Pimp my Tank part 2: Electric Boogaloo

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Battlegrinder
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Pimp my Tank part 2: Electric Boogaloo

Post by Battlegrinder » Wed Jan 01, 2014 3:13 pm

Last week, I posted a few pictures of my first attempt to customize a clone brand vehicle into something awesome enough for Brikwars. When the Ares MBT turned out ok, I moved on to my next project, an APC from the same set that I’d gotten the Ares from.

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Here’s what I started out with. I decided that the APC was going to need a little more work than the tank, since this time I needed to rebuild in addition to painting.

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Using parts from my 3rd and final BL set, this small tank that was probably not going to be worth the effort to customize, I started to work on rebuilding the APC.

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I eventually wound up with this hybrid of the two, with the unsightly holes in the APC’s roof removed and the tank’s turret getting bulked up a little bit. However, I wasn’t done yet.

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Unlike my first customization, this vehicle has an actual interior, which I had to resurface with Lego’s so minifigs could use it. I also had to redesign the roof support, since the original configuration left room for only a handful of minifigs.

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The pilot and gunner’s controls were built into the front of the APC. Due to the design of the APC, it’s nearly impossible to remove and replace the minifigs sitting in those seats, so Charge and Flex are going to be station here for a long time.

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After adding a pair of sponsons, the vehicle was ready to paint. After I applied a base coat of the same spray-on enamel I’d used on the Ares, I did some quick pre-assembly. You can see the small ring surrounding the turret base in this shot, a feature I designed to prevent the turret from looking tacked on or scrawny.

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For this paint scheme, I used a larger, stripe based camo pattern, loosely based on aviation and naval camo patterns. I have to say, I like how it turned out a lot more that I like the Ares’s paint scheme.

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The final step was to attach all the small parts that had be removed while I painted, along with adding a few of my own (the antenna and ladder are not original design elements. A dozer blade would’ve be nice, but I don’t have one of those). The newly dubbed Argo was now ready for service.

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A close up view of one of the sponsons. I added the missiles on relatively late in the project, as a deterrent to keep hostiles away from the Argo’s vulnerable treads, which only have 2D10 armor, and lack the side skirt that protects the Ares’s treads. Coupled with a light escort they should be enough to keep the Argo moving, at least until it’s dropped off its soldiers.

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The Argo and the Ares side by side comparison.

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Re: Pimp my Tank part 2: Electric Boogaloo

Post by Overwatch_Elite » Wed Jan 01, 2014 3:44 pm

I think the size of that thing ruins the purpose of camouflage :?

Good work though

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Re: Pimp my Tank part 2: Electric Boogaloo

Post by Apollyon » Wed Jan 01, 2014 4:47 pm

It's amazing how much better this cheap plastic looks with the white enamel.
I agree that the camouflage pattern is better than the one you used on the Ares. But i think you should have tried to apply the paint more evenly (on both tanks). Right now it looks a bit messy in my opinion.
Overall a god job on both tanks!
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Re: Pimp my Tank part 2: Electric Boogaloo

Post by Battlegrinder » Wed Jan 01, 2014 10:34 pm

Apollyon wrote:It's amazing how much better this cheap plastic looks with the white enamel.
I agree that the camouflage pattern is better than the one you used on the Ares. But i think you should have tried to apply the paint more evenly (on both tanks). Right now it looks a bit messy in my opinion.
Overall a god job on both tanks!
Yeah, the paint job could be better, but just not by me. Sadly, this is the skill level I'm at right now, but I'm hoping to improve over time.

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Re: Pimp my Tank part 2: Electric Boogaloo

Post by Kalvinator » Thu Jan 02, 2014 12:42 am

I like this one a lot better then the first. But like others said, paint could use some work, but otherwise looks good.
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Re: Pimp my Tank part 2: Electric Boogaloo

Post by dilanski » Fri Jan 03, 2014 2:35 pm

Battlegrinder wrote:
Apollyon wrote:It's amazing how much better this cheap plastic looks with the white enamel.
I agree that the camouflage pattern is better than the one you used on the Ares. But i think you should have tried to apply the paint more evenly (on both tanks). Right now it looks a bit messy in my opinion.
Overall a god job on both tanks!
Yeah, the paint job could be better, but just not by me. Sadly, this is the skill level I'm at right now, but I'm hoping to improve over time.
These are pretty good, compared to some other custom jobs I've seen done, and done myself.

A method I came across for painting camoflauge, while trying to recreate classic Salamander livery on Some 40k vehicles, was a simple procedure of taking a length of masking tape, cutting it to a suitably wavy pattern, the applying across the vehicle, continue until the vehicle is full covered, then spray your chosen camouflage colour over the top. with some practice, 3-tone patterns are attainable. It may help with your somewhat blurred edges, and spraying should give an even coat if done correctly.
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Re: Pimp my Tank part 2: Electric Boogaloo

Post by Battlegrinder » Fri Jan 03, 2014 4:10 pm

dilanski wrote:
These are pretty good, compared to some other custom jobs I've seen done, and done myself.

A method I came across for painting camoflauge, while trying to recreate classic Salamander livery on Some 40k vehicles, was a simple procedure of taking a length of masking tape, cutting it to a suitably wavy pattern, the applying across the vehicle, continue until the vehicle is full covered, then spray your chosen camouflage colour over the top. with some practice, 3-tone patterns are attainable. It may help with your somewhat blurred edges, and spraying should give an even coat if done correctly.
I was aware of that technique, but decided against it due the costs involved. A jar or brush paint goes for $1.50, spray paint is about $4 a can.

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Re: Pimp my Tank part 2: Electric Boogaloo

Post by piltogg » Sun Jan 26, 2014 2:55 pm

adding aditional coats of paint should make it a bit cleaner.

If you ask me though, I'd say this is good enough, and you shouldn't bother with the extra effort.

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Re: Pimp my Tank part 2: Electric Boogaloo

Post by ASmallWarpRift » Sun Jan 26, 2014 5:17 pm

Although personally i steer well clear of non lego sets i have to say you did a good job on the build. I especially like the sponsons. Did those miniguns come from the set or from brickarms or the like?

A cool build

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Re: Pimp my Tank part 2: Electric Boogaloo

Post by Maverick » Mon Jan 27, 2014 2:07 am

ASmallWarpRift wrote:Although personally i steer well clear of non lego sets i have to say you did a good job on the build. I especially like the sponsons. Did those miniguns come from the set or from brickarms or the like?

A cool build

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Re: Pimp my Tank part 2: Electric Boogaloo

Post by ASmallWarpRift » Mon Jan 27, 2014 2:37 am

Ok thanks might have to go and buy me a few of those

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Re: Pimp my Tank part 2: Electric Boogaloo

Post by Maverick » Mon Jan 27, 2014 9:28 am

ASmallWarpRift wrote:Ok thanks might have to go and buy me a few of those
Yes, do that. Give Will some money.

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