The Neurode Crusade - Updates and Fixes to HQs and Elites

[Marshal Mattias]

Why stop there? Go bigger and make it a Spartan...

 

*quiet Mat, this isn't helping!*

[Brother Christopher]

Yes! That is an excellent idea. However, it's going to be a more of a beefed up Phobos than a 'regular' Spartan. By this, I want to say that the base for my Command Land Raider (Spartan) is going to be a modified GW's Land Raider chassis.

 

What is really tempting is to try to put the local manufactorum into overdrive and build two at the same time. I have a set of flamestorm cannons somewhere left over from assembling my LRCs... So a Spartan and a Redeemer?

 

Or maybe a Typhon Siege Tank instead of the Redeemer? The large blast of doom seems impressive, but I'm not so keen on losing the capacity to transport Black Templars into action. Does anyone have any experience with Typons?

[TheOneTrueZon]

I vote for bigger. Here is some inspiration:

 

 

 

Nothing to see here citizens. Move along. Move along.

Edited November 11, 2016 by TheOneTrueZon

[Brother Christopher]

Hahaha, that is somewhere in between of awesome and evil. Now, this is a proper Space Marine super heavy. In fact, I think this thing looks much better than Forge World's Mastodon.

 

Having said that, I*must*forget*about*seeing*this, in fact - would you be so kind to hide it for me? I really, really don't need any bigger ideas.

[AndrewChristlieb]

You know eBay is a thing right? ;) Seriously though, landraiders can be had for very reasonable prices if you look around and it would be a lot quicker to do that and add any grubbins to it you see fit then trying to build one from scratch.

[Brother Christopher]

I know, I know. It is often the case that one can get a LR in decent condition cheaper than a rhino. However, I simply don't feel like buying anything new for 40K - I'm quite disappointed with the state the game is in. Also, the number of tanks and vehicles I have is far more than enough for gaming purposes and a long way away from what I'd like to have and, as I've mentioned, I don't feel like buying anything. And I like making models from scratch (I treat this as a substitute for paper models, something that I did back in my schooldays).

 

And on top of that, the extent of modifications to the generic LR I'm planning to make is rather considerable, including tracks, reinforced armour, mkIIb-like sponson/hatch, front ramp etc. In other words, I'd need to do much cutting and converting, and most of the original kit would be obscured with plasticard anyway, so buying it won't save that much time.

[Brother Christopher]

The plasticard Land Raiders project has officially started. I decided to give it a go and build two tanks at the same time. One day's work resulted in what you can see below:

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040747_zpskegpacni.jpg

 

I have two ready bases for the sides and ready panels of the remaining two. Each side consists of two panels supported with a plastic "H" in between in order to ensure more rigidity and strength (which are vital if you think of handling the tanks, as these parts make up the most vulnerable and crucial parts).

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040740_zpswwa1icau.jpg

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040742_zpsjhokuu8i.jpg

 

The gap between the panels is (roughly) filled with a strip of plastic supported with plastic 'rails' to make sure they stay in the right place and are more durable.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040741_zps6mlmgsj0.jpg

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040751_zps63nkyfdq.jpg

 

Quality of construction is currently not that relevant because most of what I managed to build will be hidden with extra armour, sponsons, tracks etc.

[Honda]

Mad? Absolutely not!

 

Inspired? Oh, yes, brother, oh yes!

[Lippy]

​My one experience of the Typhon is this:

It's a sure fire way to lose you friends- Fast!

 

Its under banned ITC units for a reason...

[Link2edition]

"Plasticard Madness" sounds like a really geeky cover band.

[Brother Christopher]

"Plasticard Madness" sounds like a really geeky cover band.

 

Haha, I wanted the name to be a bit catchy and a bit tacky.

 

​My one experience of the Typhon is this:

It's a sure fire way to lose you friends- Fast!

 

Its under banned ITC units for a reason...

 

I'm still wondering whether to put the extra effort and make one LR with a replaceable front to have the option of fielding a Typhon, but before your response I didn't feel like it. From a fluff perspective, my crusade already has some ordinance (Vindicator squadron with an opoc blast) and an allied Imperial Knight. And I feel it is a waste (again, from fluff perspective) to give up the capacity to transport a squad of Terminators, Centurions or Honour Guard for a large OP gun.

 

Nonetheless, I still have some time for the final decision. For now, I present you my progress:

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040763_zpssbtrnefg.jpg

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040762_zpsil93fjhj.jpg

 

One is going to be a command Phobos/Spartan, while the other is going to be a Redeemer (and possibly Typhon). For the lascannon variant, I'm planning to do some custom work to the sides: maybe some Gothic ornaments or what not. I scribbled some rough designs, but as of now I'm not sure whether I like any of them. With this rough idea in my mind, it seems I'll need to start doing random work and simply see how it develops.

[TheOneTrueZon]

Gothic ornaments you say? I'll just leave this here for ya. 

 

"Churchtank" © Kris Kuksi 

[Link2edition]

@TheOneTrueZon

 

That tank is 40k in a nutshell

[Brother Christopher]

Oh, yeah. This. I've came across this thing today while browsing the interwebs for inspiration.

Edited November 15, 2016 by Brother Cristopher

[Brother Christopher]

The fires in the forges must be temporarily extinguished. Responsibility calls elsewhere and construction of the mighty Land Raider Phobos/Spartan must be postponed. I'm off on a 3-day conference Crusade, but after a week the project, surprisingly, is not yet on hold for an indefinite future and is still rolling.

 

Below are some pictures. As it often is the case, the pictures don't show much progress, but believe me: each part is at least a 5-minute investment. The sides for the Phobos/Spartan are coming along quite nicely (minus the mess I've made with the glue in one place). I'm using a template I've found online for a paper Spartan, adjusted to fit the side of a regular Land Raider (I had to shorten them) and to accommodate my plans for modifications.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040765_zpsrcgnikng.jpg

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040766_zpsuhqwjkbt.jpg

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040768_zpszjbje1je.jpg

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040769_zps7e25z06c.jpg

[Brother Christopher]

Surprisingly, there's more progress. I had a break due to a conference and ensuing illness, but I'm back on tracks. Well, maybe not on tracks per se: I'll work on those later... Okay, I'll leave this here. I haven't made a full recovery yet

 

Before I went to the conference, I worked on the side panels.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040854_zps5wbce6oo.jpg

 

However, I changed my mind and readjusted the design to accommodate original LR doors.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040855_zpssywkijjx.jpg

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040860_zpsvzvifrrc.jpg

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040861_zpsftq1qb5m.jpg

 

Here I would like to publicly thank Psykic_scribe who was so kind to send me a set of Black Templar Land Raider doors and hatch! Thank you once again. Also, I have to mention that getting the doors pushed me to undertake this scratch building project now and not in the undefined (grimm) future.

 

Now I need to take a break and make up my mind regarding the next steps to take. Initially, I wanted the tank to have a Gothic arch above the side doors. Below are my initial design and first effort with cutting out some arches.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040862_zpsm6oj1xzi.jpg

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040864_zpskwngzzst.jpg

 

Now, unfortunately, I'm not so sure about the idea. I made numerous drawings and I can't seem to find a design that I feel totally at home with. That's why, I guess I'll drop this kind of ornaments and go for a more practical/tanky side of my tank. I'll maybe incorporate some Gothic-inspired bits on top of the vehicle or maybe even make a small chapel/reliquary on top.

 

Any suggestions regarding the arch above the side door?

[AndrewChristlieb]

I had considered the same arch over top of the doors, but I couldn't do it without bulging the roofline up so I decided to leave it alone and go stock. Being a scratch build though you could probably fudge the door down or come up with an entirely new roof design to accommodate it.

[Psykic_scribe]

Instead of an arch, how about a slab of lintel with some gothic decor?  Easier to accomodate on the side of a vehicle?

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Excellent work thus far.

[Brother Christopher]

Thanks for your replies.

 

Progress slowed down, but not for long, it seems. I managed to figure out what I want to achieve (at least for now, until the next change of mind). I decided to drop the arch above the door and instead go, as Psykic_scribe advised, with a lintel with some skulls (this is 40K after all). I also intend to add two protruding panels on both sides of the door which, together with the lintel, will form a frame.

 

For now, I only managed to sort things regarding the design out and finally redo the part above the door (it is kind of satisfying how the door fit now).

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040871_zps3cxpukyl.jpg

 

Some random pictures to show the layers of detail (or mess):

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040873_zpsowzrmna4.jpg

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040875_zpssigig50y.jpg

 

And a shot in anticipation of the lintel:

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040876_zpsulkk25q9.jpg

[Brother Christopher]

I figured that the images I'm providing don't really show much, so here's my progress "in perspective". I dry fitted what I have to show you how the sides are shaping up. The armour in the front will ultimately be thicker, but essentially it will remain a large, flat surface, just in case I feel artistic and want to do some free-hand painting. The rear part, behind the green stuff vent, will also be reinforced. The top surface of the 'side panel' will house some skulls (above the door) and most likely some Gothis windows/recesses (green stuff bits produced from the detail found in the interior of a Storm Raven).

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040878_zpsdzj2bejw.jpg

[Brother Christopher]

I've started producing some GS elements for my Land Raider Spartan and moved on to the front and rear part of the track sections.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040879_zps1hatngar.jpg

 

I'm planning to add these little 'windows' like in the picture below, to make the tank more if a 'command/relic' vehicle:

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040880_zpsi7cglpkl.jpg

 

And the front extra armour is done:

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040881_zpspzeqyfhw.jpg

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1040882_zps0ihmmtac.jpg

 

Now I just need to figure out how do deal with the housing for the rear ventilation grilles. And I feel that this is going to be one of the most difficult and time-consuming things to do with the project.

[Marshal Mattias]

Love the little windows - they add a simple and effective gothic theme right away. ;)

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Do the Land Raider's windows serve as Fire Points for embarked Marines? (Look up the words "pistol port" on my 'Codex: Space Marines' and 'Codex: Blood Angels' supplements.)

Edited December 3, 2016 by Bjorn Firewalker

[Brother Christopher]

@Bjorn

 

Nope, I though of them as decoration only. They are too high to serve as fire ports, in my opinion, as you'll find the tank's tracks right behind them. I'm also not so sure about placing the windows there: I mean, they appear to look cool, but at the same time there's something wrong with them. I also took some time to read through your supplements: I really like some of your ideas and the fluff bits.

 

I'm working on the Land Raider, but I got bogged down with the design. Still, I'll post some pictures soon, as I did make some progress (added some GS detail here and there).

 

But the real reason I'm writing this post is that I have another design problem with the other scratch build project, my Storm Eagle/Raven/Whatnot.

 

For some time, the concept is shifting from "an actual Stormraven" to a "little Thunderhawk". This is visisble (or rather will be, as soon as I'll be done with the Land Raider) in my decision to replace the slanting wings and fins with ones that are perpendicular to the fuselage, like in a Thunderhawk. The question that bothers me now is: do I need the VTOL thrusters (or engines? or how to call them?), like in the Stormraven/Storm Eagle or can I leave them out because a Thunderhawk doesn't have them.

 

I'm considering the following three options:

 

1) leave the original layout of a Stormraven: front thrusters on the sides of the 'nose,' rear thrusters on the ends of the wings (which doesn't make that much sense, as the range of movement of the wing thrusters will be limited due to the different angle of the wings, meaning that the thrusters will only go up to 90*),

 

2) leave the front thrusters like in the originals but place the rear thrusters in the rear part of the fuselage, effectively replacing the landing gear,

 

3) remove the thrusters altogether and make a 'mini-thunderhawk' (while retaining the Eagle/Raven's hatch layout and the Raven's capacity to carry a dreadnought),

 

4) remove the front thrusters and leave only the wing thrusters (like in the IG Valkyrie or DW Corvus); if this would be the case then, should I leave the wings slanted?

 

Below is a picture of what I've done with the model so far:

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Storm%20Eagle%20and%20Fire%20Raptor/P1130724_zpscvhi2qzs.jpg

 

I'm looking forward to hearing some feedback!

 

EDIT:

 

Some progress with the Land Raider Spartan. I... messed things up with the vent under the window at the front, but there's now way of repairing it now Hope that the sponsons will hide it.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1050051jpg_zpsrqm9eh9f.jpg

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1050051jpg_zpslfukz16q.jpg

 

And a shot at a different angle to show all the 'layers'.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Land%20Raiders/P1050051jpg_zps0lgz1imr.jpg

Edited December 14, 2016 by Brother Cristopher