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Hi all,

Here's my start for the Spring contest.
Usually I'm working on Warhammer 40K stuff, with a trend to steampunk and armor. But for this one I'll leave my comfort zone a bit

My idea is to create a scene with a very distinct Third Reich/Iron Sky flair and a sprinkle of WH40K. I envision an underground research facility, looking a bit like an old U-Boot bunker, a "prototype" in the center, with soldiers and researchers around it, while a group of officers take the "dog-and-pony-show"

In this early sketch you can see that I intended to use a bare-skeleton Pollux walker (without the weapons and armor) with an open cockpit, so one can see the "wired-in" pilot, and a whole bunch of people around it.
[ATTACH=full]60160[/ATTACH]

In addition to my usual WH40K soldiers I decided to use some 1:48 Tamiya WWII German soldiers for this scene. They are a mis-purchase, as they usually don't fit the WH40K figures.
But for this I can mix the two, as the prototype is either built on a special planet, where the inhabitants are slimmer, or if on Dencara, these guys are from a different race with a different build, while the "real soldiers" are of the sturdy, bulky type.
Fluff for the win
[ATTACH=full]60161[/ATTACH]

But the more I thought about it the less I liked the idea to use another Pollux-pattern walker. And looking through my closet (I'm a real "messy" when it comes to hobby parts) I came across these Sherman and Lee boxes I purchased on e-Bay - solely for the purpose of salvaging the road wheels.
[ATTACH=full]60162[/ATTACH]

So why not build a prototype based on a Sherman?
This way I have the option to enter in the armor, Sci-fy, and diorama categories (if I can afford it that is).
[ATTACH=full]60163[/ATTACH]

Decision made, I opted for this Sherman hull.
[ATTACH=full]60164[/ATTACH]

I quickly shaved off the deck, to make room for some modifications.
[ATTACH=full]60165[/ATTACH]

Since the prototype will be mostly without hatches (open) I also added some side walls to the lower hull.
[ATTACH=full]60166[/ATTACH]

Then I cut out the new openings for the turret and the crew hatches.
The rear central hatch is for the commander, left for the loader, right for the gunner.
[ATTACH=full]60167[/ATTACH]

Then I worked on the gun.
Since it's still a prototype, most of the armor and covers are missing and many pieces be visible.
[ATTACH=full]60168[/ATTACH]

So I added a movable breech - the breech opens downwards, so there will be a auto loader from inside the vehicle.

[ATTACH=full]60169[/ATTACH]

This is how the gun looks in comparison to the hull.
[ATTACH=full]60170[/ATTACH]

Next I worked on the actual gun mount
[ATTACH=full]60171[/ATTACH]

and it's position on the vehicle.
[ATTACH=full]60172[/ATTACH]

To compensate for the recoil I added a set of rails on which the gun mount can move - I'm not sure if I'll add visible dampeners....
[ATTACH=full]60173[/ATTACH]

I'm still undecided if I mount the rails forward like this
[ATTACH=full]60174[/ATTACH]

or rather rearwards (gun mount aligns with the front of the turret base, or the rails align with the rear)
[ATTACH=full]60175[/ATTACH]

The whole gun mount on the vehicle.
As you can see I aim for a low silhouette and great depression (so the gun can fire from the backside of a hill).
[ATTACH=full]60176[/ATTACH]

I also added some modifications to the rear - with a section of the engine being visible.
[ATTACH=full]60177[/ATTACH]

Most likely I will also keep the actual engine deck open, so a section of the engine may be visible.
But I'll decide on this later, so no details added yet.
[ATTACH=full]60178[/ATTACH]

Finally I added most of the running gear last night.
This will be pretty much out of the box.
[ATTACH=full]60179[/ATTACH]

I also added a WH40K Imperial Guard driver (sans the head so far).
[ATTACH=full]60180[/ATTACH]

And this is how the vehicle looks so far.
[ATTACH=full]60181[/ATTACH]

What do you think?
I have no name for this baby yet, but I think I will break with the Greek Deity tradition and use a more mundane naming approach.
Any suggestions?
I hope you like today's update and I look forward to your comments and feedback.
Cheers

Klaus

695 Words

<blockquote data-quote="Klaus not Santa" data-source="post: 171686" data-attributes="member: 13467">Hi all,Here&#039;s my start for the Spring contest.Usually I&#039;m working on Warhammer 40K stuff, with a trend to steampunk and armor. But for this one I&#039;ll leave my comfort zone a bit <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile&nbsp; &nbsp; :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />My idea is to create a scene with a very distinct Third Reich/Iron Sky flair and a sprinkle of WH40K. I envision an underground research facility, looking a bit like an old U-Boot bunker, a &quot;prototype&quot; in the center, with soldiers and researchers around it, while a group of officers take the &quot;dog-and-pony-show&quot; <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile&nbsp; &nbsp; :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />In this early sketch you can see that I intended to use a bare-skeleton Pollux walker (without the weapons and armor) with an open cockpit, so one can see the &quot;wired-in&quot; pilot, and a whole bunch of people around it.[ATTACH=full]60160[/ATTACH]In addition to my usual WH40K soldiers I decided to use some 1:48 Tamiya WWII German soldiers for this scene. They are a mis-purchase, as they usually don&#039;t fit the WH40K figures.But for this I can mix the two, as the prototype is either built on a special planet, where the inhabitants are slimmer, or if on Dencara, these guys are from a different race with a different build, while the &quot;real soldiers&quot; are of the sturdy, bulky type.Fluff for the win <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile&nbsp; &nbsp; :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />[ATTACH=full]60161[/ATTACH]&nbsp;But the more I thought about it the less I liked the idea to use another Pollux-pattern walker. And looking through my closet (I&#039;m a real &quot;messy&quot; when it comes to hobby parts) I came across these Sherman and Lee boxes I purchased on e-Bay - solely for the purpose of salvaging the road wheels.[ATTACH=full]60162[/ATTACH]&nbsp;So why not build a prototype based on a Sherman?This way I have the option to enter in the armor, Sci-fy, and diorama categories (if I can afford it that is).[ATTACH=full]60163[/ATTACH] Decision made, I opted for this Sherman hull.[ATTACH=full]60164[/ATTACH] I quickly shaved off the deck, to make room for some modifications.[ATTACH=full]60165[/ATTACH] Since the prototype will be mostly without hatches (open) I also added some side walls to the lower hull.[ATTACH=full]60166[/ATTACH] Then I cut out the new openings for the turret and the crew hatches.The rear central hatch is for the commander, left for the loader, right for the gunner.[ATTACH=full]60167[/ATTACH] Then I worked on the gun.Since it&#039;s still a prototype, most of the armor and covers are missing and many pieces be visible.[ATTACH=full]60168[/ATTACH]So I added a movable breech - the breech opens downwards, so there will be a auto loader from inside the vehicle.&nbsp;[ATTACH=full]60169[/ATTACH] This is how the gun looks in comparison to the hull.[ATTACH=full]60170[/ATTACH] Next I worked on the actual gun mount[ATTACH=full]60171[/ATTACH] and it&#039;s position on the vehicle.[ATTACH=full]60172[/ATTACH] To compensate for the recoil I added a set of rails on which the gun mount can move - I&#039;m not sure if I&#039;ll add visible dampeners....[ATTACH=full]60173[/ATTACH] I&#039;m still undecided if I mount the rails forward like this[ATTACH=full]60174[/ATTACH] or rather rearwards (gun mount aligns with the front of the turret base, or the rails align with the rear)[ATTACH=full]60175[/ATTACH] The whole gun mount on the vehicle.As you can see I aim for a low silhouette and great depression (so the gun can fire from the backside of a hill).[ATTACH=full]60176[/ATTACH] I also added some modifications to the rear - with a section of the engine being visible.[ATTACH=full]60177[/ATTACH] Most likely I will also keep the actual engine deck open, so a section of the engine may be visible.But I&#039;ll decide on this later, so no details added yet.[ATTACH=full]60178[/ATTACH] Finally I added most of the running gear last night.This will be pretty much out of the box.[ATTACH=full]60179[/ATTACH] I also added a WH40K Imperial Guard driver (sans the head so far).[ATTACH=full]60180[/ATTACH] And this is how the vehicle looks so far.[ATTACH=full]60181[/ATTACH] What do you think?I have no name for this baby yet, but I think I will break with the Greek Deity tradition and use a more mundane naming approach.Any suggestions?I hope you like today&#039;s update and I look forward to your comments and feedback.CheersKlaus</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Klaus not Santa, post: 171686, member: 13467"] Hi all, Here's my start for the Spring contest. Usually I'm working on Warhammer 40K stuff, with a trend to steampunk and armor. But for this one I'll leave my comfort zone a bit :) My idea is to create a scene with a very distinct Third Reich/Iron Sky flair and a sprinkle of WH40K. I envision an underground research facility, looking a bit like an old U-Boot bunker, a "prototype" in the center, with soldiers and researchers around it, while a group of officers take the "dog-and-pony-show" :) In this early sketch you can see that I intended to use a bare-skeleton Pollux walker (without the weapons and armor) with an open cockpit, so one can see the "wired-in" pilot, and a whole bunch of people around it. [ATTACH=full]60160[/ATTACH] In addition to my usual WH40K soldiers I decided to use some 1:48 Tamiya WWII German soldiers for this scene. They are a mis-purchase, as they usually don't fit the WH40K figures. But for this I can mix the two, as the prototype is either built on a special planet, where the inhabitants are slimmer, or if on Dencara, these guys are from a different race with a different build, while the "real soldiers" are of the sturdy, bulky type. Fluff for the win :) [ATTACH=full]60161[/ATTACH] But the more I thought about it the less I liked the idea to use another Pollux-pattern walker. And looking through my closet (I'm a real "messy" when it comes to hobby parts) I came across these Sherman and Lee boxes I purchased on e-Bay - solely for the purpose of salvaging the road wheels. [ATTACH=full]60162[/ATTACH] So why not build a prototype based on a Sherman? This way I have the option to enter in the armor, Sci-fy, and diorama categories (if I can afford it that is). [ATTACH=full]60163[/ATTACH] Decision made, I opted for this Sherman hull. [ATTACH=full]60164[/ATTACH] I quickly shaved off the deck, to make room for some modifications. [ATTACH=full]60165[/ATTACH] Since the prototype will be mostly without hatches (open) I also added some side walls to the lower hull. [ATTACH=full]60166[/ATTACH] Then I cut out the new openings for the turret and the crew hatches. The rear central hatch is for the commander, left for the loader, right for the gunner. [ATTACH=full]60167[/ATTACH] Then I worked on the gun. Since it's still a prototype, most of the armor and covers are missing and many pieces be visible. [ATTACH=full]60168[/ATTACH] So I added a movable breech - the breech opens downwards, so there will be a auto loader from inside the vehicle. [ATTACH=full]60169[/ATTACH] This is how the gun looks in comparison to the hull. [ATTACH=full]60170[/ATTACH] Next I worked on the actual gun mount [ATTACH=full]60171[/ATTACH] and it's position on the vehicle. [ATTACH=full]60172[/ATTACH] To compensate for the recoil I added a set of rails on which the gun mount can move - I'm not sure if I'll add visible dampeners.... [ATTACH=full]60173[/ATTACH] I'm still undecided if I mount the rails forward like this [ATTACH=full]60174[/ATTACH] or rather rearwards (gun mount aligns with the front of the turret base, or the rails align with the rear) [ATTACH=full]60175[/ATTACH] The whole gun mount on the vehicle. As you can see I aim for a low silhouette and great depression (so the gun can fire from the backside of a hill). [ATTACH=full]60176[/ATTACH] I also added some modifications to the rear - with a section of the engine being visible. [ATTACH=full]60177[/ATTACH] Most likely I will also keep the actual engine deck open, so a section of the engine may be visible. But I'll decide on this later, so no details added yet. [ATTACH=full]60178[/ATTACH] Finally I added most of the running gear last night. This will be pretty much out of the box. [ATTACH=full]60179[/ATTACH] I also added a WH40K Imperial Guard driver (sans the head so far). [ATTACH=full]60180[/ATTACH] And this is how the vehicle looks so far. [ATTACH=full]60181[/ATTACH] What do you think? I have no name for this baby yet, but I think I will break with the Greek Deity tradition and use a more mundane naming approach. Any suggestions? I hope you like today's update and I look forward to your comments and feedback. Cheers Klaus [/QUOTE]

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