Materials for scratch building a t-hawk and titan

[johnnyfoodmaster]

Hey all!

I really want a Thunderhawk and a Reaver Titan but I'm not made outta money, so I'm gonna go the 'paperhammer' route.

I plan to use some sort of plasticard but I don't know what thicknesses. I have the templates for construction but no info on materials.

So, where should I start?

[patzgcrux]

Balsa wood, Foam core boards, PVC piping. There are a lot of articles out there on the web. Here is a good site to go to, he is attempting to build a Warlord Titan. Very helpful.

http://www.paulfrymire.com/

Check his warlord titan section, as far as I can see he is using a multitude of house hold products. You can only go as far as your imagination in converting, scratch building. I would suggest also if you are building a Titan to try to do trial cut ups first, like use cardboard as a template before you start trimming down your raw materials so that you will only waste cardboard and not foam core board, balsa wood.

[crazyredpraetorian]

The main problem I have seen with "paper hammer" Titans is the scale. It is way off.

[Mizzrym]

for the plasticard sheets, get some .5, 1 and 2 mm thickness that shopould be almost all you'll need for most projects

[Mystery.Shadow]

Start with an idea. This one was inspired with a simple box, some cardboard cutouts (later used as templates!) and Engines from a Star Wars Pod Racer. Thank you eBay!

Originally, the Turbo Laser Destructor was going to be a cannibalized Forge World Medusa. But the end result was simply a clicklable 'Sharpie' marker!

The original design is reinforced with chopsticks. Yes chopsticks. These are FREE from your local Chinese Take-Out. I wish I had a picture of the structure, as it is rather impressive. Remember, the triangle is the strongest shape in the universe. Two triangles make a quadrilateral. As plasticard was applied to make the body of the craft it was later reinforced with ordinary playing cards! Once primered, it really looks like a Thunderhawk! Some details were created with Washers and Zip Ties!

The hinged winglets are cabinet hinges. They are screwed into rigid plastic tubing found at a local pet store. The screws are actualy screwed into the platic tubing and NOT into the flimsy plasticard body. The structure is STURDY!

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee221/Mystarian/th_Pic-ThunderhawkWIP1.jpg (http://s228.photobucket.com/albums/ee221/Mystarian/?action=view&current=Pic-ThunderhawkWIP1.jpg)

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee221/Mystarian/th_Pic-ThunderhawkWIP5.jpg (http://s228.photobucket.com/albums/ee221/Mystarian/?action=view&current=Pic-ThunderhawkWIP5.jpg)

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee221/Mystarian/th_Pic-ThunderhawkWIP7.jpg (http://s228.photobucket.com/albums/ee221/Mystarian/?action=view&current=Pic-ThunderhawkWIP7.jpg)

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee221/Mystarian/th_Pic-ThunderhawkWIP12.jpg (http://s228.photobucket.com/albums/ee221/Mystarian/?action=view&current=Pic-ThunderhawkWIP12.jpg)

More follows!

[Mystery.Shadow]

The flying stand was made from a plaque purchased from a Craft Store. The Acrylic Rod (one of the most expensive parts!) came from eBay. There is another plaque screwed into the Pod Racer's Engines so the Acrylic Rod has something to link to.

More details, the tail engine was made from a bottlecap and ball-point pen. There are some side details made from H'or derves sticks.

The Missile/Bombs (and the racks!) are from G.I. Joe toys. Once again, thank you eBay!
There are a few Bitz from past G.W. Projects. Heavy Bolters, LasCannons, Dark Angel Icons, etc.

Make no mistake, this thing is BIG and HEAVY! Perhaps not so heavy as a Resin one, but it's a lot heavier than you think!

Scratch Building isn't as tough as many people think. And can be really rewarding. Although this is not a G.W. product, nobody has had any trouble identifying it as a Thunderhawk. It's a tad larger than the Forge World one, but only in the wings. (This thing IS supposed to FLY now)

Hope this helps! And comments are appreciated.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee221/Mystarian/th_Pic-ThunderhawkWIP16.jpg (http://s228.photobucket.com/albums/ee221/Mystarian/?action=view&current=Pic-ThunderhawkWIP16.jpg)

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee221/Mystarian/th_Pic-ThunderhawkWIP17.jpg (http://s228.photobucket.com/albums/ee221/Mystarian/?action=view&current=Pic-ThunderhawkWIP17.jpg)