After a frenzied night of work, the four wheel steering system is now functional!

https://flic.kr/p/BuuNbj][/url]APC-23 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/B5EQty][/url]APC-24 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/Azp3cH][/url]APC-25 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

There is some play, and I still need to secure the bellcranks and make spacers to keep the steering arms from riding up.  But it works!  BTW, the reason the bellcranks are made up of so many tiny pieces is to allow fine adjustments in spacing the steering arm wires before gluing.  I'm a measure once, cut twice guy, so this approach works better for me!

Now I have to finish doing those tire treads...

Happy Thanksgiving folks!

Real G

Steve,

I think that modeling forums are a lot like kindergarten - it's a place where kids congregate and spread germs to each other.  At least modelers infect each other with ideas, not chicken pox or measles.  Of course, sometimes a thread will catch the diharrea...    So load up on the Immodium and let's see if we can get through this without anyone throwing up and being sent home!

 

Too Right! I nearly always feel as if I just missed the milk and cookies by staying too long at nap time-well off to suck my thumb and think grand thoughts -------------- Was that a squirrel?

Do like the progress in "turning" your model around   

I bent up some steel wire last night to check for smoothness of operation and clearances.  The wire is a little too hard for my girlie arms to bend into precise shapes, so I will be using brass wire for the actual installation.

https://flic.kr/p/AxpXgR][/url]APC-22 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

I made some 0.040" plastic dics to mount the lugs for the steering arms.  These will be glued to the kit wheels, so no rolling around on the carpet when I'm done.

Real G

Steve,

I think that modeling forums are a lot like kindergarten - it's a place where kids congregate and spread germs to each other.  At least modelers infect each other with ideas, not chicken pox or measles.  Of course, sometimes a thread will catch the diharrea...    So load up on the Immodium and let's see if we can get through this without anyone throwing up and being sent home!

 

Sounds like a pretty good description 

And nice work there on the suspension! 

Thanks Bish! As Gamera suggested, maybe someone will tool a new kit.  I'm kind of enjoying myself at the moment, but we really could use some nicer Aliens kits.

I started trying to make the steerings arms tonight, but ran out of wire.  Off to the LHS at lunch time tomorrow.

I had always wanted to gte one of these but never got rounf to it. Your doing a really nice job on this, can't wiat to see more.

Now i wounder if i can still gte hold of one, and those resin wheels.

Steve,

I think that modeling forums are a lot like kindergarten - it's a place where kids congregate and spread germs to each other.  At least modelers infect each other with ideas, not chicken pox or measles.  Of course, sometimes a thread will catch the diharrea...    So load up on the Immodium and let's see if we can get through this without anyone throwing up and being sent home!

OK I dont know what you said, I don't understand what your doing, I can't understand the weird buzzing in may head -eather.

BUT I do love what your accomplishing,   it looks like you have this one on the run. Tires are fantastic (well, except for the left  front- I'm just sayin' ) 

Am following with great interest and making notes for my future builds 

A quick shot of the new chassis.  I am ad-libbing this thing as I go, so I made some silly measurement and conceptual errors, but I think everything will work out.  I sat at my desk until early this morning trying to figure out the best way to get durable and easy to install/adjust steering linkages added.  I think I got it.  Stay tuned...

https://flic.kr/p/BmeJje][/url]APC-21 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

BTW, the kit wheel wells will have slots cut in their sides to allow the new chassis to slide in place.

Excellent mods to this kit. I'm watching and learning 

A small update.  I started making the suspension arms that will allow the wheels to steer.  I'm focusing on making a strong assembly rather than a scale look, so they are just made up of stacks of 0.040 styrene. I used ABS sprue clipped from a Bandai Zaku for the spindles - dirt cheap, tough, and easy!  I am still thinking about how to engineer the steering links, again keeping strength, durability and simplicity in mind.

https://flic.kr/p/AtwiwT][/url]APC-19 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/ASqw6a][/url]APC-20 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

I am planning on building a free standing chassis frame that will take the suspension arms.  This will allow the wheels to be properly aligned and the ground clearance to be evenly set.  This will also make setting and adjusting the steering links easy, as they will be located on top.

Yes BashMonkey, the Drop Ship has a lot of stuff to fix.  But I think the Halcyon kits are sound, and are a good starting point for great looking models.  Things to fix that I'm aware of include the short rear landing gear, plank-like stabilators, and blah cockpit.  The ordnance needs replacing too.  The lack of a payload bay is a Pandora's box, as you would want to make a 1/72 APC to go into your scratch built bay...  Regarding fit, careful prep and spreader bars/locator tabs will minimize the need for filler.

At least, that's the plan according to Burke:  Not to stash, not to take out and study at length, but to actually get out and finish the thing.

"Super cool Real G! Though I have a feeling they'll be a new version of the APC coming out after you do all this work... "

That's OK Gamera, I'll have a finished old kit, and everyone else can get a brand spanking new kit to build!  Meanwhile, I'll start the drop ship.  Then the vinyl Nostromo...

Super cool Real G! Though I have a feeling they'll be a new version of the APC coming out after you do all this work...

In between the boring task of the tire treads, I started fiddling with the other parts like the turrets.  I wanted them to be secured with polycaps, as that would allow them to be added after finishing.  The dorsal turret also needed something to hold it in the horizontal position when stowed in the back of the vehicle.

 https://flic.kr/p/zSYeHD][/url]APC-17 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/AbU1KP][/url]APC-18 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/dPV7AN][/url]APC-9 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

Very sweet so far! I always wanted the Aliens kits back in the day, but they were out of my price range. I really like how you are dressing this up!

Hey, Real,

That is some incredible attention to detail! Very nicely done! Looking forward to more WIP pictures.

Thanks all for your comments!

I have not posted since the "Great White Revolution" of the site, so a lot of the functions looked different.  I was finally able to edit the initial post from my phone, and now things seem back to normal.  Funny, usually I have fits trying to do stuff from my phone, but have no problems using my regular computer.

Alien (1979) was the first R-rated film I saw, and it scared the beejeezus out of me!  I was not 17 yet, so I had to ask my dad to take me.  I remember cowering behind the theater seat, all the while my dad just sat there, and once in a while chuckled and pointed at the screen and said "Oh look, the monster ate the guy, ha ha."  It must have been a really scary movie though, as it was the only one I recall where he didn't fall asleep!

When Aliens came out, I was old enough to go without parental supervision, but it was a lot less scary than the first movie.  I initially didn't like it as it was so predictable that I could see every twist and turn before they happened.  But after watching it several times at home, I have come to love the movie for what it is, a rollercoaster sci-fi action film.  Plus the hardware is so cool!  Too bad the kits are less so. 

I don't know what the quality of the resin tire set is like, but unless you enjoy endless monotonous robot assembly line work, I'd recommend giving it a look.  The rest of the kit just needs careful assembly and some minor detail improvements.  I have seen some incredible on-line builds of this kit.

I'm thinking of lighting the model because as you know, they come mostly at night.  Mostly.

The mod you are doing is looking great!  I use a CAD type program as well and it really does help acurize and speed up complex revisions and redo's like what you are doing.

As to posting on this forum, the program they chose to use might be good for rank beginners, but beyond that it is quite cumbersome and frankly a pain in the CANoli.

Try not to get too frustrated with it.  I would really like to see what you do with this as I have one in my stash too!

Very cool!  Aliens is one of my all time favorites.  Looking forward to the finished product!

Real G

Okay, now the subject title is re-spelling itself.  Twice.  I'm thinking of calling it even and bugging out at this point. One more wonky and it's game over man, game over!

Sounds like a real "bug" hunt to me! 

Just to reassure you, the post looked perfectly normal to me when I first replied.  Might be your browser.  What are you using?

That's an interesting build and I love what you've done with the tires. I remember watching the first Alien film when I was 10, scared the s**t outta me. Now I've seen them all and read many of the books.

i say you take off and nuke the entire site from orbit, its the only way to be sure

Okay, now the subject title is re-spelling itself.  Twice.  I'm thinking of calling it even and bugging out at this point. One more wonky and it's game over man, game over!

Gah, now I can see the edit bar!!! The double photos just magically disappeared too.  What the heck is going on?

Go to infrared people!

Thanks GAF!  In all honesty, the work is horrifingly dull and repetitive.  The resin tire set would be the way to go for most people.  Mostly. 

Sorry about the double posting of photos - for some reason it just came out that way, and the "edit" bar is not there on the original post.  Maybe I can get Bishop to reach the uplink tower, patch in to the Sulaco and fix the problem.  If not, I'll just take off and nuke the post from orbit.  It's the only way to be sure.

Nice work!  A prime example of "I should fix this" syndrome.