Lord Commander Eidolon Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Well, folks, I have clearly lost the plot and have decided to try a conversion/scratch build of epic proportions… the fabled Stormbird! http://i65.tinypic.com/3581dfr.jpg I was going to pledge it to the Loyalty and Treachery thread, but that would be really insane… and at that point I needed a major component. I’ve had a look around and like the famous Bulldog’s version I’m basing it on the classic image and the GI Joe Dragonhawk. http://i65.tinypic.com/e9it69.jpg I managed to acquire an Aurora class dropship on a recent trip back to the UK. http://i67.tinypic.com/2eb7na0.jpg I’d like it not to be a carbon copy of what’s been done before; so all suggestions and comments are welcomed. There are a lot of marine/imperial flyer bits I can cannibalize that probably weren’t around back then. I’m really playing it by ear, so am open to all suggestions. So the description is…. The Stormbird had missiles slung under both wings and a powerful kinetic cannon mounted on its nose. Stormbirds were piloted by two Space Marines sitting back to back along with two Servitors hardwired into the vessel. A Stormbird's wings could be folded or collapsed back against the Stormbird's chassis in some manner when the aircraft was not in-atmosphere Now the Sokar Pattern has the5 x turret mounted lascannons6 wing mounted missiles/marco bombs I am wondering if something like the Thunderhawks turbo laser or battle cannon would be an idea. Hopefully one day it’ll be fun to game with, but I’m more interested in the rule of cool for weapons!! My first efforts with the Dragonfly will be to trim off the front of the nose to allow for something like the beak of the Bulldog model. I will then build out the upper hull and lengthen the tail section, to make this beast ‘massive! I’ll start off with mock up parts from card, then use plasticard and styrene strips to build it up. I’ve just had fun and games destroying the dropship – but that’s done, although there will be repairs of the door hinges necessary. I will some paint the internal detail – I am pondering putting details like bolter racks, consoles and maybe ladders inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pearson73 Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Scratch builds are always fun, especially the more ambitious. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Commander Eidolon Posted March 12, 2016 Author Share Posted March 12, 2016 Work on this bad boy will be somewhat long and drawn out I fear - I'll get some more WIP pics up shortly. I am currently working on the insides - I am pondering the cockpit, has anyone got a marine land speeder? I could do with knowing the width measurement of the cockpit piece to see if it is viable for the pilots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Commander Eidolon Posted March 12, 2016 Author Share Posted March 12, 2016 Well, this is what the Aurora looks like after a date with a saw... The hinges are pretty fragile and have come away in places and the glue holding the bulkhead walls fell off -- however, this may well be a bonus when it comes to painting and adding detail. http://i63.tinypic.com/9pu984.jpg I am planning on using computer consoles/interior details from various kits on the hangers, I'll try at least to make the fore and aft ones look a little different --- if anyone has any spare bits, please PM me. http://i68.tinypic.com/1191img.jpg I think I'll add a door to the back, to create the illusion of corridors - maybe utilise Land Raider inner doors; again if anyone has some..... The black vent things look like they'll go, i've got some spare Storm Raven seating that may work.... The upper deck sections won't really be that visible so I probably won't do much up there. http://i67.tinypic.com/2d06k9.jpg If you ever wondered what the innards of a Dragon Hawk were like.... I am hoping to keep the electronics -- that'll give me an issue of accessing the batteries.... I am planning to extend the length of the chassis to match the length of the hangars... that'll be fun!! Looking at it I think I am going to be concentrating on the bays and cockpit interiors first.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Commander Eidolon Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share Posted March 13, 2016 I've hacked up the body of the dragon hawk today, to start extending the length so it matches the length of the Aurora. I'll get round to pics of that once I've finished. I've been working on the interior this weekend, kind of playing it by ear with what bits and bobs I've got in my bits box. I want hangar bays to have some detail, so I've started to knock this up. I would have done a little more on it, but I am going to try to cast up the basic door frame so I don't have to make 3 more!! I might have to rip off the plastic parts, as I don't want identical copies. http://i64.tinypic.com/vdpmk1.jpg I this is the general idea of what one of the panels will look like. I am thinking of adding things like bolter racks, servo skulls to the other ones - or anything else you good people may suggest! http://i67.tinypic.com/333wumr.jpg As I've pulled the Dragonhawk apart i can get total access to the cockpit. I want to make it a little different to whats gone before. I've measured the space and made a template to see what I can fit in there. I've only used what few bits I've got on hand, so it is very much early days. I was planning on putting the servitor from the Storm Raven kit at the front - initially because the part fitted in the space on the toys original cockpit. A marine jet fighter/storm talon cockpit could then be fitted in behind. However - I wanted the Stormbird to have a cockpit more like a RAF Hercules, after all it isn't a fighter so the pilot wouldn't be jumping in from the outside! Plus a beast like this would need at least two marines in the cockpit!! I've had a look at the FW Thunderhawk cockpit and like the idea of an area of controls aft of the pilots. I am not sure I can get two marines side by side in the space I've got - but I've got a land speeder cockpit on order from ebay, along with some other bits so we will see. I am aware the fluff mentions the marines are back to back, so I can play with that. http://i64.tinypic.com/24qr9kj.jpg I realised that the shape of the hull may affect how items are placed and what can be seen, so I made up this crazy lego 'template'. I am considering having a few levels, possibly with a ladder hatch for access to lower decks, similar to the Thunderhawk. The set up in the pic still has the servitor in the front; as they are hard wired in I am not overly concerned if they can't get out... That does leave the gap in front of the pilot, I was thinking a ladder would be the access point here. However this means I'd need to build up a front control panel and have it visible through the cockpit!! The rhino door panel fits pretty well inside the frame of the Dragon Hawk, so that might stay, even though the door is way too small... http://i67.tinypic.com/x2jog2.jpg Any suggestions for the cockpit layout will be gratefully received!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Commander Eidolon Posted March 27, 2016 Author Share Posted March 27, 2016 Managed a little progress on this thing, thanks to a timely arrival of some bits! Sadly I think I'm going to need more, a lot more...... I've managed to get a base layer and some chipping effects done on the interior of the hangar bays, early days yet but I'm a lot happier with it than original colours. I've still got to add my proposed back plate to the lower rear wall and I am thinking the rhino drivers door bulkhead will look good on the top floor..... not that too much of that will be visible..... Hence me not painting the top floor. http://i63.tinypic.com/dcimr.jpg After that I can add washes, weathering powders and a few cheeky little surprises! Cockpit This section is going to be a real pain, can't really do much else with the bodywork until its done and the Dragonhawk is stuck back together. Pretty keen to hear any ideas of suggestions on this bit! I've been playing with my lego mock up, and have stuck a bit of card to try out the configuration. I am aware the fluff mentions servitors and two marines back to back. I could have the front two guys as marines, in addition to the other two, but that might be a bit of overkill. What do you good folk think? http://i68.tinypic.com/27514.jpg I was thinking of maybe making the front guys servitors instead, making the marine behind them more like a star ship captain surveying his domain from a throne. This layout allows for the other marine to be sat back to back, possibly being more of a navigator..... there is a little room for computers and consoles between him and the door. Anyone got any ideas of torsos I could use for servitors? Ebays not throwing me any ideas, heads and arms I've got!! Another option would be to have the front two pilots raised up and have a lower level or at least a lower floor, it'll be easy enough to add a ladder, perhaps making a navigation area, or somewhere with servitors at consoles. That would however leave a massive 'ceiling' sort of effect. http://i64.tinypic.com/hwx114.jpg This is a view with the canopy attached, as you can see i am constrained by the shape of the body - the front pilots need to be high up to sit in the traditional pilot position, The 'throne' has to sit in line with where the original co-pilot would have sat on the Dragonhawk. http://i65.tinypic.com/11vjne8.jpg Apologies for the slightly lame pics - it's hard to hold the thing and take a pic whilst maintaining balance of the bits!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Commander Eidolon Posted April 26, 2016 Author Share Posted April 26, 2016 I've done a bit of work on the hangar bays, should get them in a state for pics soon, just waiting on a few more bits to add more detail to the rather bland interior. The cockpit is coming along - although the annoying thing is the shape of the hull means I've less room than my template suggests.... http://i67.tinypic.com/24orm9w.jpg http://i68.tinypic.com/34npso8.jpg The current plan will be using battle servitor bodies on the front two guys. The land speeder cockpit fits right up in the nose. I'm thinking of leaving the checked plate behind and putting a little detail where it fits onto the main flight control. The next bit is from a recast thunderhawk - I felt the size of the beast needed a beefy set of controls. I'll shove computer screens and bits on the walls at some point. Not sure about the Navigator seat at the back... Any input appreciated before I get it all stuck in..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legio Draconis Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 I cant offer any advice, but i'd like to say this is just bad ass. Loved bulldogs one and like where you are going. Kudos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Commander Eidolon Posted May 4, 2016 Author Share Posted May 4, 2016 As I am waiting for the ETL to start before I get to grips with marine related stuff, I started at the front with the cockpit crew - the hard wired servitors! It's been a real pain getting them to fit inside the frame. I've had to push them further back so the canopy will close - so will see what effect that has after I get the pilots chairs in! The best laid plans..... Pics are just a quick snap on the phone, lights not great as I've been burning the midnight oil.... Pretty much finished, might do a little more on the cables and possibly add a colour or two, shall see how it looks when I get everything close to assembly. http://i67.tinypic.com/2psqd0o.jpg http://i63.tinypic.com/2wd0ojr.jpg http://i68.tinypic.com/od9ah.jpg Here is a provisional look at how they should sit - not looking forward to getting them stuck inside!! http://i66.tinypic.com/1znbfcw.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bjorn Firewalker Posted May 5, 2016 Share Posted May 5, 2016 Impressive work thus far. Which Legion or Chapter does your Stormbird belong to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Commander Eidolon Posted May 5, 2016 Author Share Posted May 5, 2016 Impressive work thus far. Which Legion or Chapter does your Stormbird belong to? Thanks! Nice to know I'm on the right track. It's highly likely to be Emperor's Children, unless I have a massive change of heart.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Commander Eidolon Posted May 8, 2016 Author Share Posted May 8, 2016 Here is the current state of play with the hangar decks. Please feel free to comment or suggest any improvements.I decided the base interior of the aurora is way way too bland. However, I do need to be mindful that most of the stuff will be obscured as the top bay doors won't open in the finished build. I was almost in the process of getting carried away and detailing every panel - luckily I stopped before getting the glue out --- or it would have cost me a fortune in bits!!I will however put Land Raider inner doors behind the storm raven panel - just need to cast up some more, unless any kind sole wants to offer me some.....I am thinking of maybe hanging some very simple banners/pennants on the top deck, I've a few dark elf bits that may help.The second bit shows the issue with the Valkyrie side plate - it is slightly too small. I could possibly disguise it with cabling around the top, under the upper level. I originally wanted something different in each hangar, but maybe this is a little bit much so I might just cast the two existing walls. http://i68.tinypic.com/n70as6.jpg http://i66.tinypic.com/2zewar5.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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