Pimp my DeathJack! – Chassis
I love doing a scheduled weekly post like this. It gives me a deadline and a sense of structured deliverance. I’ll have to keep this method in mind for the future.
Last week, we got the legs and feet assembled. This week, were putting together the bulk of the hulk and gluing the legs to the pegs. Oh man a double rhyme! This post is chock full o’ win!
A little clarification: I use two size pins and pin vises throughout this article. The big pin vise or drill as I refer to it is 1/16″ diameter. When I use this drill, my pins are 1/16″ brass rod. The small pin vise or tiny drill is the diameter of a #1 paperclip. I use #1 paperclips for those pins. I’ll try to be clear as to which I am using.
First, file off the engine compartment hatch of the top of the chassis. Then, grab your glue and an elastic band to glue the chassis together.
While the chassis is drying, drill two 1/16″ holes in the deathjack carapace as shown. On each side, the two middle holes are the those I drilled. The others were existing mounting holes for the standard deathjack cowl. For consistency’s sake, stick your drill bit in the existing holes for a turn to make them all match. Once the chassis is dry, glue the carapace to the juggernaut chassis.
Nice and blurry pic...like Momma used to take.
Find a common nut and glue that to the head mounting point to create a “neck” for the DJ head. Otherwise the head sits too deeply and the horns rub against the carapace and it looks like crap.
Let the whole assembly really dry before continuing. This will save yourself massive amounts of aggravation. The last thing you want is to have to make a threshold check while building a model due to running yourself too hot. It’s not healthy.
Take a deep breath. Exhale. Repeat. I’m going for a smoke.
For those that cant wait, grab the big 1/16th drill bit and the juggernaut hip piece. Drill a hole straight through the leg mounting sockets. Really work that wrist.
Drilling big holes in glued models, is just asking them to break.
Next, glue the waist/hip piece to the chassis. I fiddled around with this a while trying to get the legs and the angle of the body right. Eventually, I settled on something that resembles the normal DJ pose. If people mistook this jack for the standard from a short distance, I’d be flattered.
Yes, it appears in my previous pic, I did not heed my own instruction. Always remember: drill first, glue second.
After, drill holes in the leg’s hip ball joints at the angle you settled with. Glue brass pins in the holes. Let it dry. Glue the legs to the body. Let it dry more. Have a sandwich (ham and cheese on wheat with lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, bacon)
Getting closer....
Moving on, file off the tabs on the bottom of the 4 deathjack exhaust pipes. Using the small drill, insert a paperclip pin to the bottom of each pipe. Make sure the legs are dry first……Work out the best location on the chassis for the exhaust pipe and drill some pin holes and glue those exhaust pipes.
Lastly, set the feet down at legs width apart and glue the legs to the ankles.
O! A foot!
When that glue dries, drill a small hole into the ball of the ankle through the hole you already made in the foot. This is going to be used to pin the model to the base, when we actually get to the base.
Now your monster should look like this:
Its alive!!!! Almost.
That’s it for this installment. Next week, we’re going to get the necro claws working and get a head. Most definitely perhaps possibly without a doubt the base as well. Only time away from my wife will tell…
Farewell!
