Land Raider Achilles Scratchbuild

[forrestfire15]

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:

 

[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.

 

[forrestfire15]

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

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

 

[forrestfire15]

Update time!

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.

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

I still need to add the ridges, though.

And here's the place the thunderfire cannon goes:

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

 

[callyfergus]

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.

 

[Zathros]

Wow, you have made great progress in a short time. Excellent!

 

[forrestfire15]

It didn't post, though...

EDIT: My further posts in this thread have not shown up.

 

[Zathros]

It didn't post, though...

What didn't post?

 

[forrestfire15]

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:

Here's a closeup of the door:

And here's a closeup of the gun mount:

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.

 

[periklis_sale]

great progress my friend!

 

[forrestfire15]

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.

 

[Zathros]

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

 

[forrestfire15]

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

 

[periklis_sale]

how will you cover the rack area with the multi foam parts?
will you try and glue a thin stripe of plastic?

 

[forrestfire15]

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]

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.

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

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.

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]

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.

 

[forrestfire15]

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:

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:

 

[forrestfire15]

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.

 

[HisDivineShadow]

Nice Axel bits. And the use of ...ahem .... card stock