Scratchbuild Experiment: The Prototype Grot Tank

 

A creation of GW's Forge World sub-brand circa 2010, Grot Tanks are beloved by modellers like myself. From a gameplay perspective, they were a vehicle equivalent to Killa Kans, with a similar mix of annoying, disposable and dakka. While not having a melee option or speed, they did have an invulnerable save, so if you really wanted spam Grotzookas, these were your GOTO guys. Scratch builders and kitbashers meanwhile find a fun excuse to make vaguely adorable tanks for their Gretchin Revolutionary force. They are awesome.

Now, I wasn't planning to do a squadron of these, I've actually already done that ages ago. Rather, this was a stepping stone to other projects which would require tank treads. I was starting small. I also wanted to try some new craft paints which I got on discount, also with an eye toward future projects. As usual, this would be usable as a gaming piece, but this was an experiment above all. I started by making treads in plastic, before using blue stuff to make moulds and mass produce them. This involved much trail and error, refinement, and a shift from green stuff to milliput. Silicon moulds would probably be a better idea for this, or a least a lego frame but one thing at a time. Once I had about 30 I was happy with, I started planning the wheel base. I decided to use a pound shop toy, although this proved to be too small for the treads, so I added the wheels from another toy. I did try to make things easier for myself though, by wrapping the axels with foil the tracks could be placed on top. It was a good guide line, even as the treads turned out to be of varying thicknesses, and in need of some serious gap filling. The actual hull, weapons and detailing were mostly a matter of kit bashing and offcuts, as I wanted to keep things relatively simple. Painting commenced with a black undercoat, as I was out of brown, and a selection of Pébéo Studio Acrylics paints. These don't seem to be intended for model work, but they worked well enough. Numbers 28, 49, 351 & 355 if you're interested.

As this was fundamentally a learning experience, I have criticisms I could make of the end result. The tracks I produced were a bit crude and the detail kinda got lost. My overuse of home-made, mud effect paint probably didn't help, but given the subject matter it isn't bad. I'd also want to move back to a brown undercoat, and tone down that silver a bit before application next time. All this having been said, it's great as a proof of concept, and I learned something.

Work in Progress Pictures

 

Plamo: Ork Trukk Attempt 3 (Scratchbuild, Warhammer 40k)

 

I started on this one while the Mrk 2 was drying, and by this point, I'd found a method that worked. I could now put a trukk together whole doing other things, by using simple and repeatable methods where my mistakes would not count against me. With issues of wheelbase and overall size nailed down, I decided to mix things up a bit. I opted for a 4 wheeled design, as I had some bigger wheels going spare, and went for an angled cabin shape which I'd seen while researching the topic. This was quickly followed by an electrical fitting and part of a USB casing for the engine block. The net effect was like someone had made a monster truck from a pick-up truck, making it slightly taller than a regular trukk but not unreasonably so.

This trukk obviously draws from the previous two visually, but there's a few elements I want to highlight. The big shoota is out of a tiny spray bottle, positioned similar to the Mrk 1, but looks better proportionally. The radiator is taken off one of toy cars I'd scrapped, an idea I'd previously had but not used. Meanwhile, I was mindful of some constructive criticism I'd had, and put some more clearly orky visual designs on it. These took the form of crudely recast skull icons and a glyph plate as hub caps. 

 

Painting progressed quickly, although slightly marred by the sort of problem that becomes apparent after spray painting. The wheels were old, and the tires had separated from the hubs in places, prompting some baking soda and super glue to fill the gaps. I was also a little sloppy with the hot glue gun, relying on washes or texture paint to conceal mistakes. I think this short of thing is just more noticeable with this style of vehicle. On the plus side, I took a stab at painting checks on the front number plate. Not good ones, but at least they are there. But, you know, the whole thing came out quite well.

 

I think I have pretty much got the hang of this style of scratch build. But I probably need some Boyz to ride it. You've already seen the prototypes...

Plamo: The 30 Minute Missions Revernova (Green)

Righty, if I've timed this right, this post will go live on day 3 of TFNation.  About the time where I shall be waking up to the buffet breakfast.

As I have preparations to make and fun to have, I've moved a few things around for today's post. Yes, yes. It's a big, green, somewhat anonymous, grunt. Obviously I have a type.

First, a brief review. While obviously specialising in the field of "big dude, bigger gun", the Revernova is very competent as a kit. Its not quite as remarkable as the Spinatio, but its doing all it chooses to do well. However, at time of writing, there seem to be no dedicated add-on sets for this, just a partsforming combination of a sort with the Guardonova, which I have yet to get. I would say it does not need any extras, but the absence of a melee weapon or spare hands is still an omission. This kit does however bring moving skirt armour to the range, as well as modified hip joints. Otherwise, if you've built a 30MM kit before, you know what you're getting into here. If you haven't? Well, this a great place to start. It's much Dom inspired, and I love the little domed head & collar.

Intended as a palette cleanser between more involved projects, I limited myself to minor weathering effects on this one, and so I don’t have a vast amount to say. I lightly drybrushed with a gun metal to make it look worn, before applying a brown wash to make it look dirty. As an additional flair though, I mixed up some homebrew texture paint and applied it to the feet. It looks good, but it doesn’t stick too the plastic that well.I decided to let my RPG group name him, and thus he is now "Jeff3y McGunn". I regret nothing.

All in all, a good time. Go get one.

 

Plamo: Ork Trukk Attempt 2 (Scratchbuild, Warhammer 40k)

 

OK, the story so far. As part of my seeming relapse back into wh40k, I've been looking at doing up my Ork army from spares and salvaged parts. I'd decided to scratch build some trukks as a way to minimise the number of Boyz I'd have to make, and for the experience. The prototype went quite well, in that I got a gaming piece out of it and made mistakes I learned from. Today's subject is about what learned from those mistakes. Short version: I did better.

Confident that my basic method was sound, I opted to try again with two adjustments. One, I'd keep this closer to scale by having a modern GW example to hand, and two, I'd put more shapes in the build, so it was less blocky. Towards that latter aim, I took inspiration from historical armoured cars and old trucks, so it would have a turret and a rounded hood. I also had the idea of adding a windbreak to the roof, and I'm happy with the overall effect. It's still a little squarish, but it's not a big obvious block. I'm also pleased with details around the engine and hatches.

I'd also made some quality of life improvements during the build. I stopped using pen lids and instead used the pens, which proved to be a good fit for the wheels I had. As well as wheels, toy cars provided scrap plastic for the flatbed, having an unexpected but usable texture to them. I'd also got the hang of my hole punch pliers for rivets, and was astonished by the revelation that pva glue COULD ACTUALLY STICK RIVETS TO A MODEL! It's not just for kids any more, you just have to let it dry, and then it works as well as super glue in that narrow application. Painting continued in my rough drybrush/stippling style, which maybe is too dirty now, but works.

 

All in all, a quite satisfying project. I just need to do one more, and it's time to get serious about passengers and tank treads. 

 

Work in Progress Pics