TDA Storm Shields - shape and build

[Quixus]

I am thinking about replacing the smallish storm shields of the SM assault terminator box with something larger (about the size of the sergeant's shield of that box).

 

I'm thinking of taking the stock shields, filing them flat (or curved actually) and cutting off anything beyond the hand and grip and gluing some plastic-card onto the filed surface. I'm not quite sure about the shape of the shield. Rectangular or round seems boring. Right now I am leaning towards something scale shaped. Do you have other ideas. The miniatures have maxmini helmets and one has Anvil Industry shoulder pads, to give you a bit of an idea of their style.

 

I'm also not quite sure, what thickness of plastic-card to use and whether the shield should be curved or have crease in the middle. Suggestions?

 

Thansk in advance for your help.

[Major_Gilbear]

Try the shields from the Deathwing Knights maybe? You can get the shields via eBay or an online bits seller fairly cheaply. Then, you can file off all the Dark Angels iconography and replace it with your own Chapter's.

 

An alternative to the Dark Angels Deathwing Knights is to try the Warhammer fantasy Chaos Warriors/Knights for suitable shields that you can file smooth.

 

Another alternative is to look at the Forge World shields for the pre-heresy Imperial Fists, and at the ones they do for 40k Black Templars. Again, you'll need to remove the iconography and add your own.

 

If you still want to make your own from plasticard, I'd get some 0.25mm and 0.5mm thick stuff. Then cut the shield shape out a few times. Curve each of the shield shapes around a thick marker pen or such. Then glue them together with superglue to create a laminate that's the correct thickness (maybe 0.75mm - 1.0mm?). This way the shields will retain the gentle curve you're after. Obviously you still need to decorate them.

[Tyberos the Red Wake]

For that shape, it can either be slightly curved, or you can have a crease down the middle, it's up to you.

 

For plasticard thickness, if your plasticard is too thin, one handy trick is to glue several sheets together until you have your desired shield thickness (which is gonna be pretty thick compared to one sheet of modelling plasticard) and then cut the shield shape out of the glued together stack.

[Quixus]

Thanks guys. I have thought about the Deathwing Knights shields, but I figured neatly filing off the iconography would be at least as difficult as making my own shield plus with the DIY shields I have more freedom with the shape.

 

I hadn't thought about the laminate. That's a good idea.

[DavianCool]

Thanks guys. I have thought about the Deathwing Knights shields, but I figured neatly filing off the iconography would be at least as difficult as making my own shield plus with the DIY shields I have more freedom with the shape.

 

I hadn't thought about the laminate. That's a good idea.

Plasticard would be perfect

[Major_Gilbear]

Thanks guys. I have thought about the Deathwing Knights shields, but I figured neatly filing off the iconography would be at least as difficult as making my own shield plus with the DIY shields I have more freedom with the shape.

 

If you stick some sandpaper down to a firm flat surface, removing all the detail off the shields is pretty easy and fast - it just makes a bit of a mess is all. Using increasingly finer grades of sandpaper as you go will leave you with an ideal surface, and there's noting to stop you adding a crease to the front if you want - even leaving the rear curved.

 

Once the shield is smooth, you can easily trim the shape further if you wish.

 

Using a ready-made shield and modifying it like this saves you having to craft the back of the shield (hand, grips, power cables, etc). Achieving a curve to the shield is also tricky, as is getting consistency across five or more shields - so using something pre-made as a base is actually quite a boon.

 

 

I hadn't thought about the laminate. That's a good idea.

 

The plasticard doesn't curve all that well if it's thick, and it is very flimsy if too thin. There's also a decent chance for it to revert to a shallower curve over time than you set it to. Curving and then laminating helps to solve this, as well as allowing you to build up the thickness to the desired level. If you laminate first, you will struggle to add the curve in later. Also, the superglue is best because it cures fast, and won't melt the shield parts - using a plastic glue will make it likely that you will get warping and possibly some other issues too if there's a fair amount of glue that can't contact the air to dry.

 

If you use plasticard, it is also pretty hard to add a crease unless you do this by overlaying the plasticard with putty. If you make a thicker shield with plasticard, you can sand it down to get a crease; but at that point you may as well go with the DWK shields!

[Quixus]

Using a ready-made shield and modifying it like this saves you having to craft the back of the shield (hand, grips, power cables, etc). Achieving a curve to the shield is also tricky, as is getting consistency across five or more shields - so using something pre-made as a base is actually quite a boon.

You are right about those points, but maybe I'll do different shields for each terminator so consistency is not that much of an issue and with the SM TDA shiled you also get the backs.

 

 

 

I hadn't thought about the laminate. That's a good idea.

 

The plasticard doesn't curve all that well if it's thick, and it is very flimsy if too thin. There's also a decent chance for it to revert to a shallower curve over time than you set it to. Curving and then laminating helps to solve this, as well as allowing you to build up the thickness to the desired level. If you laminate first, you will struggle to add the curve in later. Also, the superglue is best because it cures fast, and won't melt the shield parts - using a plastic glue will make it likely that you will get warping and possibly some other issues too if there's a fair amount of glue that can't contact the air to dry.

 

If you use plasticard, it is also pretty hard to add a crease unless you do this by overlaying the plasticard with putty. If you make a thicker shield with plasticard, you can sand it down to get a crease; but at that point you may as well go with the DWK shields!

 

Thanks for the explanations I toptally get why you would laminate a couple of sheets of plasticard, I just hadn't thought of it and when you mentioned it, I thought, why didn't I think of that.