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Other Stuff => Workbench => Topic started by: Coronasan on 14 February 2012, 10:14:58 PM

Title: Star Trek plastic kit into drop ship conversion
Post by: Coronasan on 14 February 2012, 10:14:58 PM: I have had this Star Trek Marquis Raider plastic kit knocking around for years and years stuck in a box with nothing to do. So I decided to turn it into a dropship for a sci-fi army. It had pretty much been built already so I can't do much to the inside without trying to crack it open, which I don't really fancy.

(http://www.wargamesunlimited.net/nolimits/images/models/marines/construction/stormeagle1b.jpg)

I have started by fixing some landing gear with magnets so it can be removed when the model is in flight.

(http://www.wargamesunlimited.net/nolimits/images/models/marines/construction/stormeagle1a.jpg)

I have to be a bit careful that the finished model does not get to heavy as the first magnets I used were not strong enough and the legs would not stay in place. Using some nice big 6mm mags sorted that out.

Next step is to arm it with some nice shooty weapons.
Title: Re: Star Trek plastic kit into drop ship conversion
Post by: joroas on 14 February 2012, 10:29:12 PM: I turned a similar kit of the Runabout into a transport for my Inquisitors, these kits are quite useful.
Title: Re: Star Trek plastic kit into drop ship conversion
Post by: Brandlin on 15 February 2012, 10:32:13 AM: Ooo I have an un-made one of them..

Watching with interest.
Title: Re: Star Trek plastic kit into drop ship conversion
Post by: Coronasan on 26 February 2012, 10:24:28 AM: Been a bit busy doing another project, but all of a sudden, I have a date for a game when I would like to use this...but I don't think it is possible to finish and paint it in time.

To make this thing "fly", I thought I would try having removable tripod legs. Just drilling holes for the transparent rod means the end inside the ship can wobble around. So I thought the answer would be to fit a sleeve inside the hull for the main rod. I got some 6mm rod (off eBay) for the tripod "legs" and some 10mm tube with a 6mm internal diameter for the hull sleeves.

(http://www.wargamesunlimited.net/nolimits/images/models/marines/construction/stormeagle1d.jpg)

I drilled a 10mm hole in the appropriate spot and measured the length of sleeve required.

(http://www.wargamesunlimited.net/nolimits/images/models/marines/construction/stormeagle1c.jpg)

I reckon there is a chance that the tripod legs will slip out during a game and this could be quite annoying, so I am putting a pin of paperclip in case I decide to fit a small magnet to each of the tripod legs.
Title: Re: Star Trek plastic kit into drop ship conversion
Post by: dijit on 26 February 2012, 11:51:45 AM: Looking very good, it'll be interesting to see how it progresses.
Duncan
Title: Re: Star Trek plastic kit into drop ship conversion
Post by: anevilgiraffe on 26 February 2012, 08:10:11 PM: how deep is the model?
Title: Re: Star Trek plastic kit into drop ship conversion
Post by: Coronasan on 27 February 2012, 08:18:13 AM: Quote from: anevilgiraffe on 26 February 2012, 08:10:11 PM
how deep is the model?
It is deeper along the main body, up to 50mm, the thinner wings are only 18mm deep.
Title: Re: Star Trek plastic kit into drop ship conversion
Post by: Coronasan on 27 February 2012, 08:20:32 AM: This might just work...

(http://www.wargamesunlimited.net/nolimits/images/models/marines/construction/stormeagle1e.jpg)

I have added some bits of sprue to help keep the tubes in place.

(http://www.wargamesunlimited.net/nolimits/images/models/marines/construction/stormeagle1f.jpg)
Title: Re: Star Trek plastic kit into drop ship conversion
Post by: Parriah on 27 February 2012, 04:10:25 PM: Nice start< I want to see the finished deal-eo tho! So keep in touch, K?
Title: Re: Star Trek plastic kit into drop ship conversion
Post by: Coronasan on 27 February 2012, 10:10:00 PM: It flies!

No, really!

(http://www.wargamesunlimited.net/nolimits/images/models/marines/construction/stormeagle1g.jpg)

(http://www.wargamesunlimited.net/nolimits/images/models/marines/construction/stormeagle1h.jpg)

I have not worked out what the maximum length of the tube can be yet, too high and it will be unstable. The other advantage of this should be positioning the model over just about any terrain.
Title: Re: Star Trek plastic kit into drop ship conversion
Post by: Steve F on 28 February 2012, 07:25:34 AM: Huzzah!

But everyone is still going to have to be very careful when moving figures underneath it.
Title: Re: Star Trek plastic kit into drop ship conversion
Post by: anevilgiraffe on 28 February 2012, 12:08:21 PM: I would create a base to hold the rods in place, should help make the legs stable...
Title: Re: Star Trek plastic kit into drop ship conversion
Post by: Coronasan on 28 February 2012, 06:57:06 PM: Quote from: anevilgiraffe on 28 February 2012, 12:08:21 PM
I would create a base to hold the rods in place, should help make the legs stable...
But thats the point of the tubes inside the hull, as they hold the rods in place, they don't wobble too much.
Title: Re: Star Trek plastic kit into drop ship conversion
Post by: FramFramson on 28 February 2012, 06:57:55 PM: Also, if you give it a base, that removes his ability to place it in and around terrain below.
Title: Re: Star Trek plastic kit into drop ship conversion
Post by: Commander Vyper on 29 February 2012, 11:16:02 AM: Three clear discs to spread the weight then, no way would i stick painted minis under the current system, one knock of the table... wouldn't wanna risk it.
Title: Re: Star Trek plastic kit into drop ship conversion
Post by: FramFramson on 29 February 2012, 07:11:20 PM: Maybe some struts to brace the legs against one another?
Title: Re: Star Trek plastic kit into drop ship conversion
Post by: Coronasan on 21 March 2012, 05:50:02 PM: I have started work on the weapon systems.

First up is a twin lascannon turret.

(http://www.wargamesunlimited.net/nolimits/images/models/marines/construction/stormeagle1i.jpg)

(http://www.wargamesunlimited.net/nolimits/images/models/marines/construction/stormeagle1j.jpg)
Title: Re: Star Trek plastic kit into drop ship conversion
Post by: Coronasan on 23 March 2012, 06:20:42 PM: I want to make a multiple heavy bolter array to be mounted under the wings.

I have been making some bolter casts from green stuff. They look too bad...

(http://www.wargamesunlimited.net/nolimits/images/models/marines/construction/stormeagle1k.jpg)

Not sure how to do this yet, I will either make a long line of 6 bolters or 2 rows of three bolters. I need to make a mock up of both to see what works best.
Title: Re: Star Trek plastic kit into drop ship conversion
Post by: Coronasan on 31 March 2012, 03:27:50 PM: Made a row of four bolters into a weapons pod for the underside of the hull.

(http://www.wargamesunlimited.net/nolimits/images/models/marines/construction/stormeagle1m.jpg)

(http://www.wargamesunlimited.net/nolimits/images/models/marines/construction/stormeagle1n.jpg)

Using some 1mm nail art gems, I added rivets...

(http://www.wargamesunlimited.net/nolimits/images/models/marines/construction/stormeagle1l.jpg)
Title: Re: Star Trek plastic kit into drop ship conversion
Post by: Sangennaru on 31 March 2012, 03:53:05 PM: Wow! the cuts are so clean! I envy your precision, mate.
Title: Re: Star Trek plastic kit into drop ship conversion
Post by: Coronasan on 15 April 2012, 11:15:33 PM: Finished it...

(http://www.wargamesunlimited.net/nolimits/images/models/marines/construction/stormeagle1o.jpg)

(http://www.wargamesunlimited.net/nolimits/images/models/marines/construction/stormeagle1p.jpg)