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Reincarnating the God-Machine - Warlord Titan Redesign


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I'm still quite fond of my rehabilitated Lucius-pattern Warlord Titan.  However, the limitations of its design have since become painfully apparent.  It is exactly 30" tall and, while the Lucius-pattern Warlords of EPIC were always taller than the Mars-pattern, this particular model is still exaggerated.  It is also constructed from MDF boards, PVC and resin and weighs about 52 lbs - far too heavy to easily transport, or even to move on the tabletop.  It has since been relegated to use as a display, and sometimes as terrain.

 

While I'm still active in a few annual Apocalypse games, my main focus for my Titans is the Adepticon Titanicus event.  Suitable models require low weight, high structural integrity, ease of repair, and ease of packing/transport.  Lux Aeterna doesn't meet any of these requirements, so I've been commanding my Warhound Titan instead.  Sprinting around the battlefield in Canis Leto has been a great deal of fun, but I've been itching for something a bit heavier.

 

So, with my workshop/game room finally rebuilt, I'm coming back to 40K with a new year-long project:  constructing and painting an improved model for Lux Aeterna.  This new model will be about 25.5" tall - still taller than the 22.5-23.0" Mars-pattern Warlord, but closer to the original proportion.  It will also be significantly lighter and easier to transport.

 

Putting My Worst Foot Forwards

 

Typically when working on large models, I start with the outermost detail and work my way in towards the core superstructure.  This time I'm starting with the feet and will simply work my way up.  I'm concerned with leveling, balance and structural integrity.  This will allow me to fine-tune any alignment issues while adding progressively more weight.

 

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I can never resist adding detail.  While this model will be significantly more detailed than the first incarnation, some features are better than others.  In this example, I'm supplementing the aquilas with etched brass from Forge World, which is almost perfectly sized for this purpose.

 

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Comparing the drive and stability phalanges with the first incarnation begins to demonstrate the differences between the two.  The new model will be much more detailed, and also much smaller.  It will diverge from the EPIC model, which the first incarnation was almost too faithful to, so some adjustment to the original color scheme will be required.  I'm still going to paint it as closely as possible to the original.

 

There are also some apparent differences with the paint and finish itself.  I used Vallejo alcohol-based Liquid Silver for the original model.  This time, I'm using color-matched Gun Metal primer and acrylic paint from Army Painter.  It's closer to my Knights and other Titans, and is much easier/quicker to apply with my subassembly approach.

 

My painting style was born of laziness and aesthetic philosophy.  My Titans aren't walking off the showroom floor or marching in a parade.  They're in the midst of a grueling campaign in some Emperor-forsaken warzone.  Thus, I favor heavy applications of dark washes to give them a grungy appearance, while also hiding blemishes.  After spray priming, I brush paint everything else without masks or stencils. So, there tends to be a lot of blemishes.  The texture of the new parts also benefits from the wash much more than the smooth surfaces of the original model.

 

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The finished left foot.  I love the piston detail, but as you'll see this will be hidden by the ankle platform.  At least I'll know it's there!

 

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Sad to say, this is the most use I've gotten from these fantastic books...

 

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The left foot with ankle platform.  I've left the ankle platform unattached until the build progresses past the hips. This will allow me to ensure that the legs are entirely level and stable, and to make any necessary adjustments before adding the weight of the upper body.

 

You can also see the method for attaching the legs.  The ankles, knees, and hip all use a triangular pin to lock into place.  I'm debating using magnets to allow for disassembly at all of these points for transportation, or mounting them all permanently for maximum stability.  The last thing I want is for a pin to work itself loose in the middle of a game.

 

There were several teachable moments during the assembly of the left foot, and I'm hoping that the right will be much simpler with experience.  I'm waiting on another shipment of etched brass to arrive before continuing with the toes, so I'm focusing on the underlying structural elements.

Edited by CommodusXIII
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Thank you very much!

A Stable Foundation

 

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With experience, the right foot was a bit easier than the left.  There were still plenty of headaches to keep it interesting.

 

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I always keep a tracker of some kind whenever I work on large projects.  Daily progress can get lost in the big picture and sometimes it feels like, for all of the time invested, little has been accomplished.  This tracker usually takes the form of a spreadsheet broken down by sub-assembly.  This time, I'm taking a graphical approach.  I was inspired by one of my favorite terrain building blogs, the DOMUS project, though my own version is much more crude.

 

Work has stalled on the shins, so I'm moving on to the thighs and the joint caps for the ankles, knees and hips.

Edited by CommodusXIII
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This week's project has been the joint caps.

 

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I hate flat, featureless surfaces. They may be easy to paint, but they're just so... bland. The previous incarnation was perhaps a bit too true to the EPIC model, and thus lacked a lot of surface detail when scaled up to "28mm". I added quite a bit of grubbins and greeblies to give it more texture, but I could only do so much. The new version has much more character.

Edited by CommodusXIII
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I'm still grappling with major issues on the shins, and I decided to take a step back and work on another subassembly.  This weekend I completed the left thigh.  The right is at about 90%, waiting for a little more detail work before the final wash and dry.

 

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Work has also started on the pelvis and a few minor detail bits that I've had floating around.  My goal is to have Lux Aeterna standing by the end of May.

 

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Edited by CommodusXIII
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Last week was very productive, and I finished the hips, pelvis and waist ahead of schedule.  I struggled with hobby block at several points - I have to continually remind myself, on all of my projects, that things always look terrible until they're finished.  Maybe they still look terrible after that, but personally I'm very happy with the results.

 

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The paint scheme for Lux Aeterna is based heavily on this EPIC model, which I've had filed away for years and which formed the basis for the colors of my Imperial Knights.  Among the little details are red triangles on the right thigh and left shoulder.  Among the decals on Forge World's Titan Transfer Sheet are little red triangles, very close to the Skitarii Alliance honor marking.  That in turn resulted in some new backstory for the model, which I'll cover at a later date.

 

I had some bad experiences with transfers with my first army, back in 3rd Edition.  I was still a bit gunshy about them when I returned to the hobby in 6th Edition, so I took to freehanding everything.  I've slowly been getting over that, and my goal for Lux Aeterna is to freehand as little as possible.  Due to the textured surface of the parts, I was a bit concerned about getting transfers to blend in.  This was my first experiment with MicroSol and I am very happy with the results - three light applications and the transfers sank into the surrounding detail perfectly.

 

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That posterior drive unit, though.

 

As of this morning, I've finally sorted out my problems with the shins.  I'm resuming work on those subassemblies this week(end), and hopefully Lux Aeterna will be standing before too long.  I've also started prep work on updated versions of the honor banner and kill pennants, as well as the head.

 

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Edited by CommodusXIII
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Thank you very much!

Despite having a packed calendar this weekend, I've made a surprising amount of progress.  Lux Aeterna is now standing - two weeks ahead of schedule!

 

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The hip and ankle/foot pad joints have not yet been permanently fixed.  I need the legs loose to mount the shin armor, so I'll be taking the rest of the assembly in steps.

 

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This model isn't just another build - it's a reincarnation/update of my previous Warlord Titan.  Thus, I'm making an effort to capture the pecularities of the first model, and also to transfer/update its backstory.
 
The previous incarnation broke its left ankle early into the project.  Being a superstitious gamer, I added a devotional plaque and some purity seals to the final model to ward off a second failure - the last thing I needed was 50+ lbs of Titan crushing everything on the table.  I felt it important to translate this kind of character to the new model.

 

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The Imperium is (of course) very heavy on western aethestics so I'm trying to work a few eastern concepts into my Mechanicus.  When combining functional repairs with ceremony, especially with honoring the original damage, the art of kintsugi was the obvious choice.  I applied a thin band of greenstuff, sanded it down, further smoothed it with liberal application of 'Ardcoat, and finished it with a "polished" appearance compared to the grime of the rest of the model.
 
Of course, it's not enough to simply replicate the physical detail.  I also have to think up an in-game reason for it.  This has since grown a bit out of control.
 
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The project is now continuing on three fronts:
  • I'm currently painting the shin armor, and am aiming to complete these subassemblies as my new end-of-month goal.
  • I've almost collected all of the necessary materials for the honor banner and kill pennants - my original plan failed testing, so I'm taking a new tack.  If this approach works, you can look forward to a tutorial.
  • Finally, I've begun initial work on the core torso structure.  Progress may slow in the coming weeks, as the torso assemblies are much larger.  Though, I have some rather mad ideas in the works that may yield interesting updates.
Edited by CommodusXIII
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One feature that was sorely missing from both the previous and current models is the waist drive units.  These are featured prominently the artwork for the Lucius-pattern Warlord, as well as the Forge World Mars-pattern model.  Strangely, they're absent from the Reaver and Warhound, but they're again present in all five Knight patterns so far revealed.

 

The Warlord appears to be a bit... wasp-waisted without the drive units to bulk it out.  Even with the demands of assembly and painting, I still find myself driven towards kitbashing when the opportunity presents itself.  This is my approximation:

 

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I took the engines and cowls from Stormravens to form the drive units and armor plating.  The endcaps for the Mars-pattern model simply have a hexagonal bolt pattern, which is somewhat bland.  I wanted to mimic the texture of the Knight drive units, so I fashioned the endcaps from 28mm bases and brass etch detail from the long OOP Zone Mortalis Bases set from Forge World.

Edited by CommodusXIII
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The shin armor is divided into four major parts: two armor plates, a kick plate, and an underlying support structure (not pictured).  I've worked out a way to pin the kick plate in place, allowing it to swing freely.  It sounds simple, but it was a huge pain to get a good angle on the pin vice.

 

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Here is a comparison between the old and new shin armor.  This area was one of the largest offenders for being textureless - the new armor is much more interesting visually.  I've kept the hull markings - the old version was a combination of freehand and transfers, but for the new model I'm using the appropriate Titan Transfer Sheet from Forge World.  The new armor also has a banner in the perfect area to match.  This is a bit serendipitous, as I'd added the original banners from my bits collection.

 

Black and yellow hazard striping is a major item on my Legio's style guide, but the shin armor lacks the side flaps found on the original model (and its EPIC version) as well as the Lucius-pattern Warhound.  However, one of the raised panels has the perfect grain for hazard striping - even though it has the opposite alignment.  I've never been particularly good at freehanding straight lines, so I'll take all the help that I can get.

 

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Work is continuing on the final washing and assembly of the shin armor, and I should be completing the entire lower half of the model by the holiday weekend.  I've made some initial forays into the torso which, like its predecessor, will be a significant and intimidating undertaking.  While mulling over my plan of attack, I've moved on to the arms.  Work is also continuing, albeit slowly, on the new honor banner and kill pennants.  All told, things are pulling together but I still feel like I'm chipping away with a rock hammer.

Edited by CommodusXIII
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At the risk of spamming my own thread, I have one more update:

 

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After assembling and washing the shin armor subassemblies, they were installed onto the legs.
 
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With the shins complete, the ankle joints were permanently fixed.  I've quickly fallen in love with two-part epoxy - I haven't had occasion to use it before this project.  I also can't remember where I got this tiny bubble level, but it was invaluable for ensuring that Lux Aeterna neither bows nor limbos.
 
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After curing overnight, Lux Aeterna stands on its own.  I may go back and permanently fix the kick plates with thin superglue, but for now they're fine hanging loose.
 
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I've been a bit paranoid about structural integrity, given the catastrophe experienced with the previous incarnation.  It's time to put Lux Aeterna through the first of many trials.  I started with one book, and by the time I got to Conquest I felt a bit like Bugs Bunny.  By Inferno I was more than satisfied that the lower half would be able to support the torso without buckling, and decided against adding any of my outdated 40K rulebooks.
 
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I took one last picture before running off to work - a scale comparison with Canis Leto and Fraterrus Tertius.
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  • 2 weeks later...

It felt like progress slowed to a crawl over the holiday weekend, but two more major subassemblies have been completed:

 

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I initially toyed with a split grey/yellow hazard stripe theme, but after a few coats of yellow I felt that it was far too much surface area for such a bright color.  I settled on just grey and green.  The new model mostly lacks the banding that's present in the previous incarnation, but I try to pick out the gold border whenever possible to stay true to it.

 

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I like the contrast of the glowing... whatever that is, against the dirty metal.  I still shy away from gratuitous use of transfers, but I added a few yellow warning triangles from the Skitarii transfer sheet to the capacitors and their cable connection points.  I would not want to be anywhere near a charged capacitor of that size.

 

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The business end of the Belicosa volcano cannon.  The lenses are finished in the same HAL 9000 dull red glow as my other AdMech models.  The previous incarnation mirrors the traditional armament of the EPIC model - one volcano cannon, one macrogatling blaster.   I didn't have any options this time around and, while dual volcano cannons will come in handy during matches, I'm hoping to expand the armoury in the future.

 

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I have a standard method for mounting Titan-scale banners, using magnetic jewelry clasps and jump rings.  This time I'm going to be a bit fancier, inserting an aquiline suspension bar between the banner pole and the chain.

 

The banners for the previous model were mounted to the arm armor plates.  This was because the macrogatling blaster did not have a good mounting point further down the arm, due to  the rotating barrel assembly, and this was the only area that allowed for symmetrical mounting on both arms.  The new model does not suffer from this constraint, so I've moved the mount point to the midpoint of the volcano cannon barrel.

 

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Work is continuing on the banners and other extraneous details.  I've also started on the carapace weapons.  The weapons all need to be finished before the shoulders, as there's a specific order for fit-testing and adjustment, but I'm definitely procrastinating on the torso.  I've been circling that maelstrom for a few weeks now and I know that, once I start, I won't be coming back up for air for a long while.

Edited by CommodusXIII
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This past week was very productive.  I've completed a number of smaller subprojects, mostly to procrastinate on tackling the torso superstructure.  The list is rapidly running out...

 

One concept introduced with the Imperial Knight and AdMech lines is the maker plate.  This is the AdMech version of the VIN plate, and a few different transfers exist across the various sheets that GW has produced.  However, all of them are labeled with existing Forge Worlds - Mars or Metalica, mostly.  I might have made do with a Lucius plate, if such a thing existed.  I considered requesting a custom transfer from Carlson's fantastic College of Arms service (which I've previously used on other projects) but it felt like overkill for such a trivial detail.
 
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The first attempt is on the left.  I carved this plate from a 28mm Sector Mechanicus base.  I wasn't too happy with the paint job, and it wasn't detailed enough for me.
 
The final version is to the right  This plate was taken from the Ferratonic Furnace set.  It still lacks some of the traditional detail, such as any Forge World name, but it captures the overall look.  I enjoy the texture of a physical plate over a flat transfer.
 
Further research after the fact proved that this was not an original idea - the Reaver Titan model has something similar, but with less AdMech flair, between its exhaust ports.  Oh well.
 
On a similar theme, recent announcements include a new Genestealer Cult Aberrant.  I'm eying the 40K-style radiation hazard sign that it's holding for Lux Aeterna's reactor, and maybe near the glowing bits on its volcano cannons.  Little splashes of yellow will help make up for the relative lack of hazard striping.
 
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The carapace weapon loadout of dual turbolaser destructors matches both the previous incarnation and the classic EPIC model.  This is actually my preferred choice, compared to the dual laser blasters of the Forge World model.  In 40K, the turbolaser exchanges 1D3 shots for 6 more Strength.  That only really makes a difference when dealing with Dreadnought to Knight equivalents, but I do like the idea of packing a stronger punch.
 
Adepticon Titanicus is the target game system, though, and here the turbolaser and laser blaster share the same Strength.  However, the turbolaser exchanges 1 shot for 33% more range.  That puts it at the same range as the volcano cannons, meaning that Lux Aeterna will be able to stay at a healthy distance without compromising its effectiveness.  This is a marked difference from running Canis Leto, which had to use its speed to close distance in order to inflict any damage.  I'm looking forward to the more relaxed change of pace.
 
That being said, the current ruleset will very likely be scrapped in favor of adapting the new Adeptus Titanicus ruleset post-release.  So, I'll have to reconsider all of my tactics.
 
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Here's a size comparison between a scrap Warhound turbolaser and the carapace weapon of the previous incarnation.  You can see that the new version is still oversize, but much closer to the "real" weapon and much more detailed than the old version.  The difference in finish is also apparent - the new model is much more dark and dirty than the old.
 
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Finally, work has also progressed on the waist actuators.  I had to give some serious though on how to actually mount them to the waist, but inspiration struck late last night and this is the result.  Two lengths of thick plastic tubing per side pin them in place for the moment.  Once the model nears completion I'll epoxy them in place permanently.  I might also change out the plastic tubing for brass, as if the tubing itself snaps then there won't be a good way to repair the damage.  The Warlord is still somewhat wasp-waisted, but no more than the Forge World model or the Imperial Knights.

 

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I mentioned in the previous update that I'd changed the color scheme of the arm armor.  It was a necessity due to the topography of the new design, but I do miss the hazard striping.  It turns out that the new waist actuator armor has the same panel design as the old arm armor, so I did get to keep this little detail after all.

 

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So that's it for this week.  I'm beginning to chip away at the torso itself, but will sidetrack myself with a significant redesign to match the Forge World model.  That involves a good deal of collaboration and, of course, waiting for bits.

Edited by CommodusXIII
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It's christening day!

 

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Another detail that I've borrowed from Abnett's Imperius Dictatio is adding each Titan's name to its shoulders.  I used 5/16" styrene letters for the previous incarnation - fortunately, I had ordered a second set to account for possible mistakes.  They're still the perfect size for the new model.

 

In the past I've always eyeballed the spacing and alignment, with mixed results.  Today I finally sat down and measured everything out.  Now both sides will be level and square with each other.

 

A nice feature of the new model is that the shoulder trim has a similar cog pattern to my Lucius-pattern Warhound - you'll see this when it's painted.  Little details like this pull the Legio into a cohesive whole.

 

EDIT:  I was a little more productive today that I thought that I'd be, so here you go:

 

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I tried to keep the same grey patch as the previous version, and fortunately the texture of the new model aligned with that shape relatively well.  The plan right now is to paint all of the remaining parts separately, assemble, and finally wash the entire torso at the same time.  This should allow for a consistent shade, and avoid visible seams.  I'll continue to assess this as I get farther along - I also don't want to end up with areas that I can't reach with the wash brush, like behind the head.

Edited by CommodusXIII
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I've always had a soft spot for the Lucius designs, which may be obvious.  Some of that is due to the timing of my entry into the hobby - I built my first army somewhat early on into 3rd Edition, and at the time the Lucius pattern was the new hotness in EPIC.  That appears to have been a passing (but long-running) fad, and I feel a certain amount of nostalgia for the design.
 
The other thing that really sets it apart, to me, is the general aesthetic philosophy.  While the resurgent Mars-pattern is very architectural, the Lucius-pattern is very industrial.  Functional.  It has its share of facades and ornamentation, but at its core the Lucius-pattern is brutally efficient.  I guess that appeals to me as an engineer.
 
Because of this brutality, the Lucius-pattern doesn't need to be as smooth, clean or symmetrical as the Mars-pattern.  There's a certain amount of freedom there.  It also opens the door to some Blanchian possibilities.  While not necessarily 40K artwork - to be honest, I don't know the artists or backstory behind them - these two illustrations have lately been very inspirational to me:
 
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One image that I've been building in my mind regards the very top of the Warlord.  Descriptions in Titanicus and other sources refer to vox antennas, communication vanes, etc. - particularly regarding their fragility.  I'd added a simple antenna to the previous incarnation simply as extraneous detail.  This time I want to go a little farther.  I picture the new model as bristling with antennas, sensors, etc.  Something similar to the hovercraft designs of The Matrix.
 
Not only does the Titan need to see the world around it, and to maintain communication with its fellow engines, I also see it as being a major beacon for Adeptus Mechanicus ground forces.  The Onager Dunecrawler is depicted as being a node for communications/commands of the controlling Tech-Priests to the Skitarii.  I could see a Titan serving the same purpose on a larger scale.  Maybe some of the vanes also serve as lightning rods for discharges from the void shields under load - now there's a thought that bears further examination...
 
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I scavenged the necessary bits from the a variety of kits, including the Onager Dunecrawler, Landspeeder Storm, Storm Talon, and Repulsor.  Experience with my Skitarii has taught me that, for the sake of my own sanity, such fine details must be soft-mounted with magnets.  I've spent untold hours hunting down and re-gluing broken antennas on my Dunecrawlers, and Lux Aeterna will likely experience even rougher conditions.

 

The plan right now is to mount them in a variety of locations.  The previous incarnation had a single vox mast between its shoulder humps.  I'm eyeing the same location, as well as the tops of the humps themselves and perhaps tucked up underneath the carapace near the arm mounts.

Edited by CommodusXIII
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