Blackadder's Attempt To Build a Lucius Patten Imperator

[Marius Perdo]

Always an amazing read.

[abraxus]

Blackadder:  the "sheldon Cooper" of scratch-building

[Blackadder]

Anyway I think I nailed it 

 

https://i.imgur.com/oQfZJbV.jpg

 

albeit I do have to widen the front of the deck 

 

https://i.imgur.com/kZbaNIT.jpg

 

as it does look a tad crowded especially with the four towers on either side of the main Quake cannon.

 

https://i.imgur.com/9SsJpw0.jpg

 

I have varied the flanking "portcullis" towers  a bit because the taller thin towers look better behind the wider but shorter front towers 

 

https://i.imgur.com/4INuJV5.jpg

 

which hide the turret artwork too much.

 

https://i.imgur.com/QRdptl8.jpg

[pawl]

So when does work begin on the functional weaponry? Something that big has to at least have a bb gun!

[Wulf Vengis]

In order to dissuade grubby grabbers.

[Studio Silvernale]

Does it fire nerf darts?

[Majkhel]

Does it fire nerf darts?

Nerf Hammers more likely :P

[Lord_Mephistopheles]

Love this.

 

Getting the carapace fortress of an Imperator right is very difficult in 3D.  The images on the front of, say, "Titandeath" look straightforward, but they only have to worry about the 2D aspects.  Especially difficult if, much like me, you obsess over the thing actually being functional as well as looking right!

 

I have recently had to rebuild my entire 3D model - something of a labour of love over the past 6 months when i've been bored at work - because i just couldn't make it look right.  Glad that I did, because i feel the results are now far superior.  Blackadder however has managed to render this thing in styrene and plasticard, and my awe at the skill is unsurpassed.  Can't wait to see it finished!

[Blackadder]

Thanks for the replies.... No nerf cannons :D

 

A Change of Pace:

 

It's time to readdress the Raison d'etre of this project. The second main weapon arm will be a Gatling style multiple barrel weapon.

 

https://i.imgur.com/1Ykg86a.jpg

 

I'll have to redesign the gun mounts on both the arm weapons as they hang too low and may interfere with the hips

 

https://i.imgur.com/3tDuxzH.jpg

 

It's going to be a bit refreshing to design something other than the castle superstructure for a change. I actually spent some time these past few days painting a Baneblade variant tank Plasma cannon....

 

Heresy!

Edited April 1, 2021 by Blackadder

[Blackadder]

 

Sorry to hear you need to redesign, but that gatling is definitely looking good...

 

Not a problem Vejut. Making it look right in my minds eye is what make this project interesting. If everything went together perfectly what a bore that would be. 

 

My third try at this Quake Cannon seems to have hit the mark....

 

https://i.imgur.com/DdaahdR.jpg

 

The muzzle brake adds a nice touch (If that is what I think it is. Those holes must be for something besides esthetics.

 

https://i.imgur.com/UMLnlTd.jpg

 

Any ideas what they could be? Ordnance is not my specialty. 

[AngelsofCaliban]

Hi Blackadder,

Thanks for all the tips and processes you write about during your builds.

 

In regards to the holes in the end of the muzzle brake. The Germans during WW2 developed a seige tank called a Sturmtiger, this was basically a 15in rocket mortar mounted inside a housing on a tiger 1 chassis. These holes vented the gasses from the firing of such a large projectile. This was based on a anti-submarine weapon. I hope this helps.

 

Aaron

[Blackadder]

Thanks for the information. My own searches came up with the same information. 

 

So it's been established that the holes around the muzzle are real appointments and incorporated in the Strumtiger mortar.

 

Research shows me that not only the muzzle but the rear of the shell(?) itself has these holes as well.

 

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10544053

 

The above address catalogues an extremely detailed look at the exterior and also the interior of the Strumtiger vehicle.

[Lord Raven 19]

Shame about the lack of nerf cannons, it would've saved a whole load of work on that gatling arm, the nerf strongarm is probably about to scale.

 

Seriously though, would the holes be to let air into the chamber so it does not become a vacuum, sucking the shell back, reducing speed and, potentially, not letting it leave?

[Blackadder]

One Step Forward Two Steps Back;

 

I finally bit the bullet and opted to expand the width of the forward deck.

 

The image below shows the full forward deck before my attempt at modifying the width....

 

https://i.imgur.com/cY1gj6A.jpg

 

Removing the corner turrets and lopping off a single row of waffle panel on each side I increased the with by 2.25 squares on each side as shown in the two images below.....

 

https://i.imgur.com/pshvLaL.jpg

 

This all brings in line the discrepancies and also give me close to the proper number of "Chicklet" crenellations that are shown in the origin Emperor Titan prototype. You can count them if you like. :D 

 

https://i.imgur.com/ca4jaQZ.jpg

 

]https://i.imgur.com/LMyUnMT.jpg

 

This will broaden the front of the deck and allow for four more "Chicklet'' crenellations on the ends.

 

Now all needs be done is add some space fillers and replace the deck panels and I'll be back in business with a lot more room to add detail to the two side structures and the central Quake Cannon fixed mount structure.

[AlexCrute]

Mmmmmmmm bullets

[DeRome90]

 

 

https://i.imgur.com/3tDuxzH.jpg

 

 

 

Wow, great work! These barrels of the Hellstorm Canon look big enough to shoot with Angry Marines  

[Augustus b'Raass]

Blackadder, you're crazy. Crazy good at plasticard scratch buidling, that is! 

Anyway, please allow this slight suggestion on the quake cannon: it is now just a length of straight tube (the end looks great though!) and maybe some additional detailing would benefit it? For inspiration.  

[Blackadder]

We'll worry about the Quake cannon detail when it comes time to..... right now it seems a good size and that's about it. I envision all sorts of conduits and sciency gewgaws all over the exterior.

 

Meanwhile

 

 Blood Sweat and Tears:

 

It's a pain when areas you thought were complete need to be modified. But I would never be happy with the deck being too small to accommodate the structures situated on the platform.

 

http://i.imgur.com/fHLFK2k.jpg

 

As you can see I had to add three dentations to each end of the deck platform.

 

http://i.imgur.com/kvjVD9q.jpg

 

This has the added bonus of overhanging the main weapons arms......

 

and making the overall effect more massive.

 

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

 

Ya can't have an Emperor Titan too massive I always say.

 

Perhaps that why I am always sitting alone at parties?

[Majkhel]

Ya can't have an Emperor Titan too massive I always say.

 

Perhaps that why I am always sitting alone at parties?

I'd say that is more a reason for why Titans are so rare. When one techpriest is finishing building one, there will inevitably come his colleague and say:

- Hmmmm, beautiful.... but I wonder..... could it have been more massive....?

- Hmmmm,.... oh, dear Omnissiah, you're right!

And he starts tinkering with it again ;)

 

Seriously though, I think extending of the platform is a good change.

[Blackadder]

Shazam!

 

The crenellations have been increased by 6 giving a grand total of 34 across the front giving the busy look of the castle superstructure but not cramping the components as it did before.

 

https://i.imgur.com/8PMWtli.jpg

 

There is now room to position personnel along the battlements....

 

https://i.imgur.com/u54RQWq.jpg

 

The corner turrets are temporarily affixed to the deck so I can begin the side crenellations.

 

https://i.imgur.com/Fbg99dx.jpg

 

 

Eventually these bulwarks will be applied to all sides of the deck.

[Wulf Vengis]

Yes!

[Augustus b'Raass]

That looks so much better  - even though it already looked great.

Man, it looks as though you're over the tipping point, eh? The finish is in sight, no? 

I'm so looking forward to seeing this projcet continue, finish, and then the titan painted. Preferably on a table where it takes part in a game. :D 

[Blackadder]

Falling Together… Somewhat

After major renovations to the front and side bulwarks plus adding the concave panel below the decking gives a much more finished appearance to the overall project.

One of the criticisms I have with huge structures of this type is that the decks appear too flimsy. 

https://i.imgur.com/hHkJiSD.jpg


This concave reinforcement provides sufficient bulk to the edges of the platform. 

https://i.imgur.com/AygJodV.jpg


Once dried I can begin applying the crenellations to the sides and the deck battlements. 

 
 

[Blackadder]

Sometimes You Bite the Bear and Get away With It

The side crenellations have got to fit within close tolerances. I had only a few millimeters of leeway in seven inches to get these nine dentations to fit evenly without more major adjustments. 

Naturally I procrastinated attempting to build these bulwarks until today (and last evening) but low they came out better than I expected with a tolerance of micromillimeters (otherwise known as 64ths of an inch)

http://i.imgur.com/uvtEDab.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/uvtEDabl.jpg

(I dearly love the Imperial system. I can't wait until the rest of the World adopts it.)

So here we have the crenellations in place and ready for gluing...

https://i.imgur.com/ER0kZwG.jpg


But before I do that I need to complete the main arm cutouts in the deck which I presume are for servicing and retracting the shoulder armament.


https://i.imgur.com/c47iTCw.jpg


Gaad! Did I stumble into the purpose of these cutouts or What?

Purely by accident I assure you. Serendipity rears its ugly head once again.

Edited May 26, 2021 by Blackadder

[Naryn]

Wow, between the curved reinforcement below and the crenelations that deck is looking nice and chunky! Love following along and seeing your progress, thanks for sharing!