{"id":1718,"date":"2008-07-13T20:11:27","date_gmt":"2008-07-14T04:11:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fichtenfoo.net\/blog\/?p=1718"},"modified":"2009-02-12T07:03:10","modified_gmt":"2009-02-12T15:03:10","slug":"in-progress-%c2%bb-kv-x2-to-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fichtenfoo.net\/blog\/in-progress-%c2%bb-kv-x2-to-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"In Progress \u00c2\u00bb KV-X2 to VICTORY!"},"content":{"rendered":"

02.26.08 \u00c2\u00bb Source, Concepts &
\nInitial Scratchbuilding<\/p>\n

I’ve wanted to do a walker version of the KV-2
\nfor some time now. When I bought my last KV-2<\/a>,
\nI did so with the intention of making it into a walker, but
\ndecided instead to built it as is and get some armor experience.<\/p>\n

This time I have a group-build at the Mig Productions
\nforum to inspire me to give it another go. Thanks to Nick
\nCortese, who sent me a spare turret, I can get started on
\nthis. First up is my initial sketches and some sillouetted
\nconcept art for the build.<\/p>\n

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As you can see, I did a bunch of little rough
\nsketches, but through them all something was missing. Finally
\nI figured out what it needed which was a larger tilted rear
\npowerplant and a smaller turret under the midsection that
\nsupports the legs. Doing the sillouetts helped finalize the
\noverall feel and look.<\/p>\n

Once I got the turret and finished my last project
\nI immediately got started on this. So far I have roughed up
\nthe shapes for the powerplant and midsection. These will be
\ncleaned-up and detailed using scratchbuilt and various armor
\nkit leftover bits.<\/p>\n

The powerplant so far is a large box made from
\nstyrene sheet and square tubing for inner support. It’ll be
\ndetailed more as the project progresses. To keep the powerplant
\nfrom being a big boring box, the underside will have some
\nexposed engine detail. Practical? No. Visually interesting?
\nYES!<\/p>\n

The midsection is made from styrene tubing for
\nthe 4 leg attachment sections and the bulk of the midsection
\nis a plastic wire-spool which had it’s middle shortened. This
\nhappened to be just the right size and shape for my needs.
\nI layered the outside of it with bent sheet styrene. Here’s
\nsome pics:<\/p>\n

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02.27.08 \u00c2\u00bb Powerplant Detailing<\/p>\n

Since the last update I’ve worked on detailing
\nup the rear powerplant portion. I used sheet and strip styrene
\nand various armor detail extras from an Academy M-10 kit such
\nas hinges, latches, and bolts. Not to mention a nice big screen
\npiece from that same kit which I use for various detail bits.
\nI also made an external long-range fuel tank and the exhaust
\nstack similar to that on my Dune
\nHopper<\/a>. ( both to be duplicated by casting for the other
\nside)<\/p>\n

The midsection had its hollow center filled
\nwith resin and I started capping off the hollow leg attachment
\ntubes with sheet styrene. Later those jutting pieces will
\nbe cut and sanded down to the same curve as the cylinder.<\/p>\n

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Here in spot “A” I’m debating on adding
\ntorch-cut lines like was done for my other KV-2. I like the
\nlook but am deciding on whether to do it or to let the end-modeler
\ndo it themselves. That space could also have weld-beads too\/instead.<\/p>\n

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02.29.08 \u00c2\u00bb She’s Got Leg…<\/p>\n

Now for the fun part, the legs! Well, ‘leg’
\nactually since I only need to make one then have the other
\n3 replicated when this is casted. I thought for a bit on how
\na leg like this would function and what would be simple and
\n“look” right for the 1940’s time period. Leave it
\nto road construction to provide the answer… BACKHOES<\/a>!
\nThe armature for the hoe would lend itself well for leg design
\nso that’s what this leg is based upon. This leg has four points
\nof articulation. The swivel joint at the connection to the
\nmidsection, two points for leg extention, and one for the
\nfoot.<\/p>\n

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Pistons will be added next and I plan to make
\nthem “movable” so that the legs can be positioned
\nfreely later. The tubes at the articulation points are temporary
\nand better designed joint caps are coming. I also am working
\non two armor sections for the leg. One for the front of the
\nfoot which contains “tread” to help in muddy areas
\nand the larger one to be attached to the front of the leg.
\nBelow you can see the eventual piston placement to control
\nleg movement. And I’ll of course be adding more detail to
\nthese legs to match the rest of the design.<\/p>\n

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03.01.08 \u00c2\u00bb She’s Got Leg…<\/p>\n

Today I did the leg armors and a few of the
\npistons. The reason for the split leg armor is to give a little
\nextra protection to the ankle joint, but to also make another
\n“foot” for the leg. This second foot used tread
\nfrom the KV-2 to dig into the ground for extra support on
\nsoft ground. The pokey foot would make for less contact with
\nthe ground leving far less of a trail… and looks cooler
\nand more bug-like. The pistons are made from styrene tubing.<\/p>\n

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03.05.08 \u00c2\u00bb That’s All… for now…
\n(Caster Needed)<\/p>\n

Here’s the last shots of the build. Now I just
\nneed to find a caster to do the casting for this project.
\nI have a couple leads so hopefully I’ll find one soon. I have
\n12 interested modelers (including me) and am only going to
\nhave 20 or so made in the initial run so let me know if you’re
\ninterested!<\/p>\n

First up are the main body parts. One of everything
\nwill be caseted for the kit except for the fuel tank and smoke
\nstack of which there will be 2 of each. The blue you see is
\nmagic marker that seaps through the primer.<\/p>\n

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And below are the leg parts. Each kit will need
\n4 of each part seen here.<\/p>\n

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Attachment sides of leg-armor plates.<\/p>\n

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Underside of hull.<\/p>\n

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Underside of hull with fuel box and stack attached.<\/p>\n

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Upper hull. You can see the 3 plugs on each
\nleg connection point for the piston hydraulic lines.<\/p>\n

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Side vuew with leg attached. Note white pin\/plug\/pegs
\nto hold pistons and joints in place. These were made from
\nstyrene rod which I’ll include in the kit with these
\ninstructions<\/a> I created on how to make them.<\/p>\n

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Front view of assembled KV-X2. Note smooth flat
\nupper midsection to place any turret assembly on. Or use it
\nas a mount for weapons such as flak cannons.<\/p>\n

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Assembled mech with my old KV-2 turret temporarily
\non top for show.<\/p>\n

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06.12.08 \u00c2\u00bb First Parts Back From
\nCaster!!!!<\/p>\n

Here’s some shots of the first KV-X2 conversion
\nset I got back from the caster. The parts are tinted gray
\nwhich is great on the eyes when doing clean-up. Joint-pins
\nwere made with styrene rod heated into rivets. It builds pretty
\nquickly (I spend 3 hours today on what you see below) with
\nonly a few minor clean-ups needed as is usual with resin kits.<\/p>\n

So far I have about 40 requests for this kit.
\nI have a list of everyone that requested and in the order
\nin which they requested. I will contact those on the list
\nwhen the kits arrive from my caster.<\/strong><\/span> The first
\nrun will be 25 kits then another run of 25 will be done. If
\nthere’s still interest after that then I’ll consider a 3rd
\nrun.<\/p>\n

Final price will be $60 USD. (send
\nno money until I contact you)<\/span> Included in the kit will
\nbe:<\/p>\n