WARHAMMER 40,000: DAWN OF WAR II - RHINO DIARY 2
The custom Blood Raven Rhino starts to take shape...
Following last week’s roof remodeling work the Rhino project has really been taking shape.
Working around the clock, a team of expert metal workers got to work fabricating the distinctive front and rear arches of the Warhammer 40,000 Rhino as well as prepping the sides for the assembly of the skirts which will cover the vehicle’s tracks.
To allow access to the tracks themselves for repairs the team at Tanks-A-Lot fabricated a removable frame for the side plating and doors to be attached to. The idea being that the entire side panel can be removed for maintenance access. The side plates were then welded to this framework and fixed in place using the same bolt points as featured on the Games Workshop tabletop model.
A local engineering firm has been hard at work fabricating the rear ramp and a suitable remote control winch to open and close the back door at events. The idea is this ramp will be controlled using a remote control and will incorporate a CO2 gas release mechanism to give the impression of an air-lock being opened.
The team has also been refitting and testing the engine and gearbox for the tank as well as fabricating a new quad exit exhaust system to make use of the Rhino’s distinctive four chimney design. This custom built system will feature no silencers or baffles giving the vehicle a bone shaking roar when it fires into life.
Finally the expert welders on the project have been working on the vehicle roofline, fabricating gunners turrets as well as cutting double hatches at the rear end of the vehicle like the ones on the model.
You can see the Rhino taking shape in our Flickr Gallery.
Meanwhile the experts at ‘Eavy Metal, Games Workshop’s in house elite painting team have started work on the model Rhino tank on which the Blood Ravens paintjob will be based. If the level of detail they included on the interior of the model is anything to go by, this will be something special!
Make sure to check back here next week when we will be combating the electrical system as well as firing up the tank to make sure everything works perfectly before sending it to the paintshop!
The Rhino will be making its public debut at Games Workshop Games Day at the Birmingham NEC on 14th September. Click here for more information or to book tickets for the event.
