This started in another thread (
http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,25389.0.html), but I figured I post it here...
Dembigtanks had commented that he wished that they would make a MW4 Vulture, and others agreed... After looking at the pictures and at the current sculpt of the Mad Dog, I got into the conversation, because honestly, how hard could it be...
Well, let me tell you... My first thoughts proved incorrect, and I had to revise... And then I had to rework and revise again... and again...
My original plan was to split the torso down the middle, and add plasticard to bulk it up (Ok, that part worked)... I was going to use the launcher that came with it, but they didn't have the right shape... Then I got ahold of an abused Thor/Summoner torso, and chopped that up, but even that didn't have the right look... So I ended up having to build most of the side torsos/launchers from scratch... Oh, there is metal in there... Just enough to drill out the missile holes, and attach it to the center torso... The rest, plasticard and green stuff (which is not my strong suit)... The chin turret is a scratch built piece too...
The arms ended up being a set of Thor D arms (IWM part OP-009 and OP-010), cut from the upper arm and flipped over. The upper arm is from the resculpted Mad Dog.
All the little details you see, are either green stuff or styrene strip..
The legs presented their own problems... Chief among them, a desire to not stay together... I drilled out the hip joint and added a piece of brass tubing to both side, that gave the waist post something more snug to fit into, and the pinned it all... But there just isn't enough there to work with, and it is a weak spot on the mini... In the end, I think it will be the rods coming up from the base, through the foot and into the leg, that hold the mini in place and together.
As for imagery... I leaned heavily on this image.
http://www.sarna.net/wiki/images/a/ab/MWDA_Mad_Dog-Vulture.jpgbut also took inspiration from these also;
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9iMIweN5ntc/S8a1QFNrYAI/AAAAAAAABKw/D5kiv4Arj1w/s1600/Mech+Warrior+4+Vulture+Papercraft.jpghttp://home.roadrunner.com/~cmosturm/vulture-luftshark.jpgIn the end, it took two months get the concept, gather the parts and build it... And I owe both IAmClanWolf and Haku thanks for coming up with some of the parts I needed, and getting them out to me quickly. Otherwise I might still be in the planning stages...
As for the image below... Please forgive... On the best of days, my photo-fu is passible.... But this kind of white on white just doesn't like to show up... I had to play with the lighting a little bit, so the images are a bit dark... But you should be able to get the idea...
Anyway... Here is my take on the MW4 Mad Dog Mk.II
Originally I promised a parts list and how-to... Regrettably, there is so much custom made stuff in this, that what is the point... I used a Vulture "Mad Dog" Prime [20-600RE] and the arms listed above... I guess I also used the side torsos from an OOP Thor, but I wouldn't have bothered if I had known how much I was going to have to cut it down and reshape it. I'd probably have just used the included launchers if I had... (Note: While I guess I could have scratch built the launchers completely, but I prefer the metal to attach the torsos with)...
Finally... I never mention this much... But I want to take a moment to thank Diamond Shark... He's had my back on at least the last half dozen projects, and he's always pushing for me to do better. Which includes a desire to see me do more scratch build stuff... He's been my second set of eyes, my sounding board and my friend... And I honestly think his help shows.
Having said that... “Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will...” I'll get you for this D.S.
As always, comments and suggestions welcome.
Caz