My take on scratchbuilding Games Workshop models.

[Davey]

Here's the first part of my Chimera. It's not done yet. So far I've spent about two hours on it or so in NX.

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg62 ... pbody4.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg62 ... pbody5.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg62 ... pbody6.jpg

And with the construction geometry unhidden...
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg62 ... pbody3.jpg

This part's still unfinished, but I'm going to export .stls of these files, then rapid-prototype the models using our rapid prototyper to create master patterns, and duplicate them using a resin casting kit to create my own. Since all of it's done by me and it's not a copy of the GW design, it's all perfectly legal. I don't think they'll let me join tournaments, though, but it'll be fun to build these and I could probably save a bit of money while I'm at it.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Feedback?

[Frank Hipper]

Looks really nice, but are you sure about saving money?

[Stark]

That's pretty awesome. It's funny to think this is actually cheaper, as Hipper says.

[Davey]

Thanks guys.

Yup, it's cheaper. A Games Workshop kit costs forty bucks, and that adds up quite a bit when you'll need about five or six if you want to run a fully mechanized Imperial Guard division, like I do. Because I like tanks, I'll probably be building the majority of my 40k army this way. Based on my calculations I only need to make two Chimeras to break even, and eighty dollars will get me enough casting supplies to make enough kits to make a good lot of them. The school's rapid prototyper and its ABS cartridges have already been paid for.

It's about four hundred dollars for a genuine Forge World Baneblade, and I don't like the look of the Games Workshop plastic kit, so I'm going to be working on those when I finish the other projects I've started, including the Leman Russ and its variants. I want to build a couple and field a few Steel Fury companies in games of Warhammer 40k: Apocalypse Shopocalypse. The other thing is that I can use these models for conversion, painting, and testing, and I won't need to worry about trashing expensive commercially produced kits.

Here's an update. This is a seven-piece assembly (two of the pieces are hidden and you can't see them in this). These are screenshots right from NX.
Wireframe:
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg62 ... opbody.jpg

Isometric:
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg62 ... pbody2.jpg

Top:
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg62 ... pbody4.jpg

Underside:
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg62 ... pbody3.jpg

There are slight differences in my version, and some Games Workshop parts will not fit on it- I'm doing this as a precaution, just so they know it's not a direct copy. But with that in mind, I'm also designing it to accomodate several Forge World upgrades and conversions, so I'll get the best of both worlds.

[Lord Relvenous]

Very cool. Are you using a model for reference or just pictures? Also, I have a hard time finding differences between the Forgeworld Baneblade and the plastic kit. Are there any major differences?

[Davey]

Very cool. Are you using a model for reference or just pictures?

Thanks! Yup, I'm using an unpainted, unassembled model for reference. I use a digital Machinist's caliper to do the measurements.

Also, I have a hard time finding differences between the Forgeworld Baneblade and the plastic kit. Are there any major differences?

Yup. The Games Workshop plastic kits are a few inches or so longer. Their main gun is also a good deal smaller in calibre, their hull cannon is smaller and also in a ball mount, and they look a good deal more archaic and are completely covered in rivets. The sponson guns can also be removed or moved forward or backward. The engine exhaust stacks are a lot smaller to accomodate a little shrine at the back, and they feature little gothic viewports.

Although a bunch of people I've met on the Internet like these changes, I think the extras are a bit gaudy; I prefer the cleaner lines and crisp, no-nonsense but obviously very 40k-ish, utilitarian look and great big battle cannon and demolisher of the Mars and Lucius-Pattern Baneblades produced by Forge World. So, naturally, I'll build something along those lines, similarly sized, but with my own unique touches. My plan is to buy one of the Baneblades Forge World produces, measure it to build the CAD model (and in doing so, the master patterns, molds, and finished Baneblades), and either keep and assemble it for the collectibility factor, or sell it on Ebay to recover a bit of the losses. If I need to, I may try to use our measurement and inspection lab to do the measuring, once they teach us how to use the machinery.

Building all these Baneblades will be fun, I can tell you that.

[JointStrikeFighter]

So while your at it are you going to do a few sensible things like NOT ADD SPONSONS It's looking a good chunk like a SPACE BRADLEY ATM

[Hawkwings]

more guns = better tank

Where's that motivator when you need it?

Hope this turns out great for you! Show up to your games with like 12 Chimeras and a fat wallet and totally blow the minds of all those suckers that bought their models.

[Lord Relvenous]

So after your post, Davey, I compared my GW Baneblade to the Forgeworld Baneblade. You're right there are quite a few differences. However, I'm one of those people who enjoy the GW Baneblade. Lucky for me, I guess. I'm excited to see your work on it.

Make sure that you don't sell any of them, though. GW can be very finnicky about their IP. Though you are making exact copies, they could still try to hit you with a lawsuit if you tried to make a profit from it.

Good luck, make sure you post pictures of all your work.

[loomer]

That is hugely cool. Once you've made a few of the extant models, are you going to try and combine various aspects of them to make custom designs (obviously basically completely non-tournament compliant) like a chimera mounting a Baneblade cannon, for the sheer hilarity of it?