Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Future Wars => Topic started by: Hrothgar on March 01, 2010, 08:25:52 PM
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I recently got badly bitten by the scratchbuilding bug and over the weekend cobbled together a few sci fi vehicles using computer mice and an old Listerine bottle. They are covered with various odds and ends from my bits box. They are still far from complete, but I just wanted to share them in progress. Any advice is most certainly welcome.
Apologies for my rather crude photography skills.
Thanks for looking!
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4397890911_20d7b049be.jpg)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2739/4397891031_1d9c9bf66a.jpg)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2690/4398658022_d24c6165e0.jpg)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2708/4397891337_88ee1edd87.jpg)
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Very nice. I like these a lot, partly because you used some good shapes, and partly because vehicles made from trash are inherently cool. Looking forward to seeing them finished!
Having said that, the best pic for me is the first one where the bits are most identifiable. I was thinking 'hmm, I've got a couple of caps from toothpaste tubes that would be perfect for that bit...'. People who frequent other forums might know that I spend a fair amount of time going on about building hover tanks from crap, but never do it. Maybe I will now... ::) Thanks for sharing!
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(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4397890911_20d7b049be.jpg)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2739/4397891031_1d9c9bf66a.jpg)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2690/4398658022_d24c6165e0.jpg)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2708/4397891337_88ee1edd87.jpg)
These look brilliant!
I love the simplicity behind them, they remind me a lot of the Shower Gel Grav Tank in 40k:Rogue Trader!
Can't wait to see them painted.
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... the Shower Gel Grav Tank in 40k:Rogue Trader!
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I think it was a deoderant stick... my girlfriend recently made me chuck out the deoderant stick that I'd kept since 1987 especially to make that... lol
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Wow those look great a really imaginitive use of common place items.
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These are AWESOME. :o
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I am sorry, but DOES THESE TANKS ARE REALLY SCRATCHBUILT? They look like professional models!
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I absolutely love how clean and smooth those scratchbuilds turned out. My favourites are the Micetanks (did a number of those some 7-8 years ago), although I have to say that the heavy tank reminds me of this nosy fellow:
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg236/Christian_S_1979/Restricted%20Access/nasenfisch.jpg)
;)
Lovely work, all in all. Could you tell us about your intended paint/camouflage scheme?
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Haha, westfalia, that reminds me, GW’s tau have all their tanks named after fish, but sooner or later they are going to run out of cool names, so be prepared for dolphin self propelled raingun batteries. (insert funnier names here)
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Gotta reporpoise some dead computermice some time. Thanks for the inspiration.
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That's great work.
Aren't you living right down the street from me?
I sent you a PM.
;)
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I am intrigued by this Rogue Trader Shower Gel Hover Tank! What have I been missing? Does anyone have a pic??
@ Fjodin - Thanks for the compliment, but unfortunately I can't take responsibility for the professional looking bits. I just arrange them in a pleasing fashion and pour glue all over them! ;)
@ Westfalia Chris - I am thinking about borrowing a paint scheme (or at least feebly attempting to mimic) from Brandlin at TMP. He does beautiful work with vehicles:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RRKBhA-2I4w/SeXxH6GPdmI/AAAAAAAAAo8/IJGao-ssgnY/s1600-h/GrymnGroup1.jpg (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RRKBhA-2I4w/SeXxH6GPdmI/AAAAAAAAAo8/IJGao-ssgnY/s1600-h/GrymnGroup1.jpg)
I doubt I can fully pull it off, but I'll give it a try. :D :D :D
@Smokey -yep, it is me, neighbor! I will check for your post now.
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Well cool! You need to game with us! ;)
We have Rob Morse, a World Class terrain maker/Gamemaster, who runs fantatsic 28mm Gutshot games on his terrain, and great Rapid Fire WWII 15mm stuff, and Starship Troopers,
And lots more! Including a frormer DBA National Champion, a great RPG guy, and we have a nice gaming store to play at as well.
;)
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I think it was a deoderant stick... my girlfriend recently made me chuck out the deoderant stick that I'd kept since 1987 especially to make that... lol
Yup, you're right!
There were rules for making your own vehicles in 40k in White Dwarf many moons ago, but they updated the rules since then... So no more :'(
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@ Westfalia Chris - I am thinking about borrowing a paint scheme (or at least feebly attempting to mimic) from Brandlin at TMP. He does beautiful work with vehicles:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RRKBhA-2I4w/SeXxH6GPdmI/AAAAAAAAAo8/IJGao-ssgnY/s1600-h/GrymnGroup1.jpg (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RRKBhA-2I4w/SeXxH6GPdmI/AAAAAAAAAo8/IJGao-ssgnY/s1600-h/GrymnGroup1.jpg)
I doubt I can fully pull it off, but I'll give it a try. :D :D :D
That'll look great, I'm sure. Looking forward to seeing finished tankies!
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Those are terrific! As was mentioned before, they look very clean, they dont look cobbled together at all.
What paint did you use to cover the Listerine bottle? That plastic tends to be difficult to work with if memory serves. In fact, what glue did you use to attach the parts to the bottle?
I am intrigued by this Rogue Trader Shower Gel Hover Tank! What have I been missing? [/q]
Not much in all honesty, your tanks are far, far better than the vintage deodorant tank. Not that I didnt think that it was as cool as all get out when I saw it first.
I am looking forward to seeing the painted tanks :)
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Nice use of Clicky bases for gun turrets. An idea that must be nicked.
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Cheetor, I prepped the Listerine bottle by first sanding it with some fine-grade sandpaper, to give the surface "tooth." I attached all the pieces with Superglue-brand fix-all cement, which is fast becoming one of my favorite modeling staples. It holds well and flexes with the bottle, so you don't have pieces pop off every time you touch it. I primed the whole thing with Krylon Fusion tan.
I used basically the same approach with the mice, except that being hard plastic, I attached some items using superglue.
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I attached all the pieces with Superglue-brand fix-all cement, which is fast becoming one of my favorite modeling staples.
I must keep an eye out for that particular glue then. Thanks for the response :)
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I think it was a deoderant stick... my girlfriend recently made me chuck out the deoderant stick that I'd kept since 1987 especially to make that... lol
Why didn't you just hide it? I keep all that crap handy for the time when I do actually get around to making my own.
Those mice are certainly my favorite of the lot. And I do have all but the armaments kicking around my own bits box which is cool. Too bad all the scales I regularly enjoy aren't good for computer mouse tanks however (either too big or much too small it seems).
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I am intrigued by this Rogue Trader Shower Gel Hover Tank! What have I been missing? Does anyone have a pic??
http://solegends.com/citrt/rtgravattack.htm
(http://solegends.com/citrt/rtxxgravattackwd958711.jpg)
Nice work on the scratchbuilds, I like the mouse vehicles best, the other still has a bit of a bottle shape going 8)
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Like the mice tanks :)
What are the miniguns from? They look useful.
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Absoloutley brilliant.
Excellent job mate i think there awesome.
Steve
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Thanks for the props, everyone! :D :D :D
Pil, thanks for the link to the Shower Gel Tank pic. Very retro-but I still like it more than most vehicles GW turns out these days. ;D
I agree about the large tank still looking way too much like a bottle. I probably won't be doing any more like that, but I wanted to do at least one that obviously started as trash. The next one will definitely get the spout replaced by a more proper design.
Dewbakuk, the miniguns came from some toy playsets that are sold at Dollar Trees here in the states. They come with lots of little goodies that can be used for scratchbuilding.
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@ Westfalia Chris - I am thinking about borrowing a paint scheme (or at least feebly attempting to mimic) from Brandlin at TMP. He does beautiful work with vehicles:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RRKBhA-2I4w/SeXxH6GPdmI/AAAAAAAAAo8/IJGao-ssgnY/s1600-h/GrymnGroup1.jpg (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RRKBhA-2I4w/SeXxH6GPdmI/AAAAAAAAAo8/IJGao-ssgnY/s1600-h/GrymnGroup1.jpg)
Those are very well painted, but they have too much highlighting for my taste. The camo itself is very well done, but the raised edges have too much contrast, which makes it hard to appreciate the camo scheme.
Mind you, if I could only paint half as well I could justify being critical :(
lol
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Hrothgar, sorry if I'm confusing things, but didn't you post on TMP asking for advice on buying plastic storage bins to use as SF APCs?
I'm asking this because I'm working on a similar project, but using them as dropships, hehe.
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Yes, that was me on TMP! :D :D :D
As I haven't had a chance to use the good advice posted on that thread and go look for those bins yet, I have been occupying myself with these other projects. My only concern about the bins is that I wasn't sure I could find them small enough to work for an APC in 28mm.
Dropships, eh? Sound interesting! Would love to hear more!
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I don't want to ruin your thread, so I'll post some pics, tomorrow, in my own. But here's what I'm working on right now:
(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj93/predatorpt/Forums/10032010.jpg)
It's a medium sized bin (there are smaller ones) and some plastic spacers working as maneuvering thrusters.
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Genius! lol
I'm looking forward to seeing all of these painted...
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Predatorpt, that is a great idea!
On a related matter...
I am really terrible about starting a new project before finishing my last one. I haven't had a chance to finish up these hovertanks yet, but while reorganizing my supply bins I stumbled onto a new vehicle project. At a local Family Dollar chain store, I recently found a two-pack of cheap toy vehicles for only $2 each pack. I got several before really having a plan for what to do with them. One of the vehicles is a Hummv, but I soon realized that it was far too large to use with my 28mm figures.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4431849420_66cd402086_m.jpg)
I came across some unused 20mm by 40mm FoW bases that were leftover from a project for a friend. It occurred to me that...
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4431850072_c097e315f4_m.jpg)
...and after a bit more of this...
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2684/4431851376_f6d3c393b6_m.jpg)
...until before I knew it, I had this...
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4431083835_64422de1da_m.jpg)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2682/4431855262_b4ace53376_m.jpg)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2728/4431883710_a44fac396a_m.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4431108281_ab2c51f64d_m.jpg)
Okay, it's not a great troop transport, but it will do fine for my futuristic human forces. The time investment was pretty minimal, so I think that I could now bang out a half-dozen in short order.
I wanted to share the technique in case someone else has access to these vehicles and wants to give it a try.
Now I have got to get some stuff painted!!
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Very nice and very creative!Well done! 8) 8)
Cheers
Christopher
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Very nice, Hrothgar. I can only applaud a cast of mind that says, "This is too big for my larger minis ... so I'll use it with my smaller ones!" ;)
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Okay, it's not a great troop transport, but it will do fine for my futuristic human forces. The time investment was pretty minimal, so I think that I could now bang out a half-dozen in short order.
Hey brah, not sure why ya think that. I have seen someone else recently using these for Hummer transports and they dont look right. You have taken them and now turned them into something that can be useful in that scale. Looks pretty good from this side of the table. I say keep trucking and keep cranking em out. And your right, time for you to go and get some painting done. :-)
Grimm
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Gnah, I replied to your image post this morning, and apparently the post is gone.
What I wanted to say - I like that conversion very, very much. I'd think it finely represents the "lower end" of the tech spectrum, and would like a charm for police or paramilitary forces, or rebels who got theirs from second-hand arms dealers or by robbing gov depots...
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That conversion is great! I wish our discount stores had toys like that, lol.
I've posted some other pics of my dropship in my thread:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=7872.msg207270#msg207270