Saturday, February 28, 2009

You don't always get to ride in luxury


Just a quick post as I haven't posted anything since Wednesday. 

I've been sitting on this idea for a while. Shortly after the Ork Trukks were released in January 08 I was hankering to do the conversion to retro-fit them to the Imperial trucks they obviously had always been. Again, Dan Abnett's stories about Gaunt's Ghosts always being transported around in trucks was the big impetus behind this project.


So, I converted an Ork Trukk back to the original Imperial work-horse it had been. The model languished for a few months while I thought about which army I would add it to. Would it be my Genswick 33rd Rifles? Or my Macharian 24th PDF? Or my yet to be constructed Mordant 13th?

In the end I decided that my trucks would be best suited as those of the Departmento Munitorium! My trucks will receive a neutral color scheme (probably blacks and greys) so that I can use them in any of my armies. As you can see, the truck above has a multi-laser, a heavy bolter, and room for about 12 troopers. Yep, this bad boy will be a counts as Chimera. 





Not content with one truck, I collaborated with my friend Thomas, from wynnstudiomodels.blogspot.com, to tweak the design a bit and come up with a great template. Below are the first three fruits of our labor. I hope you like them. Painted photos will be coming soon.


20 comments:

  1. Quite impressed, reverse conversion. What was once Imperial, but never made, crafted into Orkish, then envisioned back to its original form. Good job, looks awesome.

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  2. Nicely done, i always wondered why the IG never had a proper Wagon transport.
    I really like the model you've created, great skill from both Thomas & yourself.

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  3. I was pretty stunned when Dave showed me a picture of the first truck, then to see hes made three trucks just gob smacks me more because he did them in a week.

    "the first three fruits of our labor"

    I can only assume this means there's going to be more of them?

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  4. So there's gotta be 40 at least of these right? Enough for a decent regiment sized column :)

    Very cool though. I can imagine it took a fair bit of work to make the pattern, but from there you're set to make lots...

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  5. I loved the first truck when you first showed it around last year and as you would say, Dave, it "looks better with a friend". Building more was a great idea and Thomas' work with templates is terrific stuff. I look forward to seeing these painted.

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  6. There are a ton of different ways to make rivets. Would you mind sharing how you make them?
    Great work but mostly great idea, I mean why is the transport not in the codex?
    Mike at SCW

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  7. Hey Dave,
    Having ridden in more than my share of deuce 'n a half and 5 ton Army trucks (and even managed to doze occasionally while traveling at tooth jarring speeds), I have to say the models look amazingly spot on.

    Say what you will, but I'm pretty sure that the average shape, size and function of the standart Truck, Transport, Utility, 1 each probably ain't gonna change too much in the next 38,000 years or so.

    Again, great job!

    Cliff
    "Les jeux sont faits."

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  8. Hi guys

    Thanks for your encouragement. It took a while to get the original built (lots of sitting back and head scratching) and I think Thomas had some similar moments when he looked at my original : )

    I, of course, couldn't wait to get them painted so I should have pics in the next day or so.

    As for the rivet question, I guess I should do a "1000 ways to rivet" post in the near future. Then people can post their ways in the comments (or links to their blogs) Good idea Mike. You'll see something before the week is out.

    Cheers
    Dave

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  9. It always struck me as somewhat odd that you kept the Ork wheels (though I can understand why since they are already there) rather than replace them with resin wheels or treads for the back half.

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  10. This looks fantastic! I don't think it would have ever occurred to me to attempt to retro-convert from an orkish vehicle back to it's Imperial predecessor. Well done!

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  11. Hi Fiend

    I'm not too worried about the orky wheels, I think they can look sufficiently "hasty Imperial warzone" but Thomas and I are working on both new "less orky" wheels and a plan for tracks. I'll put those up once we have them done.

    Cheers
    Dave

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  12. I love your scratch building Dave! I'm curious, if you could enlighten us with the type (or more specifically thickness) of plasticard you use for these builds? I'm also curious if you have any specific techniques you use when working with plastic card (e.g. do you score and snap or have a better method to cut the pieces).

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  13. Dave,
    I was about to add a how to rivet post soon as it will fit with my next project. I'm curious to see your methods also as Ive always found there never one good way to do anything.

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  14. So any chance we'll actually get to see the template??

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  15. Hi guys

    @ Earl - While 40 would be awesome (x2) I'm thinking I might have to max out at an even dozen (two platoons of six). That'd still make an impressive column.

    @ thereandblogagain - I typically use 1mm thick plasticard. It's not too thick to score and snap (my usual method of cutting parts), and is thick enough to hold it's structure. I rarely use anything thicker.

    @ archmage45 - Eventually we'll put them up somewhere. They aren't too complicated but certainly helpful.

    Cheers
    Dave

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  16. The quality of this outstanding, great work!

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  17. I have to second the request for a template- those trucks are amazing!

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  18. And of course Dave, the lovely part of 1mm is that it's easily cut up with the guillitione paper cutters.

    Still not as lovely as these rigs, of course.

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  19. Very Very Cool!! do you guys mind if i rip you off terribly?

    the trucks are so godamn earthy and real i have to have one.

    all they need are tarps over the back and disgruntled guardsmen peeking out sat on crates.

    sweet work guys.

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  20. Very awesome!! What I wouldn't give to see the template for these. I love the thought of my guard rolling around in these.

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