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Blackadder's Lucius Pattern Reaver Conversion Kit

Blackadder

By Blackadder
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Argun Venerable Brother

Argun

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Maybe you could try to fill those spots in with something else? Maybe some sort of small block of armor/decoration perhaps? Or even just put panels between the fins to make it look like that is just one big heat-sink? 

Personally, I think it'd be better without a cable there. 

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Blackadder Veteran

Blackadder

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Yeah probably............

 

Gatling Blaster:

 
The Gatling Blaster Lucius armour was simple to make being ostensibly a styrene box following the shape of the Mars armour.
 
Once made I added a rim around the arm attach ring of 0.040" / 1,0 MM strip to give the edge of the mount receptacle a more finished appearance.

http://i.imgur.com/jZC0VsOl.jpg
 
To make the strip curve simply draw the strip between thumb nail and fore finger applying slight pressure with thumb nail to the strip a few times and then glue in place progressing around rim of arm mount as the glue is applied. 
 
The entire procedure taking less time than it took me to type this.
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Blackadder Veteran

Blackadder

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Basic Weapon Lucius Armour:

 
Below can be seen the basic Lucius weapons armour including the failed fist gauntlet which I am still pondering to resolve.
 
Not bad for a weeks work and to tell the truth I am greatly relieved to have this part over as it was of great concern to me how to eclipse the Mars equipage without bulking up the escutcheons too much.
 
http://i.imgur.com/7H15Loxl.jpg
 
http://i.imgur.com/cyL2qral.jpg
 
 
Now I can devote my time to the biggest design effort namely the Lucius Cockpit armour.
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Blackadder Veteran

Blackadder

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Thanks,

 

The Head Armour:
 
This will be the most difficult of all to redesign.
 
The Mars Pattern head is a work of art and well suited to the Mars Reaver but I want to depart from the flattened toad's head for my Lucius design.
 
http://i.imgur.com/skhDYuil.jpg
 
http://i.imgur.com/HBAJFaQl.jpg
 
Googling "Armorcast Reaver" shows the original Reaver head is more domed in appearance but still far too organic for my taste. What I need is a midway morph between the "Peterbuilt" cab look of the Lucius Warhound and the "Totenkoph"/"Minnesota Vikings" visage of the Lucius Warlord.
 
 
Surprisingly the SDK-FZ design was staring me on the face for quite some time but I failed to take up on it.
 
The "head" will take the shape of the SDK-Fz series armored cars more or less and the first order of business is to make a working frame that is compatible with the Mars cockpit but small enough to allow my modifications and still fit under the hood............
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Blackadder Veteran

Blackadder

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Inner Core of Cockpit:

 
We'll start with a close tolerance internal fit so the armour will lock in place similar to the original:
 
http://i.imgur.com/NHPvaPHl.jpg
 
The inner cockpit frame has numerous points that allow for locking a styrene inner component.
 
http://i.imgur.com/2exwrK8l.jpg
 
This image shows the internal panels that lock the armour in place:
 
http://i.imgur.com/TTbaO6Pl.jpg
 
 
This image shows the close tolerance component in place the excess plastic a handy anchor for the exterior surface of the finished armour which will be quite different for the original:
 
http://i.imgur.com/six9Ncrl.jpg
 
The only pity is I have to make another......
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  • 3 weeks later...
Blackadder Veteran

Blackadder

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My spell check only picks up on misspelled words not misuses, "No Pita For you! Come back one year....." (Soup Nazi paraphrase) ;)

 

One Armed Juggler:

 
Wow I'm busier than a one armed juggler; 'way too many projects in progress at the moment.
 
This weekend I made the interior buttresses of the second Lucius head so when the model is complete the Lucius head helmet will be interchangeable with the Mars style helmet just by popping it off. A simple straight forward design utilizing the faceted angle to lock the respective helmet to the original cockpit.
 
http://i.imgur.com/Ef7Fm4Il.jpg
 
http://i.imgur.com/F01Eihvl.jpg
 
Now with most of the major Lucius components made I am ready to start detailing the exterior of various pieces.
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  • 2 weeks later...
Blackadder Veteran

Blackadder

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Reaver Head Mental Block:

 
I've reached an impasse coming up with an original design for the Reaver head. I don't want to copy the FW style Mars flattened pancake as a Lucius angular flattened pancake but rather a midway creation somewhere between the Warhound and Warlord.
 
Below is what I have come up with given the space allowed under the carapace which is a limiting factor height wise.
 
http://i.imgur.com/9Prp2Isl.jpg
 
http://i.imgur.com/J9fzmGel.jpg
 
This design will have a four pane wrap around windscreen which although completely useless as in the Warhound and Walord, the two Moderati  sitting much to low to see anything but sky through the glazing it does anthropomorphize the cockpit visage. 
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Blackadder Veteran

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I don't wanna hear Megatron.......... I never even heard of Megatron until I posted these modifications. apparently it's some sort of Japanese transformer robot..........

 

I firmly believe in, "There's nothing new under the Sun." but this idea/design is/was original with me.regardless that it somehow is reminiscent of some oriental creation......... :D  

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  • 3 weeks later...
Blackadder Veteran

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Cab-over Pete With a Reaver On:

 
To paraphrase the old song 'Convoy'.............
 
(Ah like both kinds'a music, Country an' Western.)
 
Remember CB radios; did that fad fade out or what?
 
I keep looking at this cockpit hence the cab-over reference  and find it hard to reconcile how far the mug extended beyond the main body of the Reaver
 
http://i.imgur.com/Snx79Gcl.jpg
 
Although my front extends only 6-7 MM further than the original Mars Pattern it's just not looking right to me. I'm almost tempted to scrap the Mars head a build a full Lucius cockpit assembly with a shorter neck.
 
http://i.imgur.com/2nGXhssl.jpg
 
This flash image of the front elevation looks reminiscent of something but I can't quite figure what?
 
http://i.imgur.com/MhAmf8vl.jpg
 
Once I extend the rear of the hood I shall be better able to determine how to proceed with the rest of the cockpit...........
 
http://i.imgur.com/4wRm3tol.jpg
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  • 3 weeks later...
Blackadder Veteran

Blackadder

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After a month of doldrums I have again taken up the cudgel trying to turn dross into gold.

 

Given the limited space, the extended neck, and the toad-like continence of the Mars Reaver Titan I hope I have resolved the dilemma. I need an interim facade between the Warhound and the Warlord for this Obamanation Titan and I think I have resolved the problem.

 

I'm throwing caution to the wind and copying my Lucius Warlord Helmet with armoured sideburns and bluff brow and see where that leads me; I have to admit I have put more thought into this head than in all the other scratchbuilts I have tackled and still 'come-a-cropper'. 

 

I would hate to have to admit defeat and do a Lucius version of the Mars head. 

 

-- 

E. Blackadder

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Blackadder Veteran

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Thanks for the support,

 

Like a Long Necked Goose:

 
By squaring off the cockpit it appears I have intensified the long neck appearance of the Reaver.
 
I'm quite satisfied with the faceted layout; once the nose and cheeks are detailed and the standard conduits are installed it should make for an interesting display.
 
http://i.imgur.com/sWQLdobl.jpg
 
I keep forgetting that the hood seen in these photos is actually the underside of the finished hood which will be approximately 4,0 MM thick.
 
http://i.imgur.com/8zNKvVSl.jpg
 
It would be really nice to have a few LED's behind those big rectangular lens openings.
 
http://i.imgur.com/zouqXlal.jpg
 
The nice thing is I have plenty of room above the head to install a higher more interesting brow. 
 
http://i.imgur.com/Cxnly7wl.jpg 
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Blackadder Veteran

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Funny you should ask this at this particular time. I was at my supplier a few days ago to buy supplies and I saw none of my fav cement behind the counter. Well its a small company and they are hard pressed to meet the demand so sometimes they are behind on filling orders. 

 

I have been using 'Ambroid' glues since I was a tyke so I was flabbergasted to hear my fav cement Co, was out of business; closed down by the EPA!

 

Well the other manufacturers of Styrene welding liquids cannot be far behind at least in the US. 'Tamiya' cannot be offloaded in California even for transport to more rational states.

 

To answer your question; right now I am finishing off my supply of Ambroid ProWeld  and am about to use Testors 'Plastic Cement' until they too are ground under the heel of Government Bureaucracy.

 

 Refreshed:

 
I cannot believe the amount of enthusiasm I have for this project again. It was getting tedious and I just needed a break. Suitably refreshed I managed more today than I was doing in a week a month ago.
 
So we've reached a point where the cheek conduits need to be installed and because this Titan will be both a Mars and a Lucius the conduits most be removable.
 
http://i.imgur.com/yLmHNrjl.jpg
 
Enter the rare earth magnets. I have a goodly supply of 3,0 MM / 1/8 inch so  both ends of the conduits and receptacles got drilled and press fitted magnets into the undersized holes. All the poles are correct so the conduits are interchangeable.
 
http://i.imgur.com/XIpYb5cl.jpg
 
The magnet-magnet connection is fairly strong for their tiny size, strong enough to lift the head.
 
http://i.imgur.com/cQfaak7l.jpg
 
This is one mean looking mo-fo!
 
http://i.imgur.com/WIiqDfol.jpg
 
So the moment of true arrives when switching to the Lucius cowl.
 
http://i.imgur.com/X4lUFcTl.jpg
 
Everything lines up rather well.
 
http://i.imgur.com/2vlJgxWl.jpg
 
Look like the cowl is being attacked by Shelob
 
http://i.imgur.com/gNx37A3l.jpg
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Blackadder

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Conduit Collars:

 
You always have to be on the look out for interesting bits of scrap such as the subject of this post; conduit collars.
 
It would be pretty tedious to make collars to ring the penetration points where the large electrical conduits enter the housings; in this case the Reaver head jowls. Leaving these plain give an unfinished look to the area besides the more detail the better.
 
http://i.imgur.com/HyMYDR5l.jpg
 
Fortunately I have had this idea for quite a few years and have mentioned it before but it doesn't hurt to re-introduce it.
 
http://i.imgur.com/EYrG2lvl.jpg
 
When you cut large holes in styrene using wood hole augers you get these nicely shaped rings that are roundly beveled inside and out but usually get swept away with the refuse. These make dandy collars with a minimum of cleaning and sanding.
 
http://i.imgur.com/VayG0C3l.jpg
 
The image above shows the collars glued in place before the final cleaning and I believe they add a nice touch to an ordinarily bland area.
 
I have used these extensively on most of my models even as just tchotchke decorations.
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  • 3 weeks later...
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By George He's Got It:

 

In a rare display of self-congratulation (Really BA?) I am here to say this has come out 'way better than I could have imagined. Everything fell into place this weekend and the Reaver has a hulking Lucius visage.

 

Not only will the center rocket pod be able to fire whilst undeployed but now there is even a reason for the hood; to protect the cockpit from the rocket exhaust of course.

 


http://i.imgur.com/YaocG4Ml.jpg

 

I'm sorry to be so ebullient but I've agonized over how to proceed with this model for SSSSSooooo LLLLLLoooonnnnngggggg! and now to have everything work so well is, is, well a relief.

 

Thrusting the carapace forward a few millimeters did wonders with the neck length. The outer skin on the hood and carapace just seems to flow purpose.

 


http://i.imgur.com/PqxOP4kl.jpg

 

I'm going to just dump the lot of pictures without explanation:

 


http://i.imgur.com/TW3TWnrl.jpg

 

Just look at this bad boy, even without sculpting and detail he just reeks mean.

 

Looks a bit like Darth Vader don't he?

 


http://i.imgur.com/hUxzz1el.jpg

 

The top view shows the fearful symmetry that the curve center cowl suddenly brought to the table. All the time I wasted trying to come up with a decent fairing between the pods and a simple curved structure pulled it all together.

 


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

 

In this last shot one can almost see the rear housing skin and rear carapace is going to work as well.

 


http://i.imgur.com/SNhS7SWl.jpg

 

My apologies for my uncharacteristic ebullience.

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Carapace Skinned:

 
Below is the front quarter and rear quarter view of the two completed carapaces. I still have to design the removable end caps so the rocket arrays can be deployed.
 
The two unfinished strips on either side of the center pod I may be tying into the void generator housings so they are left undone as well. 
 
http://i.imgur.com/pViiN1Bl.jpg
 
Much as in the Warlord and the Thunderhawk the model is made to be disassembled at will so the components interlock with out gluing and the structure is eminently stable and can withstand many assembly and disassembly evolutions.
 
http://i.imgur.com/gGuJ0JEl.jpg
 
Surprisingly considering the amount of construction amendments the underside of the carapace is symmetrically neat and uniform.
 
http://i.imgur.com/qiVetDBl.jpg
 
Considering the whole assembly is only a few ounces it is incredibly strong I actually stepped on a rocket pod by accident with no adverse effect.
 
http://i.imgur.com/iUvZgBBl.jpg
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Blackadder Veteran

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Free Form Construction:

 
I wish I could offer some information on how these Void Generator housings are constructed but it's pretty much guesswork on my part on how they go together and the shaping.
 
There are just too many angles and contours to adequately measure and your best bet is to rely on your eye than follow measurements.
 
http://i.imgur.com/C8Kei9Il.jpg
 
After all we are copying FW of whom can be said are industry widely noted for their asymmetry in model making.
 
http://i.imgur.com/t8LnYokl.jpg
 
All that can be said is I reinforced the bulkhead gussets to lay on the skin sheets and over lapped the sheets where necessary.
 
Once the housings are completely sheeted I'll sand down the seams and fair in the angles until everything looks relatively symmetrical.
 
http://i.imgur.com/pjlM4Hpl.jpg
 
There may be a tad of difference between the two models but the front and rear components are still interchangeable where it counts. 
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Small Return:

 

So much work with such a small reward.

 

I was prepared to have my socks knocked off today with this the first trial assembly of one of the Lucius Reavers but Meh! it was pretty anticlimactic.

 

Not that there is anything wrong, the hull and carapace did not overwhelm the overall size of the Titan and I still have to produce the waist, knee and thigh armour; there is still tonnes of detail still to add and of course the weapons...............

 

Well judge for yourself:

 


http://i.imgur.com/ZLjIn5wl.jpg

 


http://i.imgur.com/4n9XbMvl.jpg

 


http://i.imgur.com/60RLwaNl.jpg

 


http://i.imgur.com/wCEO5Dnl.jpg

 

Mebbe it's just me but somehow I wanted more after all this effort.  

 

Stay tuned for the Mars Reaver in a similar state of completion for comparison.

 

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