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I've been watching this since you started. I'm really impressed if this is your first build. The macharius is not an easy design to emulate.

The rivets look fine, if you want to do smaller ones use slices of plastic rod or as rustbucket suggests.

keep up the great work

Hey guys!

Thanks again for the comments! Not able to work on the tank for the next night or 2 but will get it updated and done as soon as i can!

OneManNoodles[/user] Thanks mate! and yes indeed this is my first 40K model... i do little bits and bobs with model making at work but nothing this complicated and scale! Thanks for the comments! and i totally agree,.. i could have picked an easier project for my first one!

rustbucket haha sounds like a great idea..... once i have this beast out of the way i am going to have a look at a couple of diferent rivet options.... just a thought... but when i have been using my rivet punch... sometimes when the punch only dents the surface of the card it gives a really cool "recessed" rivet effect..... ofcourse this would need to be done on the pieces before they are stuck together..... just an idea.....

Thanks again all!!

Amazing work! I agree, I use 1mm plastic rods, I tape 4-6 rod lengths, about 2-3 inches long and sliced with a Chopper II. I tried the cheap Micro-Mark substitute, the Chop-it, and it worked for about 6 months, but It was an inferior tool and wore out on me. Another idea though, why not drill holes in the bigger slice rivets, and then use your Grandt Line rivets in those holes? The sliced rivets will look like nuts or washers?

These are crude hex-rod bolts from some time ago, but your Grandt Lines would look eve better.

Hey guys! Thanks again for all the comments!! And will DEFFO be using some of these comments and tips for my next build!

I think.... apart from the back engine section... and the lack of main guns..... its finished!

I am going to get the beast primed this weekend and will get on with the paint job as i am waiting for the canon to arive!

Last pics before painting...... Hope you guys like it... IMHO its looking pretty beastly!!

Cheers guys! and really.. thanks again for all the tips.. they wont fall on deaf ears!

Looks really nice man! Did you use plans in the construction or do it by eye?

Love it. Looking great.

What are you planning for exhausts?

Really great work dude.

 inmygravenimage wrote:
Looks really nice man! Did you use plans in the construction or do it by eye?

Hi mate! Cheers & Thanks!

I actually started this whole thing with a 3d model i created from scratch using a computer program called "Sketchup" Its a free design tool i use at work and also is awesome for quick and effective 3d ideas and models. If you look right back at the begining of this story you will see the base model i used.... i just designed it using the main dimensions from the Imperial Armour Books.

Also... just a side note.... i came to log on here again and saw my blog is on the main home page! haha i nearly died!! haha!!

Cheers again,


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Camkierhi wrote:
Love it. Looking great.

What are you planning for exhausts?

Really great work dude.

Hey buddy! Thanks again! Really appreciate it... Well.. i am ordering main cannon "Double WidowMakers from Blood and Skulls" and they do a pretty awesome looking engine exhaust system aswell.... but also i have had my eye on a set of 4 Leman Russ Tank Exhausts i might have to purchace from good old ebay....

I think i am leaning towards the Leman Russ exhausts only because i like the simple look of them and think they will match the design better.....

Cheers again mate..... will get a lick of paint on it and then update!

 MagosBiff90 wrote:
Hi again all,

Slow but steady progress with the turret i think....

Added a few more details and all in all am pretty happy with the way it is looking!
Going to finnish the turret before moving onto the hull and then lastly the track units because i am still trying to figure our how to make the track links themselves......

Going to build up the cupola slightly before glueing it in place and want to get the gun "guard" and battle cannon structure sorted also. Then the rivets...........

Any and all comments will be appreciated......

I know the going here is painfully slow... but it is my first attempt!

Man, this is looking great! Can't wait to see the final product!

Hey there mr_bruno

Stanks for looking in!

Cant wait to get a coatof primer on this... should really tie it all together!

Cheers

Great job!

Cant wait for the finished project

Somewhat late to the party, but what an excellent scratchbuild... The detailing is wonderful and rivets look great to me (it's all about the rivets on here...)

djz05 wrote:Great job!

Cant wait for the finished project

Ruglud wrote:Somewhat late to the party, but what an excellent scratchbuild... The detailing is wonderful and rivets look great to me (it's all about the rivets on here...)

djz05 wrote:Great job!

Cant wait for the finished project

Hey guys! Thanks so much for the feedback! And Ruglud thanks... am really loving the way it is looking..

Well as promised today is pay day.... and so.... I have had a little recon into ebay and made a couple of little purchases to really finish it off!

Blood and Skulls = WidowMaker Double Canon & A turret Mounting plate....
The Bits Store = 2X Leman Russ Exhausts & Baneblade front Hull armour section to adapt and use on the front end.

IMHO these will finish it off....

Anyway.... after work today its a trip to Halfords for some primer....

Cheers Guys,

Hey all.....

Exhausts and Front hull section recieved today from ebay..... updates to come tonight.....

Plus..... have been sitting at work planning my next step...... I have had confirmation that the canon and hull mounting plate will be shipping from the US on Thursday.... so until then i am going to keep myself busy with the creation of the following........ Added the Vulcan turret to my 3d Model.... ging to switch it to templates for construction!!

Cheers Guys,

Hey everyone!

Ok... it is done!! .... apart from the main guns.....(pretty major part of a battletank)... the rest is finished....

Delt with the engine section at the rear tonight... and was looking to add some more detail to the hull but decided against it as IMHO its lookin pretty good!

No More tinkering.... It is time to get primed and then weathered and painted..... the crowning glory being the 2 battle canon i cant wait to get my hands on!

Without further ado..... pics....

Comments please guys!

one final point.... have finished the design for the Vulkan varient turret.... so going to be constructing that "after" priming the main tank and turret... hopefully get it done before the guns arive!

Looks very cool. One niggle is there's a blank space at the back left of the exhausts which could use a wee hatch maybe?

Outstanding work. Looking brilliant.

Wow, outstanding first scratchbuild!

 inmygravenimage wrote:
Looks very cool. One niggle is there's a blank space at the back left of the exhausts which could use a wee hatch maybe?

I think he said he had a engine block coming in his Blood and Skulls order, perhaps that is where it's going to go

Cheers

 Big Mek Gobsmasha wrote:
Wow, outstanding first scratchbuild!

 inmygravenimage wrote:
Looks very cool. One niggle is there's a blank space at the back left of the exhausts which could use a wee hatch maybe?

I think he said he had a engine block coming in his Blood and Skulls order, perhaps that is where it's going to go

Cheers

Hey guys!! again... thanks for the comments! Blown away! Big Mek Gobsmasha thanks for looking in!

I did originally have an engine block penned in for Blood & Skulls... but didnt go for it in the end. So maybe a vent of some kind or a hatch..... now you mention it the blank spot is really annoying!

Will sort it this weekend..... and also get a first primer coat on it... ( i know i know.... i keep saying it....)

Hey all,

Well... due to the good old Scotish weather.... the painting and priming has to have been put on hold.....

But.... i have made a start on the Vulkan turret..... One of the Mega Bolter covers and the main turret unit...... I have added another cupola and commander for the pics.....

Due to the massive fire rate of the rotary bolters.. I am going to try and concoct some extra ammo storage on the turret... or some kind of ammo feed system...... i will see how it works out!

Also.. for the painting..... i am going to use a mix of Orange/Red/ burnt Orange undercoating.... in patches with some grey/silver. Then go into some salt weathering.... and really try and get the "mid campaign" effect i am looking for. With the final overcoat of grey and Dark Grey in a camo pattern..... hopefully this will give a really strong contrast and make the undercoat of "rust" and base metal shine though! .....

Fan.




Tastic.

 BrotherOfBone wrote:
Fan.




Tastic.

Hey mate!! Thanks a lot for the comments! I hope to have the ammo storage and second Vulkan cover done tomorrow.... then its into the details!

I really like the mix of materials in your build, something that I also do and works a treat

 Ruglud wrote:
I really like the mix of materials in your build, something that I also do and works a treat

Hey Ruglud thanks mate, tbh the mix of marerials started out as whatever I had handy to work with!
But as it has progressed I am finding that the mix of rextures and materials is pretty cool!

Thanks mate, glad your enjoying it!

Looking great, the turret looks sweet, can't wait to see the turret finished, your art work for it looks exciting, it will look awesome built.

Great work! I love it!

Could we get some more knee shots?

Hey all......

Well.. the weather has been relentless.. so no paint as yet.. but have managed to get the vulkan covers done and added a little bit f detail..... started the ammo hopper aswell......

Little update.... but i think the proportions are looking good....

Hope you all like it...

Cheers.....

Looking very very neat. And stop whining about the weather, it was only -3 this morning in Glasgow

I do really like the turrets.

I am 100 miles north of you, you want to try my world. LOL.

Camkierhi wrote:I do really like the turrets.

I am 100 miles north of you, you want to try my world. LOL.

inmygravenimage wrote:Looking very very neat. And stop whining about the weather, it was only -3 this morning in Glasgow

Haha..... cheers guys! Camheirhi I remember well the winters of the north! Used to go to Uni in the Granite City! More like Hoth on a bad day!!

inmygravenimage your right.... i can feel the Commissar's beady eye on me and his hand reaching for his pistol at my lack of commitment! lol!

Recieved some more goodies in the post from e-bay today..... for my next project...... but not going to go into too much detail until the Mach is done!

Cheers guys!

Looking great so far Magos, and your scratch build skills are wonderful! Can't wait to see it when she's all done and fully painted!