Blackadder's Attempt To Build a Lucius Patten Imperator Titan 'Invictus'

[The_Blackadder]

Holy Emperor, thats a lot of styrene ! And then you just cut most of it away
Looking very good sofar, Mr Adder.

Mostly odds and ends and scrap.

[The_Blackadder]

Now It Can Be Told:

Now that I have resolved the issue I can reveal why I had to revamp the helmet. It all boiled down to an assumption on my part that the artist drawing the two elevations of the head was a draughtsman. In a proper draught you project lines from one plane to another and ideally there should be a top elevation as well but I accepted the two elevations as sufficient for my 3D rendering. I built my model slightly oversized than the plan as I wanted the 'head' to be larger than my Warlord's head as the finished model will be 10 to 12 inches taller than my Warlord. I blissfully used the side elevation for all my calculations and after laminating all the layers proceeded to sand the contours of the helmet but after the rough sanding was completed I found the helmet dome was significantly flattened.

http://i.imgur.com/8vAqAXM.jpg


It did not have the look of the front elevation at all. Needless to say I was extremely disappointed as I had based my interior design and mechanism on the front projection......


http://i.imgur.com/56WnEFl.jpg


Rather than scrap the helmet and start afresh I opted to build on the original to increase the height of the dome which is seen in these to images. It was last night that I managed to glue in the compound curved pieces requisite to obtain a smooth contour; the final pieces to be installed later this morning.

http://i.imgur.com/2QebzHA.jpg


So with this setback resolved I can continue with the building of the head; my obsessive compulsive integrity intact.

[The_Blackadder]

A Cure for a Rainy Day:

After a rough rounding sanding I scored the armour panel lines. First with my utility knife. Then with razor saw and finally with xacto keyhole saw blade
https://www.widgetsupply.com/mm5/gra...in_519x340.jpg

to widen the gaps between the armour


http://i.imgur.com/rer2DpT.jpg


Now the helmet is ready for wet sanding which will hopefully remove the striation lines.

http://i.imgur.com/Vuhruvo.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/iKwkjcl.jpg


Now we're back to making the visor.

[The_Blackadder]

Crest:

The crest seemed a daunting task but after the helmet it was child's play. I began by laminating six layers of 0.030 thousandths styrene last night because 1/4 inch styrene is too expensive and to hard to work with plus 0.030 is what I had on hand.

I then scribed two lines and equa-spaced the drill points with my vernier calipers.

I used my #11 Xacto blade to deepen the drill points and hand drilled 1/16" pilot holes for the scallops.


http://i.imgur.com/I6LWbhV.jpg


Then I drilled 1/8 inch holes to center the 1/4 inch final holes for the scallops.

http://i.imgur.com/shluvZ1.jpg


After drilling the 1/4 inch holes I cut off the excess material and sanded to the appropriate half hole depth.

http://i.imgur.com/5ugL5iz.jpg

[SDKFZ]

Looking good, Mr Adder. I used the same technic on the melta for my reaver.

[Inquisitor Engel]

Your level of precision is what makes these projects. Out of curiosity - is this also your day job?

[The_Blackadder]

Your level of precision is what makes these projects. Out of curiosity - is this also your day job?

No, this is how I relax.

[The_Blackadder]

Spear Heads:

Spear Head ornaments are tedious but worth the effort. There are probably easier ways to make them but I want mine to have a 3D bas-relief so I made mine out of 0.040 thousandths styrene. Below we see one in place on the helmet and the rest in various states of manufacture. When doing something like this I allows make a few extra so I don't have to start from scratch. You never know when you might need a spare.
Start by making an undersized template (marked 'T'), trace the points on a piece of scrap styrene, cut them out with scissors (yeah it's that simple,) Drill your pilot holes, Cut the corner holes with your; surgical diagonal cutters, Fingernail cutters, Dikes, what-have-you, use your rat tail needle files to make the spade base compare you work to the finished and make the proper adjustments with you, curved nail file and you're done.

http://i.imgur.com/fFxZ4If.jpg


Now do it twelve more times or more........

http://i.imgur.com/84L1tlJ.jpg


See you tomorrow.

[The_Blackadder]

Bada ba ba baaaa I'm Lovin' It:

Funny how these ungainly projects grow on ya. At first I was mildly interested in this project. A lot of people requested I give it a go so for the past few years I accumulated various plastic bitz that looked like they might go on a quicky Imperial Titan that anyone sufficiently motivated could build. I still have baskets of the junk; bottlecaps recyclable containers and the like and I finally solved the pelvis dilemma but until I saw the head for lack of a better term I had little enthusiasm feeling that I had reached the pinnacle of Titan manufacture in my Warlord.

http://i.imgur.com/hvfBsqo.jpg


Now I am in a quandary because this Titan will eclipse my previous effort but Damn I am getting really fond of this beastie.

http://i.imgur.com/izMrl2e.jpg


The front view shows up on the image more so than in person that the spearhead gusset on the right side is longer than that corresponding one on the left. that will have to be fixed but overall I am pleased with the outcome. I made my darts a tad larger than that in the computer image as I couldn't translate the drawing into an actual model. But it seems close enough and even as I write this I get the depression of compromise.

http://i.imgur.com/jRCmP0p.jpg


But no; that way madness lies.

and it's still two hours to Martini Time... Dang!

[SDKFZ]

Thats looking very good, Mr Adder.

[The_Blackadder]

Thanks SDKFZ,

The Perfection of Asymmetry:

When you look at the Darth mask you are thrilled with the evilness of the visage but split the image and reverse it mirror image wise and you will see the resulting perfect symmetry of either the left or right is not nearly as disturbing. We are all different people when we see ourselves in a photograph. With the magic of the computer we can splice together the left and right images of our face and see two entirely different people neither recognizable as ourselves.

http://i.imgur.com/N07NveX.jpg


That is where I am with this visor. That and the printout I made is too small. The 0.030" plastic cutout I made directly below the helmet assembly seems to be of the correct size.

Also the visor wraps around the helmet so the front view is foreshortened therefor I must allow for that by adding what i estimate a quarter inch (6,3 MM) to each side........

Fun and games, Right?

[Beppo1234]

https://www.warhammer-community.com/...udio-displays/

wrong thread... but there's a titan hanger for inspiration for your other project!

[The_Blackadder]

Wow, thank you very much.

I'd pretty much forgotten my hangar project even thought I practically trip over it every day going into my den/workshop....

[Inquisitor Engel]

I hadn't seen the hangar before, and the picture loaded. I was left with but one reaction.

[The_Blackadder]

Facial Planes:

We're going to experiment with this visor as I don't have an overhead projection so I made the angle gussets flexible until I see how the 'face shapes up.

http://i.imgur.com/9ysjqn4.jpg


That way I can make the minimal adjustments required for an approximation of the artist's intent.

http://i.imgur.com/Qc99a8q.jpg


Note the strips in the foreground. The one with the heavy pencil line glues to the inner surface of the visor. It is slightly scored so it acts as a hinged gusset. It can sustain a minimum of flexing before fatiguing the same as the visor plate. Once I am satisfied with the position of the visor planes I'll reinforce the the back side of the visor to hold the shape.

[The_Blackadder]

Raising the Ears:

When I was a kid going to the barber was called, "having your ears lowered." Well in this case the operative word is raised. and bring the ears forward and shorten the helmet.

BTW after having been to the barber, you had "White walls."

http://i.imgur.com/AeNn6yB.jpg


Anyway this side view projection shows I need to cut the helmet a minimum of 6 MM (one quarter inch) on each side and shorten the length almost half an inch (13,0 MM) which necessitates re-positioning the spear points.

http://i.imgur.com/eNjbnNv.jpg


Or I may just go with three after the one in the forehead.

http://i.imgur.com/8stjVq5.jpg


The close up also doesn't do it for me; Fah!

http://i.imgur.com/xa0CkQU.jpg

[SDKFZ]

Hmmm, dont know. The basic shape is there, just dont know whats missing/wrong ? Could it be the missing trim thats fooling the eye ?

[Boesoe]

Your work is great as always, but I personally think that the mask is a) a bit to high which gives it a more square look instead of rectangular b) as far as I can make up from the concept there are only three "hinge" points. I think the diagonally ones through the eyes shouldn't be there, the armor reinforcement just give the impression there is one. Furthermore the your bottom "cheek" plate is wider then in the concept drawing, it should end within the width of the eyepiece. The "hinges" on the side should follow the diagonal line you've already drawn (as seen on your last picture).

Sorry for the crappy explanation, as I'm not a native English speaker I struggle a bit to find the right words (and it's early and haven't finished my coffee yet) but I hope it still makes sense

Anyways having seen your skill with plasticard I'm confident you will work it out and make it look awesome

Sincerely,

Boesoe

[The_Blackadder]

..........but I personally think that the mask is a) a bit to high which gives it a more square look instead of rectangular

I appreciate your wonderful in depth evaluation and I have considered already many of your cogent points.

I understand what you mean by "a bit too high" I purposely made the mask slightly oversized to allow for size adjustment (you can always cut it smaller.) The width is easily 13,0 MM wider that the original while the height is about the same. The mask will be repositioned up perhaps 5,0 MM after I adjust the width and length of the helmet. I just tacked the visor on so I could study the size and position. This allows me to reflect on the overall effect while I do other things Nothing as yet is etched in stone.

One thing you did not point out is the width of the eyes, Until I am satisfied with the angles of the face I won't be sure how wide to make each eye. That can be corrected with the eye bezels

b) as far as I can make up from the concept there are only three "hinge" points. I think the diagonally ones through the eyes shouldn't be there, the armor reinforcement just give the impression there is one.

The facial planes as delineated by the artist were more for contrast than actual angles. I have to determine which are actual and which are just shading. Also the front view and the side view are not compatible size and position-wise of the features so I need to change some of the facial planes.
The slope back of the forehead and under eye planes in particular will be difficult to reproduce as it changes the front appearance drastically

Furthermore the your bottom "cheek" plate is wider then in the concept drawing, it should end within the width of the eyepiece.

The lower cheek angles were fudged by the artist and I seriously doubt they readily can be duplicated in a 3D construction.


The "hinges" on the side should follow the diagonal line you've already drawn (as seen on your last picture).

The lower cheek angle were fudged by the artist and I seriously doubt they readily can be duplicated in a 3D construction.

Sorry for the crappy explanation, as I'm not a native English speaker I struggle a bit to find the right words (and it's early and haven't finished my coffee yet) but I hope it still makes sense

Your English is better than many Americans' I've met

Anyways having seen your skill with plasticard I'm confident you will work it out and make it look awesome

Sincerely,

Boesoe

Thank you for the thoughtful reply.

[The_Blackadder]

Family Portrait:

Who's your Daddy? I accomplished a whirlwind revamp of the Command Deck aka the 'Head' shortening the rear overhang (Wait, he is talking about the head of this beastie not the loo???) but I did leave the cock's comb alone. (he is talking about the loo!)

Seen here along side my Warlord to give a proper scale.

http://i.imgur.com/NvG8rtI.jpg


And a closeup.

http://i.imgur.com/tZgfEjR.jpg


More images to come............