Star Wars Hover Tank HT421

norscout

Member
Model makers, I've been wanting to build a model of my HT421 Hover Tank I designed nearly a decade ago. I may have time to start a build this summer and want to see if any of you awesome Star Wars replica model makers may be interested in helping me develop this hover tank concept into a detailed & well defined scale model?
Norscout.RPF.021_HT421.jpg


I'm inspired by the amazing SW replica work on here & all the ILM models but I'm more a concept modeler and like building models of my designs. It'd be fun to work on a team build again, it's been awhile. Here's what I'm thinking:

A. I can production design / art direct: generate concept art, sketches, drawings, 3D models, scale blueprints and patterns of the core structure, along with team input. Plus maintain the overall build files and ensure everyone has the info they need to build on. It could be fun to have additional makers on a team like:
B. A lead model maker with lots of SW replica build experience who can ensure we build with best practices to the highest standards, help work out detailing and assist with managing the overall build team coordination.
C. A few sub-assembly modelers who can focus on specific areas of the model; build on the general concept, perhaps utilize existing kits and help finalize the actual model part designs. For instance C1: A "Wing Section" model-maker and C2: A Rear Engine Area model-maker.
D. An Armament modeler to handle the details of the 4 Guns; how to make them awesome and best incorporate them into the overall tank concept.
E. A 3D printing specialist who can handle printing detail parts. and or maybe someone with good molding and casting XP.
Then we create our Hover Tank Platoon; everyone on the build team can share elements and we all make and have our own HT421 concept model.

Please let me know if you may be interested in helping with this project.
 
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Figuring out scale with some bounding box volumes. 1/48th may be a good start for an overall model volume of about 14" long, 11" wide x 5.25" tall & overall display volume of about 15"L x 11.5"W x 7"T (Base longer & wider than model limits). Ya' think? Any suggestions or recs?
RPF.Norscout_HT421_021D.jpg
 
Helps to always throw in a cylinder representing a 180cm (6ft) tall humanoid too to scale assets accordingly.
 
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Anyone want a new modeling design project to solve this weekend!? ;)
A good sw detailer / designer can knock this wing section out quick.
HT421_WingSection_3Dviews.jpg

I'm working on blocking out the main shapes, dimensioning and designing the internal structure. I could just 3D model this entire thing and print it all, but that's not as fun. I want and need a freestyle scratch build project to get me off of computers and back hand building in the shop! Plus I don't own a 3D printer yet. Styrene, brass or plastic tube & some kit parts should work well.
I'm looking to keep it simple, loose, fast & fun.

Here are the basic dimensions for the wing section from my block in (in inches with way too many decimal points). The entire wing sub-assembly will be mirrored for the other side.
This is just a rough block in guide, final parts need to fit close to this. Are you up for detail designing this wing assembly section..?
HT421_WingSection_Dims.jpg

HT421_WingSection_Rotate30.jpg
 
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Cutting & gluing plastic, listening to a podcast:

“(on Sandcrawler) Let’s just build that engine and get those plates on... and pretty soon it became.., it just made the transition from art department to model real quickly.

(on drafting blueprints) ... we totally dispensed of that aspect of it. It just wasn’t necessary. We could go from a Joe Johnston sketch to a model instantaneously.

And from figuring out all the planes and angles and everything.., from taking two dimensional art to three dimensional art, that was our job. You know”.

- Lorne Peterson. The Filmumentiares Podcast #49.
 
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