Hi all, one of the little side projects I have been working on is nearing completion and I thought it was time to share where I am up to.

I only saw this concept recently and was blown away by it (scuse the pun...) and I was interested to find that there were very few builds of it done around the net (that I could find at least), so I set to work.

Sorry I didn't take any wip shots, but here it is at about 90% complete. Just need to sort some issues with the rider and do the foot bars.

Just to be clear, the concept is not mine!







Would love to have some feedback, and any ideas for colour scheme would be appreciated!

Thanks all.

D

Nicely executed from the concept art. The one thing I would consider adding is foot pegs. As for a color scheme, i would either use the same scheme used on the tanks in the army or perhaps something along the lines of what any stealth suits in the army have for a scheme.

Ixajin

This is the best execution of the sniper-bike I've seen so far. Did you make it symetrical? I'd paint it like a cream-cicle; orange, white, and bleached bone, with racing stripes and a couple tau numbers.

Wow this is awesome.
It's so true to the concept and sketch and especially the second image captures the dynamic perfectly!
simply great!

Thank for the feedback guys!

I found the guys name that did the concepts, I think he does a lot of them for GW - Roberto Cirillo, brilliant stuff.

Ixajin - thanks man, the foot rests are coming soon, just gotta think of the style. The Tau force I have was done a long time ago and was basically the sandy colour of the standard sept. Wanted to try something different on this one.

Bill - thanks mate, and you may kid about the racing stripes, but I was actually thinking of classic American car type styling on this...

Klaus - Thanks mate, I was trying to keep the thing as close to the sleek look as possible, some aras could have been a little better but hey, every day is a school day right!

D

I am 100% serious about the racing stripe. I think tau styling lends itself well to race-car aesthetics. Formula one race cars in particular. :thumbup:

Admittedly, racing stripes on this would look good. I say go for it!

Ixajin

Wow, very impressive!

I was just wondering, since I struggle with the Eldar shapes myself,
what material and techniques did you use to make the gun/mainbody?

Thanks Mercutio, on this one it was just really plastic card and some block section that I had lying around.

I think it was actually from a DIY/Hardware store.

For the main straight gun section, was a case of filing down to get the size I wanted and then adding on the details to a seperate piece of thin plasticard.

the curved arch over the drone, was formed from 2 sections of square rod plastic stacked on top of each other, glued and when still setting bent over a former and clamped for a while. After that, add in the bottom section to get this sort of profile L. Leave that to set, and then fill with some squadron putty and sand, sand, sand.

The seat and rear part was made from some bent and then crimped alluminium rod.

Hope that made some sense...hehehehe

D

OK, so been a long time in posting but am moving house soon and most stuff is being/is packed already. So can only get to what’s on my desk really.

After some feedback, there was something not quite right about the gunner/pilot position. As commented, he looked like he was falling off!

Sorry, not the best picture in the world, but was in a rush this morning, will get some better ones later!



So, made the sadle with some GS, altered the stem that was the support and I think he sits much better now. Closer to the concept drawing at least.

I have also gs’d his arms after raising them on the body a little and have removed his hands. These will be rebuilt along with the handles. I felt it would be easier. Left his backpack off, and made the stub into something lighter and a little more scouty!

D

That is much better indeed. He is lying more flat now (At least, as far as I can see from this angle)

Are you planning to make a mold so you can cast several more of them? This model would be a perfect piece on the table.

Great job.

If you were (of the non-GW parts of course), I would buy some.

Radical drone conversion kit type of thing.

Thanks for the feeback guys, appreciated.

I would really love to mold these, but a few things get in the way...

1. It's not really my concept, so there are some IP issues there
2. I suck at casting!
3. Costs
4. I suck at casting!
5. The build may not be neat enough for anything other than a model for me. If that makes sense. A certain level is required if you are going to charge for it and I don't think that this one has it.

If I were to make one for casting, I would probably do it slightly differently. I would have made more of an effort as regards the vents etc. and found someone to brass etch them or something.

Also, the pilot is a substantial conversion, and whilst not too hard, I don't know if you market something that was largely incomplete?

But then again, you never know... It would be ace to see a unit of these things prowling through a city scape!

D

Well, you’re honest, but besides the slightly uneven vent lines and couple of rough spots, this could truly be a model sold by GW.

hahaha...if I can't critique my own work properly, then who can!

Seriously tho, thanks man, means a lot coming from a master builder like you.

OK, as promised, the better shots. Also, have added the start of the flight controls in here, but they may be too far away…hmmm







Also, man, macro shots are not your friend! Everything looks rough as a bears bum on these shots!

I am really considering removing that grill in the side. The more I stare at the thing, the more it SCREAMS out at me to do something with it…

D

It's a great execution of the concept art. I'm not sure I like the flying gun look. Great build and I say leave the vents on the side, they look good.

Can't knock a flying gun!

I will take it to primer stage and maybe some paint and see if I can't tone down the wobbly lines on the vent... I may just pigment it to look a little smoke stained.

D

Haha, I am flattered. Did you know my Dutch surename is Bouwmeester. In English it Literally means buildmaster. (I’m not joking)

Paint can often mean a big difference. I wouldn’t remove the vents either.

Seriously or are you pulling my leg with that one...?

hehehehe.

D

Haha, nope, that's my real name: "Remco Bouwmeester" ;) "Bouwmeester" is in fact a architect, but if you translate it literally it's a build master.

Awesome! See I was right! Master Builder!

D

Still not as cool as Staff Sergeant Max Fightmaster.

hahaha...is that for real!?

That is a cool super hero name! GI Joe stylee!

Dragunov,
I don't think you give yourself enough credit.
Your work is awesome as always. This is really close to the original design.. wow. very cool... Ya to bad about sucking at casting and sucking at casting as I would love one.. ^_^

Oh and the IP laws and all.
Although..... :scratch:

Nah... Great job though. Now did you decide how your going to paint it?
And when can we see it painted.

Great work
:thumbup:



And ya that is pretty funny.. That Sgt. should be a Drill Sergeant or something.
Drill Instructor Max Fightmaster.. he will kill you if you don't listen to him.. :D

Remco is a brand name in the US for cheap knock off wacky inventions.

Like the concept, would this be a railgun along the lines of the broadside suits? Give it the move of a Piranha? What would be your take on a set of rules for this?

Also, look at some sport bikes and see the little faired bit on the superbikes that is behind the rider. I love how this looks Dragunov. I am seeing this with twin burst guns or plasmas as well. Or even just calling it the master sniper ride with the threee sniper drones coming along for more ranged fun!

Thanks guys, all modelling on hold for a few weeks yet I think until I can get my work area set up again.

Not even really thought about a rules set for this tbh, I don't think of it as a railgun tho, doesn't have the same feel as the broadside or even the pathfinder ones. So, dunno really where it would fit in!

I could see some little spotter drones hanging around with him, something smaller than the basic drone with more advanced targeting systems onboard, fed to the main display. Maybe even a targeting matrix style thing?

D

It looks like an over-sized pulse rifle. Too bad the term pulse cannon is already taken.

Taken by who? Did I miss something?

I think it's a star wars thing isn't it?

D

It could be. I thought it was something the Tau had that I wasn't aware of.