1/2 SS Sandcrawler (R/C)

[MonsieurTox]

Hey guys, while Im working on the Sebulba's pod racer, I need something new and easier to work on after my daily Sebulba's session ( a relaxing build ). I took the sandcrawler as subject, I worked a lot on it by the past and came out with accurate SS blueprints (actually the angle of the rear panel was wrong, we will see it later ). I'm not going to replicate each details, I will just quickly scratch them or used similar parts. That's a quick build, I will not work a lot on it. Only one half will be completed, like the prop. It will be R/C, using HVSS suspensions from 4 Shermans (1/35 of course ). Styrene tracks will be glued on the metal sherman tracks.

I'm trying to build it the same way ILM did.

I spent 3 days on it so far :

As you can see the angle of the rear is off. It has been corrected.


I hope you like.

 

[Less than Super Ostrich]

Great stuff, Tox. It's amazing that you can be so efficient with building. It would take me a year to get where you got in 3 days. Perhaps it would only take me 6 months without 4 young kids!

 

[Beggarsoutpost]

Wow.... this is very cool I can't believe you've only spent 3 days on it so far..can you show some photos of how your doing the panel pieces?.... oh and which book is that on your desk?....

 

[MonsieurTox]

Thanks guys.

Actually Ive started to work on this project almost 2 years ago, collecting kits (1/48 Harrier is the kit to have, Im still looking for a 1/300 Saturn V ) and ref pics, drawing the plans... The building itself took me 3 days to do what you can see because it was easy once the plans are done. It took me more than 20 hours to cut and glue all the panels though ! (and it's not complete, but it will be quick since I do only the starboard size ).

To cut my panels... first I print my plans (reduced by 50% since they are SS), put the sheet with tape on my sheet styrene (0.5mm thick) then cut the printed lines with my X-Acto, easy...). I dont cut them completly, actualy they are just scribed to not lose them... then I "break" the styrene following the lines when I want a panel, sand the lips done by the cutting on the edges, reduce the width and height by 1/10 mm then glue it in place Easy but long !

The book on my desk is The Chronicles.

 

[Bigturc]

You're on to a great start my friend, I figured that if I had to scratch build my first SW prop, that would be the Sandcrawler .. not sure how irrealist this actually is!

I'll follow that thread with great interest...

 

[Nwerke]

That's looking magnificent already. Love the Sandcrawler and will be following your build with much interest.

 

[MonsieurTox]

Thanks guys

Bigturc; actualy this is an easy build. With some maths the angles is easy to nail. The only hard thing is to do all the track by hand ! And if you build it R/C it's even harder but eh that's fun !

I took a break from the panelling job and did the right engine :

And a side shot, the rear side is corrected (we cant see so much the difference in this pic lol actually I corrected the top angle by 6°.)

 

[swfan]

Wow Julien!! Much better scale than the original. Your going to kill this one.

Isel

 

[feek61]

Looking great and I love the Saturn V engine and skirt!!!!!


Will

 

[el loco]

Julien, you are amazing !

Great build up :eek

 

[boodha]

Amazing work

 

[MonsieurTox]

Thanks for your support guys !


Some new pics :
Engines in place for the pic :

Rear panelling job. Actually it took me 12 hours to cut and glue all those panels.

Less wood... more styrene

Today Ive started to work on the top...

Cutting and adding all the strips... You can count them It took me 8 hours :

A pic with my 1/35 R/C King Tiger. I will use its electronic, motors and gear box. I will use two of them for my Sandcrawler :

Hope you like guys !

 

[ralphee]

Homage bump, for one of the most amazing scratchbuilders around today and such a fantastic build up, she's wonderful bro!

lee

 

[Apophis]

That is really cool Julien!!!!!

 

[idonutn0]

Looks great so far, cant wait to see it finished.

 

[zorg]

that is very impressive, nice clean lines and sharp detailing :thumbsup

z

 

[MonsieurTox]

Many thanks guys Some updates !

 

[ralphee]

Daddy i want a Sandcrawler tooooo, Bro, thats rocks, seriously!

lee

 

[hollywoodhardware]

Your a panel scribing animal!!!eek:eek Awesome!

Thomas

 

[MonsieurTox]

Lol bro, come here to get it ! :lol

Thanks Thomas, actually that's not scribbing, I cut each panel then I glued them on the hull like they did on the prop !