Blackadder's Lucius Pattern Reaver Conversion Kit

[GhostMalone]

[Blackadder]

Some Thoughts On a Reaver:

 

The Reaver Titan, the Edsel of the FW stable?

 

Too small to compete with a Warlord too slow to compete with a Warhound.......

 

What is the purpose of this intermediate beast?

 

In the words of  Nobel laureate I.I. Rabi about the Muon, "who ordered that?" 

 

Well in the first place I believe FW produced it because they felt there was no market for a $2000 dollar Warlord model and truly to do it justice the FW Warlord would probably cost that much if not more.

 

My intent was to bring the Reaver into the 410th century and give it credence in the panoply of 40K denizens.

 

To that end I have attempted to make my own version of what a Lucius Reaver would look like. Not the slope shouldered model of the Epic Lucius Reaver but a vital construct employing all the ability I have accumulated over the past six or so years of scratch building.

 

The Apoc Rocket Pod a hold over from the Armorcast Reaver was the first to go. My revulsion of the ungainly weapon stemming in part from visions of the Surinam toad (no link provided look it up on you own) so I set out to build a more elegant rocket weapon system. 

 

That being accomplished (See above) all the major components are completed and I am now set to embark on the last phase of the project; "the detailing;" that which I consider the fun part.......

 

The Fine Details............to be continued

[Sgt. Blank]

Wow - those rocket pods are amazing! I continue to be in awe of your construction skills. That's a great solution!

[SW1]

Thinking out of the box and willing to look in random places for solutions works really well. It certainly keeps my attention firmly on your WIP threads. Rather inspiring stuff!

[Blackadder]

Thanks for the reply......

 

Together Again:

 

Well it seems I've gone as far as I can without assembling one of these beasties. The last time I had one together albeit with elastic bands and hidden string was last Summer and I've progressed far beyond that now.

 

The image below shows the six rocket pods mounted but only one hinged faring door; three more need to be made.

 

On the underside one Reaver has the belly armour mounted the other is awaiting the verdict if the belly armour is viable. which necessitates gluing one of the Reavers together hopefully temporary as I would like to disassemble it for painting and perhaps a different pose.. 

 

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

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

 

A lot of the leg parts are pinned and assembled with screws but the toes will have to be glued on with a spot of superglue for a solid stance.. 

[Blackadder]

Slightly Out Of Focus:

 

I think I need a new camera..........

 

So the Reaver is plugged together with coat hanger wires in a trial pose which seems do-able and the Lucius pieces fit and the proportion looks right to me.

 

http://i.imgur.com/5sl9H8i.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/5sl9H8il.jpg

 

This slightly overhead shot is not the best angle to view the work as it looks tiny but I wanted to show the upper works in relation to the table.

 

http://i.imgur.com/223xC2r.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/223xC2rl.jpg

 

The foam piece is to protect the work should it topple but I trust the pose now that it's been standing the better part of an hour.

 

This left quarter view shows the unfinished chest armour which was the reason I needed to assemble one of the titans. 

 

http://i.imgur.com/Ed0dlpx.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Ed0dlpxl.jpg

 

Next the 3/4 view  giving a walking away perspective. I'm going to leave the hip joint as it is instead of encasing it because I really like the sphere shape and I don't think I could improve on it without making the hips too bulky. The last thing we need is a Reaver with thunder thighs.

 

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

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

 

Lastly the rear view showing the complexity of the greaves which I was concerned would look too bulky but such is not the case fortunately.

 

http://i.imgur.com/932iQoC.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/932iQoCl.jpg

[Blackadder]

The Last Vestige:

 

The last vestige of the Mars pattern to be replaced/covered/eclipsed is the belly armour. Interestingly enough these are amoung the first pieces I produced when I started this project in earnest  late 2013. Not too shoddy when you consider that FW requires 18 months to produce a new titan and their artists have virtually unlimited resources and also lots of talent.

 

So the first image shows the breast plate (top) and the hinged side plates

 

http://i.imgur.com/2f7JL0I.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/2f7JL0Il.jpg

 

And the next image shows the breast plate in position ready to be adjusted to fit...

 

http://i.imgur.com/0wEdhSU.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/0wEdhSUl.jpg

 

This is why I had to wait 'til last to produce this component as it hast to be easily removable and still not interfere with the workings of the model.

 

The next image looks a bit weird because these photos are actually upside down but it shows the side view. All these pieces have to be trimmed and thickened so they look like armour instead if flimsy sheets of styrene but first they have to be fitted.

 

http://i.imgur.com/cYQG4CK.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/cYQG4CKl.jpg

 

Finally the rear/bottom view showing the intended half moon cut out area needed to allow the waist block to turn.

 

http://i.imgur.com/6vFIHk0.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/6vFIHk0l.jpg

[Blackadder]

Waist and Hip Side Armour:

 

All the while I was building this I had it in the back of my mind that I needed a way to attach the waist side armour. 

 

Well the belly armour provides that attach point proving once again The Blackadder has more luck than brains..........

 

ttp://i.imgur.com/oQHbZFk.jpg

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

 

This seems it may work after all and I just might be able to incorporate a Lucius shield for the waist block after all; Damn!

 

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

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

[lionofjudah]

YES!!! Wow man, so excited to see the hardlines of the Lucius making itself seen. Your mad genius is so appreciated!

[Blackadder]

Thanks for the reply,

 

 

As im not that familiar with the FW Reaver, why did you have to make the cirkular depression on the front armour ?

Does it have that much articulation on the waist ?

 

Thanks For Reminding Me:

 

I completely forgot to recheck the front waist armour clearance on the belly armour until SDKFZ reminded me.

 

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

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

 

That's what comes of stretching your build over the course of years instead of weeks; you forget why you did something.

 

http://i.imgur.com/C8xmtth.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/C8xmtthl.jpg

 

Anyway that's my rational for rapidly encroaching senility............

 

http://i.imgur.com/BtS911v.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/BtS911vl.jpg

[Blackadder]

One of Those Weeks:

 

D'ja ever have one of those weeks where you could seemingly do no wrong?

 

That is what this week was for me. From the Rocket Pod Louvers working out just perfect, to the full model presentation, to the belly armour now fitting in place like, like, like it was made for it; Gad I am ecstatic. 

 

http://i.imgur.com/3QTCfj8.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/3QTCfj8l.jpg

 

I was really in the doldrums before my trip to Florida, I couldn't come up with an idea, the whole project was stagnating; I was about to put the D*mned thing in a box and forget about it for a month or so. Now it really looks like it just might work!

 

http://i.imgur.com/jzF3Rss.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/jzF3Rssl.jpg

 

This beasty has become so massive it's like a whole new class of titan. Even with the belly armour still in the bare bones stage the stryene hull adds about another 16 ounces to the model. That's a lot of plasticard!

 

 

 

It's going to be fun putting a Mars Reaver side by side with this monster; it'll look anemic in comparison.

 

http://i.imgur.com/iJEKb4t.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/iJEKb4tl.jpg

 

The classic looking top view literally blows my mind. My apologies for such self-serving rhetoric but DAMN!

 

I'm in love.

[muggs]

Looks awesome, the belly armour really ties the room together.

 

It looks like such a brawler - a real boxer's face, maybe a rugby player actually, makes me think of Mike Tindall

 

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fsport%2F2011%2Fnov%2F11%2Fmike-tindall-fined-england&ei=qYjzVJLtKYq67ga3-YH4Dw&bvm=bv.87269000,d.ZGU&psig=AFQjCNFWwKAWHtuwZK-yx4MJxyY2_pVAIQ&ust=1425332774735212

[Blackadder]

Looks awesome, the belly armour really ties the room together.

 

It looks like such a brawler - a real boxer's face, maybe a rugby player actually, makes me think of Mike Tindall

 

[img]http://images.pitchero.com/ui/30207/1338209273_0.jpg[/img]

 

Surely not he looks like a poor man's Stephen Fry:

 

http://newcitychurch.co.uk/wp_slkj30dj/uploads/2015/02/stephen-fry.jpg

[Blackadder]

Thanks God For the IMGUR View Counter:

 

300 hit in one day, that's not too bad............

 

So someone's looking at my work anyway.

 

Now we'll see if lightning can strike twice; I spent the early morning making up the second belly armour and it should be dried enough this after noon to see if it will fit as well as the first one did. Yes and before someone asks ; YES I am making conversion kits for two Lucius Reavers. 

 

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

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

 

Yes! It Fits!

 

http://i.imgur.com/dUOU5uP.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/dUOU5uPl.jpg

 

And even better than the first one.

 

http://i.imgur.com/vKoiqb2.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/vKoiqb2l.jpg

 

That's a welcome surprise.

 

17983

[librisrouge]

Oh, we're looking. Just here and not on imgur. Great stuff fyi. Inspirational. I might be willing to do similar stuff to make a warhound more unique.

[Blackadder]

As Alike as Two:

 

 vaguely similar things in a pod to coin a Blackadderism.

 

http://i.imgur.com/esn9GbV.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/esn9GbVl.jpg

 

The belly armour went rather smoothly and the two Reavers are pretty much in the same state of assembly 

 

And I feel like celebrating with a well deserved Vodka Martini shaken not stirred. 

 

My father-law once told me that one doesn't shake a Martini as it dilutes the Vodka too much. I proceeded to demonstrate that that was hogwash by mixing four Martinis in the same batch stirring two and shaking two. He had to admit the shaken ones were better. Of course the trick is chilling the ingredients because if you get a Martini in a bar the Vodka is room temperature and does dilute more when shaken.. I keep my Vodka in the 'fridge

 

Now for simpler things..........

 

http://i.imgur.com/Gck2LnI.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Gck2LnIl.jpg

 

This is pretty much similar to what I posted before but at that time only one Reaver had the breast plate installed.

 

http://i.imgur.com/SiZYS3o.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/SiZYS3ol.jpg

 

Now both beasties are ready for the next phase....

 

http://i.imgur.com/zI0Fn6S.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/zI0Fn6Sl.jpg

 

Mounting the weapons; Goorn!

[Blackadder]

Screw It:

 

I'm a firm believer in screwing so anytime I can I use screws instead of glue especially since all the Lucius parts have to line up properly each time the model is converted from Mars to Lucius or back.

 

I use 8-32 countersunk screws and tap the hole into the resin casting which is sufficiently strong to hold a thread. If for some reason down the line the thread strips out you can always go to the next size screw or fill and retap the stripped out hole. 

 

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

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

 

Number 6 arm mount is already installed 

 

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

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

 

and the screw is yet to be tightened on the #2 mount..........

 

http://i.imgur.com/pgkQl8n.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/pgkQl8nl.jpg

[Thrillhouse]

Its beginning to look really amazing! I dont understand how something that... Blocky and boxy can look so good. I guess you have a really good eye for proportions!

[Blackadder]

Thanks for the compliment and the reply,

 

Have some bonus images:

 

Bonus Images;

 

I reserved these images for this special post as they portray the Reaver in a more majestic view contrasting the previous post's utilitarian images.

 

This angle will not be what is seen when the

 titan is fielded in a game which is a pity.

 

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

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

 

When I see this it makes me wonder why I am so less than enthused about the mid sized titan.......

 

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

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

 

It also shows the beginning of the breast plate mount which will be pinned on to facilitate the removal of the Lucius armour when converting to Mars pattern.

[Blackadder]

First Assembly:

 

Well this is the first attempt at assembly; I actually just drilled the weapons mount holes just this morning so you are seeing this just as I am seeing it.

 

http://i.imgur.com/V2ss37o.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/V2ss37ol.jpg

 

In all the weapons mounts are doable, they swivel in their sockets and the rocket pod shafts nest relatively neatly in their wells (I need a bit of sanding here and there to increase the tolerances. everything fits too tight.

 

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

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

 

 

The Lucius armour fits much better than I expected; again my tolerances are too tight and the left side rocket pod won't slide out of its housing.

 

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

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

 

The Lucius carapace needs to be screwed down to the weapons arm mounts as the arms have a tendency to pop out of the carapace receptacles.

 

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

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

 

But for a first go everything works amazingly well.

[HighGothic]

Your work really is incredible; the warlord you did was probably my favourite. 

 

I am completely new to plasticard, so I am only using it for basing. The sheet is quite thick, 1.5mm, and my hobby knife just won't cut it (no pun intended)

 

What would you suggest?

 

Cheers!

[Blackadder]

I rarely use plasticard thicker than 1,0 MM but this trick works on 1,5 MM as well.

 

But first what kind of hobby knife are you using? If it won't cut, I'll bet  it's similar to an Xacto knife.

 

http://xacto.com/products/cutting-solutions/knives.aspx

 

These are fine for delicate work but no good for heavy duty cutting.

 

What you need is a "Utility knife'such as a 'Stanley' or 'General'.

 

This is the one I use:

 

http://www.amazon.com/BOSTITCH-10-499-Quick-Change-Utility-Retractable/dp/B00002X20D

 

But the price seems a bit high. Should be around $6 bucks.

 

Then you have to learn how to cut. it' not difficult but many hobbyists don't know the 'score and snap method.' 

 

First straight cuts. No knife is going to cut through plasticard accurately and cleanly on the first pass so mark your line and follow it with the blade making a shallow score in the plastic. You can do this freehand or use a straight edge. Once you have the plastic scored you probably won't need the knife anymore; just snap the plastic by gently bending it on either side of the scored line.

 

If the plastic doesn't snap score the line again and then try snapping it.

 

Let me know how this works for you and then we'll progress to more complex curved cuts.

 

HTH

[HighGothic]

Thanks!

 

The knife I was using was from the old range of GW tools, and was almost identical to one of those Xacto knives.

 

I didn't know the score and snap method, so thanks for that, however I'm not making cuts too precise. What I am trying to do is ruined pavement, so I cut a square that was just bigger than the base and just cut bits of the sides to make a broken slab. Hopefully it should work!

 

I'm sure I can stretch to $9, I'll be using this knife a lot.

 

Thanks again!

[Blackadder]

Glad to be of help. This is what my threads are posted for. There are many techniques that seem obvious to hardened scratch builders but those new to the game need to get information on how to work with the medium. I welcome any questions and will do my damnedest to provide you with the best information I can provide. Please don't be afraid to ask; that's what I am here for.............. 

[abraxus]

My only question is.... How much would it cost me to buy a kit (lol)?  that looks way better than the standard Reaver.