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Hey all,

I’ve been playing 40k for just over a year now, and I’m finally feeling confident enough to start seriously digging in to some scratch building. So, I thought I would make a WIP thread on my first “serious” scratch build. Though I have dabbled a little, building a few wartrakks out of some Robogear Helix kits, (You can see them in my Dakka gallery), I’ve not really tried anything that required me to destroy perfectly good models before. I think what I have so far is a pretty successful progression, and I’m hoping to get some feed back from you guys on what I have and what you think as I go forward.

When I started this project, I spent a lot of time looking at what other modelers had been doing with warbike conversions/scratch builds. I drew a lot of inspiration from the likes of Sukigod, Irondog, Uberdark, and some others. Two things I thought about almost all of them, though I feel like they are absolutely BRILLIANT builds, were that the bikes tended to have a really harsh angle on the rake (for my tastes anyway), way too much clearance for a “cruiser”, and were so loaded down with gubbins, that I could barely tell it WAS a bike. I realise that some of those guys were building Wazdakka, I'm just elaborating.

Enter my execution of the Warbosses bike. What I’m trying to accomplish here is a more low profile bike, with more of a chopper’s lines and clearance, with less gubbins to mirror the bobber style.
I’m not sure I’m yet good enough to really pull this off, but I’m giving it a shot.
So, without further delay, here is my Warboss Choppa Bobba.

Initial cut down of the primary components. A Deff kopta and an AOBR Warboss.
Scary stuff for a first timer.






Reworking of the Warbosses Shoota arm to hold the bars.


Some initial work on the front fork. Since I hope to showcase the fork more than some customs have, I wanted to really build it up nicely. It’s a bit weedy right now, but gimme a minute.



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Next up is an initial build of the front wheel. I decided to go with a drop spindle to give the bike a little more of a low profile look. Something truly ground hugging for those over the top Speed Freek ideals. You all will have to forgive all the glue everywhere. I'll clean it up before I prime.


The front shock gets a little more love, and is then attched to the front wheel and spindle.

looks promising! I'll follow this one!

With the basic front end done, I do a little more cutting down of the cockpit, and lay it all out for my first look at the basic geometry of the bike. So far I think it looks good. Nice and low, but already looking a little aggressive and Orky.


After that, I pull it apart and start messing around with some greenstuff to fill the seat, making a cushion. Get ready for some pretty bad green stuffing. I have a few things I’ll need to green stuff on the boss too, and it’s all going to be pretty sub par. =(


Couple of shots as I build up the back wheel. This is made from a Trukk tire and bits of the wrecking ball from the same kit.




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Now I switch to the AOBR Warboss. I’ve moved his klaw arm way forward with some poorly handled green stuff, and added to his neck as the boss has the slot style attachment and I plan on jutting his head and chin way up and out to match his posture on the bike once I’m that far along.


Shot of the shoulder rework. I’ll be covering this somewhat with new shoulder armor.


Here he is with the new armor.

looks good, but I'd maybe greenstuff some muscles on his arm; it looks kinda unrealistic that way....

I start the basic assembly and pop on a ammo runt behind the seat, and now I have a good idea what the fundamentals of the bike look like. I’m happy so far.



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MrMerlin

Believe it or not, that IS my sculpting muscles. I am fail at greenstuff.


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Now comes the dakka. I start with a maged Vulcan cannon riding low on the right like a side car.
I maged it incase 1.) I hate the look of it, and 2.) for storage purposes.


Added a couple of TL Dakka guns up front. Had to cut it to get them to fit properly. They don’t look this crooked now either as I did some adjustments after the shot was taken.


I’m trying hard to not pile it on too thick here, as I’m going for a stripped down and lean look. I think the amount of guns I have now is enough. What about you?


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Another bit of Orky goodness, and the cannon mounted in the back ground. I’ll start on the front bumper next and subit more photos tonight, including a wide angle of the progress so far.

matphat wrote:
MrMerlin

Believe it or not, that IS my sculpting muscles. I am fail at greenstuff.

well, you're always learning...... youll get better.

but the bike looks great so far!

A long shot of the progress so far.




More spikly bits.


And more Boss updates. With cables added.

he looks cool!

nice!

Indeed dakkagrot!

Great start! Although I am a little worried about the match between Deffkopta driver legs and warboss. I'll be watching this thread.

That's one of the best deffkopta to bike mods I've seen in a while. It's nice to see all the kopta bits are actually gone unlike many others.

Liking this alot! I wish I had thought of that

This is fantastic work! Thanks for posting your progress, it's inspiring. I'm just orkifying my first looted wagon, I'm no where near as advanced in my skills as you, but this makes me want to push it father.

Thank you all, for you kind comments. I'm glad you like. Being a new modeler, this is really exciting, and just a little bit nerve wracking.
I'll be dropping one more pic this evening after I get home from work to show the front fender/gob in detail, and then I'll be working on the next stage.
Hope to have more progress for you late tonight, or early tomorrow.


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Here is the front fender/gob WIP. Made of Femo, cause it's nice looking when painted.


And finished.


And here is a shot of the boss fitted on the seat. I'll take a few more later to give better views of his positioning, fit, and realitive size compared to the kopta pilot legs.

Looks great man, I just started building an ork army and I am trying to make my warbikes all choppers but I am failing. Any advice for converting?

That is going to be one impressive choppa!

That's one nice bike here! My only concern is that the front wheel's frame started to look too fragile after you've added all this orcish decor.

storag wrote:That's one nice bike here! My only concern is that the front wheel's frame started to look too fragile after you've added all this orcish decor.

definitely

Alright, 'ere we go.
I've done the final fitting of the boss on the seat with various parts lining up with various other parts.
I think I have a good fit.


And here are two shots showing the balance between the legs and torso.

and


I'm going to prime it up and do some blocking. While I'm at it, I'll be watching the fork to see if it really does come out as weedy as you guys think, and if so, I'll be making some changes.
It should be pretty easy to slip a couple of bigger tubes over the existing ones to beef it up.

Thanks for the input all!


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And here we are primed and with the NEW shock.
I took the gauge up a level and re-added the shielding and spikes.
What do you think of it now? Less Weedy?



and

Much better!

I don't think it looks weedy at all. It's suitably over engineered and ostentatious, perfect for an Ork warboss! Dead 'ard.

Thanks guys!
Last update for today. Started some of the blocking in Mech red. Need to go spend some time with my special lady friend. I'll post more once all the blocking is finished.

AWSOME! Cant wait to see the result! I Think ill also do a bike like that, its very inspiring!

Blocking is mostly done and now I'm on to getting it painted up.




I'll post one last time with finished shots, and I'll add my own C&C then.

Badass! Very well designed conversion!

The conversion is very inspiring - I'll be remembering this to loot later. Looking forward to what you do in the future as your modelling improves as this is a very impressive start!

Thanks all.
Working hard to get this finished quickly so I can get to the next project.
(Dred and 6 Kans, Badmoon Style)

Wow! This is very nice. Great conversion. Very Orky!

Thanks! That's my general goal. As Orky as I can get it while still staying lean and mean.