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This is Chapter House's shipping page: http://chapterhousestudios.com/webshop/shipping

They have alot of other cool stuff. This will be sold through them when ever it happens. Like I said, I need to pick up one of the new Chimera's before I get started. I'll update here once I do.

What would people think of an alternate crew door to fit on the Chimera's rear ramp door? Something more like this:
http://www.history.army.mil/photos/gulf_war/022_31.jpg

I'd like to see some stowage options, maybe spare wheels, toolkit, grav chute, weapon racks etc., maybe even a logo pack. I think this would also increase marketability. Dare I say also a twin-link turret variant (no it's not a venator, honest)?!

Those would be cool, I will log them as future concepts to visit spare wheels would be easy enough. Another idea I had is a plate to allow you to mount the turret in the rear, glues over the crew hatch, with the same hole/collar thats at the front end. The front hole would be filled with a special copala whose base would fill turret hole. I want to do stowage racks that can cover over the cicular lasgun ports everyone dislikes. I was also thinking doing some special weapon bits that could be mounted into those lasgun ports to represent when a chimera has a lot of special weapons onboard.


For now I think the initial developement is just going to be a wheeled chimera kit of no more than 8-10 pieces; 2 side panels, 6 wheels, 1 bumper/push bar, 1 (door or driver slit; not sure yet).

Alternate door ftw!

Another idea I had is a plate to allow you to mount the turret in the rear, glues over the crew hatch, with the same hole/collar thats at the front end. The front hole would be filled with a special copala whose base would fill turret hole.

sounds good to me!

How much would one of these kits cost? Because I need about 10 of them.

I think the goal would be between $20 and $25, but I'm not really involved in pricing so don't hold me to it.

The digital models would be prototyped, and thats always pricey for CH and is based entirely on the largest dimensions in each directions. Some small portion of that cost is included in final costs, with the majority being the actual casting and material costs. Its my goal to play with the inside surfaces of the large walls to hollow them out while still keeping them meaty enough. That will impact how much resin is used. While designing a single wheel and having 6 molded will impact the prototyping cost.

Cool, so now that you have the new Chimera kit in hand how is it compared to the old? Will it effect the ease with which you design the wheeled kit? What should one do with the left over track assemblies after they purchase this kit 2 years from now?

Its largely the same. Just some of the way pieces fit together is subtly different. It won't effect the design process. I don't know what anyone should do with them. I'd save them and use them for conversions... maybe ork vehicles or something.

This is the first tire... its just over an inch in diameter.

Looking good. At $20-25 bucks, it's a good deal for two new side panels with wheels, bumper and a rear hatch.

Depending on the cost of resin, It would probably be $20 max, but that is a very rough estimate.

I am not opposed to alot of parts, but the more parts the more a kit will cost to cast, and that means fewer sales (someone can justify buying a few $20 kits vs $25, its a thin line really).

Nick

Here's an update:
Just to let you guys know its still happening. Yellow is the pre-existing hull section.

Sweet!

Great, what's left to do on this guy?

Where I stand:
+Left Side [80%]
+Right Side [75%]
-More rivets
-Create Surface to allow better interface with chimera kit
-Add detail to rear surface
-On right side I need to adjust some rivet locations.

+Wheels (left x3 and right x3) [90%]
-Create Mirror Image of Wheel

+Driver Viewport [0%]

+Bumper [80%]
-Add rivets
-Add detail: weight reduction hole

I really am looking forward to this project finishing and being made available for purchase!

Thanks. I really hope I can capture the sense of mobility that all Elysian vehicles exhibit in their aesthetic.

I think you certainly have so far!

Pardon the latish reply but as an Elysian git I'm really looking forward to the completion of this project!

Its moving along. I should have another update in a day or two. I have the pusher bar more polished. A little bit mores done on the sides. I mirrored the wheels.

I still want to do more on the wheel mountings, which also help align the sides to the hull. After I get that done, I'll post more pictures.

So, if I read the previous posts correctly, I can use this kit for both the new and the old chimera, or were there enough differences that it will only work with the new one? I already have three Tauros venators and I did not like the weapon options for the standard Tauros. My design concept for a force is a combined arms approach. The fact that I have been collecting IG since the start of the plastic infantry might have something to do with that, but the design theory holds as an example of modern (real world) force structure.

I think the gun needs to stay up front since the vehicle is really an offshoot of the tracked variety. Besides, I like the idea of keeping the cost down as my apocolypse force uses alot of chimeras. The brushguard style bumper makes sense also since wheeled vehicles and tracked vehicles have distinct differences on what they can maneuver over/through. Call it the equivilent of the dozer on a tracked vehicle as a rough terrain modification. Any chance anyone has checked to see if a chimera can fit behind the new transport valkyrie?

Ahem, so yeah, I have a significant interest in these as any Elesyian commander should as well.

my suggestion would be to slap some armored plates over those heels, seeing as they'd be a hot target for enemy fire fluffwise.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
wheels, lol

UPDATE 8/27/10:
I've done alot more work on the interfacing features of the kit. It should be able to work with old and new kits, but to do that I had to make the interface a little loose.

Here is the front end with more detail. And the right hand side which is 90% done. The drivers hatch and alternate gun port, for the time being are just for fun. I don't think they'll be part of the basic kit, but that can change if people like them enough. They just help give it a "lighter" look.



Here is the tail end. I've done some of the details, though I think it still needs something else.



I'll post another picture later. I've worked out an interface for the wheels so they can both assemble easily, in a non-fragile manner but can be mounted in turning positions.

I apologize for not making faster progress. I appreciate everyone who has been following and giving feed back.

Looking good, can't wait to see the real thing!

Could I suggest something for firing ports thats a bit more flexible than the Chimera cupola Lasguns as well? Also daftly enough it might make it cheaper to produce a whole kit rather than make people combine purchase a Chimera & your kit.

Go ahead.

I've been thinking of doing up some special weapons to fill the ports as well as some generic plugs or hatches for people who don't want them at all. I also want to do an alternate top hatch for the rear that creates the collar that the turret uses as well as plug for the front turret hole. So you guys can look forward to those as well.

This can't come out soon enough - especially if Inquisitorial Storm Troopers and Inducted Guardsmen are in the upcoming GK codex!

With all the parts you're making for this kit, it seems like less and less of the GW Chimera kit may be needed, just the hull and turret, but then again I don't play IG. I'm just wondering if your close to that point where somebody could just buy your kit and plasticard the rest...

Hi guys,

The only concern for me here is the 50% conversion rule. If the kit is a brand new kit, well, in a GW tournament, they could throw out your vehicles saying they are not 50% gw models.

I do not mind producing a kit that does not use GW parts, but I would hate for anyone to lose the use of thier vehicles because of that.

Lets face it I could probably have the kit produced for less then a GW chimera if its a whole vehicle...

This is looking very cool!

Just a thought would the wheels be available seperately as they'd be excellent for converting the Ork trukk back to an Imperial one (as per the published plans).

try and look for the Aliens APC