24 Aug 2010
Before I start any project, I like to educate myself with source material as such:
First you need to start with a base for the Scrappy. Here you can see I've glued together 4 Calvary/Bike bases together. For the top so there wasn't any gaps between the four bases I glued a very thin piece of plasticard (read: a "For Sale" sign).
Here, I've made the "cart" or bottom box that the frame will eventually be made on top of. To the left of the bear, is the harness. I've tried to copy the GW Scraplauncher as close as possible, because it's actually a pretty good design.
Now, in the GW version, they have it on sleds. I'm not 100% sure why this is, so I decided to keep one sled, and then "borrow" one of my Son's toy wheels. Seemed more "Gnoblish" to me that way.
Next up is the frame. Two 'H' frames for each side of the cart. This is what is going to support the Gnoblars on top, so take extra care to make sure they are straight. (I did an "approximation" cut, and if you look straight on at my Scrappy, it's well...wonky.)
Here you can see a better picture of the 'H' frames attached, and the harness for my (eventual Panda) bear. (My Ogre's are on good terms with the State of Cathay, and I've instilled a very strong Taoist/Chinese theme to them)
In this photo, you can see my two diagonal cross beams. These are there purely for stability, and completeness.
Each individual 'H' beam got a balsa wood topper. Then after that, I pressed two sheets together (doubled to resemble wood planks) then I cut them in pinky sized slats (sorry, I don't really know how to describe them). A technique that I've seen in a couple of other places is that whenever you're doing wood flooring with "matchsticks" you cut off all corners pretty much taking a square and making it an octagon.
Finally I've put it all together. I added a mechanism that is supposed to be pulled by the Gnoblars to launch the Rock/Sharp Stuff (I haven't added the bag yet. That's on today's work-list).
And finally we come to the (mostly) completed Scraplauncher. All the Gnoblars have been glued on, and the few rocks and such were glued down to the base also.
=====================================================================
I've learned a lot with this being my first official scratch builing attempt. All I can say is go slow, dry fit, measure, cut carefully, measure, and in the end, it's your model, it doesn't have to be exact so have fun!
I made my Scraplauncher to look like a Chinese Pagoda, and I think it works out nearly exactly as I invisioned it.
If anybody needs help explaining something, or a better picture, I'll be more than happy to offer any help I can.
First you need to start with a base for the Scrappy. Here you can see I've glued together 4 Calvary/Bike bases together. For the top so there wasn't any gaps between the four bases I glued a very thin piece of plasticard (read: a "For Sale" sign).
Here, I've made the "cart" or bottom box that the frame will eventually be made on top of. To the left of the bear, is the harness. I've tried to copy the GW Scraplauncher as close as possible, because it's actually a pretty good design.
Now, in the GW version, they have it on sleds. I'm not 100% sure why this is, so I decided to keep one sled, and then "borrow" one of my Son's toy wheels. Seemed more "Gnoblish" to me that way.
Next up is the frame. Two 'H' frames for each side of the cart. This is what is going to support the Gnoblars on top, so take extra care to make sure they are straight. (I did an "approximation" cut, and if you look straight on at my Scrappy, it's well...wonky.)
Here you can see a better picture of the 'H' frames attached, and the harness for my (eventual Panda) bear. (My Ogre's are on good terms with the State of Cathay, and I've instilled a very strong Taoist/Chinese theme to them)
In this photo, you can see my two diagonal cross beams. These are there purely for stability, and completeness.
Each individual 'H' beam got a balsa wood topper. Then after that, I pressed two sheets together (doubled to resemble wood planks) then I cut them in pinky sized slats (sorry, I don't really know how to describe them). A technique that I've seen in a couple of other places is that whenever you're doing wood flooring with "matchsticks" you cut off all corners pretty much taking a square and making it an octagon.
Finally I've put it all together. I added a mechanism that is supposed to be pulled by the Gnoblars to launch the Rock/Sharp Stuff (I haven't added the bag yet. That's on today's work-list).
And finally we come to the (mostly) completed Scraplauncher. All the Gnoblars have been glued on, and the few rocks and such were glued down to the base also.
=====================================================================
I've learned a lot with this being my first official scratch builing attempt. All I can say is go slow, dry fit, measure, cut carefully, measure, and in the end, it's your model, it doesn't have to be exact so have fun!
I made my Scraplauncher to look like a Chinese Pagoda, and I think it works out nearly exactly as I invisioned it.
If anybody needs help explaining something, or a better picture, I'll be more than happy to offer any help I can.
======================================
I offer advice, suggestions, and critiques. Even if you don't want them. Blame my art professor.
======================================
Fruit Gusher...cuz he's squishy inside.
I offer advice, suggestions, and critiques. Even if you don't want them. Blame my art professor.
======================================
Fruit Gusher...cuz he's squishy inside.
