Making a Chimera Interior

[bloodeyes]

Hi Guys,

After reading a lot on this site, I wanted to ask advice on how to proceed with building an interior for my Chimera.

I'm a fan of magnetizing stuff and making things open where appropriate on the IG tanks. Seeing the large space of the Chimera interior I just had to make something of it. After searching the web I found some inspiration and came up with the following :

Click a photo to see full view




As you can see, I went for a bare version to carry troops. I plan to make an extended version using a bench in the middle for the command Chimera, as can be seen here. I will add lots of details (hand grenades, fuel canisters, lasgun/pistol?,...) I will also magnetize the back ramp at the top.

I'm still looking for a decent way to make the hinges of the ramp work, so any input is appreciated.

What do you think so far?
____________________________________________


- Benches; Rectangle 50*6mm; 8mm height of floor;1mm thick plasticard
- Door; Rectangle 21*13mm; 0.5mm thick plasticard
- Door slit; Rectangle 8*2mm, 0.5mm thick plasticard
- Filler chassis-top; 50*6mm; 1mm thick plasticard
- Terminal screen; 6*6mm; 1mm thick plasticard
- Terminal keypad; 10*6mm; 1mm thick plasticard

[treadiculous]

Try uploading the images to photbucket, then embed the code.

If the images are online, then you may need to download the (save as jpeg) then upload... a bit of a faff, but reliable.

[bloodeyes]

Thanks for the input, but the forum code does not seem to allow images via https, which just so happens to be the case for picasaweb...

[bloodeyes]

Problem solved! As I was logged on to my account in Picasaweb, it served links in https. I just had to remove the -s and there you go!

[emptyhat]

It looks pretty good but the text link here "command Chimera, as can be seen here. I will add lots of details" goes nowhere.

[bloodeyes]

Fixed! thanks for the feedback. It's been a while sins I used BB-Code...

[treadiculous]

Now I can see what you've done I can say how great that looks!

I have been considering making some kind of Chimera / Trojan Artillery Tractor / Salamander variant as a way to use the Basalisk Hull when it doesn't have an Earthshaker Cannon on it (I found out you can build the Earthshaker so that it slides out the back of the chimera hull).

What you've built there may well work, as the structure that remains once the big gun has gone looks identical to the framework you've used there.

Good work, keep it up as I'm interested to see how the project turns out.

[Gabriel Lupus]

That look brilliant! I actually think your version with the benches at the sides looks better personally...

[bloodeyes]

So far I've done quite minimal adjustments. This still is my first ever plasti-card project and I'm still learning to work the stuff. I was pleasantly surprised that my plastic glue(Revell) works on the material.

The benches are of minimal width, I compared it to a trooper and thought that more space in the middle allowed faster disembark/embark of the vehicle. The only problem now is that when I put the top on it, there is a wide gap between driver section top and the hull top. I will need to fix that

For a future command Chimera, I intend to try out the middle bench idea. (if I feel confident enough to work the material that is) That Chimera will also be converted to the back turret mounted version as can be seen here.

Thanks for the feedback so far!

[bloodeyes]

Hi Guys,
Almost finished now, the results :
The bit used to cover the gap between top and chassis.



Of course the hatch had to work properly and were weapons magnetized. Still need to make a gun shield for the flamer, as only one was supplied.




The interior has a lasgun affixed to the side, including charge packs, a shuffle and a fuel canister. The other side has a blanket and ammo box and a forgotten hand grenade. Beside the console I added small tube to just add that bit more detail to the back panel.



Still no clue what to make of the hinges of the ramp... I will be able to easily replicate this design over multiple chassis's no that I made the first pattern. Only the details need be changed.

What do you think?

Thanks for looking, cheers.

[vegna]

Nice work! recently just got my first chimera, sealed the door but was wondering if my next (plan to get 2 more) to be openable.

for the hunge I was thinking either replacing the hundges on the door and base in to magnets but be very hard and very small magnets. Would think maybe drilling and threading a bit of wire through and green stuffing the ends to hide it. mght be clunkier but would work...hopefully.

keep up the good work!

[killahtz]

That looks really nice with the added details. Definitely going to have to do that with the next chimera i get as my current one has the top solidly glued on.

Also where did you get the fuel can from?

[vegna]

fuel cans come with all the vehicle models i think. I've got a few, definately come with the older russes.

[Trooper One-Nine-Seven-Four]

Fuel cans were part of the vehicle accessory sprue, which was included as part of the older vehicle kits. They are not in the new vehicle kits, but you can buy them from GW's website for the tune of around just $15, IIRC.

[kheltahn]

This post is perfect for showing how everyone can do something with the inside of a tank, rather than just sealing it up! Love all the ideas you've come up with and I'd love to try some on my own vehicles

[bloodeyes]

Thanks for the feedback! Those bits came indeed from an old vehicle accessory sprue. (don't remember which, I picked three sprue's up from eBay some time ago)

I tried to make the interior plain and simple, it was meant to transport lowly troops. As said before. The command Chimera will be much more detailed as it should have more communications equipment.

As for the hinges, I already played with the idea to just replace them with something self made, but I did not found a worthy alternative yet. I do not want to make it into solid blocks hanging around.

Keep the idea's flowing! Someone out there must have had the same idea/problem to solve.

ps anybody have any pictures of the Forgeworld interior they apparently sold some time ago for the Chimera?

[KRIEGEIRK]

This looks awesome! Now I want some Chimera's to play around with... bye bye paycheck...

[bloodeyes]

Made some progress;
- magnetized the Hunter-killer missile
- magnetized the searchlight
- added turret basket; made of steel wire (0.8 mm) and "fly-screen" which you would put before an open window
- started making gun shield for the turret flamer
- added lost of bolts (Inspired by FW masterclass book)

Not yet done with the bolts as when I was sanding them down, some came off. As seen in photo, the newly added bolts are larger then the others. I used the 0.5mm evergreen rods, which are spot on.

Enjoy :
Click to open larger view




I want to add some antenna but I don't know where exactly, any ideas?

[Hetfiltrator]

The only sensible place would be right next to the hatch(Close to the HK) or right above the entry hatch.

[bloodeyes]

Well I was thinking about the same places, meaning to put up two antenna's : one small one close behind the turret and one large at back.

[Hetfiltrator]

That sounds like a good idea.

[Trooper One-Nine-Seven-Four]

Those bolts are looking good! I did something similar when making extra armor bits to put on a Punisher conversion that I'm working on, which is based off of a second generation Demolisher kit (the one with the pewter additional armor for the turret sides).

[KRIEGEIRK]

It's surprising to me how something as small as the bolts add sooooo much character to this Chimera. I may have to take another look at my Russ and do the same thing!

[mccaptain]

Have you considered using a larger magnet on the large top piece to magnetize it to the actual hull of the transport. That way you can pull the whole top off to show off the inside and it works great for vehicle wrecked results. I have that on several of my chimeras and would be happy to post a pick if that would help.

[bloodeyes]

mccaptain : I never thought of doing something like that before... I would appreciate some photo's of it

The bolts do make a huge difference in appearance. As said before, I got the idea after reading the Forgeworld Masterclass book of theirs. The featured Medusa also had those extras. I always thought the turret flanks to be a bit blank of the Chimera, no matter what I put on it as upgrades. With the bolts, it seems tie the turret more in with the rest of the model.