Dr Mathias's Space Hulk Escape Pod Bay

[beefcake]

That's a lot of pieces. Can't wait to see it being put together.

[Dr Mathias]

Just a quick question, are you using resin or plaster to cast those Hirst molds?

I use "Merlin's Magic" dental plaster. I don't think I've ever used a Hirst mold for resin- I wish I had for the round industrial grates though, they're delicate. A few early casts were plaster. The new ones are going to be tan colored because my basement flooded a couple months ago and it spoiled the gray 

That's a lot of pieces. Can't wait to see it being put together.

I have a big stockpile of casts, I was sort of an addict a few years ago. This is a small portion!

[Mason]

 
That is one complicated jigsaw puzzle you have there, sir!
 

[mikedemana]

I almost spewed my beer when I transitioned from the shot with just a few pieces to the plaster addict shot!!! 😅😅

Doc, you're amazing!

Mike Demana

[dampfpanzerwagon]

After a lot of thought I settled on a layout. I'm making three  " + "  sections that each have two iris doors in the floor. The iris will be recessed a bit.  This will let me hook all three pod bays up together, or scatter them around the hulk. The side opposite the entry can be capped with a computer console, or just continue on as need be. I'm planning on making two arm brackets that will hold the pod in place over the iris.



Now the difficult task of sorting parts and deciding which ones to use. Looks like I'll need to cast a few parts as well.

That's a whole lot of bits!

I'm intrigued as to how many and how big this entry will be.

Tony

[Silent Invader]

Wow 

[Captain Blood]

I am fully expecting this to be fantastic. What an amazing approach 

[Andym]

Maybe you attack it like a jigsaw.....corners then edges first!

[Dr Mathias]

That picture must be misleading, I'm not using all the parts shown! That's just a selection of pieces I'm drawing from. I did however, cast a bunch more since that pic because I didn't have enough of certain components

I'm intrigued as to how many and how big this entry will be.

Overall size is variable as it is modular, but the length with all three bays and an endcap computer terminal will be 19 inches. The pic has two GW scale figures.

Each section will be 52 cast parts, with some additional scratch built hydraulic arms that hold the pods in place- the plan is for those to be plastic. There is also a sculpey iris, a foamcore riser, and a Plastruct diamond plate platform.

I think I have all the casting done now, I need to cut the openings for the iris to drop into slightly and I can start assembly. After that I'll work on arms and pods.

[Andym]

I meant ask, did you ever get further along than you've shown in your original thread? I don't remember seeing the full board, just rooms.

[Dr Mathias]

I meant ask, did you ever get further along than you've shown in your original thread? I don't remember seeing the full board, just rooms.

Yes, I finished out the full set for third edition. I haven't made the new sections introduced in the fourth edition- I think GW added a room that was partially destroyed and exposed to 'open space' as well as some boarding torpedoes. Maybe I'll try to bang those out now too, or else it will be another couple years

Some of the maps are really big and take up an entire 4x6 table- I'll get a large shot when I finish the pod bays.

[Andym]

Yea! I look forward!

[Mason]

This is coming along really nicely indeed.
 

Yes, I finished out the full set for third edition. I haven't made the new sections introduced in the fourth edition- I think GW added a room that was partially destroyed and exposed to 'open space' as well as some boarding torpedoes. Maybe I'll try to bang those out now too, or else it will be another couple years

Some of the maps are really big and take up an entire 4x6 table- I'll get a large shot when I finish the pod bays.

That sounds like a treat for the eyes.
Yes, please!
 

[Dr Mathias]

Constructed the three platforms today and cut the diamond plates to shape, exposing the iris. I wish I had another pod, I'd like to make one that misfired and got stuck in the tube. I may try to scrounge one up somewhere.

I also made four endcap terminals. One will have a little scenic element.

Next up is the arm apparatus that hold the pods above the iris. I'm planning on styrene for that, with the idea that they will have that 'questionable' 40K look, in terms of function and reliability. Tech priests and Imperial citizens needing to use them will double their prayers
I also need to add magnets to the board sections (that's what holds them together when laid out), do some work on the pods, and make a few dirt troughs for 'hard landing' sites.

[Andym]

Excellent stuff!

Do you really need a seventh pod? Could you not just have one wrecked anyway? If you don't want to play a game with a ruined pod in it, just leave that section out.