The Tumbler

[kingpin141]

I was out with the Mrs the other day and I saw this on a market stall for a tenner. Much begging, pleading and promising to shut up about it later, I finally owned the bestest vehicle in the world. It's a kids toy with flashing lights and everything. These will be removed and replaced. As a toy it's outstanding, as a replica....It's not really up to task. I intend to superdetailed and light it. And if I can figure out a way of doing it, having the cockpit open as it does on the real thing. At the moment it's a flip top lid. The supports for the rear wings have to go to. Waaayyyyyyyy to thick and totally the wrong shape. While searching the net I found Nathan Crowleys (Designer with Christopher Nolan) concept art for the cockpit. You don't really get to see it in the films anyways. So that is my guide. If you press a button on top the sides spring open and massive silver missile launchers pop up. These will never see the light of day again.

[kingpin141]

This is the cockpit as is. Attachment DeletedI'll be converting it to two seat with (hopefully) lots of illuminated panels and screens. I'm going to use clear plastic for the consoles etc so ,if all goes to plan, I wont need so many LEDs. And and afore mentioned carbunkle that is the launchers. And this is where i'm up to so far. Attachment Deleted

[TRM]

Cool find!! Not usually my sandbox but sure can enjoy any good build! I do have a friend that will be all over this!! Keep it coming!!

[wbill76]

Neat project, ought to be a lot of fun to get it up to speed!

[deafpanzer]

No kidding my boys used to have this toy years ago. It was a great toy! Please count me in!

[Leon]

Count me in KP.This looks like a really cool project.Anything goes here's on MSC.

[venom1]

Awesome! I have the Bandai 1/35 kit of this baby! One of my favourite cars ever!

Look forward to seeing the end result!

Cheers,

Sam

[kingpin141]

today I've filled in the button holes. now to sand and smooth. I also cut off the big black chunky thing and made a replacement which is a mite finer. Once i've got some white plasticard that's what everything will be made of. Next, lighting for the interior. I intend to use a a 20 white LED xmas lights set. I'm attempting to make light tunnels down each side of the interior roof to cast a nice glow

[kingpin141]

Then a proof of concept for the front console. Attachment DeletedAttachment DeletedAttachment Deleted

[TRM]

Nice going!! Make some good headway!

[kingpin141]

After a pleasant afternoon with cardboard and duct tape, i've been playing about with the cockpit layout..this was my first attempt.

[kingpin141]

The seat is too small but im happy with its basic shape. And the frame on the side. And this is my second attempt. Slightly larger seats and the centre console. Which I jazzed up a bit. Attachment DeletedAttachment DeletedAttachment Deleted

[Leon]

This is looking way cool KP :DKeep up the good work.

[wbill76]

Making good progress on this one KP, enjoying the ride.

[kingpin141]

In approx 5 Billion years our Sun will go pop and utterly destroy our entire solar system. Nothing will be left except rubble, and this Tumbler, which will continue on completely unruffled. I've never worked with such undestructable plastic. So, much swearing later I've gone from this.. To this..

[kingpin141]

Thats both sides done for now.Attachment Deleted I'm pleased with how it came out, apart from the bit where I merrily started cutting, then realised it was the wrong place.Attachment Deleted The white part you see is plasticard to try and make that part look like a separate piece , as opposed to one moulded piece. I think I'll end up doing this to most of the panels so i can put panel lines etc on.

[Mence]

Great project, I'm in...albeit late.

[kingpin141]

Thats the basic centre console done and the seat. and the fitting for the ejector system

[kingpin141]

And the two seats. The one on the left being set to Batmans driving position Attachment DeletedAttachment Deleted

[deafpanzer]

Interior looking good!!!

[kingpin141]

I've cut out the bay for the battery pack. I'm using 20 white LEDs which needs 3AA batteries. Luckily there is a large space behind the cockpit where the rocket launcher mechanism was, so you'll be able to slide the battery pack in and out. And i've cut out the air intake thingies infront of the back wheels

[kingpin141]

My first lighting test. They won't be blue for long. There's supposed to be two headlights on each side, but because im using a comparatively large lighting set, I can only get one LED on each side. Me mate Albert came up with a brainwave for what was my biggest headache. Getting the roof to open like the real thing. I didn't even get close to a solution when he looked at me like I was the thickest man that has ever lived and simply said. "Mechano". Genius!

[Leon]

Making good progress on this KP.Really like the lighting.

[kingpin141]

That's 3 hours happily whiled away. I've made the control column/steering wheel tonight. It comes out from under the seat, which means something got to change so that the seat is low enough to fit. A task for tomorrow me thinks. There's 6 lights on the column headstock. Each light is 3 fibre optic cables, from now defunct garden lights. The fibres run down the back of the column. I'm going to leave them on display. As a rule military vehicles tend to be somewhat lacking in the interior refinement. Attachment Deleted

[kingpin141]

The column as it will be with the seat. Tomorrow once it's all properly dry I'll have a skeg through me parts box and jazz it up a bit. There's bits that aren't quite straight. These i'll have to live with, and hope I can find some more talent from somewhere for the next time.

[kingpin141]

On another note, I went on the meccano site and found....Absolutely nothing useful at all. Most dissapointing. If anyone has any idea's as to how I could make the roof mechanism I will me eternally grateful. Cheers

[Leon]

Nice work on the column KP.

[kingpin141]

I've made the display for the centre console tonight. There's an LED coming up through the console that should hopefully light the screen. Attachment Deleted

[kingpin141]

This is Batmans seat and console upto now. There will be fibre optics coming up into the small console on the left. Attachment DeletedAttachment Deleted

[Leon]

Moving along nicely KP.Gotta love those fibre optics.