Blackadder's Scratchbuilt Thunderhawk

[Blackadder]

Forward Bolters

Well after much soul searching I finally conceded that front firing bolters are not redundant on Thunderhawk as the ball turrets sport turbolasers. So placement of the turret mounts is pretty much ordained by the 3D drawing as nestled up to the froward belt armour.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/ZtpGwX3.jpg[/url]


Yeah Blackadder, you leave this thread hanging for months and you show up with one measly image.

[Blackadder]

Forward Bolters:

Since my Thunderhawk is outsized I have elected to use Landraider sponsons.

Cutting and placing these sponsons had best be left for the end of the detailing as they have to fit right in the proper position. I was lucky in that with virtually no planning on my part the sponson fit as if I HAD PLANNED IT ALL ALONG?

After drilling the corner holes I used an Xacto keyhole saw to cut between the corner holes.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/YzZ9TrJ.jpg[/url]


I then pared the excess styrene to the penciled lines and filed the hole carefully for a snug fit of the sponson inner flange....

[url]http://i.imgur.com/X1xZA6s.jpg[/url]


The plugs fit snugly; better than I expected.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/rkPaVjT.jpg[/url]

[Lord Tothe]

Looking good. The Land Raider sponsons definitely add to the model. And on the bright side, your Thunderhawk actually looks like the vehicle is scaled to the number of models it's supposed to carry. GW seems to undersize vehicles, at least for the Space Marines.

[Blackadder]

Thanks, and I just had an inspiration to make these removable so I can replace them with other weapons or just leave the hull opening sealed with a plug door as in the 3D image.....

[url]http://i.imgur.com/VosDIww.jpg[/url]


Ahhhh to be young and have a choice.

[Kirsten]

looking good

[Lord Tothe]

Thanks, and I just had an inspiration to make these removable so I can replace them with other weapons or just leave the hull opening sealed with a plug door as in the 3D image.....

[url]http://i.imgur.com/VosDIww.jpg[/url]


Ahhhh to be young and have a choice.

Brilliant solution! Will you use magnets, or just a snug press fit?

[Blackadder]

Plug In Weapons:

At the risk of belaboring the obvious I offer my mechanism for quick change weapons. in the image below I have mounted my Bolter assembly with a sliding bolt lock assembly where you slide out the upper and lower bolts to remove the bolter mount. A simple yet effective solution.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/87Fey7N.jpg[/url]


Below is the unit removed with one bolt in place and the other removed.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/GfwcBIL.jpg[/url]


Pardon the blurred images please...........

[Kirsten]

simple but effective, neatly done

[40kGamer]

Very nice option!

[Blackadder]

Thanks,

Forward Cargo Interior:

One of the first things (in my optimism) I built for this model was the interior lo these many years ago so yesterday I began adapting the floor and walls to fit the amended exterior.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/nV9G0z8.jpg[/url]


First I had to cut out the floor to accommodate the nose gear housing which worked out rather well as the front reinforcing stringers gave sufficient height to clear the majority of the housing.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/dGpclmx.jpg[/url]


On further inspection of the interior it seems I have room for a few Space Marines on the upper level of the superstructure if the marines can stand and be suspended by a system of beams and hangers; wouldn't that be a rip

Of course I will have the interior lighting to show off the upper gallery.