Scarpia's Warhammer World - Fighta Bomma Conversion

Here are a couple of shots of the completed model - and below, you can find the construction notes. You might want to check out da local def squadron too.

Next on the mad mekanikz hit list is a new fighta bomma for da krew! This will be more of a scratch build than a conversion, so 'ere we go!

My initial plan is build an ork version of the Forgeworld Imperial Thunderbolt Heavy Fighter

I really like the looks of this model, and it's blockiness should lend itself to an ork version pretty well. I am basing the model on the engines from the Star wars pod racer kit, they are exactly the right size and look like the kind of powerful engine any speed loving ork would die for.

This is the engine parts from the Star Wars Episode 1 pod racer model.

And here are the two engines drying. These are sort of a pain in the the grot to assemble, as they are made up in quarters. I found it easiest to insert the two ends before the quarters set up in order to get a proper shape.

The original intake nacelle has the large projection on the right in the center of the intake, I decided to cut it down (the one on the left). Nothing like a burna when you need one!

The two engines now have the intake and exhaust modules in place.

Mekboy gooba whips his human slave back to work.

The two surface devices I debated about mounting, but did any way. These have so much character that I am going to try and leave them as exposed as possible - so now, we need to work on the airframe!

Next on the list was to begin fleshing out the hull. A 25 cm x 5 cm piece of .6 plasticard (very thick) was cut out as basic mold. After cutting the basic rectangle, than the front and back ends were slimmed; 5mm in the front on each side, and 1 cm in the back on both sides.

Note that in this picture the front of the aircraft is to the left.

Here is the bottom panel, made out of .6, very thick plasticard, and the two sides, from .3 stock

and drying in place.

The front grill was added, and recessed in the nose.

The tail section was notched to fit the upper cross beam - note that the tail piece pictured is a skeleton only.

With nose and tail skeleton in place.

On the back, vertical ribs were added to the tail section. These will in turn be covered by thin plasticard.

A better front view of the nose.

Here's a better shot of the tail structure

and from the other side. Again, my concept is to make a skeleton,over which very thin plasticard will be riveted on. I hope it's going to work!

Tail cross section.

Next on my list was the cockpit - and luckily I remembered that I had this Star Wars X-wing model - with a little modifications it fit perfect! The pilot is a fantasy body, ork driver legs, his right arm with the stick is a cut down spear, and I re-positioned his left arm to work the throttle. I am waiting for bitz - in this case, a burna boy head (with goggles)

And just resting in place.

I glued the cockpit in place, and added the twin linked big shootaz on the nose.

I also decided it needed a "jaw" in the front.

I started the skin by adding thin plasticard to the tail section, covering over the ribs.

Here a vertical piece dries before cutting the tail curve.

and with one side dry and trimmed, the opposite side is attached. Before you get all huffy about the panels, just remember one word - rivits.

Here is a very bad pic of the skinned tail. We say Sorry!

Thanks to some good advice, I squared up the tail top.

The green stuff is Squadron green filler, this stuff is great - fills gaps, sands, etc. Runs about $8 for two tubes from Micromark, worth it!

With the tail done, I started on the cockpit back

A front view -note the jaw has been trimmed to the outer dimensions of the fusilage.

Overhead shot.

The pilot has a head!

I (finally) got the rough lower wing structure in place.

With that in place, I started securing the engines to the wing surfaces.

I boxed in the rear gun mechanizm in preperation for the front "mantle"

And inside of it, I added a "structural" strap around the engine. Note some of the gun box area has been shaved down.

Here it is with the mantel cover in place.

Moving to the wings, plasticard was added to provide shape.

Thin plasticard was used on the top surface, and along the front wing edge. Green stuff was used to fill in the wing ends.

It's starting to come along.....I think.

The other side. Some of the wing top plasticard buckled, still working on an idea to fix that.

Spent some time on the bottom half - the big shootaz went in, as well as some "mechaniks" bitz left over from the DE raider and the starwars X-wing.

I couldn't stand looking at the bottom any more, so once the green stuff had dried and I finished the rivits, I primed th bottom. I know, some of them are off, but hey, you drill that many holes and see how accurate you are!

After a lot of thought, I decided on an "open" style cockpit.Here the front sides are boxed in.

And the top put in place. The two plasticard strips near the front are for the windscreen, which will go into place after the model's painted.

The front is tapered to meet the front gun mantel.

After a few more details were added, I primed the model. This does not mean it's ready to paint, but I was having a hard time identifying spots that needed more attention, the primer coat should help highlight them.