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 Tightning wrote:
This is an amazing piece of work, and I'm excited to see the result! I love the titan in the background as well!

Welcome aboard, dare I flattery myself that you joined the forum to reply to this work?

The Warlord Titan 'Luteus Vexant' can be seen in it's entirety from inception to fruition at:

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/300245.page

Skip past the first few pages as they were just proportional mockup trials and false starts that had not much to do with the actual Warlord (so I rationalize anyway.)

 Desubot wrote:
It looks like the treads swing down low underneath the sponson (if you look at left headlights you can see they swing underneath)

Not that I am ignoring your post but I have learned to be circumspect to replies from readers who have feminine oriented avatars since I responded to one who used a decidedly attractive avatar selfie only to find out that he touts himself as the only openly 'alternative lifestyle' Wargamer on the net. Ha!

That and the 'Bob' episode season 2 episode 1 that gave us the phrase "I'd rather be a quack than a ducky"

Yes I saw that as well and am aware that many tanks utilize slack tread suspension but in all cases there is nothing above the slack top run to snag should the track suddenly taughten.

Now I must remember to give Ms Blackadder a good sha**ing to reaffirm my orientaion.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

DAMN DAMN DOUBLE DAMN! This took all the joy out of the following.........

Finished:

The Wheel Suspension is finished. It's too early in the day for a celebratory martini but perhaps I'll have two this evening.

These wheels have been a thorn iin my side for jeez over six years and now they are finally done in what? A COUPLA WEEKS!

Procrastination thy name is Blackadder.

So here are the twenty road wheels and drivers held on place on the tack base with a rubber band of course they have to be spaced properly and mount brackets for the drive and idler wheels but G** D*** they're done!

http://i.imgur.com/4Ze7kpJ.jpg


The image below compares the FW Baneblade with what could be considered a true scale Baneblade chassis/hull.....

http://i.imgur.com/rh3jlqe.jpg


A profile setup shows the wheels not too big and not too small. Once spaced out properly they'll adequately do the job.

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

Some inspiration

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/New_Stuff/STORMHAMMER.html

So much firepower :-)

I really miss posting on this forum despite of the issues I have the posting policies and I have come to the realization I am being unfair to my loyal readership in continuing this personal grievance so I have rationalized a compromise that should be satisfactory.

i'll return to presenting updates but I am not going to go through the hassle of the gymnastics involved in checking back to see if I can update without the 'auto append' interfering. I'll just post once a day and if a few updates are missing in between so be it.
So here's the current update on the Landkreuzer and I apologize for my inconsiderate behavior to my readers.

I still maintain the one post a day rule is archaic and many less frequented forums do not have it or have done away with it.

Kattywompus:

Before I put this aside in favor of the Reaver project I think it prudent to present the model as it is at the moment; for nothing less than a record of the mistakes and comparison when the rebuild is effected.

http://i.imgur.com/bXJba5y.jpg


I've run into a major structural anomaly that will have to be remedied before I proceed; so rather than subject my readers to the travails of rebuilding I'll work on this in the background until the retracing is completed.

http://i.imgur.com/wTpnsLH.jpg
[

It started when I first installed the tread assemblies; all looked good from the side elevated view.

http://i.imgur.com/xeI2wZg.jpg


and the side eye level view.

http://i.imgur.com/E4WF6Ix.jpg


The front eye level is within acceptable limits although the left tread needs to be brought perpendicular.

It's only with the rear view that the grievous anomalies manifest..........

http://i.imgur.com/6fRNfnB.jpg


The engine compartment is badly askew and the right tread has a bad twist that did not reveal itself on the aligning table for some reason perhaps because there is no upper track run.

Also the left tread needs to be brought perpendicular as with the front which is of minor consideration.

All of which gives value to the use of photography to review your work because looking at the model itself the eye tends to compensate for the indiscretions.

Never a truer word said... its amazing how your eye and brain will "fix" small anomalies, especially if you are working so closely (literally) on something.

On another note... those tracks and track units look glorious... its amazing the level of detail and believability a set of well designed and sharp looking tracks can give!

Treads Redressed:

When last we saw the unfortunate Landkreuzer the treads were badly warped and canted askew.

http://i.imgur.com/qDVMc8V.jpg


I addressed the problem last night with satisfactory results.

http://i.imgur.com/J2A2i1Y.jpg


So satisfactory in point of fact that I shall have to go back to my FW Baneblades and see if I can apply the same fix to them as well.

Now all that needs be done is to true up the engine compartment

Truing the Engine Compartment:

I first removed the styrene sheathing for the ribbon cartridge frame. When I first built this frame years ago I was not as practiced as I am now and discrepancies weren't as bothersome/

These days I am more particular.

Using the naked utility knife blade as a draw plane I shave down the cartridge casing alternating between sanding and drawplaning to remove the millimeter or so extra material to true up the top deck.

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


Once the frame top is true I'll apply a sheet of 0.020 styrene to the shaved frame and proceed to re-frame the beveled panels on the side.

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

The Mathematical Precision:

There is something extremely satisfying about the faceted structure of the Lucius Pattern vehicles to my mind's eye. Something that is lacking in the Mars versions....

The image below with it's crisp, no nonsense angles just bespeak pent up strength even in its undetailed state.

http://i.imgur.com/E92AphE.jpg


The engine compartment has shaped up rather well from it's previous distorted construction being now less than a fraction of a millimeter out of true.

http://i.imgur.com/MLRxP2C.jpg


It's irksome that the image below came out fuzzy.........

http://i.imgur.com/9eDDZ54.jpg


Next, the turret..........

Always good to see other people striving for perfection. Good work BA.

Lovely work! Mentioned it previously and will mention it again I am sure... but those tracks are the proverbial "dogs danglies!"

Very nice work, its looking nice, and that hull the joints look perfect.

Forced Summer Hiatus

After being incapacitated for most of the Summer I'm back with a bit of an update on the Landkreuzer

http://i.imgur.com/34RfS57.jpg


The superimposed turret is only for scale to demonstrate the size of the Landkreuzer vis-à-vis the standard resin Baneblade turret. The model will not actually have an aux Baneblade armament (I don't think)...........

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


Of course my camera is still acting up so after one decent image the rest are blurry for some reason but no matter as it is just to show the overall size more than the detail.

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


http://i.imgur.com/9Xl7oHk.jpg


So if I can manage to keep my heart rate above 30 BPM and my blood pressure above 70 over 40 I'm hoping to be updating all my threads.

More to follow...........

Welcome back

Thanks,

Time To Start Detailing:

With the last major component completed it's time to start applying the details and the first order of business is the twin main cannon which is the raison d'être of the Storm Hammer/ Landkreuzer P500.

http://i.imgur.com/dRd1pIk.jpg


I started with the gun mount shield moulding the curve overnight by wrapping the 0.020 inch thick sheet plastic around a pen barrel and clamping. The result is a permanently curved panel of plastic ready to be re-enforced with laminated curved stiffeners 0.020 by 0.25 inch strips.

http://i.imgur.com/6t3Z5Gh.jpg


While applying the strips I continually re-bent the sheet plastic in excess of the actual curve I require so the shield will maintain it's malleability throughout the manufacture. This will give the smoothly graded curve reminiscent of the Lucius Baneblade gun shield.

http://i.imgur.com/i7TxSdO.jpg


I opted for a twin cannon turret instead of two single gun turrets which always appeared too clumsy to me. also a single pair of sponsons albeit with more powerful weapons seems a better way to go.....



In this I am departing from the conventional Storm Hammer.

Turret Hatch Ring:

One feature I covet is the FW design for the raised turret hatch. This is a relatively easy component to duplicate and looks so good compared to just plunking a hatch down on the barren hull armour.

I started by cutting the three circles in various thicknesses of styrene The base ring being 0.030" the upper ring 0.040" and the top ring with the rivets 0.020".

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


I used the arc compass technique to square the lines on the top plate for the placement of the rivets and subsequently to find for the ribs on the bottom plate.

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


I installed a crude raised inner ring for a butt plate for the ribs.

http://i.imgur.com/GZsM0Dx.jpg


The Mantlet for the main cannon is ostensibly done except for the gun mount lugs and the fine detail.

Oh man what kinda black magic ruinous circle are you scribing?

That is looking superb! It's great to see you back at it again.

 Desubot wrote:
Oh man what kinda black magic ruinous circle are you scribing?

If you want a line perpendicular to another line you overlap two arcs with a compass and scribe a line through the two intersections of the arcs.




Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Buttery Commissar wrote:
That is looking superb! It's great to see you back at it again.

Someone said if you do a quote you don't get an auto append...........

Meh!

Now that I see it I'm not so sure I like it..........

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


I do like the Large radial ribbed mount plate but the hatch seems; "Ehhh!"

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


Wadda ya'll think?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Well that shot that theory down in flames. Dang!

Embarrassing:

I should be ashamed to post this as an update but I was busy with other pursuits this week.

On the plus side I did manage to make the cryptic mechanical devices to go on the turret top and accomplish some of the wiring.

http://i.imgur.com/rQ31fTf.jpg


Things should go a lot faster now that those are made.

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

Hatch ring looks great.

Maybe it needs something in the middle of the hatch, like another smaller disk and/or handles or access panel, vision block.

All in good time.........

Lawn Care Flags:

Suddenly they are everywhere and a bloody(by our lady) nuisance but here's a tip to recycle some of the d*mned things:



The plastic staffed ones have an eighth inch staff/ 3,0 mm (approximately)and are extremely flexible and adequate for bundles of conduit whathaveyou. Certainly cheaper than four bucks a pop at your local hobby shop for similar Evergreen/Plastruct rods. Plus they are plastic glue compatible.

I have just read through the thread and I must say that it was a very interesting read indeed. Great work so far, I will keep an eye out for updates as I am looking forward to seeing how this beast progresses.

Thanks for the reply,

Turrets Syndrome

Damn me! I like how this has turned out.

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


It's a pity I put off building this tank for so long but I feared the work was beyond my capabilities. I'm happy to say that it appears satisfactory so far.

Detailing the turret as just a larger Baneblade seems to be adequate; it just requires plugging away at the detail bits until done. (Well Duh! Blackadder)

http://i.imgur.com/zGrpT4V.jpg


The rear view shows that I still need to find an Aquila.

http://i.imgur.com/2Mkwpb1.jpg


The right side is rather plain compared to the busy left side.

http://i.imgur.com/5R68kaP.jpg


The front elevation reveals the lack of the business raison d'etre of this behemoth. That is to follow hopefully this weekend.

Great stuff! I still can't believe how good those tracks look as well.
This topic is inspiring me to keep at it with my (admittedly less ambitious) work. We need more folks like you on Dakka.

Would an etched brass Aquila work for the panel?

Yeah, I just have to find my stash of etched brass Aquilae......

Down To Business:

I opted for the same caliber weapon as on the resin Baneblade only the turret will house two of them. I chose this instead of increasing the bore of the cannon as to allow for working the two guns inside the turret would be cramped enough without increasing the diameter of the shells which I calculate would be on the order of 16 inches (40,64 cm) on a Baneblade. Guns of a larger caliber begin to take on a comical appearance and stretch credulity.

http://i.imgur.com/jH2xUbU.jpg


I started by cutting rings of 1/2 inch plastic and filing and sanding them to a millimeter wide ring and slipping them on the 7/16 inch barrel I then cut and sanded two muzzle flash suppressors 5/8 inch long by 1/2 inch diameter (13,0 mm).

I wrapped two thin sheets 0.020 inch plastic round the barrel base to thicken the breech end and finally I split a tube of 1/2 inch tubing for the base of the barrel.

http://i.imgur.com/PBvXI02.jpg


All that is now required is the final step of the breech which again will be of 0.020 inch sheet styrene to bring the barrel to it's final thickness.

Main Gun Barrels Phase 2

The main guns require a lot of stepping down from reinforced breach to barrel thickness otherwise the base looks too spindly. This is the best method I have come up with and it's rather simple and effective. Since all the reinforcements are not of the same thickness I vary between 0.040 tubing thickness and 0.020 sheet styrene for the different step downs which seems to add a bit of panache.

http://i.imgur.com/NjcUI2s.jpg


Once the sheet styrene is fully glued around the barrel the tailing can be trimmed off. It is advisable to leave a long tailing on the wrap until the final gluing so you don't end up with a flat ridge at the seam.

http://i.imgur.com/Hndp61q.jpg

Really nice work on the turret! Looks suitably solid and robust! Without dropping into too many superlatives, it is joyous to watch your plans develop and become reality!

Incredible work by you once again.

Storm Hammer Raison D'être:

The French have a phrase for it; "a reason for being" and the main dual cannons of my version of the Stormhammer finally make this vehicle a force to be reckoned with (''A force with which to be reckoned'' for all the grammarians..)

http://i.imgur.com/7r9vEaV.jpg


Being of the same bore diameter as the Baneblade albeit slightly longer (6,3 mm) the main guns are, will be when completely detailed, copies of the original FW resin Baneblade.

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


There was a bit of difficulty in making two reasonably similar cannon and mounting them in the mantlet (We have SDKFZ to thank for that amendment to the Blackadder's education.)

http://i.imgur.com/gNMe2tP.jpg


So the aerial views dispensed with a ground level image rounds out today productivity...........

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


Next, the Howitzer

Certainly does look like it can accommodate the twin guns easily! Doesn't overpower the form or make it look unbalanced!

Being truly nit picky ... would the second gun's breach and loading area be pretty much where the commanders hatch is!?

I suppose if the main guns are firing the commander wont be sticking his head out of the hatch anyway as he would probably be liquefied by the shockwaves....

Anyway, like I said previously, its looking great!

This thread made me smile! Thanks!