Blackadder's Landkreuzer P500; Die Wühlmaus A 40K WIP

    Thanks for the reply.......


    Prognosis Positive:


    Okay I can with good consciousness put this aside for a while and resume the Reaver.


    All the treads are completed with seven left over no less that I can utilize for spares including two skull treads.


    In this first series of photos we'll do a size comparison of the Land Kreuzer P500 and the standard Baneblade tracks


    http://i.imgur.com/KEbgmU8.jpg


    The track is overwhelmingly larger and I hope I haven't diminished the Baneblade too much anymore than the Maus diminished the King Tiger


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


    Even with the Kreuzer in the background it is still huge compared to the dainty Baneblade track.


    http://i.imgur.com/w8pFrE7.jpg


    Later, the mistakes........

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Kattywompus:


    Before I put this aside in favor of the Reaver project I think it prudent to present the model as it is at the moment; for nothing less than a record of the mistakes and comparison when the rebuild is effected.


    http://i.imgur.com/bXJba5y.jpg


    I've run into a major structural anomaly that will have to be remedied before I proceed; so rather than subject my readers to the travails of rebuilding I'll work on this in the background until the retracing is completed.


    http://i.imgur.com/wTpnsLH.jpg
    [


    It started when I first installed the tread assemblies; all looked good from the side elevated view.


    http://i.imgur.com/xeI2wZg.jpg


    and the side eye level view.


    http://i.imgur.com/E4WF6Ix.jpg


    The front eye level is within acceptable limits although the left tread needs to be brought perpendicular.


    It's only with the rear view that the grievous anomalies manifest..........


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


    The engine compartment is badly askew and the right tread has a bad twist that did not reveal itself on the aligning table for some reason perhaps because there is no upper track run.


    Also the left tread needs to be brought perpendicular as with the front which is of minor consideration.


    All of which gives value to the use of photography to review your work because looking at the model itself the eye tends to compensate for the indiscretions.

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Thanks for the reply and the input.......


    On the ForgeWorld model the skull treads are symmetrically in the same position which may or may not be a casting consideration to save making too many left and right moulds but you will allow that about 25% of the time both tracks will be in approximately the same position considering there are four treads between skull treads.


    Who am I to try to improve on ForgeWorld :D

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Treads Redressed:


    When last we saw the unfortunate Landkreuzer the treads were badly warped and canted askew.


    http://i.imgur.com/qDVMc8V.jpg


    I addressed the problem last night with satisfactory results.


    http://i.imgur.com/J2A2i1Y.jpg


    So satisfactory in point of fact that I shall have to go back to my FW Baneblades and see if I can apply the same fix to them as well.


    Now all that needs be done is to true up the engine compartment

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Truing the Engine Compartment:


    I first removed the styrene sheathing for the ribbon cartridge frame. When I first built this frame years ago I was not as practiced as I am now and discrepancies weren't as bothersome/


    These days I am more particular.


    Using the naked utility knife blade as a draw plane I shave down the cartridge casing alternating between sanding and drawplaning to remove the millimeter or so extra material to true up the top deck.


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


    Once the frame top is true I'll apply a sheet of 0.020 styrene to the shaved frame and proceed to re-frame the beveled panels on the side.


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

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Truing the Engine Compartment:


    I first removed the styrene sheathing for the ribbon cartridge frame. When I first built this frame years ago I was not as practiced as I am now and discrepancies weren't as bothersome/


    These days I am more particular.


    Using the naked utility knife blade as a draw plane I shave down the cartridge casing alternating between sanding and drawplaning to remove the millimeter or so extra material to true up the top deck.


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


    Once the frame top is true I'll apply a sheet of 0.020 styrene to the shaved frame and proceed to re-frame the beveled panels on the side.


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

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    It goes on and on and on ... following your thread all the time, I'm happy to see it's still going on :) !

    Thanks for the reply,


    The Mathematical Precision:


    There is something extremely satisfying about the faceted structure of the Lucius Pattern vehicles to my mind's eye. Something that is lacking in the Mars versions....


    The image below with it's crisp, no nonsense angles just bespeak pent up strength even in its undetailed state.


    http://i.imgur.com/E92AphE.jpg


    The engine compartment has shaped up rather well from it's previous distorted construction being now less than a fraction of a millimeter out of true.


    http://i.imgur.com/MLRxP2C.jpg


    It's irksome that the image below came out fuzzy.........


    http://i.imgur.com/9eDDZ54.jpg


    Next, the turret..........

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Forced Summer Hiatus


    After being incapacitated for most of the Summer I'm back with a bit of an update on the Landkreuzer


    http://i.imgur.com/34RfS57.jpg


    The superimposed turret is only for scale to demonstrate the size of the Landkreuzer vis-à-vis the standard resin Baneblade turret. The model will not actually have an aux Baneblade armament (I don't think)...........


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


    Of course my camera is still acting up so after one decent image the rest are blurry for some reason but no matter as it is just to show the overall size more than the detail.


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


    http://i.imgur.com/9Xl7oHk.jpg


    So if I can manage to keep my heart rate above 30 BPM and my blood pressure above 70 over 40 I'm hoping to be updating all my threads. :)


    More to follow...........

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Thanks for the reply,


    Time To Start Detailing:


    With the last major component completed it's time to start applying the details and the first order of business is the twin main cannon which is the raison d'être of the Storm Hammer/ Landkreuzer P500.


    http://i.imgur.com/dRd1pIk.jpg


    I started with the gun mount shield moulding the curve overnight by wrapping the 0.020 inch thick sheet plastic around a pen barrel and clamping. The result is a permanently curved panel of plastic ready to be re-enforced with laminated curved stiffeners 0.020 by 0.25 inch strips.


    http://i.imgur.com/6t3Z5Gh.jpg


    While applying the strips I continually re-bent the sheet plastic in excess of the actual curve I require so the shield will maintain it's malleability throughout the manufacture. This will give the smoothly graded curve reminiscent of the Lucius Baneblade gun shield.


    http://i.imgur.com/i7TxSdO.jpg


    I opted for a twin cannon turret instead of two single gun turrets which always appeared too clumsy to me. also a single pair of sponsons albeit with more powerful weapons seems a better way to go.....



    In this I am departing from the conventional Storm Hammer.

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Turret Hatch Ring:


    One feature I covet is the FW design for the raised turret hatch. This is a relatively easy component to duplicate and looks so good compared to just plunking a hatch down on the barren hull armour.


    I started by cutting the three circles in various thicknesses of styrene The base ring being 0.030" the upper ring 0.040" and the top ring with the rivets 0.020".


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


    I used the arc compass technique to square the lines on the top plate for the placement of the rivets and subsequently to find for the ribs on the bottom plate.


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


    I installed a crude raised inner ring for a butt plate for the ribs.


    http://i.imgur.com/GZsM0Dx.jpg


    The Mantlet for the main cannon is ostensibly done except for the gun mount lugs and the fine detail.

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Embarrassing:


    I should be ashamed to post this as an update but I was busy with other pursuits this week.


    On the plus side I did manage to make the cryptic mechanical devices to go on the turret top and accomplish some of the wiring.


    http://i.imgur.com/rQ31fTf.jpg


    Things should go a lot faster now that those are made.


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

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Thanks for the comment,


    Lawn Care Flags:


    Suddenly they are everywhere and a bloody(by our lady) nuisance but here's a tip to recycle some of the d*mned things:



    The plastic staffed ones have an eighth inch staff/ 3,0 mm (approximately)and are extremely flexible and adequate for bundles of conduit whathaveyou. Certainly cheaper than four bucks a pop at your local hobby shop for similar Evergreen/Plastruct rods. Plus they are plastic glue compatible.

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Turrets Syndrome


    Damn me! I like how this has turned out.


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


    It's a pity I put off building this tank for so long but I feared the work was beyond my capabilities. I'm happy to say that it appears satisfactory so far.


    Detailing the turret as just a larger Baneblade seems to be adequate; it just requires plugging away at the detail bits until done. (Well Duh! Blackadder)


    http://i.imgur.com/zGrpT4V.jpg


    The rear view shows that I still need to find an Aquila.


    http://i.imgur.com/2Mkwpb1.jpg


    The right side is rather plain compared to the busy left side.


    http://i.imgur.com/5R68kaP.jpg


    The front elevation reveals the lack of the business raison d'etre of this behemoth. That is to follow hopefully this weekend.

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Down To Business:


    I opted for the same caliber weapon as on the resin Baneblade only the turret will house two of them. I chose this instead of increasing the bore of the cannon as to allow for working the two guns inside the turret would be cramped enough without increasing the diameter of the shells which I calculate would be on the order of 16 inches (40,64 cm) on a Baneblade. Guns of a larger caliber begin to take on a comical appearance and stretch credulity.


    http://i.imgur.com/jH2xUbU.jpg


    I started by cutting rings of 1/2 inch plastic and filing and sanding them to a millimeter wide ring and slipping them on the 7/16 inch barrel I then cut and sanded two muzzle flash suppressors 5/8 inch long by 1/2 inch diameter (13,0 mm).


    I wrapped two thin sheets 0.020 inch plastic round the barrel base to thicken the breech end and finally I split a tube of 1/2 inch tubing for the base of the barrel.


    http://i.imgur.com/PBvXI02.jpg


    All that is now required is the final step of the breech which again will be of 0.020 inch sheet styrene to bring the barrel to it's final thickness.

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."