Beyond The Sprues

Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => "From the Sea" Amphibious GB => Topic started by: Buzzbomb on May 27, 2023, 01:44:42 PM

Title: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: Buzzbomb on May 27, 2023, 01:44:42 PM
Providing using a pre-loved model as part of this build gets me a nod from the most worthy moderator... I am in.

Dug through some carcasses and "yesteryear builds" to see where the mojo was. Ended up with an old T-62 as a basis.
So using the same method as the FIST Dragon APC, some conduit for the basic hovercraft skirts and I also count the shape as  flotation aid as it is still a pipe.
(https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/HoverTank/HoverTank_1.JPG)

After a bit of deconstruction something like this... or... looking for some bits and finding a another candidate, the Panther hull
(https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/HoverTank/HoverTank_2.JPG) (https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/HoverTank/HoverTank_3.JPG)

Both have their pros and cons, but after destroying the T-62, the Panther hull shape might just have it as being a bit more "seaworthy" look.
Either way, the gun will most likely change to more a High Explosive delivery system, more like a Demolitions type weapon to deal with emplaced troops and fortifications.
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: Kerick on May 27, 2023, 08:08:42 PM
Cool!
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: Jeffry Fontaine on May 27, 2023, 10:32:25 PM
T-62 turret on the Panther hull is an interesting combination.  Is the current skirt assembly fixed in size or can it be tweaked a bit to give it a larger footprint to support the superstructure? 
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: raafif on May 28, 2023, 07:31:33 AM
Cool!

Double that !

Cushion does need to be a bit longer but keep the armour nose hanging over the front for protection. :smiley:
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: LemonJello on May 30, 2023, 01:58:26 AM
Yep. That gets moderator approval.  Please proceed!
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: Buzzbomb on May 30, 2023, 06:00:09 AM
Yep. That gets moderator approval.  Please proceed!
Excellent, was probably going to anyway, but not in the GB if it got the flick

So, kicked on a bit further, I can live with the skirts as they are. I did toy with slicing the skirts vertically to actually make them look like skirts, but thinking about it, all my get up and go got up and went.
I will stick with the tube arrangement.

So the Panther/T-62 combo came out on top, so now just working through the topside arrangements. If you really need to know, the Tamiya T-62 turret fits in the Tamiya Panther turret ring with a swipe of 180 grit around the circumference.
(https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/HoverTank/HoverTank_4.JPG)

Thinking is now, steerable rear fans and the large upper intake for the hovercraft gubbins. That is 3D printed as I could not find a bit that suited me.
(https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/HoverTank/HoverTank_5.JPG)

I think this might get a more Sci Fi treatment as trying to fit this into a current tech genre is just not quite working for me as the technology has not really radically changed much since the original experiments. But add some fusion powerplants and some AetherFlotarium, something of this size might just creep in to plausible with maybe 3 person crew as everything becomes more techo. Conformal armour for the skirts and maybe some limited defence suppression thermobaric missiles.
Or I could scaleorama to 1/48  ;)

Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: GTX_Admin on June 03, 2023, 07:34:20 AM
Ignoring the hover craft bit but the Panther hull/T-62 Turret combo looks a bit like this Rheinstahl-Henschel Prototype I B, which competed against but lost to Porsche's submission for West Germany's Leopard 1:

(https://i1.modland.net/i/602c5d5d10bd0/ProtoB1front_0KI188Npng1600x0_q85_crop_detail_replace_alpha-white-lg_modland.jpg)
(https://i1.modland.net/i/602c5d5d10bd0/ProtoB1backpng1600x0_q85_crop_detail_replace_alpha-white-lg_modland.jpg)
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: Kerick on June 03, 2023, 09:00:53 AM
Ignoring the hover craft bit but the Panther hull/T-62 Turret combo looks a bit like this Rheinstahl-Henschel Prototype I B, which competed against but lost to Porsche's submission for West Germany's Leopard 1:

(https://i1.modland.net/i/602c5d5d10bd0/ProtoB1front_0KI188Npng1600x0_q85_crop_detail_replace_alpha-white-lg_modland.jpg)
(https://i1.modland.net/i/602c5d5d10bd0/ProtoB1backpng1600x0_q85_crop_detail_replace_alpha-white-lg_modland.jpg)

Wow! I’ve never seen that before!
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: Buzzbomb on June 06, 2023, 02:10:13 PM
More progress.. a setback and then progress again.

That voice nagged me and I ended up cutting the pipe to give a better skirt look.
(https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/HoverTank/HoverTank_6.JPG)

After that I mixed up some builders bog I found and looks like the catalyst was off... it did not set so it all had to come off.

Meanwhile whilst that saga was unfolding, back at the bench, work on the thrust fans, Conduit and a couple of 3 D Printed fans
(https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/HoverTank/HoverTank_7.JPG)(https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/HoverTank/HoverTank_8.JPG)

Bit more work on the upper hull and turret. Main Intake trunk, access hatch to turret
(https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/HoverTank/HoverTank_9.JPG)

For the weaponry, a BFG, co-ax Autocannon and a missile rack system
(https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/HoverTank/HoverTank_10.JPG)
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: Old Wombat on June 06, 2023, 02:25:35 PM
 :smiley: :smiley: 8)
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: Frank3k on June 06, 2023, 10:02:50 PM
That's looking great, Brian - beefy gun, too.
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: Robomog on June 07, 2023, 07:53:59 AM
Looking good, love those fans, one day I will get me one of them there new fangled printing thingies, you can do so much with them !

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: apophenia on June 08, 2023, 10:30:23 AM
Those fans do look great. Mind you, the overall effect helps suggest that achieving low-earth-orbit may not be out of the question  :smiley:
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: Buzzbomb on June 12, 2023, 10:47:02 AM
Those fans do look great. Mind you, the overall effect helps suggest that achieving low-earth-orbit may not be out of the question  :smiley:

Ahhh the difference between Contra Grav and Hovercraft ;)

Slow pace.. but moving along
Whizzed up some fans for the lower hull to create the air dam. 3D printer again.. it does have it uses.
(https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/HoverTank/HoverTank_11.JPG)

Fitted to the Lower hull, with some hardstand landing strakes for when not in hovercraft mode
(https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/HoverTank/HoverTank_12.JPG)

Looking at an armoured skirt plan. Curved would be better, but all in all, these are easier to create.
(https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/HoverTank/HoverTank_13.JPG)
Will try for a hinged look, to ride up when the craft settles when the skirt deflates.
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: Frank3k on June 12, 2023, 12:37:41 PM
It's looking pretty massive! O like the skirt armor for the hover skirt.

What material did you print the fans in? The finished fans look great, the others look like they have some stringing and the bases look under-extruded. Is this PETG ?

Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: Buzzbomb on June 12, 2023, 02:05:09 PM
What material did you print the fans in? The finished fans look great, the others look like they have some stringing and the bases look under-extruded. Is this PETG ?

I only use ABS as I have a lot of it and do not use the printer much. It is a early UP 3D printer so is pretty average compared to modern printers.
Once you popped off the rafts, clean out the supports,  they were not too bad to clean up.
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: Buzzbomb on June 28, 2023, 07:06:08 AM
Over all the Model Expo hoopla and a bit of away time.

Lurching back to the bench, although the RW Scammell R100 is the main bit of attention at the moment.

Did a bit around the Glacis area, working through some ideas, but got somewhere. The layout might change a bit, but pretty much settled.
Once all this filler is set and sanded back, only a splash plate to go then to the paint shop.
(https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/HoverTank/HoverTank_14.JPG)
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: finsrin on June 28, 2023, 09:43:12 AM
Looking right, is gunna work.   Nice concept  :smiley:
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: Buzzbomb on July 01, 2023, 01:15:36 PM
Turned the corner and into the final stretch

(https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/HoverTank/HoverTank_15.JPG)

(https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/HoverTank/HoverTank_16.JPG)

under the first coat of paint now.. next some sort of camo business
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: GTX_Admin on July 02, 2023, 01:54:08 AM
Looking good
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: Frank3k on July 02, 2023, 03:48:41 AM
Looks good! The skirt looks great. This is literally a shoot and scoot vehicle!
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: Buzzbomb on July 06, 2023, 01:32:18 PM
Thanks gang.

Anyway.. lets call this one done.. Other things to tackle
Masking, masking.
(https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/HoverTank/HoverTank_17.JPG)

Ended up here
(https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/HoverTank/HoverTank_18.JPG)
(https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/HoverTank/HoverTank_19.JPG)
(https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/HoverTank/HoverTank_20.JPG)
(https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/HoverTank/HoverTank_21.JPG)
(https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/HoverTank/HoverTank_22.JPG)

So for a Hovercraft Tank, there you have it.

Not going in finished builds yet.. I might retake some photos

Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: Claymore on July 06, 2023, 09:52:42 PM
What a transformation! Great work as always.  :smiley:
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: Old Wombat on July 06, 2023, 10:35:21 PM
Nice! :smiley: :smiley: 8)
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: GTX_Admin on July 07, 2023, 02:11:57 AM
 :smiley:
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: Dr. YoKai on July 08, 2023, 01:01:36 AM
The skirt looks perfect-shame the armor covers most of it, but I'll remember the look next time I build another hover tank. Beautiful build!
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: finsrin on July 08, 2023, 02:11:54 AM
Well thought out and built.  It works.   8)
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: Buzzbomb on July 08, 2023, 07:09:40 AM
thanks for the feedback guys.

The skirt looks perfect-shame the armor covers most of it, but I'll remember the look next time I build another hover tank. Beautiful build!
Function over form in this case.
What you say is true, I would think the difference for this build between Hovercraft and Contra-Grav Hover tank is not a lot, as simple as at card plate over the Hovercraft Skirt business.

Oh and perhaps a powergun...  ;)
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: Robomog on July 08, 2023, 07:10:46 AM
brilliant build  :smiley: :smiley:

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Hovercraft Beach Assault Tank
Post by: Kerick on July 08, 2023, 08:15:31 AM
Sure looks way better than the one I tried! Well done and I love the paint job!