Hello all. I've watched for a long while, but felt it was time to share my recent project which was inspired by others I've seen. That is, to build a StormRaven that doesnt' look like a flying Land Raider.
The entirety of this build uses only the Valkrye kit, 2mm plasticard, and two unused pieces that come from the chimera kit (endplates that are included for if you build a Basilisk or other siege weapon but otherwise useless to the kit).
The first thing I did was to tack the body of the Valk together. The endplate above the main ramp was cut and raised up to give it a bit more height, then plasticard was shaped to fit the angle and height of it and drawn back to the midpoint on the cargo area. I also cut off the shaped portion on the 'front' of the cargo pod where the cockpit would normaly hook too, for use later.
View attachment 2346
Next, I took the wing struts, cut them down just head of the wing mounts, and turned them around (so the swept wing would be going backwards.). I glued them on just above the doorways so that the wings would sit level when the model was on the table. This made it so the angle was just right on the inside of the spars that I could cut a single piece of Plasticard, running it up to the previously constructed cabin in one smooth line all the way down (minus a 2mm cut left just below the wingspars to allow for a top piece to sit on). Also, as part of that single piece, I also cut it down to cover the sides and extend the hull backwards.
View attachment 2347
Next I cut a piece that would fit and cover the top of the spars, from the rear all the way up to the newly raised cabin area in a single piece. While that set I took the time to assemble the wings and chop the engines down to fit on the wings. The wings required some minor shaving of surface components to make them fit smoothly. At this point I also cut a pair of triangles of plasticard and put them up on the sides of the cockpit, taking away that squared edge created from the rear compartment.
View attachment 2348
At this point, I cut a few more pieces of plasticard, and fitted them to the lower half of the cargo area, finishing the extension on the angled bits and the floor. I used the intake on the back half of the top as a base for the tail assembly, then used a few tailpieces to set up the 'T' of the tailwing. The rear was also finished at this time, the cut bits being mated to the rear and sealing up the cargo area. Some cut and shaped plasticard was added, to give it the look that it could open to disgorge a dreadnaught.
I put a few other bits on such as the landing gear and started cleaning up the mess I'd made. Added rivet holes and filled in the gaps on various pieces. The cockpit halves are cut and modified a little bit, and used as secondary covers for the engines and 'wings' of their own right.
View attachment 2349
All that's really left at this point is finding the weapons I need to fit them onto the bird, and I'll be ready to paint!
Think it was worth my time to make?
The entirety of this build uses only the Valkrye kit, 2mm plasticard, and two unused pieces that come from the chimera kit (endplates that are included for if you build a Basilisk or other siege weapon but otherwise useless to the kit).
The first thing I did was to tack the body of the Valk together. The endplate above the main ramp was cut and raised up to give it a bit more height, then plasticard was shaped to fit the angle and height of it and drawn back to the midpoint on the cargo area. I also cut off the shaped portion on the 'front' of the cargo pod where the cockpit would normaly hook too, for use later.
View attachment 2346
Next, I took the wing struts, cut them down just head of the wing mounts, and turned them around (so the swept wing would be going backwards.). I glued them on just above the doorways so that the wings would sit level when the model was on the table. This made it so the angle was just right on the inside of the spars that I could cut a single piece of Plasticard, running it up to the previously constructed cabin in one smooth line all the way down (minus a 2mm cut left just below the wingspars to allow for a top piece to sit on). Also, as part of that single piece, I also cut it down to cover the sides and extend the hull backwards.
View attachment 2347
Next I cut a piece that would fit and cover the top of the spars, from the rear all the way up to the newly raised cabin area in a single piece. While that set I took the time to assemble the wings and chop the engines down to fit on the wings. The wings required some minor shaving of surface components to make them fit smoothly. At this point I also cut a pair of triangles of plasticard and put them up on the sides of the cockpit, taking away that squared edge created from the rear compartment.
View attachment 2348
At this point, I cut a few more pieces of plasticard, and fitted them to the lower half of the cargo area, finishing the extension on the angled bits and the floor. I used the intake on the back half of the top as a base for the tail assembly, then used a few tailpieces to set up the 'T' of the tailwing. The rear was also finished at this time, the cut bits being mated to the rear and sealing up the cargo area. Some cut and shaped plasticard was added, to give it the look that it could open to disgorge a dreadnaught.
I put a few other bits on such as the landing gear and started cleaning up the mess I'd made. Added rivet holes and filled in the gaps on various pieces. The cockpit halves are cut and modified a little bit, and used as secondary covers for the engines and 'wings' of their own right.
View attachment 2349
All that's really left at this point is finding the weapons I need to fit them onto the bird, and I'll be ready to paint!
Think it was worth my time to make?
