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Dawn on Aurelia

Well guys, I finally finished my Ultramarine Rhino. I've been working on and off on this bad boy for about... a year, I think. I think it's about that long ago that I bought the kit (pro-tip: never buy Rhinos. Buy razorbacks or predators).


I'd like to warm you up, if I may, with some of the WIP shots.



First I wired up the battery and the LED's. I can't talk too much about the LED hookup because I really barely know what I'm doing, and would hate to give someone bad advice. I essentially mess with it until it's done. I'm using a 3v battery to drive about 8 LED's, which are all also 3v.






The headlights were a little bright and I considered using a resistor, but eh.



Initially I had glued the battery and battery holder to the inside of the front hatch. I decided to undo this as it put a lot of flex on the solder points where the wires connected to the battery holder. I instead left it loose and the wrapped the battery in blue painter's tape to prevent it causing a short.



Here's the front panel in place.



Here's the switch.



And here is the computer panel. I cut out the original panel from that plate, and then made a mold of it. I then recast it in clear resin, and drilled out some holes to put the LED's in.



The original rear. I wound up disliking the brass etch and later changed this.





Here is a partial assemble.

At this point, I realized I've screwed myself. You see how I've got it mostly assembled? Well, I had meant to hinge the top hatch doors. At this point, it's impossible for me to do so, as I no longer have access to the inside, and if I pin the doors in to hinge them without gluing them from the inside, they're just going to work their way loose and fall out. Not optimal. So, I cut the whole thing apart, which meant tearing the wires, to do so.

insert a 6 month pause while I look at it in disgust and work on different projects.

OK, I finally mostly finished it. It's not yet 100%, as I still have some minor things to do: the tracks need to be weathered. Little stuff like that. But, close enough to show you guys, I think. Here are some non-lighted images:



Profile. The ram has 2 brass pegs in it, and just fits into holes in the bottom of the hull. The H\K missile and the gunner are both magnetized. Technically, the gunner doesn't need a magnet, but in practice he falls out constantly without it.



Front view. I tried something different to weather the dozer blade: I painted a big piece of cardboard with boltgun metal, and then dabbed a paper towel into the wet paint and then dabbed it onto the blade. I think it works better with an actual sponge, which I was too lazy to get from downstairs - some of the patches seem nonrandom because of the design on the towel. Still not bad.

So far as the gunner goes, I'm not very good at painting faces. Sometimes I get unanticipated results. Sometimes these are good: my Terminator Librarian has a look on his face that can be fairly described as fervor. My painting skill is such as I can't really plan what expression they will wear and was pleased that it was an appropriate one.

Not so much with the gunner, who looks like a overexcited hillbilly. Not enough to strip, but I think fairly noticable.



Maybe I can greenstuff him a tiny trucker cap.



As you can see, the dozer blade, gunner, and H\K missile are easily removable. The dozer blade also fits in my Blood Raven Rhino.



Right side profile. The campaign badge matches my lore: These are Ultramarines that are tasked to the Calderis system (Aurelia, for this Rhino) to assist the Blood Ravens with rebuilding their recruiting worlds after the Tyranid invasion (this is pre-Chaos Rising).

I kinda screwed up the weathering on the smokestacks. I use weathering power, which I still have not mastered. It initially looked awesome, and I used some mig fixative to set it. While it was still wet I tried to splotch just a little more on; and that's where I blew it. The mixture of powder and fixative turned it into essentially black paint. I used a wet napkin to wipe off the worst of it, and now you see it as it is currently. Not sure if I can fix it without making it worse so I might just live with it. It's not terrible but it definitely looked better initially.



Rear view, with the back door re-done. Much nicer then the original door.



Top view. I mean to color in the little rectangular indentations on the top, but not the bottom. Rule of cool: they'll make it too hard to read.

To get the decals on, by the way, without the rivets being a problem, I shaved off the original rivets, painted it, did the decal, painted it with Future floor polish to protect it, and then added new Grandt Line rivets.



Hatch open. Doesn't swing open as nicely as my Blood Ravens one. I should have measured the holes better. Very workable, though. There us a magnet you can see embedded in the top of the rear hatch to try and keep the door closed, as it keeps popping open.



Top Angled.



Top alternate angle.




Shot of the switch and the front plate. I sanded down the back of the front plate and then cut out the windows so some light will go through them. I intend to glue some clear plastic strips over them to simulate glass. You can also see the holes in the hull where the dozer blade is attached.



The battery hatch open. The front plate pops right off for easy removal. Here is the blue painter's tape covering the battery to prevent it from shorting. \

And here are some lighted pics:



Front view. The gunner looks even more deranged, if possible.



Rear angle, so you can see the control panel and interior lights.



Better view of same.



Headlight view.



Devastators deployed. Posing for pictures like this is the only time these guys come out of the foam as a complete unit.

That's what I've got for now. I'll weather the tracks, do some little touch ups, but this is more or less done. Right in time for me to move onto my Chibihawk.

That must be a gakload of work...
Respect, sir.

Edit: I forgot to mention. The extra armor you see on there? I made it out of styrene, and it took about 30 minutes to make. Don't ever buy that, yo.

Even with limited skill, you can make their own with only styrene, a hobby knife, and a index card (to cut templates before cutting the styrene).

Its really busy on the scrol work and lettering but I like it.

Less is more usually but not in this case. What did you use for all of the smallest text?

With the exception of the interior text and the purity seals & scrolls, any text on the rhino are waterslide decals, either OEM or printed off on a laserjet printer.

I completely intended for it to be a total mess of scrollwork and bling, as I figured the Ultramarines would only send their most decorated, most honored troops to this conflict, and it's essentially a rolling banner. The Blood Ravens vehicles (both present and planned) are substantially less ridiculous.

That puts my painting and modeling to shame...I hate you!

Just kidding, very well done, the text really suits the piece too, you should do this professionally because I would definitely buy that!

Wow. The lights inside a basically painted rhino would have been awesome, but to put a killer paintjob on as well. I'm very impressed.

So, turn signals on a land raider next then?

Sweet! Two thumbs up.

I assure you that my Land Raiders will have fully functional turn signals!

Good work. The whole project looks awesome.

Best Rhino I've ever seen.

Gorgeous piece of work Ouze, I think the insane amount of scripting works well for the Ultramarines.

With regard to the pigments you should be able to go back over the top with more if you need to. I've got a MiG dvd somewhere which talks about fixing then adding more, refixing etc. until you get the effect you're looking for.

That's one pimped out ride... Excellent work!

Natorum wrote:With regard to the pigments you should be able to go back over the top with more if you need to. I've got a MiG dvd somewhere which talks about fixing then adding more, refixing etc. until you get the effect you're looking for.

More, no. I think I already did too much, is what I meant. The pictures are a bit overexposed, but it looks less like soot and more like black paint.

All that work for a 35pt model.

Sucks when I meltagun it back into your carry case!


Seriously though, nice dedication, little busy, but great job!

The first and last pic looks like it can be part of a live action comic book or something. Nicely done!

I'm digging the inside and the rear hatch with the engraving.

Excellent work

Dan

The paint job is great and the LEDs finish it up nicely
Great for a diorama.

The scroll work is brilliant.

Fantastic job Ouze, really, really well executed all around!

Yowwwwwzah!
That first pic is truely fantastic - so atmospheric!

That rhino model is cool. You got got some skills about you.

Ouze wrote:I assure you that my Land Raiders will have fully functional turn signals!

Ah, then you will be able to confuse the enemy by signaling one way while turning another. Brilliant! Very nice work on your lighting.

The final picture looks like something straight out of an Imperial Armour book. Fabulous achievement!

L. Wrex

Truly amazing piece of work. From top to bottom... wow!

nice job dude!

Too bad ass

Truly unique work!!

A way to play 40k in the dark? Genius! Nice job man. I wish I had such skills, or patience, or both.

That seems like an enormous amount of work for a 35 point transport. But it looks amazing.

Thats Frickin awsome!!!!!!