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Blackadder's Lucius Pattern Reaver Conversion Kit

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Blackadder

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The Bad Boys:
 
So now we come to the bad boys in this recap of my stable of scratchbuilts; the Reaver twins.
 
It just goes to show that its easier to proceed on your own than to correct someone else's mistakes.
 
The Reaver titan has so many casting flaws that it is no wonder that a Lucius Reaver was never produced. The Mars genera with it's more organic design hides these flaws but the angular Lucius design brings them into full bloom.
 
Thankfully these are the only six pieces left that require adaptation to the Lucius pattern by which I mean 12 because I am modifying two titans.

http://i.imgur.com/UmX8Sxzl.jpg
 
The front and back pelvic armour should be a cakewalk and I'll probably knock that out today the Lucius armour will just clip onto the Mars armour for a quick change.
 
Likewise I am hoping I can do the same for the kneecaps but they will have to accommodate the Lucius greaves and I should also like to extend them up to protect the thighs, something FW didn't think necessary.
 
http://i.imgur.com/5Ca1VaCl.jpg
 
The heads are still giving me headaches and even after a month of sketching and searching for internet ideas I have yet to come up with a satisfactory resolution as to how the head should look. 
 
My gut feeling is to try for a intermediate morph between the Warhound head and the Warlord head and that is the course I am pursuing with the head on the right side but the problem there is to make it work I have to lose the distinctive cable conduits that distinguish the Reaver. Fortunately the conduits are held on magnetically so removal and reattachment is quite easy. 
 
I'll try to resolve this over the Thanksgiving break.
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Blackadder Veteran

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The Blackadder Patented Armour Locking Device:

 

Well not "Patented" (Who could be bothered) but it seems I have circumvented a sticking problem. It came to me this morning after yesterday when I was thinking how to attach the upper leg armour without resorting to mutilating the Mars legs with unsightly screws and or magnets.

 

I hit on the premise of utilizing the compression ability of the tubular styrene as a linear spring clip that can be snapped in and out with equal facility and still have sufficient strength to hold the armour in place.

 

First an image of the rest of the fruits of this weekend's labor; the waist armour clip on Luteus Pattern armour.

 


http://i.imgur.com/Jgd4Jxal.jpg

 

These four pieces (Two Reavers remember) snap on readily over the Mars waist armour front and back and hold in place without falling off. They are just basic now but will be embellished with all sorts of 40K goodies and layered armour sheets to echo the Warlord.

 

In the center of the above image is my little jewel of inspiration, the tubular linear clip.

 

The close up doesn't really show the construction any better but suffice it to say that it is a very close tolerance fit so the armour will be not sliding up or down when applied or twist askew.

 


http://i.imgur.com/c6l9dmol.jpg

 

Below we see the basic clip in place utilizing the shoulders of the resin casting to lock it in place prevent up or down sliding

 


http://i.imgur.com/U75oJKbl.jpg

 

And the two thigh cylinders clamping the styrene tube sufficiently tight.

 

Next; the rest of the upper thigh armour still to be designed............

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Blackadder Veteran

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Test Model:

 
I'm going to need a test model that is always assembled for the rest of this/these build(s).
 
It's just too much trouble assembling and reassembling each time I have pieces to fit. fortunately all the pieces so far are interchangeable so the one test model will be enough.
 
The front view showing the new snap on thigh armour and codpiece looks amazingly in proportion (at least to my eye and surprisingly the camera's eye as well.) I was not prepared for that.....
 
http://i.imgur.com/WyLzxKOl.jpg
 
It seems I won't be needing the kneecap armour after all which is fine with me as it would have been a nightmare to make the kneecaps ride up and down with telescoping pistons as the knee flexes. Maybe someday in a moment of insanity I'll try making that mechanism but not this year.
 
 
The rear view still has pleasing proportions although I note I forgot to mount the after part of the groin armour.
 
http://i.imgur.com/Bq1rSVel.jpg
 
The side view shows that I haven't as yet resolved the neck issue but I think the head is finally starting to make some sense as far as appearance. 
 
http://i.imgur.com/9xHsDqDl.jpg
 
Gone is the squashed toad look which I categorically do not like even in the Mars Pattern, by extending the chin down and increasing the height of the brow the head now fits well as an intermediate between the Warhound and Warlord so there is a continuity of design.
 
I had hoped to have these completed by Christmas but it looks like February is the new target date.
 
On the plus side I think I am ready to start detailing, whew! 
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lionofjudah Venerable Brother

lionofjudah

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.... speechless my man! It is so incredible to have watched you fix the mars pattern reaver into it's more beautiful self as a lucius! Looking forward to February.

Are the thigh plates going to wrap slightly? Seems a little off with them being the 'only' flat facing armour.

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Blissful Brushes Veteran

Blissful Brushes

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You could stop the head from rotating, pull it in closer to the neck and instead of eyes, give it more of an all around window. This'd stop it from sagging and remove a bit of that hunched look perhaps.

It shouldn't really need to rotate - it's a bit daft that with all of those sexy sensory gizmos that it still needs to turn its head, let alone have an actual head..not some little armoured room in the heart of the titan.

 

Either way, awesome work so far!

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SW1 Venerable Brother

SW1

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I've said it before and I'll say it again these builds your doing are really inspirational.

 

When I start flagging hobbywise a catch up with your builds really helps kick start the old hobby mojo again!!!

 

I just wonder how you get plasticard to cut so accurately? And how many hours a week are you putting into the builds your working on?

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Blackadder Veteran

Blackadder

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I just wonder how you get plasticard to cut so accurately? And how many hours a week are you putting into the builds your working on?

This is the question I am asked more than any other aside from, "what tools do I use....."
 
I thought I had a saved composition on how I cut styrene but I can't find it so I'll adapt my answer for cutting clear styrene because the proceedure is pretty much the same.
 
Clear styrene is rather more brittle than white styrene so you can save yourself a lot of grief by not trying to cut around corners or curves, chances are the sheet will shatter and always in the wrong way.
 
Plan your work and cut only straight cuts; this may seem wasteful but much less so than failed angled or curved cuts.
 
First I measured the width of the strip I required; in this case 17 MM.
 
I scratched a small marker where I wanted the cut to be:
 
http://i.imgur.com/BGEmQY5l.jpg
 
Employing my utility knife and a fairly accurate combination square I scored a fine line on the surface of the clear styrene. I would suggest a hard surface ( I use a wood cutting board ) and not a foam cutting mat as shown here but the cutting mat shows the scored line better.
http://i.imgur.com/B8RsdlWl.jpg
 
Once you have the scored line, you can either remove the square or chance deepening the score with repeated passes with the knife but bear in mind that each pass increases the possibility of slipping or cracking the styrene. White styrene is far softer than clear styrene so it is virtually impossible to shatter.
 
another method I use to score styrene in a straight line is using a steel scale or straight edge or with practice you can probably reach a point where you can score a pencil line with no need for a guide at all.
 
Really thin 'white' styrene < 1MM / 0.040 inch can also be cut with a good pair of scissors.
 
I removed the square after the second pass and then after relied on the depth of the score to keep the knife from slipping.
 
I made half a dozen more passes until the score was deep enough to attempt snapping the line.
 
Try to snap the line gently and evenly apply pressure along the length of the cut instead of a localized point.
 
If it seems you need undue pressure score the line deeper rather than applying more pressure which could shatter the sheet.
 
http://i.imgur.com/e2268W3l.jpg
 
The result is a cleanly cut strip.
 
If not you can refine the edge with a sanding block or single cut file.
 
I prefer the single cut 8 inch "Farmers file" mainly because the handle is built in and the file has two coarseness' 
 
0817863.jpg
 
As for the amount of time I devote to the hobby, I work 'til I get bored probably an hour or two a day.
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Blackadder Veteran

Blackadder

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Multi Faceted:

 
Sometimes things go right and when I hit on the idea of coffin shaped armour for the upper legs yesterday I had it in the back of my mind to expand on the two dimensional look by adding facets to the surface. It all came together this afternoon with the result below. 

http://i.imgur.com/JYRu9MSl.jpg
 
Where it ties in with the lower greaves. 
 
 
http://i.imgur.com/9Qq0nXdl.jpg
 
 
Now I have the notion to carry it a bit further with 'slides' connecting the greaves with the upper armour........... and I have just figured what they'll look like.
 
Should be done tomorrow.
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  • 2 weeks later...
Blackadder Veteran

Blackadder

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The *Tick's Sidekick and Vlad the Impaler:

 
Well I hope it's not the case but right now the Reaver head looks like a cross between Arthur The Moth and Count Dracula but it is coming along. I am at loggerheads with muse of inspiration so all this may be just an exercise in futility.
 
http://i.imgur.com/Xdcd2XKl.jpg
 
http://i.imgur.com/87D6gjil.jpg
 
Still plugging away up until Christmas Vacation.... This year in Poland. Cripes, who's idea was that?
 
*BTW probably one of the funniest sitcoms ever produced
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Blackadder Veteran

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By Jove I Think He's Got It:
 

Well it was a tough fight but I think I've nailed the basic look of the head

 
http://i.imgur.com/cAm3Lgql.jpg
 
Of course 'eyebrows and nose detail need to be install and ducting in the cheek area as well as on the sides but the basic shape is promising and with the eye openings allow the headlights to be seen it pretty much manifests my original thoughts.
 
The image below shows that the eye ridges need to be more of a frown shape and I may angle the lower rim of the eyes as well....
 
But I am very pleased I was able to heighten the 'Face' when compared to the Mars Pattern visage.
 
http://i.imgur.com/vscGqkdl.jpg
 
I particularly like the wings on either side of the brow even though at the moment they interfere with the hood which precludes the head movement side to side.
 
http://i.imgur.com/jsWdBd5l.jpg
 
Meanwhile the top hamper is finally faired in and all I need make is the air intake in front of the center rocket pod.
 
http://i.imgur.com/MyESrwzl.jpg
 
So this is pretty much the shape of the hull and carapace with only the belly armour to be designed.
 
http://i.imgur.com/DsiXixFl.jpg
 
Then we can get to the fun part, the detailing...........
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Blackadder Veteran

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I've Still Gotta Repeat This On The Other Reaver Head:

 

I've devoted a lot of effort to making this one Reaver head and everything has pretty much fallen into place. I was going to use the FW Resin 'eyes' for the windscreen display but they are a tad too low and far too recessed to be effective so I am making panels to mount new 'eyes'....

 


http://i.imgur.com/1AX7PXVl.jpg

 


http://i.imgur.com/7UFJ9M2l.jpg

 

I have gotten so far ahead of myself on this one head that I wonder whether I can duplicate the work on the one left behind......

 

Just looking at the intricacies of the development astounds me and I have grave doubts I shall be able to duplicate the procedure. 

 


http://i.imgur.com/R7uwzMIl.jpg

 

Yeah I know the work isn't 100% symmetrical

 


http://i.imgur.com/pUXq8MWl.jpg

 

 but clearly those who may point this out have never bought a FW product.......... Ha! 
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Blackadder Veteran

Blackadder

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Walk Like an Egyptian:

 
This head is taking on a decided pharaonic appearance through no intent on my part. Hopefully once the side paraphernalia is installed that will disappear. 
 
http://i.imgur.com/1HhFHdll.jpg
 
I'm rather pleased how the sensor arrays in the eye socket turned out, much better than installing lenses as if they were windscreens as was my original intent.
 
http://i.imgur.com/MdNAQhZl.jpg
 
The side view still looks sparse..........
 
http://i.imgur.com/l2Yw5ZLl.jpg
 
And the top view needs a couple of Asps and Ibises 
 
http://i.imgur.com/e7zqiX4l.jpg
 
In a condo made of stona....
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Blackadder Veteran

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Thanks for the replies, I am about to leave for a week in Poland (First Prize was a Dollar) at the behest of the fabulously enticing Ms Blackadder who thought it was a good idea to celebrate Christmas in Poland this year. My alternative, St Lucia, Hurricane Hole was overruled, next year Havana Cu, I'll be back the day after Xmas; Seasons greetings to all.

 

The cloutless Blackadder

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Subtle Discord Venerable Brother

Subtle Discord

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It was suggested in another corner of the interweb that I should speak to you about the hit-and-miss nature of FW kits, most notably the wonderful (lack of) fit some of the larger parts have. I haven't had time to reply to that suggestion, but I plan on pointing out that you do such a great job explaining the problems you encounter and how you deal with them, and the processes and thinking in your building in general, all I need to do is read.

 

You've mentioned that it is a conscious effort to not only showcase what you do but to also give real input and insight into how and why you do things to help enlighten others; that is a conviction I can admire as I try to do the same. It's wonderful to see a final outcome, but there's so much more to the story that is creation that can be told, and people like myself crave to see the whole story.

 

I also know that even casual documentation of work-in-progress builds, with good pictures and thoughtful explanations, adds labour to the creation process. There's not many willing to do it, and for that I thank you. All the best to you and yours over the holidays.

 

And, because I've always wanted to mention that I'm fond of your name choice...

 

Blackadder: 'Christmas’ as an H in it, Mr Baldrick.

 

Baldrick: Oh…

 

Blackadder: …and an R. Also an I, and an S. Also T and M and A… …and another S. Oh, and you’ve missed out the C at the beginning. Congratulations, Mr Baldrick! Something of a triumph, I think — you must be the first person ever to spell `Christmas’ without getting any of the letters right at all.

 

~ Blackadder’s Christmas Carol

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Blackadder Veteran

Blackadder

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Thanks for the reply, finally someone who appreciates the added effort required to document a build in progress; Ha!

 

In the mean time I cannot place the Baldrick/Blackadder exchange you mention and i thought I knew the Series' backwards and fo'wards.......

 

Back from Poland and frustrated as hell, seems no one can make a Vodka Martini and I'm not saying a 'Bad Vodka Martini' but literally nothing resembling a Martini at all. I finally coerced the Bartender at the Krakow Sheraton to let me make my own.
 
On the brighter side I got some great ideas regarding Emperor Titans, it seems that every year they hold competitions to see who can make the most outlandish 'Nativity' creche Literally hundreds of paper edifices that look for all the world like The upper galleries of Emperor Titans.   e.g.
 
 
Seems they have built a cottage industry making imperial Titans and did not even know it. Ha!
 
Some of these creations are upwards of two meters tall and entirely made of paper and left over Xmas wrapping paper. 
 
As I said I got some good ideas and maybe there will be an Imperator in the offing in the coming year. TTFN E.B.
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  • 3 weeks later...
Blackadder Veteran

Blackadder

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Well That's Interesting?

 
I am trying to improve the overall look of the 'head' of the Reaver but the new work looks like a Puddytat in the image below.
 
http://i.imgur.com/VJJonRhl.jpg
 
Well not having seen this before as a 2D photo perhaps it's wrong or it may be a photo distortion.
 
http://i.imgur.com/nSxXd82l.jpg
 
Nope, it looks like a puddytat...........
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Blackadder Veteran

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Stupid, Stupid, Stupid!

 

Well Archimedes had his Eureka Moment and The Blackadder had his 'stupid stupid stupid season of stupidity' where having been agonized over how to work the chest armour of this damned thing being neither able to come up with a satisfactory chest armour nor a suitable attaching mechanism when it came to me in the middle of the night in a flash of latent inspiration so embarrassing in it's simplicity that I did not think of it before.

 

At once I shall have the attach point and the armour and it all will fit together as if it were tailor made for the Lucius Reaver.

 

Gone is the bourgeois double neck Mars armour and in it's place an elegantly simple angular Lucius replacement that I do not begrudge my loss of sleep or the countless sleepless hours tossing that this problem had me vexed with.....For tonight I have the solution!

 

Eureka!

 

So here is the problem:

 


http://i.imgur.com/GjMPQ7Tl.jpg

 

Solution to follow........

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Blackadder Veteran

Blackadder

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Lucius Reaver revisited

 

Well off and on for the past month I have been wracking my brain trying to think of how to exhaust the rocket pods on the wing carapaces.

 

With the news of my nephew's impending operation I cast all aside in a fervent effort to be with my family in Florida single minded in the motor trip south.

 

On the drive down and back Epiphanies abound;

 

All that I was searching for on the LandKreuzer, The Reaver and the T'hawk gelled and I knew the direction to take.

 

I started with the Landkreuzer because that was the hardest; those road wheels had perplexed me for literally years.

 

The Reaver solution was so embarrassingly obvious that I hesitate to present it in completed form so in the next few days I shall be doing a step by step of my solution.

 

In the end you may well be wondering how could the Blackadder have missed something so obvious! 

 

It may seem callous to some that I was thinking of anything other than the 13 months old's pending operation but when driving long hours many things cross your mind. Who knows that he when he's a bit older may read these very words and realize the part he played in this progression.

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Blackadder

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Reaver Madness:

 

During the fifties a public service film circulated in the US School System condemning the drug Marijuana called "Reefer Madness". I'm not going to link to it but I'm sure it can be found on Youtube.

 

I have my own personal dementia  that I call 'Reaver Madness' and it is much more debilitating in that for the past months I have been losing sleep trying to come up with a viable solution how the rocket pods will house in the wing carapaces and be deploy-able without changing the overall pleasing shape (IMO) I have achieved thus far..

 

Well the solution is two hinged panels and five horizontal louvers and so simple I cannot believe I couldn't see it before. 

 

So to begin with the three images below show were I stand with the construction and over the next few days I'll show how to replicate what I've envisioned in my mind's eye.

 


http://i.imgur.com/aCj7OlQl.jpg

 

Below are two of the three pods showing the exhaust slots approximately 15 MM in height easily divided into five louvers and five 2 MM gaps and that is where I'll begin.

 


http://i.imgur.com/sO7Yi9rl.jpg

 

The last image shows the stowed rocket pod and the gap that must be bridged to fair the pod into the carapace. It must be displaced so the pod can raise out of it's well and turn 90° to the firing position while the bridge flap hinges as the pod rises and hinges down after the pod clears the well.

 


http://i.imgur.com/t5dh7xMl.jpg

 

Mind numbingly simple.

 

After this is done I can proceed with the fine detailing of this project.

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Blackadder

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The Louver Shop

 

Well They Don't Like Much, just five scrap pieces atached to the exhaust end of the rocket pod but I have a feeling I'm on the right track.

 

I had originally thought to make them flush with the end of the troncated casement but as I was cutting them I thought why not make them longer and have the edge extend to the outer casement ............

 


http://i.imgur.com/s5Ch9xYl.jpg

 

so I made the adjustment and if it doen't work out I can always cut it off flush.

 


http://i.imgur.com/UoWCGirl.jpg

 

 

I left the top final piece off so the shelving structure can be seen. 

 


http://i.imgur.com/ZXpYuIFl.jpg

 

I rationalize that on the "real" pod the louvers would be hinged to direct the exhaust away from the skin of the carapace but for our purposes that refinement won't be necessary as the rocket pod only angles to 45°. 

 


http://i.imgur.com/4rXgZPwl.jpg
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Blackadder

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Pure Sex:

 

Oh Yeah;

 

That's what I'm talk'n 'bout.

 

The basic louver prototype on the first pod is done and it already looks like what precisely should be on a Lucius Reaver. 

 


http://i.imgur.com/Qv2PZt5l.jpg

 

I take no credit for the design as My Celica Hatchback had exactly the same thing on it's rear window and the Cylon Spacecraft had virtually the same design as well.

 


http://i.imgur.com/DsCcvdCl.jpg

 

What I do take credit for is the inordinate amount of time wasted that it took me to rediscover that futuristic design!

 


http://i.imgur.com/UuIFFlzl.jpg
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Oh God D*mn!

 

I'd just about given up trying to come up with a satisfactory solution to the carapace/rocket pod conundrum but it seems this is a simple but best way 

 


http://i.imgur.com/DmjaIYel.jpg

 

The installation is clean, functionally sound and neat.

 


http://i.imgur.com/rPVCAD8l.jpg

 

Even in it's un-embellished basic state it has a no nonsense look to it in keeping with the Lucius genera.

 


http://i.imgur.com/yyvlmS6l.jpg

 

to have the wing open and the pod rise out of it's well

 


http://i.imgur.com/JW3VOhZl.jpg

 

 

Turn, train, and fire.

 


http://i.imgur.com/ijKUbT6l.jpg

 

Sweet............
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