In case you were wondering, some of the parts to make my groovy Rough Riders were sculpted by Rob at Curious Constructs.

Sunday 6 April 2014

Taurox Conversion: Lowering ya ride, part 2

This is a pictorial log of my attempt to lower a Taurox and in doing so improve the overall look of the model (if that is possible). If you haven't checked out Part One,  please do so here.

As a refresher, the dodgy photo-shopped image on the left is my target and the original is on the right.   

In part one I tackled the fount tracks and now I was up to the back tracks. I wanted to raise these higher so they were in line with my cut down front tracks. To start with I cut the back 'gear box' section out (as I did on the front).


On to the side panels...
This is how the side panel looks normally.
I was going to have to cut this guard off to so the tracks could sit higher.
Looking form the inside
And all cut!
Next I needed to cut out part of the side panel to remount the guard higher up.
Here it is blue tacked in place.
The distance between the track and guard looked about right.
Looking from the inside.
The other side done.
I needed to fill in the gap so I cut two pieces of plastic sheet to the right shape. It was a tough call whether to mount the sheet on the inside or outside. In the end I decided on the outside because they would be hidden by the tacks. This meant I didn't cover up the inside detail as well. 



With the sheet cut and glued the rest of the build was pretty standard. 

Here it is partly built. Most of the parts are just sitting in place so that I could see the overall shape of my new look Taurox.
It still needs all its guns, accessories and turret/missals rack.
The track haven't been glued in which is why they are sitting crooked. 
Checking against my photo-shopped plans, I have managed to come pretty close.


And the originals to judge the difference:

There is obviously still more to do on it but that is the basic build and conversion work done! 

Thoughts?

21 comments:

  1. A huge improvement over the GW original. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your totally welcome Doug. I’m looking forward to seeing what other people come up with too.

      Delete
  2. Nice work - looks 100x better.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Odie. I’m reminded that 100 X 0 is still 0, so I'm glad the kit has some redeeming features! LOL

      Delete
  3. Coo - it looks an awful lot meaner!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And a lot less dappy.

      We'll see who is first with the aftermarket wheel conversion....

      Delete
    2. Cheers Boys! It should look even meaner decked out with guns too!
      Zzzzzz, I hope people do come out with an aftermarket conversion for this guy. The kit has some really nice elements. Not everyone wants to launch into their own conversions so an aftermarket job would help increase this chaps popularity.

      Delete
    3. Zinge Industries have already done one.

      Delete
  4. Replies
    1. Thanks Mord! It was a gamble investing some of my hobby funds into this one. Now I've looked at it so much I'm too ‘close’ to decide whether it is any better, so I appreciate the positive comments.

      Delete
  5. I've decided that the GW one looks like an Orky battlewaggon that has been looted by the iggies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Trading roles hey? Maybe we need to build some Catachans with looted Ork wargear and clothing. Then replace the banner with an imperial boss pole.

      I heard someone suggest that the designers considered what the Ork Trukk would have been converted from. I didn't think the designers considered anything.

      Delete
  6. Arn't you modeling for advantage

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No he's trying to make an horrible model look less horrible.

      Delete
    2. Are you suggesting that dropping a vehicle by 6mm is my game winning strategy? I think not. I don't play in tournaments so I don't take these things into account. Although I can't see how it would be an advantage. If I had a 2.5" piece of terrain, previously my turret would have poked over the top for a quick shot or two, but now I have lost line of sight. So it is not all advantages.

      Anyway, the one point that makes this all mute is that I'm currently adding detail to the top which will make the kit even higher then it was before. Advantage lost. Model slightly less horrible... possibly. ;)

      Delete
    3. PLEASE tell us you're going to add a MASSIVE spoiler

      Delete
    4. Yes, I think that any modification to the Taurox, hiding it under a washing up powder box, smashing it with a hammer, or altering it in some way, is a definite advantage.

      Delete
    5. Drax: OMG don't tempt me! That would be seriously funny and should earn it +1" to each movement.

      Zzzzzz: I'd like to see some one just rock up to play you with melted clumps of plastic and say "oh yeah, the are my Taurox's"

      Delete
  7. How's it coming along? Is it finished? It turned out a gazillion times better than the original! A very creative way of improving a pig of a kit.

    Well done :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers man, I did do some more on it but never got around to painting it.
      http://macharianthunderguard.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/teuton-scions-and-taurox-wip.html

      Delete
    2. Cheers man, I did do some more on it but never got around to painting it.
      http://macharianthunderguard.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/teuton-scions-and-taurox-wip.html

      Delete