Blackadder's Scratchbuilt Thunderhawk

[Mike Lawler]

Mind-boggling as always! I did notice in the 3rd picture in post 333 (..odd coincidence) the wing-tip las-cannons do not look very straight.. they appear to have a strange curve to them. It might be the shape of the outer housing of them creating an illusion but I thought it was worth pointing out so you can look and make the determination for yourself.

[Blackadder]

The glue soften the tubing where I clamped it so now it is an official FW copy......

Thanks for the reply,

Way Too Much Effort:

I'm putting too much effort into a model I wasn't that enthused about in the first place.

But in for a penny as the saying goes.

There are some beautiful colour 3D renderings of T'hawks available and of all this is by far my favorite.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/9V6NhiQ.jpg[/url]


The rendering actually makes a T'hawk plausible and real.

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


BTW this is the colour scheme I've decided on so anyone know what chapter is this please?
So since I am committed to finishing this model I may as well duplicate it the whole way and revamp the nose cowl/door.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/278Y6Hz.jpg[/url]


So since I am committed to finishing this model I may as well duplicate it the whole way and revamp the nose cowl/door.

The front end of the 3D looks so much more brutal than the FW design..... Brutal is good....

[url]http://i.imgur.com/Hq9Njxc.jpg[/url]


This is an Lord Inquisitor insignia?

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


These wings are a be-atch to make..............

[url]http://i.imgur.com/lWN8GIP.jpg[/url]

[40kGamer]

Beautiful work mate! I love the front design you settled on! I was dreading building a truescale Lucius pod as it felt like a lot of work but now I am suitably humbled and shamed by the scope of your project.

[Perry K]

As far as I can tell that color scheme in the nose only render doesn't belong to any particular chapter exclusively, though it may be a certain company of Dark Angels, Raptors or Salamanders who have been seconded to an Inquisition force.

In the second photo with the Land Raider it appears the vehicle colors are primarily Red, with grey accents. This could be any number of "red" chapters Such as the Blood Angels, Blood Ravens or Flesh Tearers.

[Levaticus]

I'm fairly certain the color scheme is just that of the Grey Knights that will be appearing in The Lord inquisitor. So standard Grey Knight scheme with a darker shade of red.

[Blackadder]

Cargo Door Take Two:

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxJXrrTqJfI[/url]

In the video above the convoluted door opening procedure is a amazing tour de force but infinitely impractical plus the mechanism prevents large pieces of equipment from egress or ingress. My solution employs the brutal beauty of this door in comparison to the rather bland FW door/ramp but offers a more practical solution without the incredible monkey motion plus I can still release the Rhino........

[url]http://i.imgur.com/UHKGo3G.jpg[/url]


It necessitated cutting back the locking detents and modifying the upper locks.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/Aj8hWsW.jpg[/url]


The opening is actually larger which will faciltate the embarking and debarking of the larger equipment from the caverness cargo bay.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/gw1oMB3.jpg[/url]


Finally a redundant image just because it came out so well with the prototype image in the background.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/e4fUo8q.jpg[/url]

[Blackadder]

That's What I'm Talk'n 'bout:

Yeah this looks a lot better to me. Granted it departs from the classic T'hawk look but considering the newest additions to the transport navy fleet it's about time for a T'hawk face lift.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/Geaz295.jpg[/url]


The old locking mechanism is still in play so it doesn't change the internal configuration and now I have space for the fold away cargo ramps for tracked and wheeled vehicles, the dentations should house the hinges nicely. A problem I could not resolve with the old style door.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/QcI379p.jpg[/url]


Of course with the one step forward resolved there is also a one step back. The forward door and nose cowl should act as an ablative heat shield for atmospheric entry, so how to justify the decorative cut outs on either side of the door. surely all those surface angles and pockets would serve to hold and intensify the heat of re-entry causing great strain on the door mechanism. Just saying so you know I am aware of the quandary

[url]http://i.imgur.com/oBEllJ8.jpg[/url]


H*ll, I just build the D*mned things; I haven't the vaguest what makes 'em go.

[Blackadder]

Shades of Past Work:

Last year in April I decided I wanted operating retractable landing gear on this beastie, the problem was Forge World did not allow room in their model for the gear in the stowed position; especially the nose gear which as designed by FW would have taken up a significant percentage of the forward cargo bay. My dilemma was compounded by the mechanically impossible retract cylinder mechanism represented on the FW model.

BTW I totally discounted the 3D rendering gear altogether. Besides being mechanically unsound the gear pads were way too small.

Below is the nose landing gear removed from the gear well shown in the completely collapsed condition. The shock strut (oleo strut) is completely compressed so it will fit into the well. I am in the process of adding the gear well detail at the moment. Where does the time go.............


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


Here we see all the nose gear components including the foot pad and gear well reinforcement panels on the left. The lock pin forward of the foot pad, the gear well itself at the right rear. Forward of that is the shock strut and retract cylinder with their associate trunnion pins.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/NsCl05l.jpg[/url]


Here is the assembled nose gear showing the shock strut in collapsed position and the exterior of the well showing the axle sleeves for the trunnion pins that lock the gear trunions in place but allow them to swivel.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/8QcmyX2.jpg[/url]


Front view of the nose gear assembled with the shock strut in full extension and the retract cylinder in full extension and foot pad attached.

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

[Blackadder]

Mounting the Landing Gear:

The heretofore unmounted landing gears have been held on back burner until today. I have many pieces including the forward cargo bay interior that are ready to install so much of the work to be done is done just not installed.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/a3s1YVL.jpg[/url]


I have made so many modifications since the inception of this project it would have been prohibitive to disassemble and modify prematurely mounted parts.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/MBE3p4m.jpg[/url]


I shall continue to only tack some parts into place so the model can be disassembled for painting.

Looks like I'll be able to sling a LandRaider under the belly after all; that and a Rhino in the cargo bay will make this a formidable addition an army.....

G*D I cannot believe I am actually considering painting this finally.

[40kGamer]

Do you think the landing gear accept the weight of the model? Plasticard can be a bit brittle at times.