Regarding Rhino Doors on Corvus Blackstars (I tried it)

[IVIilitarus]

I asked a while back about whether Rhino Doors could be fitted to the Corvus Blackstar so that the Blackstar can have some representation of non-Deathwatch chapters. There were many answers and a fair bit of confusion. I took the plunge and did the thing myself.

 

The short version is:

 

The front troop doors on the Corvus Blackstar are exactly the same size as Rhino doors. However, there is no easy conversion. Because the Corvus Blackstar's doors are set into their frame as a single plastic piece, with an additional hinge and lighting attachment. Basically, even though the doors are the same size as a rhinos, the Blackstar doors are permanently attached to a frame.

 

If you want a conversion involving rhino doors, your options are basically to fit rhino doors into a scratchbuilt frame of the same size or file off the inquisition insignia and the teeth on the doors and just glue your new doors right on top (imperfect, but easier) or gluing rhino doors directly into the space where Corvus Doors would normally go, at which point you'll have some empty space that needs filling to make it look authentic.

 

I did a conversion for myself and simply carved off the inquisitorial seal, cut off the teeth and did some hacking away with a knife and smoothing with sandpaper. Then I just glued the doors right over the old doors and called it a day. It's lazy, but unless you've built a kit yourself and know it inside and out, you won't really notice the imperfection much. The fact that I chose a dark colour scheme helps mask any evidence of a conversion, probably. So below, you have my Raptor Wing formation without the ridiculous flying toaster Stormtalon, which I substituted for a craft that's just a bit more... looks-like-it-could-fly.

 

Images below.

http://i.imgur.com/WG9BlVV.jpg

 

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

 

http://i.imgur.com/P1b8wRT.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/70Nvfwq.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/Y7LpgXR.jpg

[Saint_Michael]

Very nice looking conversion.

[Prot]

That's such great work because literally I'm having trouble spotting where you would have done all the cutting. Looks really good.

[Vel'Cona]

Yeah, I don't consider this lazy or imperfect! I honestly think you've done a great job blending these doors together and the results speak for themselves. Thanks for the FYI and tutorial, too!

[Andromonoid]

Awesome conversion! I cannot see any imperfections, it looks seamless to me.

 

I wonder, how does the Inquisitor doors fit on a rhino? I would love to know that.

[Cal Hoskins]

I wonder, how does the Inquisitor doors fit on a rhino? I would love to know that.

 

Someone on eBay had converted a few Blackstars to be non-Deathwatch flyers and i picked up a couple of the sets of doors he was selling.  I had to trim off the outer frame and the hinges are closer together than regular Rhino doors so some filing was necessary.  As you'll hopefully be able to see in my terrible pictures the corners are also not quite the same shape so I'm thinking of doing a bit of putty work.

http://members.efn.org/~fred_m/Deathwatch%20Razorback.jpghttp://members.efn.org/~fred_m/Deathwatch%20Razorback%20Door.jpg

[Vel'Cona]

Looks great Cal, especially combined with that spaced armour!  A coat of paint soon to follow?