EPIALES (Wh40K) tank

[Klaus not Santa]

Hi all,

as mentioned in the diorama post I have to gain a bit of distance from the "Raiders of the Lost Light" diorama, to be able to judge it more objectively and see what still needs to be done.
But being idle is dangerous to me.
So I had to fill the void - immediately!

My wife was on a trip over the weekend, so I had plenty of time.
I knew I wanted to do another vehicle - most likely based on the POLEMOS ("Ghosts in the Rubble") - and I have an scenic idea in the back of my head... but it isn't clear enough to phrase it out.

I know some of you will hate me for the aparent speed with which I did this - but keep in mind, my wife was gone, so I had a lot of time, and it is based on an existing vehicle

While thinking of the project, I remembered this base I created a few years ago for an Inquisitor scene that never made it.
Hmm, rather small. But the POLEMOS isn't very big either.

So I decided to give it a try. As said, the POLEMOS will be the base. So I dug out the old plans and measurements and started drawing and cutting.
And here is the base hull

One thing I decided early was that I didn't want to delve into casting again.
Luckily a follower of my blog (who wants to remain anonymous) did send me a few things, including an old Trumpeter T-55 kit.
I always loved the T-55, it's such an iconic tank and a real warhorse.
So, instead of re-casting the POLEMOS wheels and tracks, I decided to use the T-55 wheels and tracks.
The hull was originally designed for 4 (larger) POLEMOS wheels, but has just enough room for the 5 T-55 wheels.

I think they are a great match

With that decided; I finished up the body work.
But I still wasn't 100% sure what kind of vehicle it would be. After some brainstorming with my scene idea, I fancied a "Combat Engineer Vehicle".
So definitely a tank sized turret.
Did I mention I hate turrets?
I mean I really love them, but designing them myself is a bummer. Especially since I tend to make them way too complicated...
But, without hesitation I started to build the turret base. Mounted a demolition-capable main gun, and was strongly disappointed...
It looks like a KV-2 turret.

Not really what I wanted.
So I started anew. The base is pretty much the same - a bit wider maybe. The gun got a bit longer and the turret lower.
Even though it now has a touch of Sherman to it,

I think it will work.

And the vehicle on the base looks pretty neat too. Next was the rear section, with the exit ramp.

Then it was the first fiddly part - building the vision ports. Really, really tiny pieces.

But they are totally worth the effort - I think.
Another mini piece were the hinges.
For this I cut a corner out of the 1.5mm thick disks,

and mounted them to the ends of the rods, then another small disk to close it up.
Again, I think totally worth it

Time for a group shot.

He looks good between his brothers.
On the left the POLEMOS and on the right the PONOS.

Now that he's part of the family, he needs a name.
Staying with the Greek mythology, I decided to name him EPIALES - the spirit of nightmares

Even though I strayed from the Combat Engineer Vehicle I still need a dozer blade for the scene.
So I cut and merged two WH40K dozer blades, and together with the tracks, this looks rather nice, doesn't it?
So, this is as far as I got in 4 days (working almost full time).

Still needs rivets, but I'm not sure if I want to add track skirts.
They look great on the POLEMOS
But I simply LOVE the T-55 wheels and tracks.
So, what do you think?
Does the vehicle look OK?
Track skirts?
Anything I missed?

Oh, yeah, as usual my Guards will battle it out with Orks...more or less the same battle as "Ghosts in the Rubble".
Please let me know what you think.
I look forward to hear from you.
Cheers
Klaus

 

[Cave_Dweller]

Looks like you've done some real nice work here so far. The tracks look a little exposed, maybe you could consider some track armor for the sides?

 

[cargoman5126]

Luv the scratch work into the tank. Looks awesome..

 

[NecronautDrummer]

Very cool build so far!

 

[urumomo]

I think you should apply track-skirts ( makes 2 of us )

Beat-up with a few missing ...


That bare , white styrene is calling out for a few " UN " stickers at the moment ;D


Ciao

 

[Klaus not Santa]

Rumble in the Rubble

Dear admin
I would like to move this tread into the diorama section, as it no longer covers only the tank, but now gets additional stuff, and I don't want to clutter the wrong forum.
Thank you for your assistance
Klaus

Thank you guys!

Collecting your feedback and that from the other forums I think Track Skirts would be nice, but shouldn't be the standard - cover-all - type. Looking at some of the tanks in Syria and the urban fighting there, there are plenty of track skirts, but mostly all damaged and badly torn.
Right now I'm kind torn too
Between the cover the top type (red) or the bed spring type (white).

I'll give it a few days to think about it - and maybe get some additional feedback.

As you've probably noticed the thread is no longer called "EPIALES", but rather "Rumble in the Rubble".
The reason is that's it's not only about the EPIALES, but a combat scene. And as mentioned again in an urban setting - accompanying the "Ghosts in the Rubble" scene.
"This diorama is depicting an Imperial Guard attack in the rubble strewn streets of an Ork captured city."
While I try not to give too many spoilers on the final scene, I can reveal what the opponent for the EPIALES will be.
An ORK walker - Mega Dread style.
I don't have a name for him yet, but I'm sure you'll have some good ideas

So I'll start off with the pilot.
I still had this cool guy from my failed attempt at the DIRTMUNCHA (earth-)Submarine, but I re-arranged his posture a bit.

Then I started to build a cockpit around him. So now it looks as if he's kind of glancing around.

The cockpit is positioned within a head-style housing.

Then I started to create a body for it. Rather simple Ork style.

But I think it looks sufficiently menacing.

With the basic body done, I went to work on the legs.
Here you can already get a glimpse of the pose I'm aiming at.

Plenty of pistons and hydraulics to make it steady.

Then I positioned the other leg.

And started the first foot.
But I realized it makes no sense to start with the foot, if I don't know how thick the leg will be with all the armor, pipes and other stuff on it.
So now I'm starting to add armor...

It hurts a bit to cover up all these nice pieces and hydraulics.

So, what do you think?
Ideas, feedback, name for the dread?
I look forward to hear from you.
Cheers
Klaus

 

[urumomo]

Klaus ,
You expose me to much more Ork than I would ever get in the rest of my life ;D

These guys don't seem like the kind to have slat-armor .

That solid track-skirt seems more appropriate -- - adequately beat up / missing pieces since it has a dozer blade , it's no doubt smashing and crashing ..

Do these Orks attack each other easily ? or they have loyalties ?

 

[Quaralane]

Good stuff, Klaus.
And I moved the topic as you requested

 

[Klaus not Santa]

Thanks Quaralane
@urumomo - sorry, but more Ork to come

Well, I hope you had a great weekend, with some quality family time and hopefully some hobby time too.

I reworked the feet - actually the whole leg - orienting a lot closer to the original Forgeworld version.

I think it looks strong enough to support the machine.

I also added some stuff to the head.
Doors to cover up the sides, teeth, plenty of teeth.

And a periscope (when needed).

Then I started to add the shoulders. Strong and wide enough to house the arm mounts.
Of course such a mighty machine needs Powa, right!
So not a V8, but a W9 it is!

Together with some exhausts it looks propa.

On Sunday I was a bit lazy and decided to work on some ammo for the guns.
For this I used a piece of sprue, cut off about 1.5 cm, inserted it into the drill, and started to shave it into shape. First on a rasp, then 240 sandpaper, and finally 400 sandpaper. Within a few minutes I had some nice slugs
(You can read the tutorial here: http://fischers-design-shop.blogspot.de/p/creating-ammo.html )
This also works with larger caliber.

With the ammunition created, I needed a gun for it.
In good Big Mek tradition I started to stitch something together

And with an ammo-feeder, this will dish out some Dakka, will it not?

Oh, and my desk really looks like a mess!

Working on Ork stuff always has this "impact" on my desk.
I hope you like today's update and I look forward to your feedback.
Cheers
Klaus

 

[Quaralane]

Lookin' good n' Orky there

 

[Klaus not Santa]

Thank you guys!

In the meantime I did work some more on the "Rumble in the Rubble" dio - BTW, what do you think of the name? Is it OK?

Last week I worked a lot on the "Crumpa" and first was it's Powa Claw.
For the "fingers" I used 3mm plastic card (which I had to cut with a saw rather than a knife)
With pistons and stuff it looks menacing enough, doesn't it?

**I tried to save images - so you can find all the details and images in my blog at: http://fischers-design-shop.blogspot.de/2016/02/rumble-in-rubble-3.html **
Then I decided I needed a gunner with a machine gun - at least to make use of the smaller ammo I created
So I used a Gretchin (the one the usually holds a pistol) and gave him some big, fast dakka and a belt of ammo
Which looks cool on the roof of the CRUMPA.

Then I completed the Claw arm and added rivets in all sizes. And a staging test on the base together with the EPIALES. At this point of time I decided on a more "surprised" stance of the CRUMPA and set him more off balance. Pleased with this arrangement I started to build up the barricade.
And orkified it
The EPIALES still had some pieces to be worked on. First the rivets, then the track skirts - I decided to go with half-size, full metal skirts.
And some damage after urban use.

Did I tell you yet I hate rubber tracks?
I really do - and these old ones seem to repel any glue - regardless if PVA, Super Glue, Plastic glue or anything else.
After hours of trying and experimenting it was finally UHU Flinke Flasche that did the trick.
So, with the tracks mounted the scene looked like this.
The tanks needs a crew.
A cool crew

And the scene needs some more combatants - a half-squad of Combat Engineers maybe?
Including a baffled Sergeant

And some Orks on the other side.

And this completed the scene...

but I decided to go back to a less surprised stance for the CRUMPA and I re-positioned him a bit.

Time to paint!
I started with the base, lots of tone-in-tone work, lots of greys.

Then I started to paint the cockpit.

and applied a base color to the CRUMPA. Then I added some colored panels, and finally added metal to the pistons and springs.

That's as far as I got.
What do you think?
Cheers
Klaus

 

[Quaralane]

Looking very good here, Klaus

 

[Klaus not Santa]

Hi all,

thank you Quaralane

Since last time I completed the paint job for DA CRUMPAH and added some little details
Be Strong little Dorian! #dstrong

Then it was time to add the washes.

And while they dried I started the EPIALES. Like with the POLEMOS I did an urban version of the DENCARA tiger flash pattern, starting with a white background stripe.
Then the dark blue-grey internal stripe.

Looks good together with DA CRUMPAH

Next were the little disruptive dots.

Just little dots, but I really feel they do the job.

With the basic pattern applied I started with the details, such as the vision blocks and lenses.
And the crew.

All the basic details painted.

Dirt time - aka washes

And this is as far as I got.
Next will be the actual weathering - scratches and paint chips, stains from oil and grease...all the fun stuff.
I hope you like today's update.
Cheers
klaus

 

[urumomo]

Zow .
That claw looks stellar . ;D

Those track-skirts too !

What is the base color on the pincers ? some kinda violet in there ?


Are all these guys on the same side or no ?

 

[Klaus not Santa]

Thank you guys!
@urumomo - yes, it's violet as base color, and then first a black wash, with a dark brown wash to follow. Makes it nice drak, dirty, grimey.
And in WH40K there is no peace - they are not on the same side - Orks vs Humans

Well, since the last update I weathered the EPIALES - using the sponge technique

Details on the rear ramp

Drivers hatch

and track skirts

Smile

Fits into the scene

So it was time for some serious dusting - aka pigment time

and the finished EPIALES

So now I'm working on the Orks

and the Imperial Combat Engineers

I hope you like today's update.
Cheers
Klaus

 

[Quaralane]

Some excellent progress, Klaus
Liking how this is turning out

 

[urumomo]

;D ;D That's pretty awesome !

That Soviet hardware blends right in .

Looking forward to the final pics without all the work clutter in the background ;D

 

[Klaus not Santa]

Hi all,
well, another project finished
2 completed projects in a quarter - that's a new record for me
Caution! LOTS OF IMAGES!

Since the last update I finished the Ork warriors.

And positioned them back on the base.

At this point I started to grow disappointed. Too cluttered, hard to focus.
I lost a bit of momentum and had to force myself to finish it.

So I worked on the Combat Engineers

Which look pretty OK in the end.

And this completed the scene.

Well, lets see if the images in the light box improve the overall appearance of the scene.

The individual parts are good, but the entire scene isn't. It's too cluttered too hard to focus.


So here are some extra shots of "DA CRUMPAH"

and the W9 engine

W9 Powa!

Plus some nice shots of the EPIALES.

As mentioned, I lost momentum at the end, and I'm not very satisfied with the scene.
Maybe I started this one too close to the "Raiders of the Lost Light" scene.
So I think I will take a short break - maybe some painting, maybe some computer games, who knows.
But the "Big Spring Contest" is starting in April, so that's when I'll be back at the latest

Hasta la vista baby!
I'll be back
Cheers

Klaus

 

[Quaralane]

Definitely some excellent work here.
I agree about the finished dio looking cluttered, but it gets the idea across

 

[Belugawrx]

I gotta admit, the dio was busy,..headache, looking at it,...
but your close-ups of Orcs, showed us the detail you put into it,,..
Your sculpting projects,..blow me away man,..
larger scale seams to fit you better,.. 8)
Happy modelling
Cheers