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Great idea

 The_Blackadder wrote:
Thanks Jabba, Ruglud & Theophony although I'm not sure what a external sensor package is?

Basically just a suite of sensor units mounted outside the craft to get better pictures/imaging/ radar without the internal mechanisms of the craft causing distortions or false readings. Kind of like the big dish mounted on AWAC planes, but could also be cameras or laser targeting apparatus.

Forward Cargo Interior:

One of the first things (in my optimism) I built for this model was the interior lo these many years ago so yesterday I began adapting the floor and walls to fit the amended exterior.

http://i.imgur.com/nV9G0z8.jpg


First I had to cut out the floor to accommodate the nose gear housing which worked out rather well as the front reinforcing stringers gave sufficient height to clear the majority of the housing.

http://i.imgur.com/dGpclmx.jpg


On further inspection of the interior it seems I have room for a few Space Marines on the upper level of the superstructure if the marines can stand and be suspended by a system of beams and hangers; wouldn't that be a rip

Of course I will have the interior lighting to show off the upper gallery.

Space Marine Transport Rail

I'm looking to add two rows side by side of Space marines to the interior of my T'hawk. I plan that they will be suspended standing upright from an overhead conveyor system as the most efficient system for transporting these soldiers seeing as they are virtually self-contained one man tanks. I seem to recall an image or sketch of such a device but cannot lay my hands on it. Does anyone have a copy or a source for this image?

Below is what I have so far found which while sufficient for my purposes aren't quite what I have in mind:

http://i.imgur.com/FDNN9TD.jpg


I wish I had this image when I was building my T'hawk, it would have made my guesswork that much easier....



http://i.imgur.com/OVnjuyo.jpg


This image isn't actually 40K Space Marines but it does get the point across.

So deploying marines now like the droids from Star Wars clone wars

Most fluff has them sitting in seats with harnesses like a roller coaster ride, but you could always modify the harness from the drop pods to attach to an overhead rail system.

This has them back to back and how you get 10 guys in a drop pod.

Cargo Ramp:

I've finally addressed the issue of the front cargo ramp. this is a problem that has vexed me from day one of this project; how to cram a functioning mechanism into the tiny space available without compromising the exterior aspect of the model......

http://i.imgur.com/zjEoCKR.jpg


Above we see the model as she exists today with some of the exterior detail as yet to be installed.

And here is the open maw of the beast with my new hinge assembly installed; Whoohoo! it works!

http://i.imgur.com/STMLuiP.jpg


Now to show the mechanics of the rather simple device......

http://i.imgur.com/5r02hwx.jpg


The piano-style hinge is 3/32 evergreen tubing cut into three pieces with two 0.060 by 0.250 inch tongue straps welded to the tubing and reinforced with 0.020 gussets.

A brass wire provides the hinge pin.

The assembly slides out for ease of maintenance and repair as the device may be quite flimsy....

http://i.imgur.com/5r02hwx.jpg


With the ramp entirely removed the detail of the hinge points is readily seen.

http://i.imgur.com/usLHIG3.jpg


Also note the cargo floor can be slid forward to facilitate reassembly.

The underside of the floor showing the tongue receptacles.

http://i.imgur.com/AtOIFyH.jpg


Finally the flexibility of the hinges

http://i.imgur.com/i8ChPiI.jpg

I... I... This is just blood awesome. 5 years in the making!

Have you even worked on other projects besides this? I'd love to see them

 teban wrote:
I... I... This is just blood awesome. 5 years in the making!

Have you even worked on other projects besides this? I'd love to see them

I appreciate the reply;

I record all my projects on Dakka Dakka and other forums besides.

My list of projects:

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/recentTopics/showTopicsByUser/6825.page

The Thunderhawk was probably my least favorite for most of the five years and I devote very little of my time to it. Sometimes when I am in the doldrums after finishing a model I resume work on the T'hawk but as soon as something else takes my fancy I put it on back burner.

This time may be different as I am so close to finishing it.

The Best Laid Plans

Of mice and men ofttimes go awry. I had intended for this transport to have the capability to disgorge a Rhino but it seems the interior panels have taken up too much clearance

http://i.imgur.com/8aJ8Wju.jpg


Not to worry I have an alternate plan (A cunning plan mayhaps Mr. B?)

http://i.imgur.com/vj7VHrx.jpg


My initial intent was to have clam-shell doors à la C124 and assault ramp to accommodate the width of a slick Rhino but I put that aside until I had a good idea of the interior panels requirements. That project is still on the table.

Does this cunning plan require a new thread of awesomeness, possibly " Blackadder customizing a rhino"? Or will it get undercarriage grapples to hold the rhino like the transporter

 Theophony wrote:
Does this cunning plan require a new thread of awesomeness, possibly " Blackadder customizing a rhino"? Or will it get undercarriage grapples to hold the rhino like the transporter

Undercarriage grapples are still in the works for carrying a Landraider.

The Blackadder, no piker he.

Inside Out:

Or how not to build an interior.

My ambition has exceeded my good sense as when I started this project I gave little thought to so extravagant an interior. Now I am reaping the benefit of my lack of forethought.


http://i.imgur.com/YmvRf7b.jpg


Fortunately I have ample panels to access the interior for modification and upgrade

BTW the image above shows the basic nascent Space Marine harness device to safe transport to the planet to be modularly installed into the upper gallery rectangular receptacles shown in the background. This would in fact be the whole length of the upper gallery but for my purposes just the front hanger will be seen.

See, I'm not completely crazy................

...only mostly.

There Is No Joy In Mudville:

http://imgur.com/VU9ps

No, I've tried quite a few different pigments and airbrush combinations on various scrap and even on the T'hawk itself 'Horrors! ' and I have found nothing I like better than powdered Aluminum and powdered Graphite hand rubbed into Flat Black Primer so after much soul searching I'm committing to Gray Knights colour scheme and an all metal finish to my Hawk.

after about fifteen minutes of of application I feel I made the correct decision, nothing brings out the detail of this model like hand rubbed Aluminium. Note the flat black front and tail still yet to have the aluminum applied.........

http://i.imgur.com/zHWLfsR.jpg


Of course there will be Gray Knights red accents and lots more colours

http://i.imgur.com/278Y6Hz.jpg


But this is the look I am going for so the next time you see this it will be completely pewter hued.

Never mind the NMM posse, big up the Really Real Metal Application Metallic ...erm... painters? May need a better acronym, but the technique works brilliantly.

I like the look of it.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 The_Blackadder wrote:

I wish I had this image when I was building my T'hawk, it would have made my guesswork that much easier....

Should have asked, I have a mini gallery for the hawk.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/images-7416-2635_Thunderhawk.html

Pewter Thunderhawk: (Grey Knights colours still to come.)

Oh Gawd, finally for the first time completely together after six years in the making, my very own scratchbuilt version of the Thunderhawk. At 26 inches long and fully articulated; weapons, wings, and landing gear; it's most gratifying to be able to present this effort.



There are a few production glitches:



All three gears need to be lock indexed to keep from swiveling.



The rear shock struts need to be spring loaded to take the weight without collapsing.



The rear floor of the forward cargo bay needs to be locked down.



The interior is too sparsely furnished and needs to be finished, the rough poster board edges will never do.



The ball turrets need mount brackets.



and of course the interior lighting.

The loading ramp needs an extension to make the disembark angle less extreme...........

but all told a most gratifying moment to see this for the first time assembled in her full glory.

Martini time; Skoal!

Holy moly, that is indeed an awesome creation and unlike the FW equivalent, it's actually believable that you could fit a some actual Space Marines inside the beasty...

It's been a splendid trip watching this unfold. Grey knights don't need too elaborate of interior detailing, though you could paint some holy mural on the flat interior detailing if that still others you.

Blackadder's Fun and Games

Perhaps I should stick to what I know but this was kind of fun:

http://i.imgur.com/3ho5SiV.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/0nxv2lI.jpg

Afterburners:

http://i.imgur.com/CfOefUp.jpg


Yeah, well yer just play'n round now Blackadder.

Nice backdrop. Who ever lives there is in for a world of hurt though .

My gosh that looks fantastic.

i like how the green is reflecting back into the picture

I'm really happy for you. There's nothing like putting things together, and going "That's my vision. I made that."

Congrats!

Seriously bravo. All your hard work has really paid off!

So awesome =D you should be very proud of your achievement!

I've been busy of late tiling my bath but I had to express a thanks for all the replies. I'll be doing some painting (on the model) today and with hope a proper update later this week.

 The_Blackadder wrote:
I've been busy of late tiling my bath but I had to express a thanks for all the replies. I'll be doing some painting (on the model) today and with hope a proper update later this week.

Looks awesome! Those engine lights are really effective.

And I'm in a bathroom tiling nightmare myself! I just spent 8 hours in a grouting nightmare, and I'm only half done. I was hoping to get the floor tiles laid tonight, but that's not going to happen now.

Lipstick On A Pig:

Ugly as a Warthog most definitely and I finally found my antique can of Krylon 'Rust' Primer this past week; now I can begin painting the detail.

http://i.imgur.com/ieicdiW.jpg


So with the masking tape removed it's a bit of a letdown

http://i.imgur.com/PbRwGBh.jpg


I plan to activate my airbrush later this weekend and see what I can do to perk these images up.

http://i.imgur.com/24VkScj.jpg

Did the masking tape remove some of the pigment powder from the model.