Blackadder's Landkreuzer P500; Der Wühlmaus

[Gandalf the Grey]

Attention to detail always wins the day

 

[Blackadder]

Much Better:

A bit of elbow grease and the result is much better in a relative way. I wouldn't have been satisfied with the compromise........

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

The interlude has also given me time to think about how to align the wheels better so I have remounted about 50% of the misaligned and only a few more to go before mounting the underrun of track.


http://i.imgur.com/TZm3iLv.jpg[

In this last image you can see the second from last road wheel is misaligned.


http://i.imgur.com/wZy8QyD.jpg

That is being corrected as I type.

 

[Blackadder]

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........

 

[Blackadder]

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.

 

[wargamesculptor]

This is a double of edge sword for me, on the one hand look forward to seeing the progress on the reaver, while fully appreciate all the work needed to repair the parts on the landkreuzer. Hope it all goes well for you BA

 

[Blackadder]

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

 

[wargamesculptor]

Great recovery BA, looking good

 

[Blackadder]

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

 

[Blackadder]

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..........

 

[wargamesculptor]

Have to agree the Lucius style is better in my opinion, major tease the reaver head being in shot !

 

[Blackadder]

Ha; I didn't even realize that. I just swept everything aside to snap the photos. There are various Reaver parts now that I look back through the images.

Speaking of images I found your gallery just yesterday and have been studying your work......

I'll be posting a critique later.

 

[wargamesculptor]

Have the same problem when taking SBS shots and forget to move interesting pieces out of shot ! Look forward to your critique BA

 

[Blackadder]

Belated thanks for the replies..............

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...........

 

[delta 408]

This is amazing work. I can't wait to see more progress.

Cheers!

 

[wargamesculptor]

Have missed your posts, hope you feel better soon, tanks looking great

 

[Blackadder]

Thanks for the replies and I am feeling fine right now. The school is still out on how I managed to survive such an extreme low end heart rate and blood pressure.... Ha!

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.

 

[delta 408]

I am going to share this thread with my friend. He loves scratch building.

Cheers!

 

[Blackadder]

Thanks for the reply,

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.

 

[Meph]

Good stuff, man! Good to see you haven't relented one bit whilst I've been slacking for over half a year.

 

[Blackadder]

Great to see you back Meph and thanks for giving me the opportunity to try to catch up.

Meh!


Now that I see it I'm not so sure I like it..........


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

I do like the Large radial ribbed mount plate but the hatch seems; "Ehhh!"


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

Wadda ya'll think?