Diemos Predator Assembly

[Dusktiger]

Hey, so this is a step by step guide to make the Diemos Predator kit. this is both to demonstrate the parts that come in the kit, and show what prep-work needs doing for it to come together. I'm making it as a Predator Destructor with Heavy Bolter sponsons, like this:

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Images/Product/AlternativeFW/large/preddeimos1.jpg

 

OVERVIEW

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8342/8204097987_4b3e33e10d_z.jpg

The stuff highlighted in green are the parts used to make your sponsons. the left square is the armor plating that goes in front of the them when completed.

 

STEP 1: Prep Work

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8204097841_c6d857be9f_z.jpg

to start off, you need to trim the back of the top-plate. if not, the plate that goes here for the turret won't fit. here it is fitted after trimming:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8069/8205189054_050ef57c3e_z.jpg

 

STEP 2: Body Assembly

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8208/8205188952_cd818ea862_z.jpg

assemble your rhino body up to this stage. then add the top-plate. this has to be done, because the new outside walls wrap around the top-plate.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8488/8204097495_0a02895cdd_z.jpg

here's the sides installed:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8065/8205188720_4963c516d9_z.jpg

And here's the front plate installed:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8486/8205188544_0d01b9635b_z.jpg

finally, the new top-plate is mounted:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8197/8204097037_7581fa1680_z.jpg

 

STEP 3: Hatch Assembly

the kit came with 2 hatches, but unfortunately, they're the same thickness:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8205188368_cc89338946_z.jpg

this is a problem, since this is the right thickness for the left cupola that normally holds your storm bolter wielding guy. so one of the two needs to be sanded down thinner for the right cupola:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8343/8204096819_5c240ba782_z.jpg

Here they are installed:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8067/8204096701_707b6472ae_z.jpg

[Dusktiger]

STEP 4A: Sponson Mount Assembly

so here's the 4 parts that make the sponson mount:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8340/8204096581_2bca521733_z.jpg
attach the armor plating to the gun mount, like so:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8347/8205187878_eb4c716836_z.jpg
next is to place the inner pin that allows the sponson to rotate up and down freely. if you want this to move, don't glue this in place:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8208/8204096281_d996878e33_z.jpg
now glue the gun mount to the pin, again, take care not to get any glue on the bracket that holds the pin if you want this to move freely:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8350/8204096155_1268a66797_z.jpg
here's the sponson mounted on the tank:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8479/8205187476_c6641e5faf_z.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8202/8205187366_82a258c6b9_z.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8205/8205187276_724ff73007_z.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8490/8204095745_36ddeb1c37_z.jpg

STEP 4B: Sponson Weapon Assembly

here's the pieces to make the sponson, unassembled. the power cord and the targeting sensor are what attach it onto the mount, so dont glue these together ahead of time.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8204095437_797ee7aee8_z.jpg
the ammo drums are specific to each gun. as you'll see below, it has a groove to fit over the shell eject port. the guns are made with the shell eject port on both sides; the drum covers the inside-facing one.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8207/8204095123_7508aa4507_z.jpg
once mounted, it looks like this:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8207/8205186760_d1d79c168e_z.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8210/8205186624_75a48e7b78_z.jpg

FINAL

this is the tank after the turret was mounted. i've left off the exhausts so i can paint them easier:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8485/8205186418_cb72947fac_z.jpg

[caprera]

Bookmarked Thanks !

[Iacton Qruze]

awesome. +1 for including so many pics for easier scratchbuild replication. :lol: