eldar vyper jetbikes
The Eldar Vyper suffers from a dated model and poor rules that don't stand up to scrutiny when compared to the vastly superior Hornet. When the Dark Eldar Venom was released, I saw an opportunity to update the Vyper to a more modern design. It took a while to come up with a concept that I was happy with, but I was pleased with the results. I acquired enough components to build a pair of Vypers simultaneously.date: 2014 - present (work-in-progress)
components (per Vyper): 1x Dark Eldar Venom, Eldar Vyper turret components, 1x Falcon cockpit, 1x Forge World Eldar Hornet pilot, 1x Eldar War Walker pilot head, 1x transparent Craftworld Eldar canopy, 1x Eldar Windrider Jetbike twin-linked shuriken catapults, 1x Eldar Windrider Jetbike shuriken cannon, neodymium magnets (various sizes), transparent styrene rods, brass rod, Green Stuff, plasticard (various thicknesses)
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The port fin on both Vypers was damaged in transit and will need to be repaired.
The forward prongs were shortened to distinguish the profile from the Dark Eldar Venom.
This part of the hull was cut away to accommodate one of my magnetised canopies.
This area of the underside was cut away so that a standard Craftworld Eldar cockpit could be used instead of the Dark Eldar Venom cockpit.
1. The first of the two Vypers begins to take shape.
2. The underside of one of the Vypers.
3. With a bit of modification, a Craftworld Eldar cockpit and pilot can be fitted into the Venom's upper hull.
The high sides of the Venom were cut away.
This piece of plasticard will form the base for the turret's platform. Further detail will be added later.
Thick plasticard was used to extend the fins. These will be blended in and panel lines added to make them look more appropriate for a Craftworld vehicle.
4. Rear view of one of the Vypers, partway through construction.
5. I modified the Vyper gunners so that they appear to actually have necks, unlike the standard combined upper body/head (seen on the right). The head will be replaced by one from a War Walker pilot - the design is very similar to the original Vyper gunner's helmet but looks less dated.
6. A mock-up of one of the Vypers at an early stage of construction.
7. A close-up of the converted Vyper gunner.
8. At this point, both Vypers have been assembled.
9. Rear view of one of the converted Vypers.
10. Work-in-progress shot of the underside.
11. The two bases for my Vypers. These are interchangeable with the bases for my Hornets.
12. One of the two completed Vypers.
13. A close-up of the panel lines on the converted fin. These fins are more appropriate for a Craftworld Eldar craft than the original Dark Eldar Venom fins.
14. The rear of the Vyper has been asembled using plasticard, with a magnetised mount for the Vyper's rotating gunner nest/turret.
15. An underside view of the Vyper. The twin-linked shuriken catapults are from the new Windrider Jetbike kit and are magnetised. They can be swapped for a shuriken cannon.
Additional panel lines have been etched into the area around the cockpit.
As with all of my vehicles, the cockpit canopy has been magnetised so that it can be removed to view the pilot inside.
16. The pilot has been replaced with one from a Forge World Eldar Hornet, which has a much more modern design.
17. A view of the rear of the Vyper.
18. The gunner's weapon mount has been magnetised; it can accept any of the heavy weapon options from a Falcon or Wave Serpent.
19. The completed pair of Vypers, ready for undercoating.
20. The completed pair of Vypers, now undercoated.
21. A close-up of one of the two Vypers.
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