Screaming Skull Catapult Kitbash, Part 2

Last time, I tackled the basic construction of the machine. Now it's time to address the mechanical details of the winch and modular assembly.

 

 

The Mortek Crawler has this large "spine" that runs underneath it. Since my catapult will sit mostly on the ground, it has to go. But, part of it attaches at the front of the machine, and it forms the connection point for the winch.

 

 

So, I cut away most of the spine, leaving only a small bit to attach to the frame.

 

 

The winch and hook has a small chain made of spinal vertebrae. I cut away the spinal chain wrapped around the winch, and replace it with rope made from 26 gauge wire, twisted with a power drill. To make it a bit thicker than, say, the Ushabti bow strings, I twist together three strands of wire. Next, I drill a small hole in the winch axle and glue in one end of the wire rope, then wrap the strand all the way around, To secure it I use a few drops of extra fine super glue. 

 

 

The other parts of the winch attach as shown here. The line is modeled to look like it runs from the winch axle, through a hole in the platform and under the pulley at the back.

 

 

Before gluing everything, I cut away the spinal chain and replace it with more of the wire rope. My initial plan was to simply run the rope under the pulley like it is in the original piece, but I want the throwing arm to remain articulated, and it will look odd if the rope and hook are just "floating" after the machine is fired. So, the new plan is to articulate the hook as well– The rope running from the axel is glued onto the pulley, and the underside of the pulley is hollowed out to conceal a pin that will serve as the rotation point for the rest of the rope. I separate some strands of the twisted wire and wrap them around the pin (a section of paperclip), and leave enough to create a loop through the hook.

 

 

Here's how it looks when assembled:

 

 

For the hook assembly, I use some of the plastic hooks from the old Chaos Vehicle Accessory Sprue. I trim away the excess plastic, leaving the hook, and an eyelet that will attach to the throwing arm.

 

 

Here's the assembly, and an example of the hook's position when attached, and after release of the throwing arm. After feeding the rope through the hook, I twist some of the wire strands around to tie it off, and fill the cavity of the hook with putty so the whole thing will remain a solid piece.

 

 

With the mechanics of the throwing arm worked out, I sculpt more ties around it to "secure" the eyelet and conceal the seams and cuts in the arm itself.

 

 

I also add some bits of styrene rod to enhance the attachment points at the top. Here's the completed arm:

 

 

I'll need to paint the catapult in sub-assemblies, so I only glue on one side of the frame. (It's the side opposite from the skull pile, so I can easily paint the large skull without the frame getting in the way. I sculpt more bandage ties where the rail connects to the pelvis platform.

 

 

On the removable side, I sculpt similar ties, but leave them separated so they will fit cleanly back together when I glue it all after painting.

 

 

I glue the winch axle to the assembled half, and add the winch crossbar from the Screaming Skull Catapult. It needs a length of styrene tube to create the connection point over top of the winch axel. 

 

 

Here's how the whole machine will sit on the base: I'm thinking about piling up a ton of skulls underneath it to fill in the gaps and conceal the tabs at the front. I like the idea of the machine sitting on a carpet of skulls to help it roll along as it's moving into position or turning.

 

 

Speaking of skulls, I need to add more to the deck of the catapult, mainly to enhance it, but also to cover up the attachment points for the original crew. (One spot is already puttied over.)

 

 

Since the Age of Sigmar model has the "tiny" GW skulls sculpted into it, I use the Citadel Skulls kit to match the aesthetic, rather than my own Skull Forge Scenics skulls.

 

 

I want to add a large skull to the front of the counterweight, and for that I use a resin bit that I had sculpted ages ago. I cut away the back, leaving only the skull's face.

 

 

After trimming the front of the counterweight smooth, I use modeling putty to attack the scull and blend it into the surrounding design.

 

 

I attach another skull to the back and fill in the hook with a little putty so it doesn't jiggle as much while hanging from the throwing arm.

 

 

Here's the full assembly so far:

 

 

One final detail of the machine remains– In my effort to make all of my Tomb Kings models a "glow-up" of my Warmaster army, I'd like to add the skull and horns on either side of the frame.

 

 

I'm not sure if this will work because the Warmaster catapult sides form a sort of "X" with the spikes at the top, and the Mortek catapult will be more of a "Y" and might look too top-heavy. I have some of the large resin skulls, and I used Aves Apoxie Sculpt to smooth over the ridged horns from the Citadel Skulls kit.

 

 

The large skull in the kit could work, but still looks a bit small...

 

 

If I put the resin skull at the top with the horns, it will effectively cover the attachment point for the crossbar, and I'll have to have it peg into the back of the skull:

 

 

As I was typing this, I had the idea to use the skull head and tail stinger from the Khemrian Warsphinx kit. That skull might be the perfect size, but I can't seem to find it– It's clipped off of the sprue and not in my parts box, although for the life of me I can't recall using it in a project. I'll have to dig around a bit more and get back to this...

 
'Til next time!