Thunderbird Sidewinder scratch build

[Muzza]

This vehicle always intrigued me on how it would work in the real world if not held up with puppet strings.
Out of all the Thunderbird models available this one is very hard to find and even harder in a large scale, so I am going to give it a crack.

 

[KevinD]

Good luck. I've often been tempted to have a go. I think the original was largely card!

 

[Muzza]

I have started building this monster out of foam board 6mm / 1/4".
Made a pattern and traced it out. I am using Evergreen to line the edges of the body.
the top I mad a cut running the length of the body and bent it into shape giving it the raised look on the top.

 

[Aku]

Yes. I think the arms were stacked paper or cake tins. Is this going to be studio scale??

Do I see some Dapol bridge parts there on the table

 

[Muzza]

Yes. I think the arms were stacked paper or cake tins. Is this going to be studio scale??

Do I see some Dapol bridge parts there on the table

I will not be building it studio scale as I would guess it would be huge I think 400mm wide and 2m long.
I am working on another project with the bridge parts.

 

[Muzza]

Adding the round window holes along the side of the vehicle.
I used some 6mm / 1/4" rivets for the holes.
Plus I made the side gun in placements with the three windows installed.

 

[KevinD]

The rivets are clever and effective. Interested in how you are going to do the arms. I'd thought about thimbles or maybe even dolls house plant pots depending on scale.

 

[Muzza]

The rivets are clever and effective. Interested in how you are going to do the arms. I'd thought about thimbles or maybe even dolls house plant pots depending on scale.

I was thinking of 3D printing the arms. The legs are another story.

 

[Muzza]

Made the rear fins out of Foam board, cut and shaped with a sander

Made a mould box so I can get two resin ones.

Mould made from urethane rubber.

 

[Muzza]

Making the rear Atomic Engine vents I first mad a mould using the foam board, it is easy to glue and carve onto shape.

Using my Vacuum former I was able to make two vents.

I trimmed them and filled the inside of the vent with more foam board to give it a large area to stick to the model. I set back some mesh at the intake of the vent and painted ans dry brushed it before gluing to the model.

 

[Muzza]

Making the leg of the Sidewinder machined aluminium out of Hex bar fitter with a fiber glass rod.
As I am casing all the legs this one is the pattern for the mold. the fiber glass rod will give the model stability when mounted as I will have the rod pass through the foot and glue it into the base.

 

[Muzza]

Finished the detail on the bottom to hold the arms.

 

[Muzza]

Testing the fitting of the claw. Using 3D printed buckets pined.

 

[webbox100]

This is looking FAB, Muzza. Hope there'll be more updates!

 

[Muzza]

This is looking FAB, Muzza. Hope there'll be more updates!

Yes there will be more updates, I am just waiting on more enthusiasm to get it completed as other projects have caught my eye.

 

[SCUDMAN]

The metal eyelets are a great idea. I will have to keep that in mind for a future project. Thank you for sharing your model building tip.

 

[Muzza]

Another piece of the puzzle has come together, I have had a good friend of mine draw up these window frames so I could print them.
I tried a few sizes to get the right scale and I think I have it close to the original. all I need to do is clean them up and glue them down.