RynoCore MLX-250 Haulking class light freighter

puddingwrestler · July 07, 2015, 11:16:59 PM

Having just completed a highly secret wargames-related project which I was commissioned to complete by sinister and secretive commissioning people in the UK, and having been asked by the same persons of mystery if I would expand upon the project to build a whole 10mm scale (about 1:160) space port, I betook myself to the local metropolis of bargains, op-shops and moccasins, Wonthaggi. There I found a toy vacuum cleaner, missing a few parts, at an opshop. Having paid an undisclosed sum (I paid $6 for all the stuff I got, no idea what the vacuum cleaner toy was worth, it had no price sticker. I suspect 50c) I took it home and cackled madly.
Yes gentlemen, ladies, and hippos of all ages, this very vacuum cleaner toy would become the basis of a RynoCore MLX-250 Haulking light freighter. With judicious removal of the wheels, and judicious application of engines and detail parts, I shall transform it from a child's simulation of domestic drudgery into a clapped out, 1:160ish scale freighter, ready to ply the space lanes, and occasionally remove dust from carpets.
Rousing huzzahs!

The Vacuum in question. Dare you question it's fearful majesty?

Helpful size comparison: The Vacuum is smaller than a cat. But is the cat large or small? Who can tell.

(sinister note: the toy was functional, although the batteries were flat. When dismantling it, I discovered it had a removable filter box, which contained a couple of cotton buds... also a doll's leg.)
(further note: when my sinister sponsor recieves his sinister package, I shall post sinister photos of the sinister project on my sinister blog, and you will be able to see what I am on about. Sinisterly.)

NARSES2 · July 08, 2015, 06:29:29 AM

Your imagination is just

JayBee · July 08, 2015, 06:36:40 AM

Sinister!

Captain Canada · July 08, 2015, 06:53:00 AM

Looks like a mid sized cat. The fur and puffy tail are making her look bigger tho, but those cute little paws are giving away her true size. Only real test to see the actuall size is to dunk said cat in water. And good luck with that ! lol

The project sounds fun. And a super secret sisister surprise !

puddingwrestler · July 09, 2015, 02:57:20 AM

Actually, the cat is a transvestite foot-fetishist. He is a boy cat, but everyone things he is a girl cat. And he really loves rubbing against my feet...
So far I have not done anything productive with the project, but soon I shall.
I mean, apart from signing the deal to sell it as part of a commissioned terrain set.

Weaver · July 09, 2015, 01:32:08 PM

Quote from: puddingwrestler on July 07, 2015, 11:16:59 PM
Helpful size comparison: The Vacuum is smaller than a cat. But is the cat large or small? Who can tell.

If you want to work to precise scale, you'll obviously need to get you cat calibrated to ISO standards.

Gondor · July 09, 2015, 02:03:35 PM

Quote from: puddingwrestler on July 09, 2015, 02:57:20 AM
Actually, the cat is a transvestite foot-fetishist. He is a boy cat, but everyone things he is a girl cat. And he really loves rubbing against my feet...
So far I have not done anything productive with the project, but soon I shall.
I mean, apart from signing the deal to sell it as part of a commissioned terrain set.

Does the cat like The Rocky Horror Picture Show though?

Gondor

puddingwrestler · July 09, 2015, 03:58:07 PM

The cat has not seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Yet. I adopted him in September last year, so his experiences are a bit limited so far. He has learned to face palm however.

And what is this? The veil lifts on the sinister secrets of the secret and sinister project?

puddingwrestler · November 07, 2015, 03:40:51 AM

With Duelling Paintbrushes 5 out of the way, I'm finally ready to make some headway on this project. The design is changing a bit in my head... I'm thinking about sawing part of the front off to give a fairly flat nose with massive loading doors now.

puddingwrestler · November 08, 2015, 12:28:20 PM

The engines are started!

Made from a combination of various hose fittings, large toy wheels, plasticard and kit parts. There will be something on the end of the pipes. I know roughly what, but I'm seaching the stash to find it.

RAFF-35 · November 08, 2015, 01:27:47 PM

Everyone knows that ISO scaling is measured using a banana

puddingwrestler · November 08, 2015, 09:48:03 PM

Just got back home from work and raiding the local $2 shops for parts... now to work on the engines some more!

Where are the bananas? How can I ever get iso-calibrated if you don't stock bananas? Stupid human.

puddingwrestler · November 08, 2015, 10:42:53 PM

Behold, completed (probably) engines:

which have been embellished with texta lids among other things... there might be some more detail added, but this is probably it apart fro the mount housings.
And here, with the aid of MDF, is an engine mocked up to the hull:

puddingwrestler · November 28, 2015, 03:30:28 PM

Time for updates!

I had a magazine deadline which meant I had to work on another project, and then I just had a slack week (and lost my Dremel), but now things are back on track!

I used my new fangled picture-framer's mitre saw to cut a chunk out of the front. It was a bit wonky (the saw is awesome, I didn't realise the sides of the vacuum are not square, so it got cut at a bit of an angle.) Much sanding ensued. Then I found my Dremel. And it got faster.

A large chunk was removed from the back to get rid of the unsightly button area and to open up a nice space to mount the secondary engines.

I then consulted the cat for his opinion of my craftsmanship.

Note that I only brought the upper assembly out to photograph. The bottom is less interesting atm.

Now I am off to the $2 shops to buy hose adaptors to build the secondary engines. I need two, and I don't have a matched pair... sigh.
With all the major cutting done, the project will speed up and become a matter of detailing stuff. huzzah!

puddingwrestler · November 28, 2015, 08:44:50 PM

Further progress:

The rear engines:

Being made from some hose parts, a few kit parts, yoghurt sachet caps and a pen lid.

I'm planning to add some guitar string pipes as well.

This is the rear engine hole area. Having glued the top and bottom of the vacuum togther, I had to finesse the cardboard into position using such subtle techniques as holding the whole thing upside down and shaking it.

Decoration with kit parts, tubes, textured plasticard etc.

And with the engines in place. These will not be glued down until the area underthem has been painted.

The whole ship. I'm starying to think it's name might be the Chubby Quokka, in keeping with the Australian animal theme. It's tempting to name it after my consultant, but the cat's name is Milky, which doesn't really work... Why did his former owners have to give him such a non-sci fi shuttle craft name? Why didn't I change it to something like Chromium MegaShark or Laszlo Rockphalus when I adopted him? Who can say...