[The_Blackadder]

A Week's Worth Of Labor:

That this rate I'm wondering if my estimate of another year in the making is a trifle optimistic.

https://i.imgur.com/I539NPV.jpg

 

[The_Blackadder]

A Week's Worth Of Labor:

That this rate I'm wondering if my estimate of another year in the making is a trifle optimistic.

https://i.imgur.com/I539NPV.jpg

 

[The_Blackadder]

Annihilator Muzzle:

I bit the bullet today and expanded the muzzle channels to what I believe is the proper width and depth.

Here seen in the original which is too cramped and closed in. Note I also have made allowances to extend the length of the muzzle.

https://i.imgur.com/JMqUhMZ.jpg

The muzzle ( temporarily ) installed now appears to have enough room for all the detail although I still have to jimmee the length a bit.

https://i.imgur.com/HqQ93BH.jpg

End on although crudely sanded at this point and a tad asymetrical

https://i.imgur.com/e3hwYvT.jpg

The top view reveals I glued the muzzle upside down and which in spite of all my efforts has a distinct mirror asymmetry.

https://i.imgur.com/p5EHFmk.jpg

Coil Channel detail in place and ready for fine detailing.

https://i.imgur.com/Ss3xWjI.jpg

 

[The_Blackadder]

Establishing the Profile:

I remove the muzzle to work on it and reattach it for the images.

My first consideration is the muzzle length which should be about half the length of the coil section. I can extend it about 8 more millimeters if needs be hence the excess on the nose of the muzzle.

https://i.imgur.com/6hFW20K.jpg

One problem with the shape of this is the templates I have installed to make the exterior form will have to be broken out after the outer cowl is completed so I can build the inner surface of the four cowl pieces.

https://i.imgur.com/80BM2Ds.jpg

This end on shape gives some idea of the interior structure once the templates are broken out.

https://i.imgur.com/aLjohFZ.jpg

I can't wait until this monster is done and I can relax with the easier weapons.

 

[The_Blackadder]

Establishing the Profile:

I remove the muzzle to work on it and reattach it for the images.

My first consideration is the muzzle length which should be about half the length of the coil section. I can extend it about 8 more millimeters if needs be hence the excess on the nose of the muzzle.

https://i.imgur.com/6hFW20K.jpg

One problem with the shape of this is the templates I have installed to make the exterior form will have to be broken out after the outer cowl is completed so I can build the inner surface of the four cowl pieces.

https://i.imgur.com/80BM2Ds.jpg

This end on shape gives some idea of the interior structure once the templates are broken out.

https://i.imgur.com/aLjohFZ.jpg

I can't wait until this monster is done and I can relax with the easier weapons.

 

[The_Blackadder]

A Horrible Bollixed Up Mess:

Or, who knows, this just might work out after all.

https://i.imgur.com/Pl4cvpI.jpg

I've put a lot of work into this thing and it's finally time to apply the finishing strakes. Each one has to be custom fit but we'll follow this together.

Right Now I am cautiously optimistic. ;-)

 

[The_Blackadder]

That Wasn't So Hard:

I don't know why I dreaded this, it wasn't so hard.

I figured out the secret of layering strakes ( Contoured planks on a frame ) and where I have previously gone awry with this sort of construction. What you need to do is install backing strips to the inner surface of the main planks so you have something to glue the filler planks.

Previously I attempted to add the filler planks without backing. I used 1,0 MM X 6.3 MM styrene for the planking which moulded easily but was still thick enough to take a finishing sanding.

https://i.imgur.com/GJbJxNz.jpg

The image above shows the upper nose segment rough sanded and the lower segment with the plans in the rough unsanded stage.

The image below may make the explanation clearer.

https://i.imgur.com/r0ZrGeM.jpg

Once I have the muzzle segments completely rough sanded I'll wet sand the whole cowling.

I never use filler such as Greenstuff and Milliput because it looks like hell ( Especially the Green Stuff ) and you have difficulty gluing additional styrene to the foreign surface. Plus flaws in the contours are difficult to see until the surface is painted.

Anyway, "Onward and upward" as the saying goes I'm quite pleased with the result.

 

[The_Blackadder]

Rough Sanding Completed:

The business end of this construct is reaching fruition

https://i.imgur.com/yvyPN5f.jpg

Space Marine Provided for scale

https://i.imgur.com/9c3Mhe4.jpg

A couple of more layers and I'll be ready to remove the templates.

https://i.imgur.com/EZA696X.jpg

But I don't like these new light bulbs. Why is everything yellow?

 

[The_Blackadder]

Rough Sanding Completed:

The business end of this construct is reaching fruition

https://i.imgur.com/yvyPN5f.jpg

Space Marine Provided for scale

https://i.imgur.com/9c3Mhe4.jpg

A couple of more layers and I'll be ready to remove the templates.

https://i.imgur.com/EZA696X.jpg

But I don't like these new light bulbs. Why is everything yellow?

 

[The_Blackadder]

Template Frames Removed:

From the Muzzle

Which opens up the four highly detailed cowl segments.

https://i.imgur.com/zUwGAKO.jpg

This is where the FW artists prove their mettle. The meticulous detail that no one ever sees in the overall scope but sets their creations apart from run-of-the-mill efforts.

https://i.imgur.com/LpErLTP.jpg

I really cannot wait until FW releases a Warlord Chaos version so I can adequately demonstrate my appreciation by purchasing one.

BTW whatever turned the preceding images yellow has gone away???

 

[The_Blackadder]

When are the moderators going to fix the posting problem?

 

[The_Blackadder]

A Budding Neophyte:

Back in the days when the Blackadder was a budding neophyte he attempted to make a Plasma Blaster for a StormBlade variant. The result was of indifferent quality but I could not figure out a way to make the muzzle cowl long thin exhaust ports.

So today I was faced with the same problem ( Fortunately these are much bigger ) plus I have a wealth of experience to draw on so we shall see how I do.

https://i.imgur.com/ekQR0U4.jpg

I laid the groundwork for these ports and they take about five minutes each to replicate those in the screen above.

At this point we needn't worry about the length and the slight bowing of the 0.040 inch strips. I need 12 of these of exact length.

 

[The_Blackadder]

Bogged Down On Minutia

These bits are time consuming

https://i.imgur.com/pelIe6R.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/dwzqeHN.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/a09Up8I.jpg

 

[The_Blackadder]

I keep getting messages that I have to wait 30 seconds before I can post. I wait the 30 seconds and attempt again and the same message pops up even though I am attempting only one time. It's been this way for over a week and I cannot update my thread. When will this problem be corrected?

 

[The_Blackadder]

Disappointing:

To say the least but it's good to show your failures occasionally lest you become too full of yourself.

https://i.imgur.com/7pkSCnG.jpg

I think I am getting tired of replicating this weapon The above image of the er whatever this is and the image below which I thought would be so cool just didn't come out as I had hoped.

https://i.imgur.com/NLDhzIT.jpg

With the two components installed and the elevation spool temporarily in place

https://i.imgur.com/lkltQQE.jpg

I can only mutter "Meh!" Not even good enough for Gov'ment work.

Faa!

 

[The_Blackadder]

What I Meant By Disappointing: (I wasn't fishing for compliments)

I suppose I should explain what I meant by disappointing but something did not look right about the panels on either side of the muzzle and the five exhaust ports between the vertical coils. I researched a lot last night and finally found an image that shows where I went wrong. It is irritating that I did not perceive this earlier; D**n!

Note to Jabba,

I had considered clear rod and tubing for the coils including fluorescent weed whip monofilament but could not find a suitable diameter and clear filament made it look too toylike.

These are the best images I have managed to come up with and presumably they are very current as I don't recall seeing them before. The front view shows the heatsinks (Whatever) are slightly convex on either side of the muzzle and the muzzle itself is exquisitely detailed for my purposes Much better than any previous image.

https://i.imgur.com/IW4MQlm.jpg

The rear image shows the five exhaust ports and demonstrates where my error lies. I have mine vertical and the actual ports are inclined toward the rear.

https://i.imgur.com/o17orvM.jpg

I'm still hoping to find detailed unpainted top and bottom images of both the muzzle area and the rear area aft of the coils; areas sorely neglected in images thus far. I also need a view of the back of the weapon.

 

[The_Blackadder]

It's been said that the only reason that people go to Cockroach Races is to see a Cockroach crash.

By extension; the only reason people view my threads is to see me Frak up.

https://i.imgur.com/ZLZmcDD.jpg

Well sorry to disappoint but it ain't gonna happen this day. Today is the first time I have aligned and imaged my Imperator and the never ending Plasma Blaster project together......

https://i.imgur.com/6msMmTC.jpg

( Honest to the God Emperor )

https://i.imgur.com/pBXee9X.jpg

and it seems to be in the right ballpark scale-wise.

Omnissiah be Praised. Genuflect! Genuflect! Hail in Oates.

 

[The_Blackadder]

Time to Take Stock:

I've reached a point where I need to economize on the number of components to duplicate and for the past week I've been thinking of a way to save work on making redundant items and I believe I have come up with a way.

https://i.imgur.com/ZeUtl3H.jpg

The suspender arm disc was labor intensive especially if I have to make one for each weapon variant so below is a removable Mount Disc Component that I will be making for each of the two weapon arms which will facilitate rapid exchange of weapon types with the exception of the CC claw which i am given to understand is not a usual Emperor Titan Weapon anyway.

https://i.imgur.com/lC2lwrG.jpg

I included a scale on the top image, even though it is only 2/3 of it's ultimate dimension, for the convenience of those who have requested a size reference.

 

[The_Blackadder]

Weekend Update:

I had hoped to be further along in the rear mechanisms by now but I ran into a bit of a snag when I realized the the rear section of the weapon expanded further than the surface armour surrounding the mount disk. Since my gun is wider overall than the Warlord weapon I have decided to not expand this section unless I see the overall appeal of the Plasma Blaster is compromised.

https://i.imgur.com/opWDHf4.jpg

Another modification is the rear mount must also be removable and be able to slip onto the mount disk assembly which should pose no problem but was something I had not anticipated.

https://i.imgur.com/xFNOLgE.jpg

Now that that is recognized I can proceed with the actual manufacture of the rear sections.

 

[The_Blackadder]

One Week Later:

It's been a busy week but I managed to fit in a bit of building. The biggest accomplishment is a second Arms Mount section for the other armament items.

https://i.imgur.com/9yj9h3H.jpg

It is a source of irritation to me that each of these disc mount appendages seem dedicated to a particular weapon so hopefully I can circumvent this need for redundancy by making a generic disc and adding a discrete weapons module pack for each weapon I produce. The Discs are really time consuming to make.

https://i.imgur.com/6MMTHmi.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/axub5XT.jpg

So above we have the Plasma Blaster modular assembly that slips together as two pieces and subsequently in the image below the sections installed on the Plasma blaster body......

https://i.imgur.com/InJMOrY.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/G4yHwBI.jpg

Next the Meta Snail module...........