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Other Stuff => Workbench => Topic started by: Boggler on May 20, 2008, 09:37:04 AM

Title: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: Boggler on May 20, 2008, 09:37:04 AM
I'd like to build one of these for Saurian Safari, probably for four or five figures in 28mm and mounted on a Triceratops or Ankylosaurus.

Anyone done something similar?

Any tips or ideas?

Thanks chaps!
Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: JollyBob on May 20, 2008, 11:11:24 AM
Revford was doing something like this, I believe he made it out of balsa wood. Um, can't find the thread now....

Maybe PM him and pick his brains?  ???
Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: UncleRhino on May 20, 2008, 11:39:54 AM
Go super cheap with it and make it out of bamboo skewers for shish-ke-bobs and some dental floss to make it cost less than $5 American.  I would imagine with a little work and a few cuts you could get a fine looking log and rope affair for your ankylosaur.

UncleRhino
Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: revford on May 20, 2008, 12:54:53 PM
I'm still working away on the Howdah.

However I am easily distracted and have been working on Bloodbowl and Doctor Who stuff as well.

Here is the current state of play for the Dino Howdah:

(http://revford.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/pulp-hunt-howdah-wip-3.jpg)(http://revford.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/pulp-hunt-howdah-wip-4.jpg)

The dino came from a charity shop, the base is an old CD.  The saddle is a square of felt cut to shape, the ropes are string.

The howdah itself is made from balsa wood, two layers in different directions make up the base, then posts are pinned with wire spears.

It still needs a canopy, which will be some cheap silk substitute stuff and some more lines to attach it to the beast.

Also there will be two Ladies having tea in the back, the Ladies are painted but I still need to build the furniture.

(http://revford.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/pulp-hunt-howdah-passenger-1.jpg)(http://revford.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/pulp-hunt-howdah-passenger-2.jpg)

Then I just need to find, or with some help convert a suitable driver.
Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: Maenoferren on May 20, 2008, 01:27:13 PM
I made mine for a lizardman army a few years ago..bought a cheap plastic Triceratops and then added the Howdah. MAde from balsa and garden twine to tie it to the beastie (well glued down actually) It worked really well.. I stained the balsa with a brown ink wash.... Added various cloth items with greenstuff etc  Used a 28mm Roman scorpian for a large crossbow.... All together it worked. I didnt chose the Ankyasaur because it was lower to the ground... The Steggy looked a whole lot more imposing.

Sorry I dont have a picture when I got rid of that army he went with it.

Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: Boggler on May 21, 2008, 10:04:34 AM
I've picked up one of these as a possible howdah carrier, although at 1/13 scale it's way out of scale!

http://www.gohobbies.com/itemRMX-6510.html

Hopefully, it will be big enough to fit a decent sized platform on the back but small enough not to look ridiculous next to 28mm figures?

As it's a kit I should also be able to hack it about as well if I need to  >:(

As a standby, I've got an apatosaurus to use instead, so there is another option if it doesn't look right.

Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: Gluteus Maximus on May 21, 2008, 10:32:05 AM
Wow! Who cares about scale. What a lovely model and ideal for all sorts of VSF and Fantasy nonsense.

At that price you could buy a whole platoon of them. You should be able to fit a platoon of troops into the howdah, too lol


I look forward to the results  :)
Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: Geudens on May 21, 2008, 10:44:18 AM
I agree, this one is "out of period" (?), but since you are asking for input: the metal howdah on this SF dino could easily be painted differently (metal?) to resemble boiler plate (after all, you may need better protection than wood when tackling a T-rex, and a gatling gun would do no harm, at least not to your crew...).

Rudi

(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm262/geudens_photos/dino02.jpg)

(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm262/geudens_photos/dino01.jpg)
Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: Boggler on May 21, 2008, 11:19:51 AM
That's a great idea.

I'm sure a bit of Victorianising (?) would turn it into a suitable howdah for my hunting party.

Who makes it or is it a scratchbuild?
Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: dadlamassu on May 21, 2008, 01:25:37 PM
I also converted some triceratops into beasies for my sons' Warhammer armies. 

I used the Major General's method - http://www.zeitcom.com/majgen/42_elevh.html

Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: Geudens on May 21, 2008, 02:20:49 PM
That's a great idea.

I'm sure a bit of Victorianising (?) would turn it into a suitable howdah for my hunting party.

Who makes it or is it a scratchbuild?

The dino is a toy and the howdah is (easily) scratchbuilt from plasticard, the rivets are small doll's eyes.

The back of the dino was "flattened" by cutting away the top with a Stanley knive to take the howdah more easily.  It may not be 100% clear from the pic, but the front has a slit to take the gun's barrel.  A word of advice: once the howdah is glued together, carefully sand the outside corners to get a rounder, smoothier effect.  The same was done with the bolted on plates prior to glueing them on the basic box.

Rudi
Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: Hammers on May 21, 2008, 02:26:06 PM
I used the Major General's method - http://www.zeitcom.com/majgen/42_elevh.html

On a side note: It is a shame the Major general's is not updated anylonger. It's always been a very inspiring read.

Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: Boggler on May 22, 2008, 01:11:31 PM
Got the Revell kit today from ebay.

As expected it's pretty big but should look OK as a howdah carrier. There's lots of space on top for a platform for a start  :D

The kit is actually very nicely molded and has some really nice skin texture..should look great when drybrushed. I'll probably have  ago at bashing it together but if not it'll make a great birthday extra for my eldest son, as he's six on the 6th June.

I'm thinking now about some smaller versions with perhaps a Howdah for a single figure. I've got some Scleich dinos that would be ideal as mounts but will have to give it some more thought.
Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: Mocaiv on May 26, 2008, 11:34:20 PM
Well its not a dinosaur Howdah, but a mammoth is a bit prehistoric...

(http://66.135.36.5/noquarter/images/battles/siege5/siege502.jpg)

The howdah was made from a business card box with lolly pop sticks stuch in the sides...
Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: Mocaiv on May 26, 2008, 11:38:01 PM
I guess the options are, do you want a howdah that sits on top of the creatures spine, or one that covers its flanks.

(http://66.135.36.5/noquarter/images/battles/siege5/siege503.jpg)

Having something that goes down each side makes it easier to mount. This howdah just sits on the mammoth model, no glue, makes it easily removeable if the mammoth is to "go solo".
Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: fastolfrus on May 27, 2008, 12:00:23 AM
Just spotted this beast on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/OCCISH-SIEGE-SAURUS-28mm-Model-Kit-ZVEZDA_W0QQitemZ370016107417QQihZ024QQcategoryZ1189QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

Might be worth looking in local model shops to see what else may already be out there
Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: pnweerar on May 28, 2008, 01:38:27 PM
Rargh! I like it plenty.  :)

Mammoth vs. Khador -- who will win?
Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: Dewbakuk on June 02, 2008, 01:42:38 PM
(http://www.linesandcolors.com/images/2005-12/dinotopia_450.jpg)

(http://bp3.blogger.com/_Eiwce13X738/RufV6qskIqI/AAAAAAAAAMI/HDoqzXMQXIc/s1600-h/OshkoshFireEngine.pp.jpg)

(http://bp0.blogger.com/_Eiwce13X738/RufV66skIrI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/Cw4K1aiHk7I/s1600-h/OshkoshFireEngine2.pp.jpg)

(http://bp3.blogger.com/_Eiwce13X738/Rt0RQMwExkI/AAAAAAAAAIE/aD0C2vx1Zho/s1600-h/SchBusThumb.sm.jpg)

(http://bp2.blogger.com/_Eiwce13X738/RsbRHswExHI/AAAAAAAAAEc/7CCIl_Veo7g/s1600-h/Problems+with+fire+engine.jpg)

(http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/7743/dinotopia1frontih7.jpg)

(http://www.dinotopia.com/images/home/brass_band.jpg)

Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: Dewbakuk on June 02, 2008, 02:08:47 PM
Okay, a couple of the pics don't seem to like being put up but if you click the broken icon it takes you to the original. The fire fighting rig on the Brachiasaur is great.

The second to last pic has the image I was after, although not a great one. In the TV film (not the series) for Dinotopia, there was a "bus" service between the city and other towns. It passed through T-Rex territory so it was essentially an armoured caravan. The Brachiosaurs carried the passengers in howdahs and were armoured. I always wanted to make one, I even have a great Brach model for it. There were also Triceratops with guards on and outriders mounted on the smallish dinosaur with the massive bone dome on it's head. Great scene. I'll keep looking for pics but thought the above would help for reference.
Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: fastolfrus on June 02, 2008, 06:19:45 PM
The books are quite handy for reference pictures.
Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: Dewbakuk on June 02, 2008, 07:29:14 PM
Never actually seen the books, do they have many pics in?
Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: Burgundavia on June 02, 2008, 08:37:06 PM
They are pretty much all pictures, at least the two (or three?) big paperbacks. He was a painter by trade, one with excellent attention to detail.
Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: Dewbakuk on June 03, 2008, 01:02:22 AM
Ah okay. I always assumed they were novels! Cool, I may have to look into picking some up as reference material.
Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: fastolfrus on June 03, 2008, 10:56:31 PM
I think the second one was remaindered in the Uk last year (in hardback).
Never actually seen them in paperback.
Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: fastolfrus on June 03, 2008, 10:58:46 PM
Dewbakuk - are you in the UK ?

If so, Hay on Wye is probably a good place to look for them.
Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: Dewbakuk on June 04, 2008, 02:35:56 PM
I am but I'm in Nottingham. I'll keep my eye out for a good deal.

Why Hay-on-Wye out of interest?
Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: Gluteus Maximus on June 04, 2008, 08:16:02 PM
I am but I'm in Nottingham. I'll keep my eye out for a good deal.

Why Hay-on-Wye out of interest?

It has a ridiculously large number of second-hand booksellers  ;D
Title: Re: Dinosaur Howdahs
Post by: Dewbakuk on June 04, 2008, 10:53:35 PM
Ah, that does ring a bell now you mention it. I've got a feeling I've been at some point.