you REALLY don't want to be hit by.

Horizontal blades are something else I may try.
Yeah, mandolins are nasty things.

Well, if you were truly mad you'd have the blades funneling IN!

Funnelling in to a lovely great grinding machine

Viktor von Domm wrote:I think theo made a star wars joke here...2m wide opening...kind of resembles the exhausts on yon tank...

Yeah, I did get that.

I think the second version looks cool...but is so weird and unknown still that I also vote for the first option...

Yeah, I know what you mean. I need to get the balance right between unusual and realistic.

Gitsplitta wrote:Overlapping blades would be very impractical as they'd get hung up on everything. Extra blade sections should be behind the leading point, not in front of it.

Yep, I have given that some thought already. There could be small pistons that can move the blades relative to one another to dislodge stuck items.
I know that to be an effective plow, the sections should be behind the leading blade. But I wanted to play about with something like a giant mandolin (thanks Cam).

There will be more concepts to come.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Gitsplitta wrote:Well, if you were truly mad you'd have the blades funneling IN!

monkeytroll wrote:Funnelling in to a lovely great grinding machine

There's a thought...

"There will be more concepts to come. "
that is probably the best thing of your thread!... that and the awesomeness^^

The predator/beast needs actual dozer jaws, not just a blade with fancy teeth painted on it. I have no doubts you can deliver that.

As for the exhaust. I know the laughing god would love to hav one of his eldar children dance their merry way up to th exhaust and shove a giant banana into the exhaust tubes. Baffles or not this eldar are always pains in the .

what about a deathroller instead of a dozerblade?...or something like the hades drill?

It explains a lot of how the Mad Scientist has gotten to this p[oint, that is a lot of the whole taking in so many memories.

As for the exhaust. I know the laughing god would love to hav one of his eldar children dance their merry way up to th exhaust and shove a giant banana into the exhaust tubes. Baffles or not this eldar are always pains in the .

The Scientist is wise to such tricks.
And remember, the Driver is wired into the tank and it is a second skin to him. It would be like shoving said item up a rather uncomfortable part of his real body. He would know about it.

Viktor von Domm wrote:"There will be more concepts to come. "
that is probably the best thing of your thread!... that and the awesomeness^^

Thanks. You have to play about with ideas to come to the best result. Glad you enjoy my journeys off into concepts and tests. Good thing too, as I rarely go straight to the finished item...

Theophony wrote:The predator/beast needs actual dozer jaws, not just a blade with fancy teeth painted on it. I have no doubts you can deliver that.

Viktor von Domm wrote:what about a deathroller instead of a dozerblade?...or something like the hades drill?

Trouble is, using things like this may lead to confusion as to what the tank is. If I use something too Orky then people will likely think it's a Looted wagon and not a Predator.

More concepts.
I moved on from card to paper (as it's quicker to cut etc...) and then with the paper out I moved on to just sketching (as that's quicker than cutting anything). Although the pencil lines didn't always come out in the photo, so they were touched up on the computer as well.

Concept 3; Shape evolution of the original.

I want the bottom edge to be almost horizontal and that was easier to show in the drawing than make the paper do what I wanted.

Concept 4 (top); Horizontal blades.
I can see these as being able to lay flat against each other to work as a single blade and then spread apart for "softer" targets.
Problem is though, I have no idea how I would do the middle of the blade.

Concept 5 (bottom); Multiple blades.
The natural progression from the earlier multi-blade concept. Still not really looking right.


Just had another idea, so off to draw some more...


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 shasolenzabi wrote:
It explains a lot of how the Mad Scientist has gotten to this p[oint, that is a lot of the whole taking in so many memories.

Yep. Information overload followed by many years on his own (as the only living organisms that survived the process were him and all the plant-life).

oh..... the multibladed dozerblade looks truly inspiring... tho it reminds me of dozerblades made by wilkinsons^^

I think the lower concept makes the best of everything and the middle prow is probably the strongest point of the concept... only thing I see... with this you introduce a new design item... which should be mirrored somewhere else on the tank too... it has a certain pre heresy look to it... which is very cool...definitely something you should try in card or plastic as a test! (lower left is meant by me by the way...)

also I see your point with not getting too orky...

 Viktor von Domm wrote:
oh..... the multibladed dozerblade looks truly inspiring... tho it reminds me of dozerblades made by wilkinsons^^

I think the lower concept makes the best of everything and the middle prow is probably the strongest point of the concept... only thing I see... with this you introduce a new design item... which should be mirrored somewhere else on the tank too... it has a certain pre heresy look to it... which is very cool...definitely something you should try in card or plastic as a test! (lower left is meant by me by the way...)

also I see your point with not getting too orky...

Thanks Vik.

Here's a last one for today.
Concept 6; Carmageddon
As the previous concepts have got quite complex and technical, I thought I'd go the other way and aim for simplicity in it's deadliness.


Inspired by the usual GW dozer blade, with it's square lumps (which I'm sure serve a purpose...) and combine that with real-life mine-plows, but replace the lumps with blades.
Then it's just a matter of what flavour of blade to stick on the dozer blade and what length and angle to fix them at.

Once I sat back, I realised that it reminds me of Carmageddon and that is precisely the kind of driving that this tank would be involved with.

While the multi glide Schick dozer looks freakin cool wouldn't it trap debri up as it trundles forward? personally I like the spiky one!! :-)

oh my... how is a mere human being supposed to decide if yo constantly chuck out more cool stuff...

currently upper version left and right (shows the same from different angles, right?) is my favorite...

If you could get one o the old dark eldar raider front plates and use those for the ram I think it would also show how the scientist pulls from all the races . Too bad I sold all mine years ago.

Top carmageddon idea is my fave at the moment - well, apart from the inwards-grinder, but I know why you're not using that here

Theo may be on to something with the raider idea - I know I have a spare front that the meks discarded When I get home I'll see how they look against a rhino.....

nerdfest09 wrote:While the multi glide Schick dozer looks freakin cool wouldn't it trap debri up as it trundles forward? personally I like the spiky one!! :-)

My thinking with the impractical looking blades is that in a universe of mono-molecular edged blades, The Scientist can go one better and produce self-sharpening, mono-atomic edged blades. Things won't get stuck as they will be chopped up.

However, the ease it is to compare those designs to male-grooming devices, would be a problem to the proposed "evil" look.

Viktor von Domm wrote:oh my... how is a mere human being supposed to decide if yo constantly chuck out more cool stuff...

Thanks.
I have a knack for producing ideas and variations on a theme. Whether they are cool, is just a matter of opinion. Glad you like them.

currently upper version left and right (shows the same from different angles, right?) is my favorite...

The left side of that last picture shows the top view of the whole dozer. Below that is the front view showing the options of the angle of the blades (vertical, or angled with the direction of displacement of the dozer).

The right hand side shows the blade shape options.
I drew the top version first and then thought that it looked as if it would dig into the ground and the tank would flip over and that led to the squared-off version and then the triangular version.

Theophony wrote:If you could get one o the old dark eldar raider front plates and use those for the ram I think it would also show how the scientist pulls from all the races . Too bad I sold all mine years ago.

Not a bad Idea. Will see what MT comes up with.

monkeytroll wrote:Top carmageddon idea is my fave at the moment - well, apart from the inwards-grinder, but I know why you're not using that here

Theo may be on to something with the raider idea - I know I have a spare front that the meks discarded When I get home I'll see how they look against a rhino.....

Thanks. Look forward to it.

Just been doing some gardening, so no further progress or ideas yet...

I might have some d'eldar bits. They'd be very ram-y. I'll have a rummage.

 inmygravenimage wrote:
I might have some d'eldar bits. They'd be very ram-y. I'll have a rummage.

Dr H "Likes" this.

Took a while to find where the bits were, but....




I reckon something workable can come out of that......

If you're interested PM me your address and I'll drop 'em into a post-squig.

It would need widening a fair bit, some "altering" here and there, add a leading edge...

It could certainly lead to a unique dozer blade... with the right kind of aesthetic...

Ahh, go on then, I'll give it a go. Thanks MT.

I may still make a Carmageddon blade as well and see how that goes. Can always use that on something else.

Why does that look almost meant to be!

Oh, absolutely go ahead with the carmageddon blade - no mad scientist (not) in their right mind ever thinks there's enough dozer blades in the vehicle pool

Bits are safely enclosed in a jiffy-squig's skin, I'll drop by the mail-orks tomorrow.

Camkierhi wrote:Why does that look almost meant to be!

Indeed. Good call Theo.

monkeytroll wrote:Oh, absolutely go ahead with the carmageddon blade - no mad scientist (not) in their right mind ever thinks there's enough dozer blades in the vehicle pool

It'll also be good practice of complex shapes. A plan of attack is forming...

Bits are safely enclosed in a jiffy-squig's skin, I'll drop by the mail-orks tomorrow.

Cool. Thanks muchly.

Too much to comment on, the amount you cover, you much drink more coffee than me

Carving up an old DE raider hull, good idea, never liked them much.

Is that essay you mentioned on art and entropy the first google link? sounds intriguing.

 OneManNoodles wrote:
Too much to comment on, the amount you cover, you much drink more coffee than me

I don't drink coffee.

Carving up an old DE raider hull, good idea, never liked them much.

Is that essay you mentioned on art and entropy the first google link? sounds intriguing.

The second one is shorter and more to the point. The top link kind of rambles on a bit (I'm still working my way through it). Worth a look if you are that way inclined.

Indeed it does fit just about right, maybe make the alteration to reduce the front angle a bit by adding a center piece in between the two slices. You could then have a lower center for the driver to look out through. Glad it worked out, it's been a few years since I got rid of my d eldar stuff.

Looks like MT beat me to the punch on raider bits

Theophony wrote:Indeed it does fit just about right, maybe make the alteration to reduce the front angle a bit by adding a center piece in between the two slices. You could then have a lower center for the driver to look out through. Glad it worked out, it's been a few years since I got rid of my d eldar stuff.

We will all have to see what happens when it gets here. I'm definitely thinking of enhancing the saw-blade look of the lower edge.
Angles and things... will have to see. I've not entirely settled on how high it should be... or what angle would be best... or how much of a curve to use (in any direction)...
Thanks.

inmygravenimage wrote:Looks like MT beat me to the punch on raider bits

Indeed. But thanks.

Here's a quick card and sticky-backed-plastic ( ) mock-up of the Carmageddon blade.

Obviously this would need to be widened to protect the sponsons.

I think the 5 small blades are probably enough. More would probably make it too crowded.

Thoughts?

and in other news;
The next round of the League of Extraordinary Riveters Terrain Competition has begun.
Round 10: "The Throne".
and I'll be one of your friendly, approachable judges this time.

Get over there and check it out.

I love the idea of a funnel into a grinding machine, the ideal thing to use would be the Siege Drills from the Centurions c:

"And here's one I prepared earlier..."

Works for me

Five looks to be the optimum number in that configuration

When widening for sponson cover would that just be a tad wider, or extra width at a lower level (below gun height)?

BrotherOfBone wrote:I love the idea of a funnel into a grinding machine, the ideal thing to use would be the Siege Drills from the Centurions c:

My first thought when I saw those drills was of the mole from Total Recall

Something alone those lines will happen at some point.

monkeytroll wrote:"And here's one I prepared earlier..."

Works for me

Five looks to be the optimum number in that configuration

When widening for sponson cover would that just be a tad wider, or extra width at a lower level (below gun height)?

Thanks.

It needs to be a little wider overall to cover the corners of the hull. But, yes, most of the extra width will be an extension to the lower blade edge that will cut things down to make room for the sponsons. They will still be able to fire forwards.

Loving that carmageddon blade. I agree that any more blades would clutter it, and very much alter the look of it. Less is more.

I like that one!

Seeing that mock up, makes one word pop out......."BRUTAL!"

Thanks Squidbot
Thanks Gits'

shasolenzabi wrote:Seeing that mock up, makes one word pop out......."BRUTAL!"

That is exactly what I'm going for. Thanks.

Here's a couple of ideas for the widening of the dozer.

I wasn't feeling the top concept and so I thought I'd see what secondary dozer blades would look like.
Probably need to be a little shorter and maybe not so pointed...

I've also started work on something related to the current League competition, that I've been meaning to do for a while... I wonder what that could be

I like it, but think the pointy sticky out side bits are a bit too pointy.

It is definately brutal.

Yeah, the pointy-ness is a bit too... ornamental... for a brutal weapon.

I think simplicity is the key for this dozer.

I like the first one - but I think that's just appealing to my slaaneshi side - the second version fits the image better

I think it would be cool. just add more guns too it as well

monkeytroll wrote:I like the first one - but I think that's just appealing to my slaaneshi side - the second version fits the image better

Thanks. I'll remember that for when I get around to something Slaaneshi.

I've trimmed the side mini-dozers to look more like normal dozer blades and they do look better.
May reduce the curve in the ends of the main blade too.

Desubot wrote:I think it would be cool. just add more guns too it as well

Thank you Desubot.

still, the added on blades DOUBLE BRUTALITY!!!

What every good dozer blad needs are the little sticks on either end that stick straight up so the driver can tell exactly where he's plowing. That and little antenna ball heads on the top of them. ( I've never owned any epic models, but could you make space marine bobble head dashboard thing and find a spot for it on the tank? Would it even look right?)

I think the 5-pronged prow is the way forward.

Unless it's an 8-pronged prow of chaos, that is...

It's a tank being driven by a brain-washed ork Theo - do you think he cares about exactly where he's ploughing?

8-pronged chaos dozer.....hmmm, if the scientist ever starts an air-force you need flying saucers

shasolenzabi wrote:still, the added on blades DOUBLE BRUTALITY!!!

Theophony wrote:What every good dozer blad needs are the little sticks on either end that stick straight up so the driver can tell exactly where he's plowing. That and little antenna ball heads on the top of them. ( I've never owned any epic models, but could you make space marine bobble head dashboard thing and find a spot for it on the tank? Would it even look right?)

It's a possibility. But I am trying to get the upper corners to be pointed and they are at the right height for the driver to see (remember he's seeing through the headlights).
Also, what MT said.

And what is it with you and bobbleheads? I've already got the necron bobblehead GPS on my list of things to do.

inmygravenimage wrote:I think the 5-pronged prow is the way forward.

Unless it's an 8-pronged prow of chaos, that is...

Thanks. If you want to go forwards, a plow is very useful.
I'm sure The Scientist could come up with a "reason" why 5 is better than 8... I do keep forgetting the chaos thing with 8 points.

monkeytroll wrote:It's a tank being driven by a brain-washed ork Theo - do you think he cares about exactly where he's ploughing?

8-pronged chaos dozer.....hmmm, if the scientist ever starts an air-force you need flying saucers

Indeed.
The classic flying saucer shape is already on the list of things to do. But I could add an 8 pointed variety ...

And look what arrived this morning;

I'm currently thinking some combination of the pointed front and the wider rear portion.
This could work well.

Thanks Monkey.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh yeah, in other news; I have a telephone interview on Thursday. Need to do some preparing so progress here may be slowed a touch.

Good luck with the interview.

Tank looking awesome.

Glad to see it got there, the jiffy-squig looked awfully hungry when I gave it to him.....

Good luck with the interview.....just try not to mention tentacles too much

Thanks Cam.
There is a variety of good shapes involved in the DE bit and gives a lot more detail to the dozer than I would probably manage (or attempt) from scratch.

This will be my first interview of any kind in well over a year. On the one hand, it's nice that I've got a chance after all this time without hearing back from job applications. On the other hand, I'm not terribly good in interviews and this is just an interview for the chance to get an interview.

I can do the job. I just need to persuade them of that.

 monkeytroll wrote:
Glad to see it got there, the jiffy-squig looked awfully hungry when I gave it to him.....

He's having a nice lie down now to recover from the journey.

Good luck with the interview.....just try not to mention tentacles too much

Thanks. Well it's an analytical job, so there's not many tentacles involved...

first...good luck with that interview!

second...I may be swimming against the tide here... but that elder prow is not really my style... your scratch built looks more fitting...

and on a totally unrelated note... I think it is time to think about the style of those tracks...what kind of look will the treads be?

 Viktor von Domm wrote:
first...good luck with that interview!

Thanks.

second...I may be swimming against the tide here... but that elder prow is not really my style... your scratch built looks more fitting...

We will have to see what works in the end. I will be building both and if I plan accordingly, they may be interchangeable.

and on a totally unrelated note... I think it is time to think about the style of those tracks...what kind of look will the treads be?

I've still not looked at the tracks and the kit tracks are still on the sprue. I have always intended to use the kit parts. I see them as one of the few remaining items left unchanged and tie the whole model back to the original tank. They can also be used in the fluff to confuse the enemy as to what vehicle they are tracking (from the print in the mud, this tank would be indistinguishable from a standard Predator).

However, they are not set. As I said, I've not given them much thought yet. So they could change to a good idea, if someone has one?

well...I had a look again... you are probably limted to the rhino sprue tracks as my first idea...more brutal looking orky ones wouldn´t fit on this tank as you have trackcovers already... thus the spikey orky theme would just rip apart the covers...

That would be a problem, yes.

but orky treads would look cool and fluffy for that tank, eh?^^

Oh yeah. but do need to fit.

I know we are off topic a little here, but I wonder if you could make the track pattern, look more paw print like, so people afterwards would look and say , "the beasts tracks!!" type of thing.

Back on topic, removable dozer is definately the way to go. And yeah, I think you should make several.

 Camkierhi wrote:
I know we are off topic a little here, but I wonder if you could make the track pattern, look more paw print like, so people afterwards would look and say , "the beasts tracks!!" type of thing.

They didn't do that in Dr No

"Look, dragon tracks!"
"Nope, those are tire tracks."
Good on ya, Bond.

Back on topic, removable dozer is definately the way to go. And yeah, I think you should make several.

Well, let's start with two and see from there...

Just use the tracks from the kit and shave off the imperial eagle(if it's on the rhino ones) and add in a symbol for entropy every few.

Also I forgot about the necron bobble head gps.. Carry on

 Theophony wrote:
Just use the tracks from the kit and shave off the imperial eagle(if it's on the rhino ones) and add in a symbol for entropy every few.

No symbols on what I have. Doesn't mean I can't add something.
Sadly, the symbol for entropy is a simple "S". Not even a fancy Greek letter. But I could probably do a stylised "S" and wouldn't fancy attempting a Rho (ρ or ϱ, used for density) or Psi (ψ, used for wavefunctions), for example.

Also I forgot about the necron bobble head gps.. Carry on

You really would love Fallout. You get to collect bobbleheads.

Bottom right looks good, just needs a little filler between the blades? then the added spikes will make that look TRIPLE BRUTALITY awesome!

Normal rhino tracks to confuse the enemy as you stated - possibly with the added confusion of left and right tracks 'facing' in opposite directions.......

"Well sarge....looks like half a rhino went west and half a rhino went east....."

Why not have a set of smaller angled plows like these ? http://cdn.dreamingcode.com/public/72/-72-4266-1.jpg (lots of interesting detail too) mounted on the sides of the hull but angled to plow in front.

Hmm... ^
/ h \
sus
l
l

Let them be overlapped by the front plow. The hydraulics would attach to the hull area in front of the forward exhaust.

And good luck with the interview. Remember, stay sober for it.

Edit: And these images are a bit like what I am trying to describe. Scroll down a bit to see them. http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/ryan_pedone_snow_plows17.htm

How about a sigma symbol to represent the summation of all things that will us come to entropy.

Also no matter how fun it might be as a story later do not due the phone interview naked , just saying, it would be horrible to have a great interview going and then the parents/friend/mail person walk in and blow they interview by screaming "are you calling that 900 number again?"

I would like to emphasize that this has never happened to me......seriously

shasolenzabi wrote:Bottom right looks good, just needs a little filler between the blades? then the added spikes will make that look TRIPLE BRUTALITY awesome!

I'm currently planning on chopping these in half and using the front as a point (like at the top) and then using the rear parts as they are at the bottom. Various bits may need extending, filling and adapting. I can now start planning this with the interview out of the way.

monkeytroll wrote:Normal rhino tracks to confuse the enemy as you stated - possibly with the added confusion of left and right tracks 'facing' in opposite directions.......

"Well sarge....looks like half a rhino went west and half a rhino went east....."

Not a bad idea. I'll look into it and other possibilities.

Red Harvest wrote:Why not have a set of smaller angled plows like these ? http://cdn.dreamingcode.com/public/72/-72-4266-1.jpg (lots of interesting detail too) mounted on the sides of the hull but angled to plow in front.

Hmm... ^
/ h \
sus
l
l

Let them be overlapped by the front plow. The hydraulics would attach to the hull area in front of the forward exhaust.

And good luck with the interview. Remember, stay sober for it.

Edit: And these images are a bit like what I am trying to describe. Scroll down a bit to see them. http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/ryan_pedone_snow_plows17.htm

Yes. Those are the sort of thing I was planning with the Carmageddon blade and may or may not be something similar with the Monkeyphony blade (as I may start calling it... ).

Theophony wrote:How about a sigma symbol to represent the summation of all things that will us come to entropy.

Also no matter how fun it might be as a story later do not due the phone interview naked , just saying, it would be horrible to have a great interview going and then the parents/friend/mail person walk in and blow they interview by screaming "are you calling that 900 number again?"

I would like to emphasize that this has never happened to me......seriously

Thank you Theo. No, course not, I'll believe you.

Interview seemed pretty positive (or at least not negative). Will not find out if I'm on the list for proper interviews until next Thursday. Thanks for the support, but keep those fingers crossed.

I can now focus my efforts back on modelling... Planning away...

Very best of luck then mate!

a whole week of waiting... cruel...

but I keep my fingers crossed... damn...there goes the hobby quality time...

OneManNoodles wrote:Very best of luck then mate!

Thanks OMN.

Viktor von Domm wrote:a whole week of waiting... cruel...

but I keep my fingers crossed... damn...there goes the hobby quality time...

He has other people to talk to. Hopefully the rest of them know nothing about nanoparticles...
After all this time out of work, a week isn't that long.

Well, so long as you can imagine your fingers crossed, you can use them for modelling.
Thanks.

Silly vik, he'll use this week to carve hands out of sprue which have fingers crossed, that way he can have 40 fingers crossed for extra luck.

40! You know how much work it is to carve one hand...

Anyway, you don't need to keep your fingers crossed any more. I had a chat with the recruitment agent and she had some immediate feedback from the company. They are not intending to short-list me. Meh.

Back to making models then.

I had the brilliant idea of making paper mock-ups of the DE bit in order to determine the best place to chop them up.
This was a brilliant idea because the obvious place to cut these turns out not to be the best for looks.

Cut number 1 is the obvious place.
But this leads to too long a nose and the rear pieces are too short to fill the width of the tank.
This means that they end up too "flat" and whole thing looks like a batman mask... not good.

The second cut only leaves the first 2 sections intact.
I'm thinking that the other sections may all be cut and then the dozer blade will be rebuilt from the sections and give a nice even curve from tip to edge.

The bottom of each section will be flared out to give a saw-tooth look to the edge of the dozer.
The gap in the middle will be filled to give a nice plow look.
Also, with each section separate It'll be easier to give them all a little bend to match the rear and add to the plow look.

Makes me wonder if, with all that work, I shouldn't just scratch-build it and use the originals as templates...

Sorry to hear about he job man.

How about taking the short cut off pieces and going vertical with them instead of straight out. It could look more like a rhino horn that way , and less mask looking. It might block the drivers view when the hatch is open, but you said he sees through the headlights right?

Bad news on the job front - but at least you didn't wait a week to find that out.

Looking at what you're doing makes me think cutting it into three pieces of two sections each, would work to give you the look you're after there. And I agree, if you're doing that much chopping and filling using them as templates and keeping them for further spiky goodnes later down the road seems a sensible idea.

Theophony wrote:Sorry to hear about he job man.

's all right. Not as if it was "the" job. Only "a" job.

How about taking the short cut off pieces and going vertical with them instead of straight out. It could look more like a rhino horn that way , and less mask looking. It might block the drivers view when the hatch is open, but you said he sees through the headlights right?

I might save the rhino horn idea for when I do a rhino.

monkeytroll wrote:Bad news on the job front - but at least you didn't wait a week to find that out.

Yeah, the agent has actually been quite useful for a change.

Looking at what you're doing makes me think cutting it into three pieces of two sections each, would work to give you the look you're after there. And I agree, if you're doing that much chopping and filling using them as templates and keeping them for further spiky goodnes later down the road seems a sensible idea.

Ja.
I have a few more things to look at before I try anything solid. But I am closing in on a final design for both dozer blades, so something will happen soon...ish...

damn... first graven now you with bad job news... the work market is probably the cruellest place to be in...

I have to say I like your analytic way of finding out about the dozer problem... but I really have to say... your carmageddon dozer blade still is the one that rings the right bells... the elder scheme is way too ornamental and hoity-toity to be fitting for this steal beast...

The images convey a certain "Belongs on a Batman" vehicle vibe. Not sure if that is intended. You may want to modify the lines on the blade parts to match the way they are done on the Predator hull instead. Lines and angles, not curves and points. Or not. Forgive the tone, please. Not intentionally harsh. Phone typing.

My sympathies about the employment news. Looking for a job is, surprisingly/depressingly, a full time job in and of itself.

Bummer about the work situation. Interesating ideas about the blade

I want a finished blade? I am also still surprised you are still working on this tank!

Sad news mate.

Viktor von Domm wrote:damn... first graven now you with bad job news... the work market is probably the cruellest place to be in...

I have to say I like your analytic way of finding out about the dozer problem... but I really have to say... your carmageddon dozer blade still is the one that rings the right bells... the elder scheme is way too ornamental and hoity-toity to be fitting for this steal beast...

I see it as progress that I even got to telephone interview. It's hard enough getting a reply from most job applications.

Thanks. That's how I approach most things I do (I enjoy the problem solving process), but the dozer is going to be the first thing anyone sees and so has to be right. So, like the ccw for Eldar Guardian #10, I'm trying out many ideas/possibilities to end up with what works best and is unique and recognisable (rather than the quick and easy route of using an existing bit).

I get where you're coming from with the Carmageddon blade. Both of these blade concepts are two sides of the same coin (as I see it).
They both have the same job of moving things, creating a hole for the tank, and scaring the out of the soon-to-be-deceased enemy.
But one is the simple, functional, look of a fire-axe, for example, and looks scary in it's simplicity of function.
The other is the function-follows-form look of a battle-axe, and looks scary in it's well planned looks.

Red Harvest wrote:The images convey a certain "Belongs on a Batman" vehicle vibe. Not sure if that is intended. You may want to modify the lines on the blade parts to match the way they are done on the Predator hull instead. Lines and angles, not curves and points. Or not. Forgive the tone, please. Not intentionally harsh. Phone typing.

No prob' Red. I appreciate any and all feedback. As I said, I had the same thought (and it's not intentionally Batman).
It is meant to invoke a DE look to tie in with The Scientist's mixed race/species army.

If I end up scratch-building it, I may change some of the details. Will see.

My sympathies about the employment news. Looking for a job is, surprisingly/depressingly, a full time job in and of itself.

That is very true. and you don't get paid for it, or any thanks for trying.

shasolenzabi wrote:Bummer about the work situation. Interesating ideas about the blade

Thanks Shas.

cormadepanda wrote:I want a finished blade? I am also still surprised you are still working on this tank!

Sad news mate.

Welcome back to DD, Comrade.
Yeah, it is dragging on a bit. But it will be worth it in the end. There has been a lot more work put into this build than any previous model.

I have also been popping off to do other things (like 4 commission pieces) that have slowed progress here. Damn, I started this tank in December...

Thanks.

No progress to report here. I'm going to do a little sculpting on the "other" project (which I haven't shown as it's not much to see yet), but I'll be back with something here... might be another variation on the DE plow... The first cut of plastic for the dozer blades will happen soon... ish...

Not sure if it's been said as I've missed a page or two recently, but what about a flail type of attachment on the front like an Armtrac 400 mine-clearing vehicle?



(As seen on Top Gear)

Thanks Ruglud. I think I'm going for something more low-tech.
Something like that, while cool, doesn't really say "dozer blade" to me and is heading more towards Orky deffroller territory and I want this to be SM Predator (and not to confuse people).

So this here is the Monkyphony concept blade with all the trimming on and gap filled...

You may have noticed something that I have...
...The overall shape of this dozer blade has moved nearer and nearer to the "classic" plow shape that I intend for the Carmageddon blade.

This made me think that I may as well make two dozer blades of the same shape and then add the surface details to them to make the two concepts.
This might well start tomorrow...

I will find another good use for the actual DE bit in the future.

Either way that dozer blade is top pointy and really doesn't want me anywhere near it.

Concept looks solid - scratch-building both does seem to be a bit of a no-brainer at this point. Look forward to seeing the blades progress.....and I have no doubt the Scientist will find a suitably nefarious purpose for the raider prow

It is meant to invoke a DE look to tie in with The Scientist's mixed race/species army.


that is a good reason... and with that last amalgam of elder and carmageddon I think you are homing in on the final template... I think you´re nearly there!!!

That's how I approach most things I do (I enjoy the problem solving process),

this should be part of every application that you send out...!

Great fusion of styles. Really works well in this form; heartily approved.

Very nice... I think you've nailed it.

cormadepanda wrote:Either way that dozer blade is top pointy and really doesn't want me anywhere near it.

Yeah, that's the kind of feeling I want it to convey.

monkeytroll wrote:Concept looks solid - scratch-building both does seem to be a bit of a no-brainer at this point. Look forward to seeing the blades progress.....and I have no doubt the Scientist will find a suitably nefarious purpose for the raider prow

No progress yet. Working on getting templates of the right shape.

That I/he will.

Viktor von Domm wrote:that is a good reason... and with that last amalgam of elder and carmageddon I think you are homing in on the final template... I think you´re nearly there!!!

Thanks. Yes, getting nearer.

That's how I approach most things I do (I enjoy the problem solving process),

this should be part of every application that you send out...!

It is.
Trouble is most, if not all, the job descriptions I see say somewhere about "the candidate must have good problem solving skills". That means everyone that applies for it will say that they are good at problem solving just to tick that box.
Trying to get across that I'm not only good, but actively enjoy it (and not just saying it to get the job), is difficult.

inmygravenimage wrote:Great fusion of styles. Really works well in this form; heartily approved.

Thanks Graven.

Gitsplitta wrote:Very nice... I think you've nailed it.

and Thank you Gits'.

As I say, I am working on getting the shape right before I start cutting plastic up. Minimise waste an' all.

How efficient of you. I think

well....to tick the box of in a neat way.... you know about swot analysis? just form your strengths into supposedly weaknesses....

"I get obsessed by little details and try to solve problems in earnest..." (you probably will from that way better being a native English speaker...)

cormadepanda wrote:How efficient of you. I think

Or just tight with money...

Viktor von Domm wrote:well....to tick the box of in a neat way.... you know about swot analysis? just form your strengths into supposedly weaknesses....

"I get obsessed by little details and try to solve problems in earnest..." (you probably will from that way better being a native English speaker...)

Thanks Vik. I know what you mean.
Although I read somewhere that you have to be careful with doing it like that as you can convince the interviewer that it is actually a weakness.

The main problem I have is sounding enthusiastic. (the exact feedback I got from this latest)
I'm not a very excitable person and putting it on for an interview just feels fake.
and I'm not one to blow my own trumpet. I prefer to let my work do the talking. But interviewers want French horn playing salesmen for everything.

Maybe I'll just branch out and expand the "artist" work. I see dolls house stuff sells well... I saw a 1/12 scale squirrel on ebay that sold for over £100! Here it is
It is very nice, and yes it is one of a kind... but 100 quid for a tiny squirrel!

I have a backyard full of 1:1 scale squirrels. I wonder how much I could get for them. XD They're the sort that are invading your fair island too, If I've heard correctly.

It is hard to sound enthusiastic over a phone in pretty much any circumstance.

Anyway, the plow. Good shape. Maybe make the bottom flat instead of spiked?

 Red Harvest wrote:
I have a backyard full of 1:1 scale squirrels. I wonder how much I could get for them. XD They're the sort that are invading your fair island too, If I've heard correctly.

It is hard to sound enthusiastic over a phone in pretty much any circumstance.

Anyway, the plow. Good shape. Maybe make the bottom flat instead of spiked?

Thanks Red. Yeah, the 1:1 squirrels that live in Birmingham have even been known to throw nuts at people. If they can do that, you may be able to train them to do something useful.

The edge of that dozer blade is serrated to match the plate detail on the DE part.
The other dozer blade (Carmageddon) will have a smooth, flat leading edge, you know, the one... with... the... spikes... on...

http://www.cracked.com/article_21085_6-famous-movies-that-were-shockingly-hard-to-make.html Scroll down to #5.

Around here they may run up your pants or skirt. Bushy-tailed tree rats.