Scarab

[Weaver]

Well here's my bits.

First off, the gutted, but otherwise unmolested trackball unit. The "problem" with this thing is that it's almost TOO perfect: anything I offer up to it spoils it instead of adding to it. For that reason, I'm going to mostly leave the shape alone and have it as a very high-tech "sci-fantasy" design with no visible means of propulsion. The idea is to have a domed cockpit where the trackball used to sit, and a pop-up turret emerging from the button behind it. I've had an idea for the dome BTW: soft toy eyes, i.e. the ones with a big, loose black disc in them. The curvature might be a bit too flat, but it's worth a look.




Here it is with all the bits separated and one door held in roughly the right open position. Since I'm not doing much with the exterior, I'll have both doors open and do some serious work on the interior instead.




I hope to build it into a diorama using these 15mm figures (I've got a stock of unpainted ones that I can do a better job on than these), since it's a bit tight for 1/72nd scale ones. I'm currently thinking along the lines of researchers visiting an old battlefield, with alien flora and fauna taking over the wrecked war machines.




All suggestions, criticisms, howls of ridicule etc.., welcome, as ever.

[Brian da Basher]

You've got my interest, Weaver! Using that old trackball is truly inspired!

Your idea for a diorama really takes it to the next level! I keep picturing your Scarab in different metallic colors hovering over a Mars-red landscape. If you need flora cheap and easy, you can pick up some plastic aquarium plants for pocket change. As for animals, I've got some sled dogs from the Monogram Ford Trimotor kit I could send you. Drop me a PM with your address if you want them.

You're really getting this GB off to a great start!

Brian da Basher

[ChernayaAkula]

This thing looks like it was meant to be whiffed!  Leaving the shell alone (apart form a vent or something like that) and doing a full interior seems a good idea.

<...> I'm currently thinking along the lines of researchers visiting an old battlefield, with alien flora and fauna taking over the wrecked war machines.

Great idea!

[nev]

You're spot on about it already looking "right", so I commend you on your idea to open up the interior

[Ed S]

Sounds good so far.  I am looking forward to more of this.

Ed

[Weaver]

Cheers all - now all I need to do is, errr, something.....

Your idea for a diorama really takes it to the next level! I keep picturing your Scarab in different metallic colors hovering over a Mars-red landscape. If you need flora cheap and easy, you can pick up some plastic aquarium plants for pocket change. As for animals, I've got some sled dogs from the Monogram Ford Trimotor kit I could send you.

Yes I was thinking about metallics too: I've got some old Humbrol ones, and of course, there are car paints.  I was thinking of "bluebottle-like" colours, i.e. dark metallic blues and greens, possibly with a grossly contrasting stripe and some lettering. I'll have to have a play......

I've got some of those sled dogs too!  However I was thinking of the flora and faunas being a bit more exotic: probably sculpted out of Miliput, so I'll pass on that (thanks for the offer).

[Weaver]

Well that was "interesting". The trackball unit was greasy from years of handling, so I thought I'd better give it a good wash in hot soapy water. I'd always assumed it was self-coloured plastic, but it quickly became apparent that it was covered in a thin layer of paint, which immediately cockled on exposure to the hot water. That meant that it all had to be scrubbed off....... joy.

Got some cheap Googly Eyes. One of them will fit as the cockpit dome, but it might be a bit flat. Have to have a bit of a think about that.... The eyes are very, VERY thin plastic, like vac-form canopies, and are very firmly glued to their bases, which means they have to be handled carefully.

Had a new idea for the button: it's not now going to be a gun turret, it's going to be a hovering-tin-can-style robot that lives in an external socket to save space when the craft is flying. In effect, it'll be a cross between Vincent from The Black Hole and an X-Wing's R2 unit.

[philp]

Weaver,
Check the gumball machines for the domes that come with crappy stuff in them.  Might be one that would fit and be more rounded than the googly eyes.

[Weaver]

Weaver,
Check the gumball machines for the domes that come with crappy stuff in them.  Might be one that would fit and be more rounded than the googly eyes.

Gumball machines arn't that common here, and when you do see them, they tend to be "toy machines" rather than gum machines, with spheres that are too big.

[buzzbomb]

nice use of nifty materials.
I have done something similar myself (larger scale though.. and remarkably also called Scarab) and I like this design, very Hammers Slammers combat car.


about the dome..
You could check out the local $2 shops for a small lolly dispenser which is a miniature "gum ball" type look, usually they have skittles like things in them. I have used them before and they work really well



The green thing is a deodorant bottle top to give some idea of size

[ysi_maniac]

  Perfect choice, indeed! 

[pyro-manic]

Looks interesting! For the dome, could you not heat-form one yourself using the trackball as a master?

[Weaver]

Very slow progress, I'm afraid: I've tried to make some modelling time every day for the last week, and almost every time, someone or something has taken it right back off me again....

Anyhow, we now have a basic floor, and the beginnings of the droid:



The white thing in the background is another "found" find: it's actually a re-sealable milk bottle cap (of frankly dubious value), but isn't it just begging to be a gun turret? Don't know if I'll use it in this project, but definately worth snapping up.

Pyro - interesting suggestion about heat-forming the dome using the trackball as a master: when (if) I get some time, I'll try it out. Cheers! 

[Brian da Basher]

Very slow progress, I'm afraid: I've tried to make some modelling time every day for the last week, and almost every time, someone or something has taken it right back off me again....

<snip>

I can totally relate to that, Weaver. Glad you had a moment to post an update. Looks like your Scarab is coming along very nicely!

Brian da Basher

[Weaver]

Went and bought the diorama materials yesterday - gulp: never done this before!  

Latest obstacle is a bad back that makes me larey of sitting on my model-room stool for long.... However, more later.