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So much win. I especially like the Ork bailing out of the tower.

Hi all,

Sorry for the lack of posts.
Unfortunately work keeps me very busy, and despite the weather being exceptionally good for March here in Germany I had no chance of priming the Pollux and Castor diorama - lack of daylight.
But I didn't want to idle and lose my hobby drive and while lurking on the various forums I decided to participate in the SMA Spring Contest ( http://www.scalemodeladdict.com/SMF/index.php/topic,10830.0.html ).
It is a "fight for honor" contest (so no prices) and the topic is "Prototypes". One can participate in various categories and the competition is very challenging.
My idea is to create a scene with a very distinct Third Reich/Iron Sky flair and a sprinkle of WH40K. I envision an underground research facility, looking a bit like an old U-Boot bunker, a "prototype" in the center, with soldiers and researchers around it, while a group of officers take the "dog-and-pony-show"

In this early sketch you can see that I intended to use a bare-skeleton Pollux walker (without the weapons and armor) with an open cockpit, so one can see the "wired-in" pilot, and a whole bunch of people around it.


In addition to my usual WH40K soldiers I decided to use some 1:48 Tamiya WWII German soldiers for this scene. They are a mis-purchase, as they usually don't fit the WH40K figures.
But for this I can mix the two, as the prototype is either built on a special planet, where the inhabitants are slimmer, or if on Dencara, these guys are from a different race with a different build, while the "real soldiers" are of the sturdy, bulky type.
Fluff for the win



But the more I thought about it the less I liked the idea to use another Pollux-pattern walker. And looking through my closet (I'm a real "messy" when it comes to hobby parts) I came across these Sherman and Lee boxes I purchased on e-Bay - solely for the purpose of salvaging the road wheels.


So why not build a prototype based on a Sherman?
This way I have the option to enter in the armor, Sci-fy, and diorama categories (if I can afford it that is).


Decision made, I opted for this Sherman hull.


I quickly shaved off the deck, to make room for some modifications.


Since the prototype will be mostly without hatches (open) I also added some side walls to the lower hull.


Then I cut out the new openings for the turret and the crew hatches.
The rear central hatch is for the commander, left for the loader, right for the gunner.


Then I worked on the gun.
Since it's still a prototype, most of the armor and covers are missing and many pieces be visible.


So I added a movable breech - the breech opens downwards, so there will be a auto loader from inside the vehicle.



This is how the gun looks in comparison to the hull.


Next I worked on the actual gun mount


and it's position on the vehicle.


To compensate for the recoil I added a set of rails on which the gun mount can move - I'm not sure if I'll add visible dampeners....


I'm still undecided if I mount the rails forward like this


or rather rearwards (gun mount aligns with the front of the turret base, or the rails align with the rear)


The whole gun mount on the vehicle.
As you can see I aim for a low silhouette and great depression (so the gun can fire from the backside of a hill).


I also added some modifications to the rear - with a section of the engine being visible.


Most likely I will also keep the actual engine deck open, so a section of the engine may be visible.
But I'll decide on this later, so no details added yet.


Finally I added most of the running gear last night.
This will be pretty much out of the box.


I also added a WH40K Imperial Guard driver (sans the head so far).


And this is how the vehicle looks so far.


What do you think?
I have no name for this baby yet, but I think I will break with the Greek Deity tradition and use a more mundane naming approach.
Any suggestions?
I hope you like today's update and I look forward to your comments and feedback.
Cheers

Klaus

Great work as always mate!! Really cool!

And certainly a good way to brighten up a Monday at work.... all iwant to do it build when is ee any of your posts!

 MagosBiff90 wrote:
Great work as always mate!! Really cool!

And certainly a good way to brighten up a Monday at work.... all iwant to do it build when is ee any of your posts!

Thanks Mate!

I am staggered by the breech. That's extraordinary. You're truly epic.

Amazing as always, You knock out detailed work so quickly, great stuff. Are the hulls 1:48?

Looks a bit like a sniper tank, so maybe mess around with that for a name. That long gun, screams tank killer.

Great work and looks like it should.

It's a joy peering into your mind when you work Klaus!

Thank you guys!


very little progress as time is still fleeting, but an update nevertheless.
I added some recoil dampeners and a breech mechanism to the gun.


And I built a "sight" for the gunner. Since it is a prototype still in research and testing, the sight box is open, as a technician can access it.


Next I looked into a more independent sight for the commander, using the design I used on the POLEMOS Urban Attack Vehicle.



Here you can see the mounted gunner sight.



But what about the commander sight?


Is that looking OK? Or should I find a better position?

Any ideas?

Since I want to add an auto-loader mechanism that may be visible I created some ammunition.


For this I put a section of plastic card rod into my drill


And then run it first across a rasp


and then over some sandpaper.


And with a little practice I get these nice shells


With the idea to cast some more....




After the first test cast for the ammo was successful I added some "Dencara-style" lights to the former Sherman,


added some details to the engine and added first rivets.


And this is how the little low profile tank hunter looks as of today.


So what do you think, anything major still missing?
What about the commander sight?
I look forward to your C&C.
Cheers
Klaus

love it so far man. does anyone else sell shells like those because you could sell them if not.

Wow, I love how you mae those shells.... for one horrifying moment I thought you were going to put that rod into a pencil sharpener and then use the drill as a primitive lathe.... glad to see you went for the more sane option.... I really like your WIP's and showing how you put these moels together, the thought process' etc.
Stering work!!

Fantastic work (that makes me feel bad about my own) as always.

And loving those shells, will have to remember that.

As for the commanders sight - it doesn't want to be on top.
It looks out of place and makes the profile too tall.

I would say place it either on the disc to the left of the cannons barrel, or create a recess in the sloped armour at the front of the vehicle for it.

This is really cool!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
What did you use for molding material and casting resin?

Amazing attention to detail and realism as usual, I don't like the commander sight up there either IMHO. Maybe over the opposite hole from where the driver is, unless that would get in the way of the barrel's traverse..

Hi all,
thanks for your feedback. Seems my little trick for the shells is considered valuable
@ Atreides127 - it's a 1/35 Sherman (Tamiya 35190 M4 Sherman 1 : 35), they are a tad too big for standard WH40K, but the 1:48 kits are definitely too small.

@Warboss_Waaazag - it's pretty cool stuff, actually no-name, I order here in Germany at Rai-Ro. Here's a link on my blog:
http://fischers-design-shop.blogspot.de/p/simple-molding.html

Since the last update I worked on the auto-loading mechanism. It makes no sense to have such a low profile gun arrangement, if you can't get any shells in, right?
So here is the lifting mechanism, that will push the shell up into the breech.


With a shell in the lower position,


and a bit up - since it's not glued in position it kept sliding down while shooting the photo


Since I don't want a loader to slam a round into the lift as each round is fired (which would also require the turret to come back to the 12 o'clock position for each reload) I designed a small 4-shot magazine.


There should be two magazines - one on each side - to allow for two standard ammunition's.



And here you can see the "Kampfmittelanlage SKORPION"


Or rather the "Versuchswaffenträger XI mit Kampfmittelanlage SKORPION und Kampfraumverbesserung ODIN"


Sounds "official" enough, doesn't it?


Next I assembled all the little tools and gadgets that were included in the Tamiya "WWII German Tank Crew Field Maintenance Set" 1:48.
Lots of ammo crates, a table, a ladder, some tool boxes, and some tools.


And then I started to assemble them into the scene.


Remember, that I'm trying to get a " Third Reich/Iron Sky flair and a sprinkle of WH40K. I envision an underground research facility, looking a bit like an old U-Boot bunker, a "prototype" in the center, with soldiers and researchers around it, while a group of officers take the "dog-and-pony-show". "

The tank will be on an elevated part of the facility - most likely with some tracks running on the ground and lots of concrete.


The right end of the scene will be closed by a huge blast door, sealing the facility from the environment (but a little man-door on the side).


And to give it some feeling of thickness I added some support beams.


Maybe I'll add a running crane to these support beams.


Since the Styrofoam doesn't really represent concrete any good, I casted some plates to simulate pre-casted concrete sections.


I like the concrete effect.


So, this is as far as I got.


What do you think?
I look forward to your C&C.
Cheers
Klaus

As always looks amazing.

I am not sure I should dare to make suggestions since you are one of the Jedi Council, but....

I would stick the whole tank on a rail carriage running on the tracks. Gives that production line feel. Just a simple set of wheels and a flat bed top. Just a thought.

Brilliant work though, and nice scene, perfect for what you are trying to go for I think.

It all looks good so far, and I love the work you've done on that gun,
the fact that you can see the mechanics behind how it works really adds to the realism .

Oooh this is some amazing stuff Klaus! I know I always say that..but it's always true!

The pre-cast concrete plates are brilliant! I've often pondered how to get that "poured in sections- and therefore weathered different" look. My spidey senses tell me you're going to achieve that look here!

Beautiful work, my friend.

Quality Klaus..... real Quility!! and the details on that gun assembly is sweet! As always...... really love your work!!

Thank you guys!
You help me a lot.

Sorry for the longer silence, but the last two weeks were rather eventful.
I have some problems sleeping, actually haven't slept without pills for weeks, and the pills make me very drowsy. Plus lots of migraine - and the pills give me pimples
So I've been to MRT, but everything OK there, so it is "only" psycho-somatic...or as the doc said "on the fast lane to burnout"
So he considered me unfit for work, and I'm on medical leave for at least two weeks.

I can already feel some improvement, and yesterday was my 49th (!!! I'm OLD) birthday. I celebrated with my wife and I was able to enjoy the food and drink
Since I will also have a two week vacation lined up directly after Eastern, I will be off work for 4 weeks total. Right now it feels like this will do the trick and get me back into working order

Well, with that much time on my hands I DID get some stuff done. Not as much as I would normally have, but I'm quite pleased.

I wasn't quite satisfied with the concrete I created, so I created a new set of concrete.


The structure is a lot better, and also the "boarded" style looks more realistic.


So I created new molds and poured new sets of concrete sections.


Looks better I think


I also built a rolling door for the wall in the rear.


Plus a running crane.


Then I built the large blast door for the right wall.


The scene is slowly coming together.


The running gear for the crane



Then I added signal lights for the blast door,


and side door,


as well as a fluorescent light for one of the work areas.


Then I built several detail items like this large console.


All the little gadgets in position


One final item I wanted to add were lights


So I created rear wall mountings, using the corners of old sprues.


and simple plastic card lamps


I think it fits the atmosphere...


Then I added the turret to the crane



And the final scene


I'm very pleased with it.
The scene looks pretty much how I wanted it.
Now the actual figures need some attention, lots of mold line cleaning, some sculpting and details.
So, what do you think?
I look forward to your C&C.
Cheers
Klaus

All I can say is you sir make me sick that's a lot of detail there. The only thing I can see you doing to make it even better (and I'm sure you could but it would be a pain) is to make the lights operational.

Aside from that it looks great. Keep it up.

Magnificent work as always. Colour Me military green with envy! Sorry to hear you've been unwell, hopefully time off will help mend. A daft question: is this supposed to be an imperial installation? If so, a big ad mech cog needed!

Phenomenal work as always Klaus!! And what a return........ the details as always are amazing.....

Great work as always , needs more orks attacking it though. I really love the winch at the top and all the details you built into the rails it rides in.

Wow! Klaus! This has to be your best yet! The rolling door, the crane, the lights, all details that really keep the viewer amazed and interested in looking!

Amazing!

What do you do with all of these? Are they just boxed up in your basement (I'm imagining the end of the first Indiana Jones movie) or have you taken over your FLGS? They're really astounding and should be displayed with pride!

Now I see why you need a vacation. "Oh, I'll just make a fully-detailed tank factory in a couple of days..."

Great work as always, Klaus. Be sure and fully enjoy that month off. Don't work, don't do modelling stuff. Get outside, do stuff with friends and family.

We'll be here when you get back.

There isn't a button on my keyboard to type the extreme rage I am feeling at how easy you make this look! Two much awesome in one update I think, my updates tend to be "painted a marine's helmet today" and yours are "scratch-built a tank factory complete with tank, crew and details today". Its just too much!

Awesome work though mate, very excited to see what paint turns this diorama into.

Also, happy belated birthday!

Your work never ceases to amaze me.

Astonishing, you still raise the bar further each time. Amazing details and looks perfect. will look amazing with paint.

Get well soon, and a belated Happy Birthday.

You are "why" I am doing what I am doing! Thank you.