53 replies to this topic

[Tangamarine]

After falling in love with both the model and rules for the forge world sicaran, I decided I must have one. The only issue I have with the model is that it would not look quite the part when put next to my other armour, with all the fancy curves next to the sharp edges and angles. With that in mind I have decided to cut up a landraider and re-purpose it for my needs.
 
So far I have cut what I hope is the correct angle for the tracks that rest on the top. Unfortunately due to the design of the landraider, I think it is impractical to have the small front section that goes over the tracks like on the original, and instead cover up more of the tracks instead. (I am also limited by the length of tracks supplied with the kit.
 
Without further ado, here is my progress so far:
 
Side showing cut away. 

 

 
I will have to cover the entre panel with plasticard to hide the gaping holes left by the doors. Also have yet to work out how exactly I will be incorperating lascaonnon sponsons onto the side of the thull. Currently have two options: Use the land raider lascannons (but only one each side) or the predator ones (or even a mix of both!) My current thinking is predator, as they Sicaran is meant to be between the two, so some overlapp seems prudent.
 
Current progress on the front:
 

 
 
 
After completing the bottom bit of the front I noticed how steep I had made it compared to the actual model, but after mounting it on, it doesn't look too bad
 
Current progress on the back:
 

 

 
The Sicarian seems to have a smaller engine unit than the landraider, and mounted higher up, requiring an extension down the bottom, and removing a chunk out of the power plant itself. This also meant I have had to cut the grating to about half the size for it to fit.
 

 
Current musings on the accelerator autocannon, I currently have casing for other the top, but not sure how I am going to go about the ammo drums at this point (do kind of want to show the ammunition in the drum though) Not sure on putting a belt feed to the model, I guess I'll cross that bridge when we get there.
 
C&C Welcome
Thanks
Brother Dvorn

Edited by Brother Tyler, 15 January 2017 - 09:07 PM.
Tags edited

[The_Chaplain]

Off to an interesting start, you may be onto something with this conversion.

[Midnightmare]

Already got the silhouette down, looking forward to seeing more  

[Urauloth]

Ambitious! This is looking great so far, that's some nice plasticard work.

[Tangamarine]

Time for an update! Exam study break is on so I can dedicate a little bit more time into this project, especially when I want the whole thing built and painted for an upcoming tournament

 

Managed to build the driver section with emplaced heavy bolter, although the shear amount of angles and odd shapes has resulted in a few gaps which will require filling later on. I have yet to find a suitible method of recreating the missing rivets that I have cut off in some places, so any suggestions on the go-to method for those would be most welcome

 

 

 

Heavy Bolter (Won't glue it in until after painting, and will need a bit of greenstuff to fill in a few gaps still)

 

 

Casing for accelerator cannons

 

 

Quick idea for the turret sensor array, will fill it with machine spirit piece or parts of the land raider's headlights. If I do end up using the predator turret, the sides will have to be shaved to to ensure the cannons fit smoothly

 

 

The side panels will have to wait till tuesday as I am running out of plasticard and glue, so I'll start working on the sponsons while I wait. However I am unsure whether or not to put the large thick panel that goes on the sides and extends over the top of the tank which  the sponsons attach to, or just cover up the door gaps with a thin bit of plasticard and add detailing. Thoughts?

 

Thanks

Brother Dvorn

 

 

 

[Primarch83]

My favorite tank being done right. Looking forward to more.

[Tangamarine]

It has been a few days so I guess I better give another update Managed to get the tracks all sorted and glued on, added some headlights, along with the sides panels finished and awaiting minor greenstuff work. (Note a took the exhaust off to facilitate easier sanding of the top)

 

 

 

Now I can't quite decide how exactly to build the sponsons, the choices I have before me are to use the mounts that come with the landraider (but only use one) or the ones from the predator. Here are some rough comparison photos.

 

 

 

What do you guys think?

 

Thanks

Brother Dvorn

[apologist]

I think it looks fantastic!

On the specifics of the lascannon mounts/cowls, I'd go with the 'single Land Raider' approach, as it neatly bridges the lighter Predator with the heavier Land Raider. It'll also likely be a bit sturdier.

 

Playing around with the details, like using the Predator targeter in place of the Land Raider one, will further bridge the gap.

[Grotsmasha]

Soooooo cool I wish my skill with plasticard was better, I'd like to give this a go....

[Brother-Librarian Haegl]

IMHO, the Godhammer-pattern lascannons are the way to go, seeing as they are more fitting to the land raider size and aesthetic. I do also humbly suggest you could build in some energy cells (like those on the laspredator turret), which I think would prevent the lascannon from being placed to far from the hull, and fill the gap left by the missing cannon.  

[Forté]

That's amazing. Plain and simple.

As for rivets, 1mm micro marbles (also known as caviar beads, no hole beads, and a few other names). Bit time consuming drilling holes .5mm deep to superglue the beads in one by one, but the finish is worth it.

[WarSpirit]

Wow great job up to now. Keep it up !

[batu]

Man that is so impressive. I have so much respect for you scratch build guys.

[sockwithaticket]

Looks freaking awesome so far, very envious.

[shandwen]

It looks like it will be way better looking than the actual model.  Quite nice.

[daemonclaw]

i am mucho jealous of the way you plasticard jockeys can work the plastic so well.

great work bud,have a thumbs up

[Disruptor_fe404]

Will be watching with interest, mate.

 

I also think that the Sicaran doesn't fit the 40k aesthetic beyond being a relic, and my concepted solution was to just replace the sponsons and find a more angular turret. I have a hard time picturing any Master of the Forge modifying such a revered design overly much...

 

Keep it up! Show it off!

[disease]

so impressed with this 

[Urza]

Side showing cut away. 

 

C&C Welcome

Thanks

Brother Dvorn

 

Wow! Hugely impressed with this!

 

What did you use to cut the Landraider body? Was it a bandsaw or something?

[Midnightmare]

You have really motored on with this project, mega impressed with your plasticard skill. Big kudos!! What size plasicard have you used?

[Tangamarine]

Hey guys, sorry for the length of time since the last update, I have been swamped with exam study, but my last exam was today so I am now free to post an update!

 

Unfortunately I won't be able to finish painting the tank before the tournament, all I have managed to do is airbrush the whole thing orange with plans to get the tracks undercoated to the painting minimum in the next couple of days, along with completing the rear half of the accelerator cannons.

 

Without paint, after all the green stuffing has been done:

 

 

 

 

 

 

With paint:

 

 

 

 

@Urza - I used something a little smaller, just a hacksaw that may have been a little blunt

@Midnight Runner - I used a few different sizes, mainly 0.5 mm and 0.25 with a small amount of some smaller size that I can't seem to remember at this point.

Edited by Brother Dvorn, 30 June 2014 - 11:11 AM.

[Urza]

@Urza - I used something a little smaller, just a hacksaw that may have been a little blunt

 

Really? Wow, thats very impressive! You've got those cuts dead straight. I doubt I could do something that impressive with a bandsaw, let alone a hacksaw LOL!

[Rift Blade]

I've been following this & gotta say job well done. That's an incredible bit of work there. Please post pics of the finished product after your tournament. And go kick butt in your tournament. Good luck.

[Volfen]

This is the type of conversion that I find extremely interesting and you have done a bang-up job so far.  I may have to liberally steal your ideas

[Tangamarine]

 

@Urza - I used something a little smaller, just a hacksaw that may have been a little blunt

 

Really? Wow, thats very impressive! You've got those cuts dead straight. I doubt I could do something that impressive with a bandsaw, let alone a hacksaw LOL!

 

 

Well I did have to sand and file it down afterwards I filed both sides down separately first, then assembled both sides together and then used a large bit of sandpaper flat on a desk with the tank upside down to get them pretty much even.