Blackadder's Scratchbuilt Thunderhawk

[Blackadder]

Not a Padded Cell:

Not yet anyway but working on it. I might just as well go for broke and install that cargo bay interior I've had in the back of my mind some time. Ever since I first saw these ball turrets.

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


After gutting the foam from all but the ceiling of the forward bay and flight deck I find I have room to spare for all the goodies including the interior LEDs lighting.

I don't think I need go any further back into the structure because that would necessitate tearing out the wing roots and the landing gear housings and seriously compromise the entire structure of the aft superstructure; no that would be really bad.........

[url]http://i.imgur.com/4pulBDL.jpg[/url]


Anyway the cargo bay and ball turrets have a lot to keep me occupied for quite some time.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/N5NLR5i.jpg[/url]


This interior shoot shows the inner space looking forward to the cargo door opening.

[Wolfshade]

Those balls are looking good.

[Blackadder]

The Thunderhawk Has Balls:

Just a dry run to see how everything fits. I have to open up the bevel a bit but the overall look is pretty good. The size seem alright not too small and not too big.

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


It's going to take some time to get use to how much the turret protrudes from the mount; once I enlarge the bevel I may recess the ball a few millimeters.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/9ee05Vo.jpg[/url]


The next few images just display the range of movement of the turret:

[url]http://i.imgur.com/uZu3lWD.jpg[/url]


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


[url]http://i.imgur.com/u4cJTVj.jpg[/url]


And these last show the bevel before I smooth the surface.

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


[url]http://i.imgur.com/q2itwZ1.jpg[/url]

[Blackadder]

The Effort We Make:

I seem to be putting too much effort into a model I'm not all that enthused of working on but I have to keep reminding myself that I'm doing this for my son. Ha! He started this over seven years ago when he had just entered High School and this year he will be graduating College.

Anyway His kids might appreciate it.

Here is the T'hawk with Ball Turrets in place resting on it's nose gear

(Note the nose gear shock strut compressed with the gear deployed and the weight of the model resting on it.) I'm rather proud of that accomplishment. Actually, I'd forgotten I made that.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/d0x5XIl.jpg[/url]


Here is the front view showing how much it protrudes from the side of the ship

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


The temporary aligning straps are visible in this image but once the gun barrels are completed they will not be necessary.

Below we see a bottom view with the retractable landing gear exposed in the stowed position and the protrusion of the Ball Turret from the side is acceptable.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/efvrSm4.jpg[/url]


And again the retractable Landing gear this time in the deployed position with the landing pad (removed for clarity) in the foreground.

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


Just for those readers inquiring about the landing gears.

[Cadian122]

Looking really - I wish I had the patience and time to scratch build what you're doing - unfortunately I'm too lazy and plump for the Forgeworld gear.

[primeministersinister]

amazing work/ I am really astounded by this.

[Blackadder]

Thanks for the reply,

An Engineering Tour de Farce:

Well I went blithefully ahead this week end whilst others were at play so the actual construction of the canard vanes went unrecorded.

Suffice it to say it was pretty much the same as the horizontal stabilizer albeit a tad smaller.

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


My Canards and tail plane structure is larger than both the 3D rendering and the FW model in relative size to the fuselage as my model is a bit more robust than either.

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


Once the Canard fixed guns are in place the extra length will be masked.

[Richard Morris]

long time no reply, loving the look of the ball turrets, FW should steal your idea and implement it on their own T-hawks, would look awesome.

[Blackadder]

The Ball Turret is FW's design but unless they stretch their T'hawk it won't fit in the aft of the cargo bay.

[interrogator_chaplain]

Brilliant work with the ball turrets. Those front stabilizers are looking good too!