Colonial Marines APC (WIP) Picture heavy!!!

[Keenan]

You can see the pics here...

http://s1069.photobucket.com/albums/u468/keenan42/ALIENS/

So I decided I wanted a Colonial Marines APC after picking up a Rino and being a bit disappointed in how off it really is from the APC in ALIENS. It would have actually taken more work to mod the Rino, so I'm going with a scratch built version.

So far I have a 1/4" plexi base (Roughly 23 1/2" long and 6.5" wide). I secured the toy lawnmower wheels to the plexi with screws, nuts and bolts.

Next I began making the wheel wells . . .

That's all for now. This was about three hours worth of work. The cost so far, just getting supplies, is around $150.00.

Got to work on it some more . . .

 

[Keenan]

Put the diamond-plate floor in, and started the front . . .

Added some details to the inside. And got the side door finished (I spent about 15 hours on it over the last two days) . . .

 

[Keenan]

 

[Keenan]

 

[Keenan]

Got the driver's side up, and the hubcaps on. Also some more detailing to the rear . . .

 

[Keenan]

Got some more of the interior done (most of it isn't even primed yet) . . .

rear seats-

The chair for the computer section is on rails and also spins 360-

The drivers seat spins 360 (I used what random parts I had to dress up this section)-

 

[Keenan]

This is another 8 1/2 hours worth of work. And I spent another $60 for supplies.
Got the front end finished (except the headlights) and the drivers side. Primed more on the inside to make it uniform too.

 

[Keenan]

 

[Keenan]

Well, I put in another 7 hours. Doesn't look like much, but here's what I got done . . .

Added seat restraints . . .

Added the rear gun tracks (This was an undertaking to say the least) . . .

Gun mount in the up and down positions . . .

 

[Keenan]

Another update that doesn't look like much, but took a bit of planning.
Now she has a roof! It's attached with two hinges. And it stays open when in the up, or open, position.

Here's a look at the front gun, which I almost didn't show because it's such an early WIP . . .

 

[Keenan]

Spent another 4 hours on it. Got the windshield done, and the front gun. Also added more detail to the roof and rear . . .
(Also spent another $80 for supplies)

 

[Keenan]

Another five hours and I got the roof done. Had to order more plastic to do the gun, computer area and finish off the outer dressings. Spent $30.00.

Still cutting and sanding to do . . .

 

[Keenan]

Here's the outside basically done, except for the rear gun and one pull handle. This was another 5 hours on the roof.

 

[Keenan]

Got the rear gun mount set- this allows it to travel the rails and swivel 360 degrees. The section sticking up will go into the gun itself.

Also, added the top section to the side door . . .

 

[Keenan]

Painting her up . . .

 

[Keenan]

Worked on the interior for another few hours last night.
Here's the computer center. (This is the fist time, with this project, that I don't think the pictures do it justice).

 

[Keenan]

Well, except for a pull handle, this one is done. Finished 05/08/10- Took just under 5 weeks to complete. This was another six hours worth of work.

Here's a fast look at the rear gun, and tail lights . . .

 

[Keenan]

Got most of the Colonial Marines done now. There's one MIA.
Here's a look . . .

One more look at the APC . . .

 

[Keenan]

Here are my final set of pics (Well, I'd still like to get a few with ALIENs attacking) . . .

 

[K-Tiger]

Now that's what i like to see. Nice and big, with lots to mess with on the interior.

 

[YT1]

That is amazing work! I built the Halcyon kit a few years ago, but it looks puny compared to yours! Just out of curiosity, what was driving the cost up so much?

 

[Keenan]

Thanks, guys.
The costs were total orders as I made them- the first styrene order- I've yet to deplete. Other orders were for paint, putty and the bits that went into it. So while those were total purchase prices, I didn't necessarily use 100% of it on this project.

 

[Keenan]

Oh, and PS- I just realized I posted this in the wrong section.

 

[NSA]

whoa.

 

[Meddatron]

I remember following the progres pics of this for a while. this is the first time i saw the Marines though. They look fantastic as well. This is fabulous work. Great Detail, great paint, and put together flawlessly.

 

[Rick]

I remember seeing this over on Joecustoms and even showed some of it to the guys here. I was in awe of this thing. A dream with all that interior detail.

Welcome aboard

 

[Keenan]

Thanks, guys.
Rick- glad to be here. It's always nice to branch out and meet new people within the 1:18th hobby.

 

[Dropshipbob]

I too followed this on many boards, I said it there and I'll say it here, this is/was a magnificent body of work!

I love Aliens (hence my user handle) so this brings together two of my favorite worlds (1:18th & Aliens). I've work on a few Aliens items in this scale, but nothing like what you have done.

 

[Keenan]

Thanks, Drop. I wish there was more from the Colonial Marines- a movie based one them, or what not. Would make for great Sci-Fi adventures I'd think.

 

[Ctrl_Z]

My gawd dude. That is beautiful. Why can't toy companies pumps something THIS awesome out.?

 

[Big Jim]

This is sweet, I think you need to post your 1:18 Devastator as well

 

[Keenan]

Ctrl_Z- I don't think toy companies think there's enough money to be made. Unfortunately.

Jim- I'll have to add him. I actually just had to repair his right knee. He's kept outside and fell over in a storm. the plastic joint broke and over the next year only got worse. I finally added a Teco construction bracket to fix it. This was only last week. So good timing in bringing him up.

 

[Fled74]

That is, for the lack of a better word, EPIC.
You did a fantastic job building that from scratch!

 

[NSA]

Still speechless. Ridiculous work.

 

[Big Jim]

Still speechless. Ridiculous work.

Dude have you seen the Devastator he built? Its epically freakin ridiculous

 

[pcsguy88]

Epic! Those Marines are great, but you really need to get your hands on Destro/IG's Smartgun.


Now if only DropshipBob would build a Dropship to carry that bitch....

 

[Tracker]

oh my goodness that spectacularly awesome master piece you've built.

and the marines just wow

 

[Dropshipbob]

Epic! Those Marines are great, but you really need to get your hands on Destro/IG's Smartgun.


Now if only DropshipBob would build a Dropship to carry that bitch....

Oh believe me, I've thought about it! That's one of the reasons I was asking about pilot figures. And there is a site that has paper models available of the dropship. All I need to do is scale them up a bit and transfer them to sheet styrene, etc. The problem would be storing it, the only place I could do that is in the garage, and with everything else stuffed in there, kids running around, it's bound not to last long. I could put it in our attic, but then it would become a hotel for the thousands of brown recluse spiders we get each year.

 

[NSA]

Infested by spiders.. Seems like a fitting fate for the dropship

 

[Keenan]

Oh believe me, I've thought about it! That's one of the reasons I was asking about pilot figures. And there is a site that has paper models available of the dropship. All I need to do is scale them up a bit and transfer them to sheet styrene, etc. The problem would be storing it, the only place I could do that is in the garage, and with everything else stuffed in there, kids running around, it's bound not to last long. I could put it in our attic, but then it would become a hotel for the thousands of brown recluse spiders we get each year.

Do you happen to have a link to that site? I'd love to check it out!
Thanks.