Blackadder's attempt to construct a FW Thunderhawk

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.

**madmark**

Somehow this keeps getting better, your work is really a masterpiece. I was so inspired I've begun my own project.

http://thelazaruseffect.blogspot.com/search/label/Stormbird

**The_Blackadder**

dsteingass wrote:
Very cool man! It seems you will have a lot of extra wiring. do you have a place to hide the excess?

I'm hoping to run it into the cockpit. and other areas.

**The_Blackadder**

madmark wrote:
Somehow this keeps getting better, your work is really a masterpiece. I was so inspired I've begun my own project.

http://thelazaruseffect.blogspot.com/search/label/Stormbird

This is really great, consider me subscribed. Do you have a concept image of what you are building?

Automatically Appended Next Post:
My New Photo Studio:

Is too small for the Thunderhawk! I converted my closet in the den to a paint booth / photo studio and the first thing I use it for is too big to fit. Gaaah!

http://i.imgur.com/y5A36Bb.jpg

Well it's not really a problem as I can just extend the table but I gotta start making smaller models. Not likely.

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

So the real reason for the post is an update on the interior cargo lighting before I disassemble the model for the rest of the lighting installation.

http://i.imgur.com/r4YkTAG.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/4AiRFpw.jpg

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

Next up Cockpit Lighting.

**lindsay40k**

Brilliant idea with the fairy lights. They're making an excellent atmosphere in the bay. I'll have to pick up a few strings and find places for them in my boards!

**sparkywtf**

Amazing work!

Loving the rubbed aluminum paint jobs. Seems to provide some great shadows in the recesses too!

**The_Blackadder**

Four Images of A Warlord:

My new toy, a mini Ipad has become my favorite camera; at least for desktop photos. The trouble is in transferring to my PC. because the Apple doesn't like my PC for some reason and keeps asking if I want to allow access. Life is HARD!

Anyway, four images of the new interior lights of the cockpit. and they're all pretty much the same but what the hey, I'll post them all.

http://i.imgur.com/U12KntO.jpg

What irritates me is I can see the crew in the cockpit but the camera doesn't.

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

I like the battle scars in this closeup

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

I like this low angle view because it shows the upper engineering deck through the blast doors. which normally can't be seen with the chest armour in place.

http://i.imgur.com/xFOtD0J.jpg

**Theophony**

I use my mini iPad for most of my browsing and posts here on DD. Though you are probably sending the pics to your computer for saving everything in one place, I would find it easier to post here the pics and then when you want the pics on your computer you can just open them in the dakkadakka gallery and then save them to your computer from there.

The Machine-God is pleased with your diligence in this project.

**The_Blackadder**

How Not To Build a Thunderhawk:

Or at least How Not To Make the Same Mistakes I Did

Below is my solution to mount the craft on a pedestal base using 1/2 inch rods to provide relatively innocuous levity.

http://i.imgur.com/qupV6A4.jpg

The problem being I have to do all this work inside out without damaging the already finished exterior. It pays to plan ahead.....

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

After drilling an oversized hole I glued in a sleeve to receive the transparent rod. As an added refinement I plan now to finish the upper gallery with Lighting and Space Marines ready to deploy; all this accomplished in the inside out manner previously mentioned. Heh, heh, heh! (He laughs maniacally.......)

The rest of the images probably need no explanation as it just duplicates forward the work described above.

http://i.imgur.com/GOslGZ4.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/7XEbumj.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/3e6O9nd.jpg

However there is one more surprise in store for followers of these interminable thread addenda Heh,heh.heh!

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Theophony wrote:
I use my mini iPad for most of my browsing and posts here on DD. Though you are probably sending the pics to your computer for saving everything in one place, I would find it easier to post here the pics and then when you want the pics on your computer you can just open them in the dakkadakka gallery and then save them to your computer from there.

The Machine-God is pleased with your diligence in this project.

I hate Apple Computers and I probably have the dubious distinction of actually downloading a virus on an Apple device. I find navigating on an Apple horrendous and if I didn't get the Mini for free I would have never owned one. It does take easy and remarkable images and video and that is what I mainly use it for but thanks for the suggestion.

**The_Blackadder**

Cure For a Rainy Day:

OMG every thing is coming up Roses. Purists may baulk at a Thunderhawk Transport carrying a Landraider but I've wanted this every since I first laid eyes on a T'hawk. The shape of the fwd cargo compartment fairly screams for that configuration. Since my T'hawk is so much larger than the basic FW version it can easily fit a Landraider in the notch space between the wings.

http://i.imgur.com/4ltc13W.jpg

Finally the center of balance for the model is right where the transparent rod pierces the Landraider forward turret so everything is falling into place with a minimum of alteration to the APC just a 1/2 inch hole aft of the bulkhead. Tada!

Martini Time Skoal!

**Ruglud**

It's going to look even better once fully assembled (hint, hint)

**MagosBiff90**

I know its a little while ago since it was applied.... but the rubbed aluminium looks great!!! as for the setup with the LR .... I recon it looks pretty darned awesome and as you mention, due to the scale... looks like it could convincingly be accommodated!

oh.... The Red "Visor" on the titan looks great with that effect! Very menacing!

**lindsay40k**

Re your iPad - all iDevices ask for your passcode when you go to transfer your photos to another computer, it's part of their security setup

**The_Blackadder**

Best Laid Plans:

Oft time Gang aft agley"......... Brought My T'hawk to a show last week and on returning home in the wee hours put it on a shelf for a couple of days.

I finally got around to getting the interior of the cargo compartment sorted out and began the retro fitting of the inner walls when I discovered one of the Ball turrets missing????? well for the past couple of days I've torn my workshop apart and traced all my steps repeatedly to no avail, it's just gone so, biting the bullet, I resigned myself to making another one using the remaining one for a guide;

http://i.imgur.com/eB8R5ZR.jpg

What infernal luck.... and I was going to glue the turret mounts in place too just this past week.

**Dr H**

Ouch! Hopefully you'll find a "spare" one, one day.

**The_Blackadder**

Thanks for the reply, and yes "Ouch" indeed!

You Can't Go Home Again:

Well for what it's worth I've tried to duplicate my work of last year but the inspiration seems sorely lacking. Whilst this is a reasonable facsimile it cannot match the caliber of the original.

http://i.imgur.com/QlH2QZ4.jpg

I'm about to apply the finishing detail but this is at best a tawdry effort.

I still hold out hope for finding the original.

**The_Blackadder**

Ready to Paint...........

Finally

http://i.imgur.com/4TPmRON.jpg

**The_Blackadder**

First Assembly:

The New Ball Turret mounted in place with the interior walls . Rear cargo bay bulkhead does not fit well at all. Ceiling locking panel functions well. In all for a first assembly I am quite pleased.

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

Exterior port side view of Ball Turret (original)looks okay but interior ceiling is pushing down on canard wing root so it has dihedral. Needs to be adjusted.

http://i.imgur.com/a1mMAUO.jpg

Starboard side (new) ball turret functions well but is not of the same quality as the original .

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

Closeup reveals crudeness of work. My heart wasn't into making this replacement for the missing ball turret, I still hold out hopes of finding it.

http://i.imgur.com/hG6kcWM.jpg

The original ball turret is so much better.

http://i.imgur.com/59MPZrJ.jpg

Hey I can take a selfie with this camera, I don't know what I did to do this but in view of the image I'm not likely to do it again.

..... The Blackadder is looking old.

http://i.imgur.com/1iFpeLH.jpg

Showing where the rework lies.

http://i.imgur.com/x3EsfvS.jpg

Likewise on the right side and the Interior walls look too bare.

http://i.imgur.com/o2SbPsq.jpg

Exterior bottom view

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

Hope I didn't damage your computer with the selfie. Ha!

**Ruglud**

What is seen cannot be unseen

The T-Hawk though is looking glorious. Certainly there's some room for further work, but the ball turret v2 has a nice 'battle worn' look to it I feel

**Dr H**

Looking great. The model's not bad too.

**The_Blackadder**

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

Forgeworld is copying my ideas. First the Warlord Interior now this: Ha!

https://www.forgeworld.co.uk/en-IE/Space-Marine-Sokar-pattern-Stormbird

But Yellow! Yuck!!!!