Blackadder's Lucius Pattern Reaver Conversion Kit

Reaver Head Mental Block:

I've reached an impasse coming up with an original design for the Reaver head. I don't want to copy the FW style Mars flattened pancake as a Lucius angular flattened pancake but rather a midway creation somewhere between the Warhound and Warlord.

Below is what I have come up with given the space allowed under the carapace which is a limiting factor height wise.

http://i.imgur.com/9Prp2Is.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/J9fzmGe.jpg

This design will have a four pane wrap around windscreen which although completely useless as in the Warhound and Walord, the two Moderati sitting much to low to see anything but sky through the glazing it does anthropomorphize the cockpit visage.

Cab-over Pete With a Reaver On:

To paraphrase the old song 'Convoy'.............

(Ah like both kinds'a music, Country an' Western.)

Remember CB radios; did that fad fade out or what?

I keep looking at this cockpit hence the cab-over reference and find it hard to reconcile how far the mug extended beyond the main body of the Reaver

http://i.imgur.com/Snx79Gc.jpg

Although my front extends only 6-7 MM further than the original Mars Pattern it's just not looking right to me. I'm almost tempted to scrap the Mars head a build a full Lucius cockpit assembly with a shorter neck.

http://i.imgur.com/2nGXhss.jpg

This flash image of the front elevation looks reminiscent of something but I can't quite figure what?

http://i.imgur.com/MhAmf8v.jpg

Once I extend the rear of the hood I shall be better able to determine how to proceed with the rest of the cockpit...........

http://i.imgur.com/4wRm3to.jpg

Sorry about the 'Country and Western' reference, very big in the ole homeland although I myself actually prefer acid 'J.S. Bach' n' J. Pachelbel......

A 'Cabover Pete' is a make of semi OTR tractor/trailer rig and a reefer is a refrigerated trailer

After a month of doldrums I have again taken up the cudgel trying to turn dross into gold.

Given the limited space, the extended neck, and the toad-like continence of the Mars Reaver Titan I hope I have resolved the dilemma. I need an interim facade between the Warhound and the Warlord for this Obamanation Titan and I think I have resolved the problem.

I'm throwing caution to the wind and copying my Lucius Warlord Helmet with armoured sideburns and bluff brow and see where that leads me; I have to admit I have put more thought into this head than in all the other scratchbuilts I have tackled and still 'come-a-cropper'.

I would hate to have to admit defeat and do a Lucius version of the Mars head.

--
E. Blackadder

Like a Long Necked Goose:

By squaring off the cockpit it appears I have intensified the long neck appearance of the Reaver.

I'm quite satisfied with the faceted layout; once the nose and cheeks are detailed and the standard conduits are installed it should make for an interesting display.

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

I keep forgetting that the hood seen in these photos is actually the underside of the finished hood which will be approximately 4,0 MM thick.

http://i.imgur.com/8zNKvVS.jpg

It would be really nice to have a few LED's behind those big rectangular lens openings.

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

The nice thing is I have plenty of room above the head to install a higher more interesting brow.

http://i.imgur.com/Cxnly7w.jpg

Refreshed:

I cannot believe the amount of enthusiasm I have for this project again. It was getting tedious and I just needed a break. Suitably refreshed I managed more today than I was doing in a week a month ago.

So we've reached a point where the cheek conduits need to be installed and because this Titan will be both a Mars and a Lucius the conduits most be removable.

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

Enter the rare earth magnets. I have a goodly supply of 3,0 MM / 1/8 inch so both ends of the conduits and receptacles got drilled and press fitted magnets into the undersized holes. All the poles are correct so the conduits are interchangeable.

http://i.imgur.com/XIpYb5c.jpg

The magnet-magnet connection is fairly strong for their tiny size, strong enough to lift the head.

http://i.imgur.com/cQfaak7.jpg

This is one mean looking mo-fo!

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

So the moment of true arrives when switching to the Lucius cowl.

http://i.imgur.com/X4lUFcT.jpg

Everything lines up rather well.

http://i.imgur.com/2vlJgxW.jpg

Look like the cowl is being attacked by Shelob

http://i.imgur.com/gNx37A3.jpg

Conduit Collars:

You always have to be on the look out for interesting bits of scrap such as the subject of this post; conduit collars.

It would be pretty tedious to make collars to ring the penetration points where the large electrical conduits enter the housings; in this case the Reaver head jowls. Leaving these plain give an unfinished look to the area besides the more detail the better.

http://i.imgur.com/HyMYDR5.jpg

Fortunately I have had this idea for quite a few years and have mentioned it before but it doesn't hurt to re-introduce it.

http://i.imgur.com/EYrG2lv.jpg

When you cut large holes in styrene using wood hole augers you get these nicely shaped rings that are roundly beveled inside and out but usually get swept away with the refuse. These make dandy collars with a minimum of cleaning and sanding.

http://i.imgur.com/VayG0C3.jpg

The image above shows the collars glued in place before the final cleaning and I believe they add a nice touch to an ordinarily bland area.

I have used these extensively on most of my models even as just tchotchke decorations.

Looking More Like Road Kill Than Reavers:

So today I started the superstructure on the Carapace on both Reavers. I think I have finally come up with a course of action.

http://i.imgur.com/Vlr1Ynp.jpg

First order of business is to increase the depth of the rocket pod well so the pods nestle nicely in the carapace armour.

http://i.imgur.com/EJ059u8.jpg

Really not much to see considering the two hours work I put into these.

It's Friday Again!:

Seems like it was Friday just a week ago.

I guess I'll be waiting a couple of day for a critique on this work judging by past performances.

This has been quite a busy couple of days where I finally got the inspiration to go ahead with the Reaver Carapace. My first impulse was to fair the outrigger rocket pods into the center pod structure as seen on the right of the image below. I got one accomplished; the fairing looked rather good to me; a very business like no nonsense clean installation. Just what you might expect on a Lucius Reaver.

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

But somehow it lacked panache and I still had the problem of the 'head' sticking way out in front on that ridiculously long neck that is not changeable, it's part of the basic Mars model.

So after a month of agonizing and a days work I decided to scrap the look on the right and go for a sleeker look with a longer center fairing; the Reaver on the left. This design will extend the carapace a good half inch forward, well over the hood.

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

So to stimulate some weekend activity on this thread I'm going to let my gentle-readers weigh in with their opinions on how I proceed.

http://i.imgur.com/XQDe73o.jpg

By George He's Got It:

In a rare display of self-congratulation (Really BA?) I am here to say this has come out 'way better than I could have imagined. Everything fell into place this weekend and the Reaver has a hulking Lucius visage.

Not only will the center rocket pod be able to fire whilst undeployed but now there is even a reason for the hood; to protect the cockpit from the rocket exhaust of course.

http://i.imgur.com/YaocG4M.jpg

I'm sorry to be so ebullient but I've agonized over how to proceed with this model for SSSSSooooo LLLLLLoooonnnnngggggg! and now to have everything work so well is, is, well a relief.

Thrusting the carapace forward a few millimeters did wonders with the neck length. The outer skin on the hood and carapace just seems to flow purpose.

http://i.imgur.com/PqxOP4k.jpg

I'm going to just dump the lot of pictures without explanation:

http://i.imgur.com/TW3TWnr.jpg

Just look at this bad boy, even without sculpting and detail he just reeks mean.

Looks a bit like Darth Vader don't he?

http://i.imgur.com/hUxzz1e.jpg

The top view shows the fearful symmetry that the curve center cowl suddenly brought to the table. All the time I wasted trying to come up with a decent fairing between the pods and a simple curved structure pulled it all together.

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

In this last shot one can almost see the rear housing skin and rear carapace is going to work as well.

http://i.imgur.com/SNhS7SW.jpg

My apologies for my uncharacteristic ebullience.

Carapace Skinned:

Below is the front quarter and rear quarter view of the two completed carapaces. I still have to design the removable end caps so the rocket arrays can be deployed.

The two unfinished strips on either side of the center pod I may be tying into the void generator housings so they are left undone as well.

http://i.imgur.com/pViiN1B.jpg

Much as in the Warlord and the Thunderhawk the model is made to be disassembled at will so the components interlock with out gluing and the structure is eminently stable and can withstand many assembly and disassembly evolutions.

http://i.imgur.com/gGuJ0JE.jpg

Surprisingly considering the amount of construction amendments the underside of the carapace is symmetrically neat and uniform.

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

Considering the whole assembly is only a few ounces it is incredibly strong I actually stepped on a rocket pod by accident with no adverse effect.

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

Free Form Construction:

I wish I could offer some information on how these Void Generator housings are constructed but it's pretty much guesswork on my part on how they go together and the shaping.

There are just too many angles and contours to adequately measure and your best bet is to rely on your eye than follow measurements.

http://i.imgur.com/C8Kei9I.jpg

After all we are copying FW of whom can be said are industry widely noted for their asymmetry in model making.

http://i.imgur.com/t8LnYok.jpg

All that can be said is I reinforced the bulkhead gussets to lay on the skin sheets and over lapped the sheets where necessary.

Once the housings are completely sheeted I'll sand down the seams and fair in the angles until everything looks relatively symmetrical.

http://i.imgur.com/pjlM4Hp.jpg

There may be a tad of difference between the two models but the front and rear components are still interchangeable where it counts.

Small Return:

So much work with such a small reward.

I was prepared to have my socks knocked off today with this the first trial assembly of one of the Lucius Reavers but Meh! it was pretty anticlimactic.

Not that there is anything wrong, the hull and carapace did not overwhelm the overall size of the Titan and I still have to produce the waist, knee and thigh armour; there is still tonnes of detail still to add and of course the weapons...............

Well judge for yourself:

http://i.imgur.com/ZLjIn5w.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/4n9XbMv.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/60RLwaN.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/wCEO5Dn.jpg

Mebbe it's just me but somehow I wanted more after all this effort.

Stay tuned for the Mars Reaver in a similar state of completion for comparison.

Ankle Biter at five o'clock:

I couldn't resist adding the Hierophant to some of the images.......

Well it seems the Mars armour is ho-hum as well. I guess it's just the Reaver concept that's unimpressive.

http://i.imgur.com/wB1yLB9.jpg

I'll try to remedy that with lots of detail once I finish the basic components.

This next image demonstrates there is a crying need for Huge Tyranid Titans. That Hierophant seems hopelessly out classed; even by a Reaver.

http://i.imgur.com/4zcWmk8.jpg

The rear view shows the Mars shoulder carapaces are on a par with my Lucius style contiguous shoulder armour.

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

Rome Wasn't Built In a Day:

The work pictured above was only to show the work done thus far to give an idea of relative proportion mainly of the carapace to the hip and legs. I in fact have/had left off a few pieces of half finished armour that are, at this moment, unattachable.

One thing I flagrantly omitted from the Mars Reaver posed above was the APOC Rocket Pod, that omission rectified now......

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

Since all these conversion pieces have to be developed simultaneously it's necessary once in a while to step back and see how every time works together thus far.

No Small Feet:

Started on the feet today, a project I've been dreading because of the repetition. I have to make sixteen of these uninspiring structures but once done these complicated phalanges will be the last labor intense components left to do. The rest should be a few armour panels for chest knees and waist and all the glorious detail which I can hardly wait to start..... It's like dessert.

http://i.imgur.com/6TQ95Bu.jpg

Because the greaves are so large compared to the Mars greaves I've decided to make the Lucius toes larger as well. When finished they will just clip onto the existing Mars toes.

I Really Feel Badly: (Truly)

I'm constantly implored to accept commissions to duplicate my work but the nature of the effort being every part handmade and unique I cannot acquiesce. Primarily because no one would be able to afford paying for the amount of time necessary to manufacture one of these projects. Were I to bring these down to a level were they would be reasonably priced I would be working for far less than minimum wage.

So the best I can do is demonstrate my procedures and hope that those sufficiently motivated can reproduce the items for themselves.

Here we have stage two of the Reaver toes, no big deal, just three pieces of plasticard glued to a base.

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

After all I managed to recreate My Warlord Luteus Vexant from half a dozen images I found on the internet.

If I can do it, anyone can.............

Sixteen Toes:

Why do I do this? The tedium of repetitious work exhausts me. It seems the more insignificant an item the more there are of them to build, Ha!

anyway I have a good production system going and should be finished with the basic shape on all sixteen toes today.

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

As you can see the Lucius sleeve fits tightly over the Mars toes and there is a pronounced rivet in just the right place to provide a locking pin for my locking device so when clipped on there is no danger of the toe cover falling off.

Serendipity you are my goddess.

The Pedicurist:

Sounds Like a movie title about an Itinerant foot fetishist but no just an update on the Reaver feet.

http://i.imgur.com/fUjvNn7.jpg

I went low impact on the treads (no one looks at those anyway.)

http://i.imgur.com/7VmXOOW.jpg

The big concern has been ameliorated the toes are not too bulky for the greaves or legs.

http://i.imgur.com/q4Q004I.jpg

Hmmm, the back of the legs look better than the front...............

Assembling the lower leg brought forth the fact that I needs make the shin guards as well. D-mn!

The Well Was Visited Too Many Times:

Well it seems that articulation is not on the table for this model.

There's just not enough room to include moving parts under the shielding without seriously distorting the shape of the legs.

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

That said, the static pose should be convertible; Mars/Lucius, Lucius Mars.

The Reaver Project Resumes:

After a month or so of procrastination I have finally taken up the gauntlet of the Reavers once again. Although certain issues are yet to be resolved I feel refreshed enough to resume the anklet guards that left me so vexed in June.

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

Approaching the problem from a different angle yesterday evening produced satisfactory results in that I have the basic sleeve armour roughed out.