Gaslands rig build - Sept 7 - top “deck” completed

[OSHIROmodels]

Looks great 

[Pattus Magnus]

Thanks for the comments!

Today I had some free time, so I built the fighting platform for the tractor. The platform was originally a sleeper on the cab, but was cut down and armoured to allow riders to defend against boarders. It is big enough to fit 2 figures on 20mm based, or (tightly) fit a single 25mm base in case I use a bigger base for a heavy weapon gunner.

It is constructed from plain and textured sheet styrene. It will be painted separately, then glued on. I was careful to make sure that there is enough clearance to allow the trailer to turn properly.

[Andy in Germany]

Looks excellent. I'd wondered why the gap between cab and trailer was so big; that fills it in an appropriate way.

[beefcake]

I'm liking the progress with this. Very cool.

[Wirelizard]

That is looking really good, can't wait to see progress!

[eilif]

Great idea for the tractor fighting platform.  Excellent use of the available space for gaming practically.

I had similar priorities for figure placement when I built my 28mm tanker.  I opted for wider running boards as well as moving the tank back a bit.  You might find this inspirational (second vehicle in particular).
https://www.chicagoskirmishwargames.com/blog/2012/01/28mm-on-cheap-post-apocalyptic-vehicles/

[Mr. White]

This looks fantastic! I need to start poking my head into this forum more often.
I need to build a War Rig next year for my Gaslands table, so subscribed to this project!

[Pattus Magnus]

Thanks everyone for the positive comments! Mr. White, it’s cool that you’re following the progress, as your post-apocalypse thread has been very inspiring to me. Eilif, I really like how you did the catwalks on your 28mm build - these big rigs become a combination of vehicles and interactive terrain pieces.

That gap between the cab and trailer was initially due to the original toy not being built to have a trailer (it had a small shipping container right behind the cab). I considered shortening the chassis, but after looking around at real vehicles I realized that many long-haul tractors have the long chassis and put a sleeper behind the cab. Which morphed into the idea for the fighting platform. I’m probably unnecessarily tying myself in knots over the details - a lot of war rig builders seem to just go nuts packing stuff on and that totally fits the Gaslands game - but I grew up around machines and still get hung up on making things look plausible. A tragic character fault at times!

Anyway, more updates are on the way, hopefully on the weekend.

 

[Andy in Germany]

I’m probably unnecessarily tying myself in knots over the details - a lot of war rig builders seem to just go nuts packing stuff on and that totally fits the Gaslands game - but I grew up around machines and still get hung up on making things look plausible. A tragic character fault at times!

I'm prone to this too, not just with vehicles but scenarios and stories as well...

[Pattus Magnus]

Andy, thanks for mentioning that. Mostly I feel that attention detail is a good thing and I certainly appreciate it in others’ work. It’s just frustrating when it slows my own projects down!

Finishing up this step in the build took me a week longer than anticipated (my wife pointed out that the back steps were becoming a hazard, so I did a 1:1 terrain project to replace them. To be fair, it was way overdue.)

I added rails to the catwalk, and fighting positions at the front and rear of the trailer. I also put together a machine gunner to use the fighting platforms. The trailer looked tall to me, but I checked and at 85mm it scales to 5.4 meters in 1:64 - just enough to clear normal overpass heights in Canada (5.5 m on highways). Lower overpasses would be another issue - I can see an over eager driver hitting one at speed and wiping out the top deck crew…

I think this pretty much is it for the construction and now it’s down to painting!

[snitcythedog]

All kinds of nice!!

[Andy in Germany]

Very nice indeed.

I like the complete lack of health and safety, especially the way the forward machine gun position could swipe anyone standing in the space behind the cab on corners.

[DivisMal]

Having just watched Furiosa (…mediocre, but nice action, though not nearly as good as Fury Road), I am totally hyped again to start Mad Max gaming again.
The rig has made great progress and I am particularly impressed by the catwalk and little defensive position behind the cockpit. To really capture the feeling of movies like The Roadwarrior, these big vehicles need to be terrain pieces where single models move and fight. I am really impressed by yours!

[Pattus Magnus]

   Andy, that’s a fair point about the health and safety aspects of the rig, those spots would be very unhealthy places to be during turns. I didn’t worry about it, though, as post-apocalyptic warlords don’t seem very concerned about their minions - “Now, for today’s raid, you’ll be riding unsecured on top of 10 thousand gallons of guzzoline as our enemies try to shoot you, gut you, or throw you to your deaths on the road. But don’t let that worry you, my children! All who die will go direct to Valhalla!” Any employer who offers a trip to Valhalla is not to be trusted.

[Mr. White]

I _love_ this rig, Pattus! It's great to see the wonderful Copplestone Gaslands figs put to use.
you've not doubt seen my Gaslands cars, so you know I'm a "less is more" type of gamer and this rig looks fantastic to me. I'm inspired.