Friday, May 17, 2019

Rhino Conservation

In my quest to build a local military for the Tartarus Rim I found myself shopping the used tank market and acquired these two Jim Dandies. Both fairly low mileage. Probably no major battles, just a border skirmish or two. The first previously belonged to an Orkish band, if the dealer is to be believed. This one was in basic black and had all the original fittings, save for the headlights. Maybe orks don't fight at night. Or maybe \they understand that lights just attract fire and so they prefer to use passive sensors. Either way, local doctrine required at least one light be mounted for emergencies, so we'd have to come up with that somewhere, but otherwise evict the freebooters, change the locks, slap on a new coat of paint, and this sucker was ready for a new life.

(Photo courtesy of eBay used tank dealer game-sgt.)

The second is a rescue dog. (All the best dogs are rescues!) It had a few more miles and had clearly seen some action, but the tracks were good and the headlights worked. In fact, it had two. That's one problem solved! It didn't have all the fancy fittings, but the exhaust pipes hadn't rusted out, which was nice. Of cousre, it had a UK style right hand drive, which just wouldn't do, and someone had welded the top in place, so that would require fixing. But in general, this was modable. Fixable. Good material.

(Photo courtesy of eBay's ratman3022.)

The Cerous-Rhino was easier. With the headlight liberated from the wolf tank, a few sealed openings, and a fresh coat of paint the green wagon became a nice cozy pinky pusher.



Not too shabby if I do say so myself! Bringing the mighty wind back from the wolf time was a little more work, but it too was achievable. Below you can see it with the markings rubbed out, the drive moved to the left as it should be (and thus the boss man's perch moved to the right), and the top removed for repairs. To get all the hatches to work the rotating structure needed a little push aft and some shaving to port and starboard.


Here you can see how the new command perch works. The commander who will occupy the catbird seat can be seen to left above, also trimmed down considerably. There's really not much detail, since you won't be able to see much. The perch is the dorsal turret off a B-17, I believe it was. (Though B-24 and 25 models use the same or similar parts. The positions are similar enough looking in reality that I'd not be a bit surprised if they were all produced to the same plan.) Beyond that, I painted the interior a nice zinc-chromate color, so that if you see it, it will at least be green.


Once sealed back up she received a coat of paint, a unit ID, and some appropriate custom art.






Anyway, long story short, it was fun painting with the big brush for a little while.

6 comments:

  1. Love this conversion. I have a pile of old Rhinos to rework and you are supplying me with some good inspiration.

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    1. I've still got a couple in the cue myself, as well as a Spartan and a Land Raider. I must admit, I'm enjoying taking a peek at your own conversion work and old-miniature resuscitation. Good stuff!

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  2. Nice recovery job. I love the desert cammo pattern, and the dice and the rest of the stuff are pure RT love. So cool!

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    1. I think it's almost a universal imperative that any vehicle numbered seven in the English language must be named "Lucky" and there should be instruments of chance depicted in its heraldry. I believe I stole the idea from a Monogram B-29 kit, actually. And painted it large and loud as a mural on my dorm walls when I was a Freshman in college, seeing as we were on the seventh floor. (Included was a particularly odd poker hand with certain symbolic implications to those in the know.) Anyway . . . Thank you! To make it even better? The dice on each side each display a seven, but each does so through a different combination. What gamer doesn't love painting dice on things, really? The more the merrier. (Might have to work in others later in other styles, to imply that nerdier dice are still with us in the far distant future.)

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    1. Thank you Warburton! It was a decidedly fun time to get out the big brushes and paint something plastic for a change of pace. :)

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