Rebuilding a Land Raider

[Ntin]

I was cleaning out storage today and found a land raider that I have long forgotten about (Land Raider Crusader kit with the metal hurricane bolters for a Deathwing army). None of the weapons are assembled but most of the hull has been except the top part, the old kits also came with the Lascannon / Heavy Bolter bits, and with the Crusader/Redeemer upgrade kit I could get all three patterns onto one model. To start though I would like to disassemble the the sides to magnetize the weapon areas but I am going to guess that I used testor hobby glue because the kit was plastic and not super glue. So is there a way to weaken the glue or should I just take a hobby knife to break the seems apart? I am probally going to get the model a simply green bath I know that sometimes weakens the glue bond.

[templarboy]

If you used plastic glue (I always do), there is nothing that will weaken the bond that wouldn't hurt the plastic. A knife and some patience is the only way.

[ShinyRhino]

If you used plastic glue to install the sponsons, you might in for a whopper of a refurbishing job. I've done it twice with the metal kit and it was a long process.

 

Here are some links from my blog that show the extent of the work needed:

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.p...;showentry=6694

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.p...;showentry=6808

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.p...;showentry=6838

 

The really tough part was removing the already-glued sponsons from the hull, and the Black Templar doors. Doors are easier because you can just drill a hole in the center, insert needlenose pliers, and rip them off. Clean up the jagged edges with files and sandpaper, and reglue new doors in their place.

The sponsons are harder. Getting the inset mounts that block the door holes off is dangerous when using a knife. You also have to make sure you don't mar the outer surface of the tank too much. The door mount has some overlap that makes the inner areas forgiving, but outside of that you'll have a lot of nicked up plastic if you're not careful.

 

How are you planning to magnetize the sponsons? Are you permanently fixing the metal Hurricane Bolters to one mount and gluing magnets to the mount and a sprue bar inside the tank? You'll want at least a 1/4" magnet for that. Once assembled, they're heavy! Due to that, you'll find it nearly impossible to make the metal Hurricanes removable from the sponson due to weight and the requirement for small magnets.

 

Your best bet is to use two sets of sponsons. One permanently Hurricanes, and one that you can swap plastic parts to make a Crusader, Redeemer, or Phobos (lascannons).