Thanks Bacta Baby!

I put this together for a little fun - movie vs mine.

The surroundings of Gorman's console got some love today, including the odd structures on the ceiling which are actually wartime gun sights.



The ceiling gets a temporary look-see.



From the door it looks OK. It's too dark yet but there's more interior ceiling lights to add. I might even keep the light leaks under the desk, they're pretty cool. We'll see.



Next - a view with the roof off!



And lastly a look at the console from Apone's POV.



Lots of paint detail, fibre optics (maybe) greeblies and finessing to add yet.

Was it 12 pairs of screens? I'm gonna have to re-watch
(just asking as only was a squad of 10 [inc Gorman ... ]. Can't see a good reason to monitor the flight crew).


Awesome work btw!

_________________
Cpl Aron "septic" Williams
A10/TQ0.0.82146E1

Hi Septic, thanks! I decided a while ago that the main bank of eight screens should echo the 8 marine squad seated in the rear bay - 2 screens each (one bio monitor, one helmet cam feed). The other screens at either side are to cover internal systems, Apone's bio/cam and possibly the two specialists (where Ripley and Burke sit).

I think the movie set might only have 7 screens across but 8 just made more sense to me.

Also, going by seating, there's the driver at the front cabin, the gunner (particle beam phalanx) behind him, the commander (Gorman) at the console - three minimum APC crew. So the rear bay of eight seats and two lots of two seats makes up to 12 'active' troops who could/will need monitoring when they disembark.

Nice. I love me some "in Universe" reasoning.
Fan logic [for want of a better term] can make more practical sense than some of the apparent film logic used in the prop design ... that said, having 35yrs of an army of obsessives pawing over every minute detail [me included, of course ] + the tech advances since the 80s, ...

_________________
Cpl Aron "septic" Williams
A10/TQ0.0.82146E1

The previous 4 posts are GOLD.

It gets better and better every time. So many thanks for sharing.

_________________
Sgt. Frank Peters 'reload' Smartgun Operator
A03/TQ3.0.12136E1 "It will be no picknick!"
AL Colonial Admin. - Sergeant at Arms (SgtA) -- 2020-2022
GERCM - Executive Officer (XO)
UKCM Foreign Legion: The Deviant Dragoons

Thanks for the kind comments everyone. To say this is an obsession for me is probably an understatement.

I should haver a second video ready soon. I really want to show the APC with all of the lighting I currently have installed. Just a few more lights to go and then I can finish the wiring loom.

No idea what you are talking about!
Okay, I can fully relate to this. Please continue.

_________________
Sgt. Frank Peters 'reload' Smartgun Operator
A03/TQ3.0.12136E1 "It will be no picknick!"
AL Colonial Admin. - Sergeant at Arms (SgtA) -- 2020-2022
GERCM - Executive Officer (XO)
UKCM Foreign Legion: The Deviant Dragoons

One of my jobs to finish is the interior ceiling in the rear bay.



I dug out the ammo boxes I printed out and started to arrange them - sorting out how many I'd like to use. They'll be stored between retaining bars just like the ones on set (as seen behind Hudson's head in the printed screenshot).



Wiring continues to bug me, but it'll get sorted out. I'll be re-routing the switches to outside the model to avoid having to take the roof off to turn interior/exterior lights on or off.



I'd been working on the rear bay ceiling so I tested to make sure that the bulkhead lights are still working.



While I was adding ceiling detail, I routed the wiring for the main searchlight, so that got a test too.

This is Up there alongside Chris "FNG's" 1/6th APC.

You Sir have done a Remarkable job and all at 1/18th Scale.

_________________
What ya gonna do when I TECKNO HUG Youuuuu!!



Pvt.
STEAD,J "TECKNO VIKING"
A06/TQ1.0.22140E1

Skype: ulthur1

Wow, thank you Teckno Viking, that's the highest praise I can imagine. Chris's build is one of the sources that convinced me that eight screens was right for the centre console. He'll continue to be missed by everyone here, I'm sure.

More soon, I promise.

For this update I've carried on developing the inner ceiling spaces. The rear bay in the live-action set has a ribbed look to it.

I had produced some of that effect on the back wall using styrene strips but since there's a lot more here, I thought a 3d print would be better - more regular looking and definitely quicker to produce.



I printed three copies, one for each of the three surfaces.



They got trimmed, applied, and a little primer added. I also put some 'plate' detail on the ceiling above the central section - the 4 green strips are cut from tank side-skirts.



Here's a closer look at the brass bars I've installed to hold the ammo crates in properly - just as they were on set.



This last image kinda shows what the ammo storage looks like. I'll glue everything in place once it's all painted up.



So, onward! (Probably to more lighting, wring etc).

I figured out the best way to get inset lighting into the cross-members - I just made LED shaped square holes in the cross-member and planted LEDs in the gaps, so they shine both sides.



Now I get lighting both front and back. I'd done some work on the ceiling pieces (including the gunner's controls and sight) so I thought I'd take some more shots.





The red LED I put in the driver's cab is producing the right effect.





I'm happy with the view from Apone's seat. There's still detail paintwork to add to everything but I'm liking the effect.



From back here the place is looking pretty good. I think this is my favourite shot of the lot - looking forward to the driver's cab from right at the back.

Absolutely amazing!

agreed, incredible work.

You do know that we’re all expecting a Dripship when you’re done with this...

_________________
AKA: Simon

very nice! and also very insightful to see all the details and different building techniques you have used over the years designing and building it.

Badkarma, MartinR1000, Epsilon - thank you very much for those kind words folks. It's been (and continues to be) a long journey but it's now looking like something.

88reaper88 - a drop ship? Maybe! When I've got the crew for this build sorted. I was hoping to use Marauder figures (https://www.marauderinc.com/) but they won't ship to the UK. D'oh!

I've tried to upload a new post with images but the images are getting refused.

I get the message: 'It was not possible to determine the dimensions of the image. Please verify that the URL you entered is correct.'

The pictures are the same as all the others I've posted and are hosted by me personally so there shouldn't be an issue.

If you just save the images to your computer then upload them as usual that should work. We try to discourage linking to images outside of the AL, such as on flikr for example, as they may not be around for as long as the board. This happened with PhotoBucket a few years ago when they changed their access permissions so suddenly many images linked to on here became unavailable.

Harry

_________________

http://www.facebook.com/TheHHACA - @TheHHACA

Thanks Harry - that clears it up. Coincidentally the whole Photobucket debacle is why I try to host everything myself.

I'll re-upload through the editor.

Sorry guys, I can only get one image to upload through the editor. I'll try to find a way to get it to work but don't have any more time tonight.

Anyway, I've not had any time to continue with the build (very busy at work) but I've been very fortunate due to the help of our very own Epsilon here on the boards. He messaged me to say that he had 1:18 scale figures that he'd like to send to me if I could cover the postage costs. Here's what he very kindly sent me.

There's a Hot Toys Drake and Apone (or Frost?) and an unbranded Merc who will be very useful. I'll be able to repair the joints where needed and noted that these Hot Toys figures are SO much better than the newer Hiya Toys ones.

I have a vague memory that if images aren’t uploading you can try to re-save them (maybe with a different file name) and try to upload the new versions.

Harry

_________________

http://www.facebook.com/TheHHACA - @TheHHACA

Thanks Harry - I’m sure it’s got a lot to do with my unconventional post-editing process (and my dried up old brain). I’m sure I’ll get my head around it.