Blackadder's Lucius Pattern Reaver

[The_Blackadder]

Repetition:

I enjoy scratch building, the first piece you make is always an adventure, how can I do this ? Can I do this? Seems like its working. By George thats not half bad......

All the while you're building in the back of your mind, "It would be easier/faster/better if I did it another way."

So the next time you build the same item things usually go better, fall into place, short cuts abound. Invariably it doesn't turn out as good as the first.

By the time you make six of the dimned things yer ready to chuck the whole project.

http://i.imgur.com/wXv6iaa.jpg

 

[The_Blackadder]

Insidious Forge World:

You have to hand it to the FW designers, they are artists. At a casual glance one would say that the APOC Rocket Launcher array has a set back bevel in the front above the nose cones about 45°to the perpendicular.

I suspected that that was not the accurate angle so I cut my angle at 45° slightly forward if the position I decided would be the best in relation to the rocket pod tubes. It did not look right surprise, surprise. No the actual angle is less; I decided on about 42 to 43° looks better. I'll make all the rest at this angle while I think on this, the angle may be even less.............

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

Judging by the photo I just took.

http://i.imgur.com/63AtObw.jpg

 

[The_Blackadder]

They're Okay They're Okay.....

Thats what I have to keep telling myself.

Well the basic rocket pods are done I just have to detail them after I determine the final length.

http://i.imgur.com/7y7TZnD.jpg

Right now they stick a lot higher that the floor of the carapace but once the top is skinned, it should be quite a bit thicker only the upper bevel of the pod should protrude above.

http://i.imgur.com/LIkgG2P.jpg

The centerline pod will be the bevel height higher than the side pods as it appears now and the top two rows of rockets on the center pod will be capable of forward 'line of sight' launching.

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

In all the upper level of the carapace should be a busy place, not a show boat but eminently practicable.

They're Okay They're Okay.....They're Okay They're Okay.....They're Okay They're Okay.....

 

[The_Blackadder]

Rocket Array Elevation/Rotation Mechanism Redux:

Initially when I had the 'Pans Pipes' array I planned to have the rocket launcher totally hidden beneath the carapace skin.

http://i.imgur.com/UN1jr22.jpg

As such it would have been relatively easy to make a simple retract/rotation system in the confines of that area but with the current ambition this array has engendered I was forced to come up with a more sophisticated system.

Below is the beginnings the new improved hydraulic jack system I came up with.

http://i.imgur.com/kPgjut2.jpg

This system hopefully will be compact enough to be confined in the shallow channel below the array and keep the frontal view of the Reaver analogous to the Mars Pattern frontal elevation in overall height.

 

[The_Blackadder]

First the Mechanism:

Ye Gods! how could anything so simple cause so much consternation?
I have been wracking my poor gray matter for a viable solution to raise the pod out of the carapace; levers, scissors, screws, etc....... when suddenly BOING! Hydraulic jack lifts such as were seen in gas stations before they specialized in just selling gas.

The mechanism is disturbingly basic:

http://i.imgur.com/i3jeiOc.jpg

Just a tube through a plate with a collar glued on both ends.

Then a sleeve to slid over the collar which will be glued to the plate the sleeve that is.

http://i.imgur.com/AFcgKN0.jpg

The mechanism plugs into the recess hole in the original resin weapon arm support.

http://i.imgur.com/wC7EBKu.jpg

I may secure this with a rare earth magnet ultimately but the fit is snug for now and will allow me to continue the detailing of the carapace pod recess.........

The rocket pod in action coming up............

 

[The_Blackadder]

The Rear Hinge Installed:

The way I envision it right now is that the center pod when lowered will still be able to fire the two top rows of missiles 'line of sight. Only the bottom row of missiles will be below the surface of the main carapace.

The shoulder pods will fair into the side of the center pod perhaps with the spine ridge fairing above the top row I haven't yet worked that out....

http://i.imgur.com/KHp10ZL.jpg

I need to stiffen the rear hinge point to hold the elevation probably with friction quadrants but such as it is at the moment the pod at full elevation

http://i.imgur.com/GNVmd1V.jpg

 

[The_Blackadder]

The Completed Pod Elevating Seeking & Trajectory System:
or PESTS

Elevation Friction Lock:

Well the tube hinge won't hold the elevation, I need a friction lock.

After trying to wedge thin shims under the lower plate to put pressure on the hinge tube all i succeeded in doing was break the glued joint.

I finally can up with the idea to put pressure on the telescoping lift cylinder.

If you look on either side of the lift cylinder you will see two 2,0 X 4,0 mm strips anchored at but ends and locked in place in the front with notched tensioners. These put pressure on the lift cylinder thereby holding the pod in the elevated position.

http://i.imgur.com/qBECM2X.jpg

Pod installed on weapons shoulder to demonstrate the simplicity of the mechanism.

http://i.imgur.com/epRrE4S.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/wID2geF.jpg

Aligned for stowing.

http://i.imgur.com/ewE6bdi.jpg

Stowed.

http://i.imgur.com/Ub8Bm1P.jpg

Carapace ready for detailing.

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

 

[The_Blackadder]

Carapace Shoulder Structures:

Finally figured out how to set the shoulder carapace upper surface in relation to the shoulder pods. There will be a slight taper on the leading edge of the shoulder and a small skirt similar to the Warhound for the sake of titan pattern continuity much as the Mars Reaver resembles the Mars Warhound. What also has to be taken into account is the Reaver resemblance to my Lucius Warlord But not so much given the disparity of their respective sizes.

http://i.imgur.com/MVx2lhj.jpg

Back to the carapace, the taper will carry into the extreme side of the shoulder where the pod well will be surrounded by a sloping edge here shown as over built with 2,0 MM styrene strips which will be sanded down to the proper height front side and rear.

A bit of a word of caution if anyone is intending to duplicate this work, the FW Mars Reaver does not sit level on a flat surface; note on the front view with out shimming there is an almost 5° discrepancy from level built into the FW model This wouldn't be noticed ordinarily if the model has a dynamic pose but is a problem for this conversion as the wings gotta match.

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

They match pretty good TG.

Nothing remarkable with the top and side view so far but later fairing the carapace into the generators should prove interesting.

http://i.imgur.com/DYK4Aj3.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/v5u6P9Z.jpg

 

[The_Blackadder]

Set Up For a Fall:

I hate when things go so well because I'm setting myself up for a fall of Class 5 Kaiju proportions...............

But I had to take pictures of this mornings work because everything fitted just perfectly.

http://i.imgur.com/dS8GJR4.jpg

You know when you cut a piece of plastic with angles and a specific length and get ready to cut the mirror piece for the other side and you try the piece you just cut to see how much you have to adjust the mirror piece to make it fit............... and you find it fits perfectly on both sides. Then you think that much overused G. Lucas phrase in 'Star Wars,' "I got a bad feeling about this."

Anyway this is an excuse to show the underside work before I box it in

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

As I described the other day I decided to angle the rear skirt of the carapace armour because I think it looks better but I can't drop the edge too low because it might interfere with the swing of the arm weapons.

http://i.imgur.com/l5O4FNL.jpg

This rear quarter view shows the shape of the inner skin and gives an inkling of the exterior carapace shape to come............

http://i.imgur.com/0wG2a4z.jpg

 

[The Sun King]

Looking good dude

 

[The_Blackadder]

Repetition is the Soul of Ennui:

Time to play catch up; I gotten so far ahead of the other Reaver I need to catch it up. Man I hate to repeat work but every thing can serve a good purpose in that of course there is a better way to assemble the shoulder structure and as usual for me I did it bass ackwards the first time so profiting from my original effort this time the work should line up perfectly with out the previous hassles I experienced.


http://i.imgur.com/8F5Bus1.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/hkHC7Ai.jpg

Wanna bet?

 

[The_Blackadder]

Apoc Superstructure Continues:

A bit of an update on the progress of the Reaver superstructure showing the center pod mount:

http://i.imgur.com/0XiJg5G.jpg

then with the pod in place stowed:

http://i.imgur.com/g7r6NUh.jpg

and raised position:

http://i.imgur.com/f3Xni6B.jpg

All of it seems relatively neat and compact and the arrangement doesn't defy credibility yet.

I'd like to take the time to assemble a set of legs just to see how it looks with the legs attached because my big concern now is the top hamper may be ungainly.

 

[The_Blackadder]

Impasse:

I have reached a minor impasse regarding how to proceed with where the rear of the carapace intersects with the void generator housings.

Here you see the two hulls in pretty much the same state of completion note the 1/2 pound weights in the generator housings.

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

The clean crisp lines of the structure excepting the intersection seems to fill the requirements of a Lucius design so aside from minor alterations this will be the look of the hull with which I shall be moving forward.

http://i.imgur.com/V546qwp.jpg

Filing down the pod wells fludh with the inner and outer edge of the shoulders really brought the design home; pity I did not realize that weeks ago. Thats why the FW designer command the big bucks.

http://i.imgur.com/faH2YZH.jpg

The ceiling panels of the shoulders are installed and ready for thickening the armour and the detail.

http://i.imgur.com/9LRUU7f.jpg

I still need to give some thought to how the hood overhang and head will look.

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

 

[The_Blackadder]

X Marks the Spot:

I wouldn't be the 'Blackadder' if I didn't try to make something more of the FW Reaver than is the usual static presentation. It has been in my mind to try to make this model pose-able as in the vein of my scratchbuilt titans. Starting with the simplest axis namely the waist to hip block joint I drilled a 1/8th inch pivot hole through the entire assembly.

http://i.imgur.com/nlUa2Cv.jpg

With unerring good luck I managed to hit the exit cross dead center (not bad for not having a drill press) I then proceeded to drill the rest of the shafts with dumb luck accuracy as well as witnessed by the bit protruding for the center hole of the pelvic block; Whew!

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

I have to admit I had a good deal of trepidation attempting this but Dame Fortune smiled on me yet again. Again I caution that this is better to be accomplished with a 'drill press.'

Now what remains to be done is tap an 8-32 (machine screw) thread through the three pieces to join them temporarily.

 

[The_Blackadder]

Waist and Pelvic Block Assembly:

After the holes are drilled threads were tapped into the two lower pieces and a slightly enlarged hole was reamed into the waist block which later on will be enlarged further so the model can be bent at the waist.

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

Next, attaching the upper legs................

 

[The_Blackadder]

Hip Joints:

No not college hangouts but its time to temporarily mount the hip joints and for these static tests I'm going to adopt the classic Reaver pose 'legs spraddled' funny I've never seen a Reaver posed 'stepping out' although there is the flexibility to display it in that pose.

http://i.imgur.com/mXLVMl2.jpg

I'm using wood screws to attach the joints as I am not sure of the degree the legs can be spread. The feet must contact the floor flatly and the index pins seem a bit small in diameter.

http://i.imgur.com/32QtYhc.jpg

Okay definitely the joints can be mount spread too far not a problem I'll just drill deeper holes and thread them for the static test pose:

http://i.imgur.com/xEb1ReO.jpg

Meanwhile since I've come this far I might as well check out the top hamper scale in relation to the legs:

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

It doesn't look bad..............

 

[The_Blackadder]

Oh The Hip Bone's Connected the Hip Joint:

Nothing really to see here except the attachment of the hip joint piece to the upper leg which requires a bit of precision drilling and taping.

http://i.imgur.com/RAE3KR7.jpg

It's imperative you get the holes straight and aligned perfectly because studs do not readily turn when they are bent.

Below is just a image to show how readily the components assemble..........

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

And finally showing that in the total lower torso and legs down to the knees there is little to be converted to a Lucius pattern except for the filigreed area surrounding the waist block.

http://i.imgur.com/vcPi3p9.jpg

 

[The_Blackadder]

Anyway here's my first go at sheathing the lower leg Mars stuff.

Just to refresh your memory here's what the back of the lower leg looks like in the instructions.

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

I'm going to angle off the cylindrical Mars armour into an octagon shape for the back of the lower leg and hopefully it will snap into place and be held fast by the large rivets at the top.

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

or add some magnets if it doesn't.

I have to make eight of these for the four lower legs:
http://i.imgur.com/YOrKcCP.jpg

One clipped in place...........
http://i.imgur.com/mmdd868.jpg

 

[The_Blackadder]

Lower Leg Armour:

This is ostensibly an experiment to see if I can make cover armour for the cylindrical lower legs.

http://i.imgur.com/T4Q3HSC.jpg

No I'm not building a Taris, it's internal armour for the lower legs

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

A remarkable light strong structure that hopefully will suit the Lucius Pattern er ah pattern:

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

And the bottom view:

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

Which when decorated I think will work..........

 

[The_Blackadder]

Testing the Fit of the Greaves

With the inner shank armour cut down and in place it appears I need to trim the lower edge a bit to accommodate the classic Reaver pose.

A note on how a Reaver would look walking:

Due to the construction of the legs the Reaver would have a particularly comical sprawled legged gait.

If anyone has a toddler who isn't successfully housebroken; they will be familiar with this pant-load waddle.

A platoon of Reavers striding across the battlefield would certainly incapacitate anyone viewing the spectacle. The opposing army would be rolling on the ground in paroxysms of uncontrolled laughter.

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

http://i.imgur.com/rgNxO48.jpg

Note with the greaves installed there is still plenty of room for the Lucius shank armour:
http://i.imgur.com/VPUrPEX.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/1QY6jNd.jpg

 

[The_Blackadder]

Confidence Restored:

Now that I am reasonable confident that the shank armour is doable I can demonstrate the building process. Starting with the 'U' shaped 3/4 squares I glued on the 62 MM long diagonal side panels and set aside to dry............

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

 

[The_Blackadder]

A bit of Construction Technique:

My intent was to have a light strong armour sheathing to cover the Mars Filigree emulating the utilitarian Lucius design. To accomplish that I used the thinest material I though permissible and still be durable enough to withstand a reasonable amount of installing and removing.

For the frame work I used 0,75 MM X 3,2 MM strips and for the exterior skin 0.030 thousands inch sheet styrene. BTW 0.030 inch is 0,75 MM For those of us whom still use the metric system...........

http://i.imgur.com/iL52VQ6.jpg

I then used 0.015 inch sheet styrene slightly scored down the middle for reinforcing gussets on the interior 45° angle joints. (Note the bent strips in the foreground)

In spite of the seeming crudeness of the construct the whole structure is accurate to within a tenth of a millimeter according to my vernier caliper. Strange that there is no gradient on my 6 inch scale for 'finer' metric measure while on the Imperial edge it is graduated into 1/64ths of a inch which equals 0.004 inch which equals a 4/10ths of a millimeter (actually 0.397 MM but we won't split hairs....groan!)

 

[The_Blackadder]

That Was Easy:

No you didn't accidentally stumble onto a Dr Who Dalek build, these are the shank armour of two Reavers, two legs each. The basic armour clips on the peripheral rivets and locks in place once the centering fillers are installed.

http://i.imgur.com/m5OHggx.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ncKZDb8.jpg

They still have to have the actuator cutouts made and the top and bottom trim but next I have to manufacture the greaves.

 

[The_Blackadder]

Greaves:

Because the bulk of the Lucius Carapace is so much greater than the Mars I opted to make the greaves more massive.

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

In the preliminary mock up the size may be a tad too big but the overall shape although bland at this stage seems okay. Of course the greaves will have to be lifted a bit to clear the toes.

http://i.imgur.com/8s31hxr.jpg

The side view certainly lacks pizazz; I may have th angle the rear lower corner but for a first cut its not too bad...................

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

 

[The_Blackadder]

Basic Greaves 2:

Having established a basic shape and height, there will have to be cutouts to accommodate the toes, I glue a temporary hook to engage the inner armour.

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

From this side view there will be cut outs as well that would flex as the titan steps whether that option is viable remains to be seen.

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

The rear view shows that a lot of internal structure has to be made to hide the Mars greave making these components rather more complicated than I originally envisioned.

http://i.imgur.com/3uuvo4p.jpg

On the plus side I would have had to make an internal structure anyway and this way eclipsing the inner greave will allow the Lucius greave to just clip on.

http://i.imgur.com/acmMe2g.jpg

So now all that remains is to fabricate three more basic greaves.