Land Raider Achilles Scratchbuild

forrestfire15

New Member
Since I found this forum I have been wanting to try scratchbuilding something from the paper templates, so I figured "why start small?"

So, I'm currently in the process of building one of my favorite models that has always been inaccessible to me: a Land Raider Achilles.

I decided that since I want it to last a bit longer than a few games when I finish, I'll be making it a bit sturdier than just paper, and am using foam sheets and foam boards to make the base before detailing.

My current progress is just a basic shape of the main part of the tank:

landraider1_zps6b81b9e5.jpg


landraider2_zps033eeee8.jpg
 
Z

Zathros

Looks like a good start! I found a picture for some reference. These guys have fun designing these things but you could never reload them, the guns in most of these tanks are so impractical and no one would fit inside them. In that sense, it reminds of of Star Wars. Suspense of belief very necessary! Lots of fun though. :)

achilles2.jpg
 

forrestfire15

New Member
Well, multi-meltas are reloaded through the cables/tubes, and thunderfire cannons get their ammo from the back, so I don't see the problem :wink:

I've made some more progress, so I'll have some pictures up later once I find my camera...
 

forrestfire15

New Member
Update time! :D

Today I decided to work on the front of the main body of the tank, so I started by cutting up the front and adding more details around it. In-between working on it, I had also sprayed it with a coat of paint to see what showed up, and discovered that the foam sheets I was using does not like paint, and absorbs it instead of having a clean coat.

LandRaiderWiP6_zps835f3c68.jpg


LandRaiderWiP5_zps66411cb4.jpg



The door took a while to do, since I kept accidentally cutting my cardboard off-center, but I think it turned out alright:

LandRaiderWiP7_zps0af0a075.jpg.html


I still need to add the ridges, though.

And here's the place the thunderfire cannon goes:

LandRaiderWiP3_zps44e63c94.jpg.html


One thing I noticed during making the thunderfire cannon mount was that due to some screwup earlier, I had diverged from the shape of a land raider by a bit. So, I used some card to make extra armor and I'll add rivets and detailing to it to make it look like it's supposed to be there :p
 
Last edited by a moderator:

callyfergus

New Member
The models themselves are really just designed to a scale which will make them look reasonably practical whilst next to a foot soldier, but also be not too big and end up obscuring a large portion of the table.
 

forrestfire15

New Member
I had posted another update, and it never actually went through, apparently.

I've worked more on the shape and detailing of the front of the main tank body:

LandRaiderWiP6_zps09f17938.jpg


LandRaiderWiP5_zps66411cb4.jpg


Here's a closeup of the door:

LandRaiderWiP7_zps0af0a075.jpg


And here's a closeup of the gun mount:

LandRaiderWiP4_zpsb6fa99fe.jpg


I realized around the time I was working on the gun mount area that I had diverged a bit from the shape of a traditional land raider, so I added more armor plates and plan to add some detailing to make them look like they were meant to be there.
 

forrestfire15

New Member
And here's today's update:

I started working on the rest of the tank. Not much is done yet, since I need to track down some sandpaper to smooth it down before adding card and paper to detail it.

LandRaiderWiP9_zpsfc0ec839.jpg


LandRaiderWiP8_zpsda2874c1.jpg
 
Z

Zathros

That foam board is going to make for a very strong model!. It's coming along great!! :)
 

forrestfire15

New Member
So, I've cut some stuff, glued some stuff, and sanded some stuff, and now I have one side attached.

I'd have more pictures, but my camera died :(

LandRaiderWiP_zpsb7da9490.jpg
 

forrestfire15

New Member
Maybe some paper or cardstock after I add tracks, but I honestly don't think I'll need any extra covering. The top part is covered by the armor plates on the tank, the front by the extra armor, and the bottom will have tracks.
 

forrestfire15

New Member
Sorry for not updating this for a week, the camera that I use was dead and I never got around to charging it.

I've made a ton of progress, as you can see. The main body of the tank itself is finally completed, and I've begun attaching the treads. Thankfully, I didn't have to make them out of card or paper, because a guy I know sold me a set.

LandRaiderWiP14-1.jpg


I've used some card and green stuff to make the treads fit with the body of the tank:

LandRaiderWiP12-1.jpg


LandRaiderWiP13-1.jpg


The sides are made of foam sheets, and will probably be either covered in paper or sealed with a coating of glue to make them paintable.

LandRaiderWiP10-1.jpg


LandRaiderWiP11-1.jpg



The next part of the project is finishing the attachment of the treads, and also filling any gaps, before moving on to the armor on the top and sides.
 

forrestfire15

New Member
I've begun on the armor plating for the top of the tank. This is going to end up covered in card or paper to thicken and add details to it.

LandRaiderWiP15.jpg


LandRaiderWiP16.jpg
 

forrestfire15

New Member
My apologies for the lack of recent updates.

I've been busy with school, so all I've gotten around to is working on the side armor:

LandRaiderSide2.jpg


LandRaiderSide1.jpg


There's going to be some green stuff work to fix any imperfections in my cuts, and to smooth out the sides before I attach them to the tank itself.

Also, I couldn't figure out how to do the axel bits on the bottom of the side armor, so I ended up making them in sketchup instead. My college has a 3D printer, so $2 later, I've got these in the print queue and will have them in a few days :mrgreen:

LandRaiderAxels.png


LandRaiderAxels2.png
 

forrestfire15

New Member
So, the parts came back, and they turned out alright. I need to take a file and razor to them to clean them up, and probably use some liquid green stuff to meld them to the side armor better.

In any case, I decided that the foam sheets I was using just won't hold paint well, so I'm going to cover the side armor with paper before I continue.

LandRaiderAxelCaps2.jpg


LandRaiderAxelCaps1.jpg


LandRaiderAxelCaps3.jpg
 
Top