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I'm starting my own thread about this, because it wasn't really on topic in the other one I was posting it to.

Basically, I want to come up with a couple of templates for scratch-build Mek Guns, because while the GW model looks great, it's way too expensive to buy multiple copies of. I'd like to get feedback on the designs and share some guidance for other people looking to do similar. Eventually I hope to have a full tutorial, but for the moment it's just rough notes. I'm also teaching myself how to use Sketchup to design home-made model kits.

So far, I've got a single prototype gun and a mostly-done design for the next generation. I'm going with Kustom Mega-kannons at first, but it shouldn't be too hard to change the design for other guns.

I'm working with the materials I've got, which for some reason includes a load of 8mm square styrene tubing. It makes defining large blocky shapes very easy, so I'm going to use it quite a bit. Eventually I will try and make a pure plasticard version which doesn't need any specialist elements. I'll avoid using too many pre-made bits, to keep the cost down. However, good looking wheels are difficult to scratch-build, so I'm going to use some from the GW Trukk kit in my second design.

Has anyone else started their gun builds yet or do you have any ideas of what might look good?

I'm waiting for the codex to drop to work up a list of what I need to build, but I anticipate Mek Guns being in there, and will definitely be scratch building some, if not all of them.

Your prototype looks great, and I eagerly await your progress on a tutorial.

Cobbling some up this weekend.

Hit up Home Depot for washers, screws, roofing nails (wheels), and all sorts of other gubbins.

I'll post pics when i have one i like.

 adamsouza wrote:
I'm waiting for the codex to drop to work up a list of what I need to build, but I anticipate Mek Guns being in there, and will definitely be scratch building some, if not all of them.

Your prototype looks great, and I eagerly await your progress on a tutorial.

This, both points actually lol.

I love to kitbash but my plasticard skills are lacking, i couldnt do something like you have here with damn near pure plasticard and come out anywhere near as cool lol.

Im both holding off on kitbashing because
1) my orks are missing a lot of armor, and new rules so far make me want to run armor lists. if theyre even "functional" i'll run them because i love walkers and wagons....just the current rules kinda kill them by default.
2) im tired of fielding partially painted armies so im trying to finish my tau before i do anything with my orks. I have a TON more orks than tau, and iirc i only have 2 Dfish, 1 Railhead, 9 Crisis suits, 6 Stealth suits, Shadowsun, 16 pathfinders, ~12 drones, and a riptide left to paint. Considering i have 3k or so worth of tau, thats not much left to paint lol.

Well, I'm on my third version in Sketchup and I'm finally fairly happy with it. Needs a little bit more stuff at the back and, rather more importantly, I have to figure out how to do the shooty bit of the muzzle.

Well, I've got a 'finished' design.

Now I need to lay out an assembly guide showing each step of the process, then try it out in reality to see if it actually works.

Spark plug gun, dollar store wheels, trukk armour plates, add some green stuff, guitar wires and plastic card for flavour... Nuff said!

I am currently working on my second one after learning what I did wrong on the first one hahah

These will probably be handy for reference

Just to check I'm doing this right, can everyone understand the following instructions?

Instructions look clear enough.

As for wheels that are hard to scratch-build, what about doing round treads like WW1 artillery had. At that point, you'd only need to cut a circle and then you could glue on flat plates to act as the treads, maybe with a band running underneath them. Should be easier than trying for home-made wheels, which are damn near impossible.

Here's a link to the first stage of my tutorial.

http://imgur.com/a/tgLIA

There will probably be three more stages (the gun itself, the front shield and general greebling and detail), plus some photos of the finished product.

I know that not everyone has the right bits laying around, but if someone could try and follow these instructions and post how well they do, that would be really valuable feedback for me. I'll try and persuade my housemate to act as a guinea pig too.

EDIT: actually included link this time.

Here's an update which covers making the gun and front plate, but no real detail yet.

http://imgur.com/a/s2Ykd

I've assembled one gun using this design and it seems to work OK. Muzzle turned out a bit too messy, a few pieces needed filing down to fit or padding with plasticard spacers and the barrel is at a very slight angle, but overall quite successful. A layer of detail should cover up the issues.