British Mastiff 2 -- bar armour question

[Khurasan Miniatures]

Question for gamers --- the British Mastiff 2 has been brought into the basic organisation of the British Army and, along with the Warrior, is a main tranport option for infantry.  The Mastiff 2 has bar armour as part of its standard kit-out.



As I'm making 15mm modern British I'm wondering how to handle the bar armour.  Photo etch is not practical and I won't be doing it, full stop.  But casting the bar armour in pewter sections might not permit the slots to be open -- the sections may need to be cast solid, with an indication of the openings rather than actual openings.  Would gamers want such sections or would they prefer not to get them and scratchbuild their own?

[von Lucky]

Difficult. I think your solution of pewter sheets (with a texture) is the best.

Would the 4+ sheets add much cost? Maybe sell two versions - one with, one without.

[sackofmonkeys]

I'd echo von Lucky's comment and say produce the Mastiff 2 with separate attachable bar armour - ideally with slots in the resin body to accept the pewter bar armour in order to facilitate a strong attachment. I think closed slots are something most gamers will be prepared to live with if they can actually get their hands on a quality 15mm version of the Mastiff.

[georgec]

It is a very difficult effect to achieve, I think your 'indented pewter' might be the only practical solution.  I think it is worth looking at vehicle pictured about 100m away rather than 10-20m; at close range you can definitely see through the bar but further away, and looking like a 15mm vehicle would on the table, you get a different effect.  From the pic below, you definatley get the impression that there is a 'sheet' in front of the main body of the vehicle, but you can't really see the 'holes' except where you are looking directly through the 'array'...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZX4qMaJcSIQ/UhTXaM0QcjI/AAAAAAAACVE/8pc51lZmbmg/s1600/Mastiff+2+Protected+Eyes.jpg

Additional thought - have you considered printing the bar effect on transparent plastic sheet?  I have seen this done in the past for 'riot screens' on 1/43 police vehicle models but I can't find a picture right now.  You could mould attachment points on the side of the vehicle and if a customer doesn't want to use the screens they could just be cut off.

[sandsmodels]

good luck with it, we make bar armour for the mastiff in 1/72 and it works ok, just but in 15mm you will need a bit more luck to get it right.