Dinosaur Howdahs

[Boggler]

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!

[JollyBob]

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? 

[UncleRhino]

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

[revford]

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:



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.



Then I just need to find, or with some help convert a suitable driver.

[Maenoferren]

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.

[Boggler]

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.

[Gluteus Maximus]

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


I look forward to the results 

[Geudens]

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

[Boggler]

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?

[dadlamassu]

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

[Geudens]

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

[Hammers]

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.

[Boggler]

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 

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.

[Mocaiv]

Well its not a dinosaur Howdah, but a mammoth is a bit prehistoric...



The howdah was made from a business card box with lolly pop sticks stuch in the sides...

[Mocaiv]

I guess the options are, do you want a howdah that sits on top of the creatures spine, or one that covers its flanks.



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".