Switch Theme:

A Detailed Quality build of the Forge World Storm Eagle  [RSS] Share on facebook Share on Twitter Submit to Reddit
»
Author Message
Advert


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.




Made in us
Fresh-Faced New User




Memphis TN

Hi All!

I came into the hobby due to a number of the models slapping my "THAT's NEAT!" nerve and have been slowly drawn even further in over the last year. Before that I was all about building detailed scale models of aircraft and armor and that was after taking about 20 years off from almost every building hobby. (Yup the big D can do a number on ya!)

Anyway as to the Storm Eagle, several showed up for sale at my local hobby shop back in late December from some collections trading out. I picked up one and it hooked me in immediately. As there was a Group Build going on with another forum I now frequent that was a fund raiser for cancer research, I decided why not! I paid my donation on Jan 3rd and entered the Storm Eagle into the build which was to end Jan 31. The only snag to be eligible for a raffle at the end was to "finish" a build. I figured, no problem, Forge World stuff is supposed to build up fairly nicely and I should be able to finish it in time.

Famous - Last - Words! I only picked one of the more difficult to build kits. Should have known.

I try to document, photograph and explain my build progress as well as the processes. Mixed in are tools I use, as well as tools I make and have made.

So here is the first installment of the Forge World Storm Eagle build. I didn't manage to finish it in time for the raffle, but that is of no real consequence. It was for a good cause that I support. (lost my wife to cancer 10 years ago) Enjoy the posts! If you have any questions feel free to ask me!










That's all for now, I will have a new post with more photos soon!

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/02/14 04:17:48


 
   
Made in us
Superior Stormvermin






Allen Texas

Cue the classical music as you continue building with this precision.

I'll be tuning in.

Silacier & Rozgarth: Hey you should start playing warmahords with us.
Me: OK (sets down Tyranid, drives to store and picks up Legion of Everblight)
Me: the more things change....
 
   
Made in us
Perfect Shot Dark Angels Predator Pilot





Vancouver WA

Can't wait to see the rest!

   
Made in ca
Perturbed Blood Angel Tactical Marine



Toronto

Subscribed! I have a storm eagle in parts on my work bench waiting to be assembled. It's been waiting for longer than I'd like to admit, more than likely due to being intimidated by the difficulty of the kit. Please post again soon!
   
Made in us
Fresh-Faced New User




Memphis TN

Here is a new installment on building the Storm Eagle folks.

I hope you don't get intimidated by some of my methods and tools on this build. The plate and clamp tools that are in todays post are a tool I made a while back to correct some warpage on injection molded kits. The first kit I tried it on I managed to damage the warped part beyond salvage. They say you learn more from mistakes than from everything going nice and easy. I have found that out myself a number of times, (yup the hard way) but in the end was much better off for the experience. The one thing I have always maintained is to learn from others mistakes when and if possible.

Here is a brief intro into what I had on beginning this part of the build. Some others have told me that their kits were not nearly as warped as mine was. As to that, I am glad for them, and hope your kit is fairly warp free! If it isn't then I have some good help, advice and techniques to help you deal with the problems. So here is the graphics part of the post.









I basically got the parts close to straight here and after a few days had to redo some of the warpage removal as there was some memory in the parts that caused some of the warp to return. The way I removed the remaining warpage was to heat the water to about 170 degrees F and then dip just a small area of the part to heat it. I decided that it would be better to adjust areas and get them just right then do other areas rather than try and do it all at once. The all at once was fine for a start, but wasn't going to work for flip for small adjustments.

So I did the small areas as needed. One trick I devised was if the area was in the center of the part, I would use a gravy ladle and pour the hot water over just the spot I needed to heat. (for example the side pieces are quite long and the areas around the side doors were off) I would pour over one side then flip the part and pour over the other side keeping the water to just the area I wanted to adjust. By doing this the remainder wouldn't change shape.

As to the temperature, I found that while
I would NOT put my hands in the water while it was at 170 degrees, the part was only warm to the touch, maybe quite warm but still comfortable to hold and manipulate. At 170 to 180 degrees though the resin would become quite pliable.

That's all for now. If you have any questions, or need some clarification please feel free to PM me or ask on the thread. I might have worked on past a problem you are having or found another solution and forgot to work it into the graphical posting.

Cheers and time for a beer, it's Friday!! Woo Hoo!

One other note, I am not lighting this with LEDs, it is referring to the lights on the front sides of the fuselage. (Which are quite plain and crappy looking) Check back for my solution!

 
   
Made in us
Fresh-Faced New User




Memphis TN

HEY ALL!
I am going to go ahead and get this next section posted. It is a large post and covers a fair amount of ground. If something puzzles you, feel free to ask (you might not be the only one). I might even need to add some followup detail posts if something isn't clear enough.

If you have questions or a problem I might be able to help you solve, Please ask! It is amazing how solving someone else's problem can help me with something I have been pondering as well.















Again if anything needs clarification, please ask! I will do my best to help. Have a good weekend all and enjoy!

 
   
Made in nl
Trigger-Happy Baal Predator Pilot






Suddenly filled with respect for people who can actually assemble this! Nice tutorial, lots of useful stuff in here

3000p
2000p
7500p 
   
Made in us
Raging-on-the-Inside Blood Angel Sergeant



Alexandria, VA

Good stuff. Not sure if this makes me more worried or more comfortable ordering a large FW model.
   
Made in gb
Sadistic Inquisitorial Excruciator






The Midlands

Fantastically detailed Tutorial, might just buy a Storm Eagle so I can try it!!

 
   
Made in us
Speedy Swiftclaw Biker





Nashville TN

Would have loved some of these techniques when I built my Assault Ram.

When in doubt.........Duck!

Even in the far future there can still be heroes... 
   
Made in us
Fresh-Faced New User




Memphis TN

Actually this is the first Forge World resin kit I have built. I do have a fair amount of scratch building and modification experience from scale model kits. There are a lot of techniques I learned over the years and one of them is how to think my way through solutions.

One thing to remember Reps01 is that the larger the parts (for example Thunderhawk parts) the more work it will probably take to get a good quality fit and build. It is still possible even with a really bad kit, the only difference is time and desire. There are many other ways to do a lot of the things I have been doing on this build. Some better, some easier, some not nearly as good. I have read some other reviews and builds of the Storm Eagle and they all agree that it isn't an easy kit, but most really liked the finished model. It seems that most took a lot less trouble and attention to detail than I am and were able to have the model together over a weekend. If all someone wants is a gaming piece and they are not particularly worried about appearance, a quick build is easily possible.

I am just really picky about how my models look, so I put much more effort into the build. Why not document the process if it might help someone that is dealing with some of the same problems. These posts are enjoyable to put together and the model has been work but the "Atta-boys" and "Kudos" are what really make it worth all the work.

A new post will be coming soon!

 
   
Made in us
Death-Dealing Dark Angels Devastator





Western Massachusetts

This is such a neat thread! Thanks for sharing your techniques with us, it's really interesting to see the tools and techniques you've come up with.

I'll certainly be subscribing.
   
Made in us
Sniping Reverend Moira





Cincinnati, Ohio

Heaven's Eagle is right: not an easy kit to build at all, but at the end the juice is worth the squeeze. I love how it looks finished, but I had a TON of trouble assembling the fuselage. Similar warping problems that he had, needed clamps and rubber bands for MULTIPLE places and even needed a second set of hands in a few parts. This was harder to build than my assault ram, without question.

 
   
Made in us
Boosting Ultramarine Biker




Maryville, TN

Wow....this is one helluva detailed tutorial. Your modeling setup and tools are also off the hook, especially for a total beginner like me (still saving up to get my first models painted). Nice work!
   
Made in ca
Dour Wolf Priest with Iron Wolf Amulet






Canada

 Requiem wrote:
Suddenly filled with respect for people who can actually assemble this! Nice tutorial, lots of useful stuff in here

It's a lovely model, and the warping can actually be circumvented when you glue the hull together. I wish I'd thought to drill out the engines though, because the model certainly is rather heavy!

   
Made in us
Inspiring Icon Bearer





Colorado Springs, CO

At 12:03 Eastern Time I clicked on this thread, and at 12:05 Eastern Time, my brain exploded.

This is excellent work. I'm pretty sure that I couldn't do this in anything that would even compare the the quality of this build. Simple amazing. I'm saving the link in case I ever decide to spring for that thundhawk I've always wanted!

One of them filthy casuals... 
   
Made in us
Sniping Reverend Moira





Cincinnati, Ohio

godswildcard wrote:
At 12:03 Eastern Time I clicked on this thread, and at 12:05 Eastern Time, my brain exploded.

This is excellent work. I'm pretty sure that I couldn't do this in anything that would even compare the the quality of this build. Simple amazing. I'm saving the link in case I ever decide to spring for that thundhawk I've always wanted!


I'd encourage you to wait on the T-Hawk. It's a rough, rough kit to build from what I've seen. The old mould coupled with the fact that there are large parts that can warp easily make it hard to assemble.

Plus, you can always hold out hope for the plastic one .

The Assault Ram is really a fun build and is really fun to use in game. I'd encourage that over the Storm Eagle as a starter flyer

Or hell, get a Warhound. Those are detailed, but fun builds too.

 
   
Made in us
Speedy Swiftclaw Biker






Where was this when i was assembling mine in december! i love the model, but man is it a poorly cast set. i had to do alot of straightening in order to get things right, and one side of the fuselage is still bowed inward. my rear hatch was also way to big for the model, so i ended up sanding it down and magnetizing it to fit.
   
Made in us
Inspiring Icon Bearer





Colorado Springs, CO

 cincydooley wrote:


I'd encourage you to wait on the T-Hawk. It's a rough, rough kit to build from what I've seen. The old mould coupled with the fact that there are large parts that can warp easily make it hard to assemble.

Plus, you can always hold out hope for the plastic one .

The Assault Ram is really a fun build and is really fun to use in game. I'd encourage that over the Storm Eagle as a starter flyer

Or hell, get a Warhound. Those are detailed, but fun builds too.


Excellent words. I will ponder this!

One of them filthy casuals... 
   
Made in gb
Avatar of the Bloody-Handed God






Inside your mind, corrupting the pathways

Some interesting tips and tricks here

   
Made in us
Fresh-Faced New User




Memphis TN

 Andilus Greatsword wrote:

It's a lovely model, and the warping can actually be circumvented when you glue the hull together. I wish I'd thought to drill out the engines though, because the model certainly is rather heavy!

I did do some of that "after" the major warpage was cleaned up. There was no way my particular kit would have gone together without the heavy de-warp I did initially to the parts. As it was the floor was still a little warped but as it is somewhat thin it flexed easily enough. The sides though are fairly thick and if they aren't relatively straight they will cause misalignment in the model if forced together. As it was the bulkhead in the center actually squared up the box of the fuselage. Then I attached the front top piece.


 warhawkstriker wrote:
Where was this when i was assembling mine in december! i love the model, but man is it a poorly cast set. i had to do alot of straightening in order to get things right, and one side of the fuselage is still bowed inward. my rear hatch was also way to big for the model, so i ended up sanding it down and magnetizing it to fit.

I had seen the Storm Eagle kit online, but only purchased it the last week of December. Someone in the local area sold my local hobby shop their collection and they had 2 of these in the collection. Something just grabbed me and I had to start it. As I work through this build, I am learning a lot. Some things are sinking in only after the fact. In my next installment I will show how I added some magnets to the weapons on the wings. Learned a little about size and strength of the magnets "after" the parts were magnetized and how it affects being able to remove the parts. Especially the missile tips that are used on the Storm Raven kit.

Another kit I picked up was the Thunderbolt kit. It is all resin and seems to have avoided a number of the problems that the Storm Eagle has. I was able to mostly dry fit the Thunderbolt together without too much trouble. Both wings on it have a slight twist warp, but compared to the SE they will be quite simple. Am currently making plans on how and what I want to build that as. As I also have the Thunderbolt pilot figure, I am thinking about a diorama of something from the Dan Abnet book "Double Eagle".

Forge World's Thunderbolt kit:



My initial impression of this kit is that it might be suitable for a first resin kit. The parts are fairly well made and designed such that they shouldn't have too much warpage. As with any resin kit there will be a fair amount of cleanup and fit work, but not any more than expected. The Storm Eagle rather surprised me with how poorly everything fit, though most of the hard work is now behind me.




Automatically Appended Next Post:
Time for the next installment on this build. With this installment all the posts will be caught up with the posts I have done on some other forums. As I am working on the next post for magnetizing the weapons and some other things, this needed posting. Enjoy!









More coming soon!

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/02/22 02:23:19


 
   
Made in gb
Automated Space Wolves Thrall






Looking good, wish i had the courage to take on something like that!

At the end I shall be there. For the final battle. For the Wolftime. -Last words of Leman Russ  
   
Made in us
Last Remaining Whole C'Tan






Pleasant Valley, Iowa

I'm really enjoying reading this. I love the look of this kit, but several people have posted here about how difficult of a build it was, and your notes really ram that home - I don't think I'm capable of building this yet. I'll have to live vicariously through your tale.

 lord_blackfang wrote:
Respect to the guy who subscribed just to post a massive ASCII dong in the chat and immediately get banned.

 Flinty wrote:
The benefit of slate is that its.actually a.rock with rock like properties. The downside is that it's a rock
 
   
Made in us
Raging-on-the-Inside Blood Angel Sergeant



Alexandria, VA

^Ditto.
   
Made in us
Death-Dealing Dark Angels Devastator





Western Massachusetts

I'm really enjoying reading this. I love the look of this kit, but several people have posted here about how difficult of a build it was, and your notes really ram that home - I don't think I'm capable of building this yet. I'll have to live vicariously through your tale.


I'm in the same situation, both in enjoying this build and in being nowhere near ready to build one of these myself.

Though that Thunderbolt does looks more my speed...
   
Made in us
Sniping Reverend Moira





Cincinnati, Ohio

Man, that rear ramp was a frakking nightmare. I had to shave it significantly. It's almost as if it's the wrong part. Seems like you had that same experience.

 
   
Made in gb
Widowmaker





Stretford, Manchester

Wow. Just....wow. Thank you so much for this blog! A goldmine of tips, techniques and knowledge here. I look forward to seeing more from your good self, sah!
   
Made in us
Stalwart Dark Angels Space Marine





Twin Cities, MN

This is an incredible tutorial. Thank you for your hard work putting it together!

I have to echo earlier comments - this makes me nervous about large Forgeworld kits! I already have a rather large aversion to resin... plastic is just so much easier for me.

That being said, you mentioned that the Thunderbolt dry-fits more easily - easily enough to recommend it as a first FW purchase? For that matter, any chance you'll do a similar write up on that guy? I have been lusting over it for a long time and have been hesitating mainly because I'm afraid to have to build it!

Loyalty is its own reward 
   
Made in us
Fresh-Faced New User




Memphis TN

I probably will do one of these kind of info builds on the Thunderbolt when the time comes, though it won't be a straight build. I am already planning a lot of modifications and I need to re-read a couple of paperback books first.

As far as working with the Forge World resin, it is fairly easy to work with. Hardness is somewhere between the plastic GW kits and the Finecast resin. (I am not a real fan of the poor Finecast stuff) The Thunderbolt parts are definitely much better on the kit I have than the Storm Eagle parts. Of course there will still be a fair amount of clean up and touch up. That is just part of building the larger Forge World kits.

 
   
Made in us
Fresh-Faced New User




Memphis TN

Here is the new post everyone! It ended up being quite large this time, but I am now caught up post to where I actually am on the build.

Enjoy and as always feel free to ask questions and let me know what you think!





















That's all for now! Stay tuned!

 
   
 
Forum Index » Painting & Modeling Tutorials
Go to: