Land Raider MkI idea

[Raven Angel]

OK I found the posted template for converting a Mk2 Rhino into a Mk1 on and that got me thinking about Land Raiders. I currently don't have the money to try this my self as i would need a new model to proceed so I decided to post it here in case someone else wanted to take a crack at it.

 

OK You will need 1 Land Raider kit, a good supply of .IN plasticard, 4 MM bases, a set of Rhino top doors, a predator turret plate, 2 feet of 1/4 in plasticard tube or rod, and some 1/IN plasticard tube or rod; 6 to 8 in should be enough.

 

Note--The original Land Raider(LR) under RT rules did not function in the same capacity as the current model and was meant to be used mainly as a tank as she had no terminator transport ability or assualt ramp. This is what the spartan conversion was for. Also the Original model had no twin-linked heavy bolters. This conversion is thought out to model a Mk1 Spartan STYLE body that still functions under the current rules.

 

Step 1 Assemble the sides of the tank as normal with the exception of the doors, side sponsons, and tracks. If you intend to detail the interior install the assault ramp components too.

Step 2 Using plasticard level the outside surface to the highest elevation.

Step 3 Using plasticard construct a stretched hexagon extension on the outside surface that matches the overall shape of the LR. It should be 1/2 in from the top and bottom edges and 1 in from the front an front and back edges. It should be 1/2 in high. Make sure to mark the places toward the back of the extension for the doors and toward the center front for the new sponsons.

Step 4 Using the LR kit tracks as a guide make new tracks out of plasticard and 1/4 in rod. The track links should 1 in long and connected by sections of rod half the width of the tracks. Cover all of the track groove; not just the pats covered by the kits tracks.

 

Note--Other options for track replacement include buy a second LR and taking it's tracks or buying another tank model outside the 40K range to use its tracks.

 

Step 5 Take the upper hull part for the Heavy Bolters(HB) and close up the outside surfaces flush and smooth with plasticard. Close up the hatch hole too.

Step 6 Assemble the crew compartment. Do not use the large upper hull part. Paint the inside if use so desire at this time.

Step 7 Make a new large upper hull plate out of plasticard that does not cover the tracks and is flush with the surface of the sealed forward upper hull part.

Step 8 Take the turret plate and cut the turret ring out. Glue the ring in along the center line at the front of the roof.

Step 9 Make a square hatch out of plasticard and the Rhino top doors centerline aft of the roof just before the down slope to the engine.

Step 10 Glue a MM base centered over each sponson location textured side out. Glue on the doors.

Step 11 Cut the other 2 MM bases in half and glue them together textured side out. Using a hobby knife hollow out a grove for the 1/8 in rod in the rim of the half base sandwiches. Insert a length of 1/8 in rod with 1/2 of rod protruding out the rim.

Step 12 Glue the base sandwiches rim out to the whole base along the center parallel to the ground.

Step 13 Assemble the HB turret except the armored cover. Trim of the glue tabs on the HB. Trim the ammo feeds or place holes for the feeds inside the roof under the turret ring.

Step 14 Assemble the individual Lascannons(Las). Trim off the cables from 2 Las. Trim up the underside of the Las so that the fit on top and slightly behind the other 2 Las. Glue them into this position. Attach Las to the sponson rods.

Step 15 Cut head lights off unused top plate and assemble them. Glue them to forward surface of hull extensions near the top.

Step 16 Add other parts(search light, smoke launchers) as you see fit.

Step 17 Paint tank.

 

Like I said its just an idea that I can't try out right now. Comments and Pics of anyone trying this out are welcome as well as Mk1 LR pics to help show what I am talking about.

[jeffersonian000]

I had the same idea awhile ago, and will be building a couple in the next few months. I'm intending to place the Rhino backwards so that the model has a functional assault ramp. I'll post pics in the WIP section when actually start building them.

 

SJ

[SirTainly]

Under the RT rules, the LR carried 10 models and did come with 2 HBs that could either be mounted one to the rear and one to the front, or both facing forward on pivot mounts. IIRC the Spartan could carry more figures (15?).

[Raven Angel]

I had the same idea awhile ago, and will be building a couple in the next few months. I'm intending to place the Rhino backwards so that the model has a functional assault ramp. I'll post pics in the WIP section when actually start building them.

 

SJ

 

I'm a little confused the MkIII LR kit already has an assult ramp. What do you need a Rhino for?

 

Under the RT rules, the LR carried 10 models and did come with 2 HBs that could either be mounted one to the rear and one to the front, or both facing forward on pivot mounts. IIRC the Spartan could carry more figures (15?).

 

I need to fix that. What I meant was transporting Termis. The Original LR could not carry termies. That is what the Spartan conversion was for. It fell out of use when the MKII was redesigned for use by termi squads.

[jeffersonian000]

I'm planning on using a Rhino chassis as the core of a MkI Land Raider. The old MkI LR model was simply a modified Rhino, anyway. The plans I'm working on will use a current Rhino model turned backwards so that the rear gate can be used as an assault ramp. The top hatch will have a Razorback turret plate for mounting the twin-linked hull weapon. The front top of the Rhino will be cut and elevated to provide a copula and pintle mounting point. The track section will be cut from plasticard, with the Rhino's sides cut the fit so that doors are available yet set behind Predator sponsons. My plan is to use magnets on the sponsons (as well as the doors and top hatches) so that all current weapon configurations would be available. The track segments will either be cut from plasticard or taken from another Imperial tank.

 

I'm calling it a Pre-Spartan MkI Land Raider.

 

SJ

[Raven Angel]

Wont that just be too small copaired to other LR?

[jeffersonian000]

No. It should have roughly the same footprint.

 

SJ

[SirTainly]

Hmm ok I don't recall there being a restriction on Terminators not going in LRs, but I could be wrong on this. Been a long while since I had access to my RT book and compendium.

 

The original Spartan plans from about WD120 used the Rhino hull with the LR track units, the two hulls were actually quite different, Rhino was much less tall. There were plans published about the same time for the Sabre tank hunter, which used the left over LR hull and Rhino tracks to make something akin to a Vindicator with a long barrel.

[jeffersonian000]

I remember these. In the fluff, there were a number of Land Raider patterns before the Spartan, which was the first LR pattern designed with the intention of carrying Terminators. The same fluff also stated that all earlier designs were converted over the Spartans. Calling it a Pre-Spartan is just a way of saying it’s an older design that dates to a time before the Pre-Heresy LR model produced by FW.

 

The original LR kits used the same kind a hull design as the original Rhino kits, with two "front/tops" that were fitted with one on top/front and the other on bottom/back. Back when the original LR kit went out of print, it was common for people I gamed with back in the day to mock-up a LR by kit bashing a Rhino kit. I'm still nostalgic for the older "football" look, even though the current LR kit is still a great looking model.

 

SJ

[Beef]

The old landraider was about the size of the new Rhinos, it was just higher/taller,

[Raven Angel]

True the old model was about the same size as a rhino but then size creep of the models has hapened to all the SM stuff. I guess the point of this idea is an update to the look of the MKI so the it looks like a true forfather of the newer LRs.

 

As far as the instructions go are their any problems or places that you all think need clearing up?

[jeffersonian000]

For me, the only issue I foresee is getting the side hatches aligned with the interior. I haven't decided quite yet how I'm going about doing that. Every thing else is worked out. I'll be mocking one up shortly, from a Whirlwind kit I bought cheap.

 

SJ

[Raven Angel]

So no one has any comments on the conversion instructions?