Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I started a blog on the forum of my gaming group of my latest project, including scratch building and casting. I'd like to share my experiences with you as well. I'll discuss the beginning very briefly as I don't really think it will interest most of you, I'll just let the pictures speak. If anyone wants to know more, just drop me a line!

A couple of months ago I thought about starting a renegade Adeptus Mechanicus army because of the many interesting modeling options. I was inspired by the following pictures to create my first mechanical monstrosity:





(Krenn from Sudeki, an awesome game!)



So I quickly decided that I wanted a walking gun platform with a (or more) very large weapon. Soon after this I saw a random Manga tank with a very large gatling gun, I knew what I had to do. The gun was the first to make, I used plastic profiles/tubes/card and after a lot of late nights, building stuff, breaking stuff apart and then rebuilding it only slightly differently this emerged:

this will be interesting... Subscribed!

The body was next, I started to design the legs using some 3D software. Results:






The 'greens' of the components were made using 'FIMO' clay, which can be baked solid and then shaped using knifes/files. Here is an example of the first two sections:





And here is the first succesfully cast copy:



I've currently finished the first mock-up of the entire assembly. Because I didn't take pictures in between, we'll skip right to the current state of affairs!






So, what do I have to do now?
- Finish the body
- Redesign the 'feet' (They were to much like a defiler. I'm now trying to make something more like the Sentinel's feet.)
- Incorporate 3 additional bolters (of which 2 preferably are magnetized to make the sponsons optional)

And then I'll have a stand-in Leman Russ Punisher!!

Wow! Really awesome! Have you considered producing more of these things and selling them?

I think I'd have to charge waaaay to much to make it worth my time.

Interestingly, it appeared I bought the glow-in-the-dark version of the modeling clay. That was kind of a strange experience the first time I switched of the light.

Enginseer wrote:I think I'd have to charge waaaay to much to make it worth my time.

Yes and no!

If you partner up with a casting house or a bits house (Maxmini? Chapterhouse?), it might be affordable for us and profitable for you!

I'll see about casting later For now, I'll just be happy when this beast is finished. I'm already looking forward to painting it!

I've begun on the bodywork and it should be finished shortly:











I still have to figure out a way to mount 3 heavy bolters. I've thought about autonomous gun mounts on the sides of the body or perhaps even servitors walking alongside the robot. Do you guys have any suggestions?

I've also noticed that the cast pieces are not of very high quality (sue me, it was my first attempt at casting ). Due to the large amount of rough patches, I have decided this will be a recently discovered, derelict war engine. Who knows, I might even sculpt ancient Aztec style ruins on the base!
At the very least it'll give me a good reason to try out extreme weathering and battle damage.

this is pretty bad ass the Gatling gun is just epic, cant help but think the legs are upside down, if you turn them round they'd look more like the 1st picture, and you could mount the secondary weapons underneath cant wait for more updates

That thing is looking bad-ass!Amazing work
(subscribed)

Huge walking Assault cannon... Who wouldnt want one !!! Great work mate!

This is awesome, consider it subscribed.
Also excelent work with the gun, I recon it could be a bit taller, then you could have the heavy bolters underneath it like jamessearle0 said. But don't listen to me I'm mad, it's up to you in the end.

Great work, go for it!

Awesomenosity...

I take my hat off to you sir...


What do you plan on fielding it as?

Thanks guys!

I've heard your comment several times James and I do agree it looks a bit strange. I was going for more of a stable looking platform and this somehow seemed to fit the bill a bit more.

Oh, I guess I didn't mention it yet, but I also plan on building some shields to mount on the lower extremities of the legs. (larger ones on the front legs, smaller ones on the rear legs)

I plan on using it as a Leman Russ Punisher, I think it should be able represent 20 strength 5 shots.

Yesterday I got some work done and finally managed to mount the heavy bolters. I went for the "autonomous" style to reflect that this fraction of the AdMech didn't mind using AI. (I believe that AI is outlawed in the Imperium?)








(I realize the hull mounted heavy bolter shouldn't be twin-linked Call it artistic freedom )

I've been putting of the building of the feet, because I actually got a bit tired of the modelling clay (it entailed a lot! (x2) of filing...). I guess I'll have to start soon though.

Enginseer wrote:Yesterday I got some work done and finally managed to mount the heavy bolters. I went for the "autonomous" style to reflect that this fraction of the AdMech didn't mind using AI. (I believe that AI is outlawed in the Imperium?)

Yeah, AIs is outlawed, but just because you can't see a head somewhere doesn't mean it doesn't have a brain in it somewhere.

it could have The Machine Spirt or whatever you good guys call it in the Hull bit?

or is that not how it works >.<?

I'm a Chaos Player.... i'm shocked i know where the Machine Spirt is found :O

Isn't the point that it is Renegade Ad Mech therefore the AI wouldn't be a problem? More thematic that way I would have thought?