Taurox Conversion: Lowering ya ride, part 1

Knowing that new Guard goodies were on their way I started putting a fund together so I could join in on the Guard loving. Selling a Tau codex and Warhammer Fantasy rulebook ensured that I would have some new toys to play with on release day. 

This morning the new Scions and Taurox hit the stores. Our local GW man, Dion at Warradale, had told me that he only got three Taurox kits in and many people were after are ALL of them. My response was a sarcastic dig at GW as usual. "Three at your store? I was expecting GW to send out a total of three to all of Australia - they must be getting generous these days!"
I set my alarm and got down there at 0800 to make sure I didn't miss out. Being first in line, I managed to grab a Taurox, Scion box and I also pre-ordered the new Guard codex for next week.

On to the Taurox! 

When I first saw the Taurox I thought it was a little 'aesthetically challenged'. Since then it has grown on me but there is still something odd about its proportions. I'd like to get one into my workshop and lower it!

This is what I had in mind: 

-Lowering it by cutting down the front treads and raise the back treads. I think it is as 'sleek' as the ugly transporter will get.

This picture log will remind me of my steps if I decide to tackle another one or three, but also someone out there might like to have a go themselves (or more likely improve on my attempt).

Starting with the front end... cutting down the tracks.

Bottom cut.

Setting up the the top cut.

Top cut done.

One side done.

Both sides done :) 

Normally the shaft slots into the inside of the track like this.

 On my cut-down version I had to trim the insert down to fit.

Tacked together you can see the 8mm gap between the top guard and where the track will be.

To bring the track up I cut out the gearbox.

And cut down the edges of the shafts (the long bit on the sides).

Here is is sitting in place.

Before building the tracks I cut off this inner lip, so the tack links would fit in behind the track guard.

Here are the tracks glued together.

The tracks now sit at about the right hight from the guard above.

 That's the front half done!

Comparing back to my original plan it looks about right. 

I'd still like to tidy the detail up with some green stuff but now on to the back section....