Vanvlak's Skate R

[Vanvlak]

Relevant musical interlude:


I guess the above shows my age.
Anyone get the obscure hint? The Bolero was once very much linked to the great Torville and Dean performance; and my build is the Skate R, a vehicle designed to travel exclusively on ice (with skates, not skis). I mulled a 10mm VBCW version, but as my interest in this area is focused on Malta it would bethe least useful of vehicles. So it's going to be a 28mm-ish beastie for my Supers project (yes, I have one hidden in an old thread somewhere...).

[Vanvlak]

And here we go.

I will make an ice sled, and my technique will be the tried and tested junkbash.

Ingredients:
Large pile of junk
Small pile of bits of old kits and models (within proportional requisites of build something competition)
Plasticard
Superglue
PVA glue
Sketches of ideas

The idea is to sketch something, then build a model as close as possible to the concept but also depending on the shapes of available stuff used.

Pics of the bits:






And the sketches (of different variants of the same idea).

[Vanvlak]

Here's an engine for this beastie, with a super for scale.

Yes, I know the prop is not aligned. It's from an ancient kit, and was (for that period from my life) reasonably well painted, so I'm only sticking it on after undercoating the assembled model.

The bits (other than the prop) from left to right:
A pneumatic line connector (Festo) (blue)
A bit of a tube of tooth filling material (my wife was a dentist before turning to pathology) (black)
Tip of a ball-point pen (metal).

[von Lucky]

This looks cool, will follow with interest.

[Vanvlak]

Thanks Von Lucky.

Here's an 'assembly photo' showing the bits I'll be using for the main body strung up on a brass rod to show how they'll be assembled.
Left to right:
Supermodel (er - superhero model, that is) for scale
another ballpoint pen end
bulb holder part
slotta base (the ballpoint end glues to this, which will be hidden inside the bulbholder)
another bulb holder part
(on the ground) tailplane bits from old model
old Christmas decoration
electrical wiring conduit connector
unused part of Bat Boat model
(on the ground) rocket cone from old Apollo XI moon lander model



Here's where the tailplanes go - I slit the decoration to fit them in securely.

[Tas]

Will this be another steam powered product by Vanvlak Industries?
Would be handy for getting troops into battle on the Martian polar ice caps!

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

This is looking really good.

[OSHIROmodels]

Very promising 

Don't forget to add some ice though 

cheers

James

[Vanvlak]

Thanks guys 
Tas - it's more diesel punk - or perhaps jet punk - than VSF, I'm afraid.
But I'll build a VSF one after February.

Very promising 

Don't forget to add some ice though 

cheers

James

Ah yes - and there's a textual clue to that in the pic of the notebook page at the top

[McMordain]

This looks really interesting.

[Vanvlak]

Blargh. On sick leave.
But at least Ifound the skatey bits.

[beefcake]

I really can't wait to see how this turns out. I'm loving all those pieces you are using.

[Vanvlak]

I really can't wait to see how this turns out. I'm loving all those pieces you are using.

Here's some more, with a further lot of stuff to add.

Engine mounted in place, I see some mould ines which need to be removed! The twio vertical brass struts support the engine, but will be hidden. Prop not in place yet I will probaby use the one with 4 blades + spinner instead of the 3-bladed one without spinner I showed in an earlier pic.
 


Runners - a plastic knife and some old kit bits



View from aft



View from fore



The fuselage is mounted to the blades with brass rods, as per engine - these should make sure the thing doesn't fall to bits.

Although I need to add more stuff I'm aso working on the base for this beastie, which, as indicated in the notebook in the first pic, is hell frozen over as in one of Dante's gironi of hell in the Divine Comedy.....

[Mason]

Mad!
Bonkers, I tell ya!

Love it!
 

[snitcythedog]

Reminds me of some of the old Buck Rogers stuff from the serials.  Very cool. 
Snitchy sends.