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Alternative Kataphrons


Arvendragon

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Do you think people would judge if they're not on tank tracks?

Considering the fluff side of techpriests converting anything and anyone to fit their purposes, no one would judge, as long as the weapons fit, and it's on the same base (60mm).

 

Wargame Exclusive has some alternative models for kataphron, except for that some worse-armoured centurions could do. It's a 4+ armour at all, not that impressive.

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Based on several questions I've seen for something like this, one of my many plans for a studio kit is to create a small walker chassis at roughly Kataphron and/or Rapier Platform scale. But, I have no idea when I'll actually be able to get around to doing them. My list of build ideas is getting quite extensive; good for having a pool of things to choose from, bad for choosing where to start. :)

 

My plan is to do a type of hybrid kit that can both stand on its own, and be a conversion kit for the Kataphron model. Done right, I should be able to design it so the upper portion the model can accept the central body and chassis of the Kataphron model, or it can use my own weapon system designed to fit in the same position. Modular, it's a good thing! I'll be aiming to keep the footprint and height very similar to the Kataphron and Rapier models so they can fit right in scale-wise.

 

Just 9 weeks until my these is finally done, followed by a bit of hobby sabbatical to decompress, and then the studio starts full-time. With Mechanicus becoming a major muse for me lately, expect to see some kits suited to the faction appearing sooner, rather then later.

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Pictures of what I did for my Dwarf Mechanicus (in spoiler due to size), still on tracks, but more like Rapier and other self propelling guns.

gallery_29932_11602_194537.jpggallery_29932_11602_292854.jpg

The other option I have considered is Ogryn / Bullgryn, (actually for Obliterator converstion but simmialr princable should aply here). Use Bullgryn bodies, Ogryn gun arms and convert in/on the Grave gun/barrel. Give them some form of mech backpack (Skitarri ones are probably a bit small, but some of the Electro priest ones could work, or the actual Kataphrons ones) and some other mech addons/bits and you should be fine. A bit taller and less bulky on a 60mm base but add some debris and should be fine.

Edited by Trokair
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  • 1 month later...

For my part, I just made some legs for my destroyers (for the breachers I will keep the tracks). Just waiting for them to be printed to test-fit them on the servitor torso. Some details to be added, it's mainly for proof of concept and to check the encumbrance of it all.

 

http://yenlowang.free.fr/40k/AdMech/Kataphron_Pieces_1.png

http://yenlowang.free.fr/40k/AdMech/Kataphron_Pieces_2.png

http://yenlowang.free.fr/40k/AdMech/Kataphron_concept.png

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I was of the idea to use ranger bodies and the removed cowl heads holding a omnispex type thingy? linked to a track and weapon system from "Anvil Industires" kinda like a manned rapier system. (only cause its like 1/4 of the price to make a squad of three than it is to buy GW's awesome looking models) and stick it on a size legal base...

will post pics when i get one done.

 

Cheers Mithril

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  • 2 weeks later...

Just recieved the prototype, the size is good, the collar for the servitor torso is not deep enough of 1mm or so, but the legs do fit in the base and can have some variety of posing.

The leg shields are a bit too coarse, I'll revamp them a bit.

Next step is to make several legs positions to allow variety. Not a fully poseable set, but 3 or 4 variants.

 

http://yenlowang.free.fr/40k/AdMech/Kataphron_prototype_01.jpg
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Shapeways acrylic is a pain to take picts of. I recieved them yesterday and I just washed the parts before dry fitting them. I shall have some time to basecoat them and the visibility will be better :). And build a breacher to put them side by side.

 

The secondary weapons seem to fit, I'll post a picture of this when I glue the model. Now all I need is some time to make it mouldable, because direct print is still too expensive for a whole unit.

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Those legs look great, I'd like to add that to my AdMech if possible. To make it mouldable, guess the leg hydraulics could be done in singles (like the onager ones) instead of double, would make it easier. Having no gaps between the upper armour and the legs would make it really easy to cast, at least with my method.

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Polyjet is a mixed bag to work with. I makes amazingly detailed parts with reasonably good surface quality, but it comes with the need for some labour if you want the parts to look really seamless. The process that's used tends to make some of the surfaces somewhat 'sandy' and porous, so they can be tricky to make moulds of and paint for good results, without the aforementioned labour.

 

If you have it on hand, I highly recommend using some small folds and rolls of sandpaper and use them as tools to give ALL of the surfaces a light sanding to refine the surface. You may not be happy with how rough some of the surfaces are, otherwise. You may even want to consider a automotive scratch filler + primer product for the first coat; it will soak into the porous nature of that kind of Polyjet print and help to further refine the surface further; with it you can also check the surfaces, and if they are not good enough you can sand the product to get wonderfully smooth results. One more coat after that and all but the most stubborn flaws will be gone. I've been working on some Polyjet parts for my thesis model the last few days and really like the results I've got with the filler + primer. lots of work, but really clean with the effort.

 

Also note that those parts will be rather brittle, so keep that in mind. They are robust enough that they're not at too much of a risk for breaking, but they will not take well to flexing or bending in any way.

 

P.S. Stop reading my mind please. Your design is almost scary in how close it is to what I have in mind.

Edited by Subtle Discord
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Well, this prototype was for test-fitting only. The main issue I find with these Acrylic prints is, as you say the porous nature of the material. Also, this combined with the support wax used forces to thorougly clean the part to wash the wax and oil residue. And this combined with the porosity makes the piece "ooze" some wax if not cleaned. For small parts (I use this material a lot for my BFG ordnance) it's not a problem, but with big parts like this it can be really soaked with this greasy residue and requires some work, as you say. But, if going to the casting path, these acrylics need to be "smoothed" by a primer, because with its porosity the rubber will "mix" with the surface and properly ruin the mold (and the master in the same process). But this way you can easily ruin some tiny details. Another way is to make a real proper master with a dedicated printer which gives decent surface quality and details.

 

And what can I do about great minds converging on similar and elegant solutions to a given issue :wink: .

Edited by Deadly Kafeine
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The best solution I've found to quickly dealing with the waxy/oily residue on Polyjet parts is a scrub (a toothbrush works perfectly) and rinse with isopropyl alcohol. It dries your fingers/hands out along with the process, but it works very well. It also evaporates very quickly so parts are ready right away, for whatever the next step of the process will be.

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