Kitbashing a Grim Dark Robot model - from Scratch

Scalemodel tank build gone wrong. For The Big Bot Bash I kitbash a 1/35th scale panzer kampfwagen into a Weird robot. Paint it very worn and battered with some simple and efficient techniques.
Junkbot generator: www.thegutterl...
The Big Bot Bash Playlist: • BIG BOT BASH
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#bigbotbash #scalemodel #miniaturepainting #52miniatures #kitbash
All the other crafters and creators doing the Big Bot Bash:
@Bill Making Stuff
@MSPaints1931
@Miscast
@Ben_has_hobbies
@Dan_Does
@slimehousetv
@Boylei
@wittlegoblin
@Tine_Fieldling
@eye_made_this
@CCMinis
@DarkMatterWorkshop
@Atbel
@Scratch Bashing
@thetiredcraftsman
@Gameyy Builds
‎@WeltenbauerClub

[@BillMakingStuff]

that face is freaky. And the model is great too... Knew you could do it, thanks for taking part!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Bill! And thank you for inviting. I was utterly at a loss there for a while before I realised I could cheat my way through the mission.

[@Boylei]

Very nice! Looking forward to watching this dude touch down on that battlefield of yours!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Boylei! I'm looking forward to the same :) Will be checking out your video asap.

[@MJRLHobbyStuff]

Heay! I’ve been watching the entire playlist. Starting with yours

[@NewSquallor]

If you add a VHS filter to this entire video it would make an amazing "found footage" style hobby film. It's already more than half way to that destination anyway. Mad Alex Labs, deep in a bunker somewhere in the north. No masks, all fumes, and fevered building. On the other hand, don't listen to me. Awesome little bot.

[@zramirez5471]

I'm only purchasing the VHS release if the package says "Please be kind; rewind!"

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you hunnit Clive and as always thank you for the support. I did experiment a bit with this video, some things I like some feel a bit rushed. But a good experiment and a fun challenge

[@W1LYKAT]

What a beautiful piece of cinematography, I feel like I'm watching a personal diary of man living next to Roadside picnic

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you W!

[@timothyyoung2962]

Reminds me of some kind of haunted, Deiselpunk golem. I could see that beast terrorizing some scavengers in Forbidden Psalm: The Last War.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Tim! Your quite right there :)

[@TheNeonCaster]

The nervous energy bubbling behind the entire video is exactly how I feel about tricky kitbashes 😂 Both a very funny ep and a very cool result!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks man, it was a bit different but also fun to see it come together.

[@philgee486]

I want to see the dinosaur kitbash for a world transformed vid!! No joke I do!

[@52Miniatures]

Hah! of course you do Phil :)

[@ger5956]

I’d watch it 😅

[@marklindsey4112]

Thoroughly enjoyed that Alex, and your semi-panicked intro was really funny. A great robot build.

[@SweenyMarc]

I love how this came out. I definitely would have leaned more heavily into the body horror and got some more trapped soldiers in there for more "bone" though! What a freaky effect. If it's a bit unstable, perhaps some thin armature wire from the electric hands could trail across the floor to provide additional points of contact with the ground?

[@danyael777]

A battlefield junk golem. Nice idea.

[@handcannonart]

I think everything falling apart randomly at different times really showed the actual steps in kit bashing things...😅

[@gameyybuilds]

Awesome work, dude. Love your studio space, too!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks GB! Always such a mess but that's the way of things I guess.

[@CronosVids]

The style of this was such a departure from your usual clean and calculated ways, it was a bit unsettling. But it shows you’re an excellent videographer.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Cronos!

[@joseraul65]

Love the faces in the bot

[@willsuttie3683]

A layer of gloss varnish before the wash will help it flow and protect the glue!

[@ch3shire]

heads, after a while they will become bones. is an accicdentally very unsettling line

[@zarlus8]

I think you got the most unique traits for your bot.

[@allison_silverhair]

A master of the narrative and a cute little face to boot! Stomp stomp stomp 😂 Wonderful video again Alex.

[@52Miniatures]

Hah, Stomp! Thanks Allison!

[@wittlegoblin]

I've been one of those people a little hesitant to try oils but you've got me inspired! This is gorgeous, what a face!

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you Wittlegoblin! Oils are magic. A different workflow and takes getting used to but def a great tool. Looking forward to checking your bot bash vid out.

[@tthreem]

Hey Alex, I really enjoy your videos and your sense of humor. I'm keeping my wife awake because I keep laughing at your comments. Thanks!! 😂

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks TT! Great to hear.

[@MSPaints]

It genuinely upsets me how everything at 8:13 looks perfectly exposed and you probably weren't even trying. Looks this bot as well!

[@52Miniatures]

Hah! Thanks mate. I don't mean to upset you further.. but no, I was not trying. But let's just say I got lucky. Looking forward to watching your vid.

[@54tisfaction]

17:21 "...and then lightly... Whoops, that wasn't 'lightly', was it..." Leaving this in shows Integrity and humour, and that is why I like your videos! 😂

[@52Miniatures]

I appreciate it!

[@AlexAshpool]

Great build, kitbashing is it's own skill and it is nice to see it included in the bot bash. The concept of the face is horrifying and I love it.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Alex, I appreciate it.

[@markfrommontana]

way to go Alex..I love the Crusher. Now, thanks to you, I am not and have not been afraid of oil paints, however I am making a note never ever to purchase that fancy hobby oil wash and solvent that crushes sprue goo and model cement. Yikes! A thoroughly enjoyable video; your Bot will be a formidable foe battling soldiers and other spirit types in A War Transformed.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Mark! Yes, I'll definitely stick to the traditional art suplies from here on. The bottles of oil wash in the video have been permanently removed from my rack.

[@martynjones3978]

WOW “fancy pants” you got trolled by the dice!! 😂😂😂 Good effort tho you created a really bizarre yet cool looking bot thing 😊

[@52Miniatures]

Def. trolled by dice! Thanks Martyn.

[@Bruce-Zatarra]

Fantastic model. It needs a bit of bulk on the back. An old crate or something around the upper back. Just a thought.

[@MentatOfDune]

Great looking mini.

[@zramirez5471]

My favorite part of the whole thing is because the robot is predominantly clockwork, you could still theoretically use it for part of a fantasy gnome army, or like city states (even better for the Conquest equivalent)

[@52Miniatures]

A magnetised weapon load out would have been cool. Like one with axes and swords instead of electrical poles.

[@fancifuldevices]

So cool! I liked seeing you struggle out of your comfort zone. The paint job was absolutely beautiful

[@52Miniatures]

Glad you liked it!

[@poppetangel]

You did a great job with this. I love that you've made it fit with your own story.

[@52Miniatures]

I'm glad you like it

[@Virakotxa]

Magically enhanced WWI robot?? From a different universe than Bangarang... Someone rolled triple "Fancy"!

[@david1274]

That poor Panzer IV 😉 For the price of that kit you would get a combat patrol box. Anyway nice video & oils are great!

[@52Miniatures]

Indeed! Darn expensive kit. But it's been lying around for probably ten years and so this way it's getting used at least. And plenty more plastic to use in there.

[@badfieldtrip]

My jaw dropped when you brought out the face. This is such a wonderful, cool, weird build!

[@NudocPRIME]

I love this video . Very different style . But very funny and fun plus a great build . Well the glue iissue wasnt fun or funny. But showed that everyone runs into issues you dont expect.

[@leflstopmotion]

Hello! Great work. I came because of Bill making stuff's recommendation.Congratulations!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Bill! And thanks for watching

[@HerbaceousM8]

very tech "golem" like.

[@moda78z]

Knäppgöken Bill skickade hit mig! Din bot ser schysst ut! 👍👍👍

[@52Miniatures]

Tackar! Hälsa knäppgöken

[@blakec1924]

Great build and loved the creative process explained behind it. Look forward to more of your creative kitbashes as you go!

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you Blake, I appreciate it

[@ovan2190]

This was honestly a great watch, it gave an excellent perspective on your thought process and while you do explain it to us this was an great representation in real time so to speak I think it turned out well in terms of Bone legs I think that un armored mechanical legs counts as the bones of a metal construct the hands are my favorite part thoughts the use of the telegraph poles definitely were a great choice. It honestly looks like it was put together by magic Great Job Alex :)

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you Ovan! I appreciate it truly.

[@papertabletop]

Finally got round to watching thos! DEFFINITELY NOT TRASH! 😂 but once again, well done!

[@52Miniatures]

Hah! Thanks P

[@redrooster7371]

Awesome cinematic video as always.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Red 👍

[@billcurran7210]

I do love watching your mistakes from time to time. Note to self, when I decide to work in oils use traditional oil and white spirits, don't buy into 'miniature' oil paints. I love the finished robot, and all the new videos/content creators to watch!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Bill. I intend to make a video on oil paints. The tricky thing with artist paints is that they are all pretty much single pigments and sometimes that requires a bit of knowledge. Where as the oil paints from AK for example are mixes that can assist when doing some effects. So for example, a single pigment "orange" is probably slightly transparent because of the pigment and will not make good rust effects. Where as the AK oil paints are mixed to be opaque and is a bit of a shortcut to make rust stains. But when making a wash for example, the opposite may very well be true.

[@DarkMatterWorkshop]

👌excellent paintjob as usual, love it ! .

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you humbly!

[@encouragingthings]

I'm not sure which I enjoyed more; the build or your absolutely insane camera work. I think it's a bit of a tie, really. Great work on the bot and thanks for a wonderful video!

[@52Miniatures]

Humble thanks E, thank you 🙏

[@garyjenson1326]

Two weeks ago while cutting a piece out of a mold I sliced right though my pinky finger. I feel your pain Alex...maybe I'm reading too much between the lines?😂 Also the faces inside your crusher are inspired.

[@52Miniatures]

ah! this was actually a onion related injury :)

[@bob_dobbs]

Great Bot Build! I appreciate your first attempt to use found objects. That can be quite difficult w/out a little luck.

[@Geistermoor]

I've seen some previews at the discord but I didn't notice the heads and they are freaking me out in the best possible way - what a work of art. I really wish I had junk like this laying around... what a coincidence and how handy for this challenge ^^

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you Bea. Yeah, very handy trash to have around! I should buy, I mean, gather more.

[@avivat3010]

Your bot has great character and life! Really well done. Thanks for sharing.

[@52Miniatures]

Glad you like it Avivat!

[@erikbraun473]

I've been excited to watch this since the Discord message was sent out announcing it. I'm glad you went with the "garbage kit" route. It was much more interesting and enjoyable to watch in my opinion. Thanks for another great video!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Erik, I'm glad I decided to make it a kitbash too.

[@Nooneslama]

I'm so into it, can't unsee it once u see it! freakin love it!

[@markgnepper5636]

Great stuff friend 👏 👍 Thanks for sharing your journey

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you Mark, hope you are well.

[@jonbauml225]

Challenge met!

[@NowUndefined]

I love all the details ❤

[@shinybugg9156]

The lighting in the beginning makes me feel like he's about to show me his human bones collection.

[@52Miniatures]

What happens in the bunker stays in the bunker

[@ben_has_hobbies]

Going wrong in the best sense. Turned out amazing! Awesome video.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Ben! Great to be in a challenge together

[@reddogterrain]

Good job.

[@KeithPare]

It's so interesting to see you so flustered as I feel like you're always so calm in these videos but I absolutely love this end result.

[@Senbei01]

Grim Dark? Needz more Skullz!

[@Haunted_Gallows]

I learned about Sprue Glue a good while ago from one of your earlier videos. I still use and swear by it to this day. Its a wonderful idea.

[@52Miniatures]

Great to hear! Thanks Justin

[@Ckapter]

This Big Bot Bash colab has been really fun to watch.

[@Bruce-Zatarra]

Keep it real!

[@r1ck5m1th]

Very very cool! Always loved your stuff mate but love finding new channels through colabs like this

[@52Miniatures]

Awesome, thank you!

[@WulvenKraft]

This turned out great!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks W!

[@victorrivera022]

That turned out good! Great job on this attempt at a different format!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Victor!

[@spinymausgames1866]

I think the first video I watched from you was one where you were going through the recycle bins to build an ork town so this certainly fits haha

[@52Miniatures]

Hah! That’s a while back now. Thanks for sticking around

[@cerisekappes580]

Looks amazing!!! Completely out of your usual but you created beautifully!!! 😊😊😊

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks C!

[@cerisekappes580]

@@52Miniatures you are very welcome 🤗

[@bjscustoms]

Fantastic build brother you did an outstanding job man the paint job looks great.

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you humbly 🙏

[@ChibsterofNurgy]

Looks great 👍

[@thatotherguy7596]

Hi Alex. It seems to me that the average bits box is full of junk, and junk is trash, so I think you're good. 🙂 Your robot came out great. Keep having fun. 👍

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks ToG! Good to hear from you :)

[@jamfjord]

This video is exactly why I bloody love your channel, Alex. Bravo

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Jam! I appreciate it

[@thorikstoneshield3716]

Hi Alex, I have to say, it makes me smile to see you having issues with something, you're always very accurate, and I love to watch you work, but you know, sometimes things just go wrong, take a breath, and go on, I really loved to watch you working out this mini, it's been "challenging" to work on something out of nothing? To see something and picture it out as something different?

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks for that T. It was a challenge in the sense of proportions and position. Getting all the bits together and the story together was fun.

[@Bootywurk]

That's a creepy bot! Creating some forking electricity around that hands could be cool - just for an extra layer of menace

[@isisnmagic1812]

Great video, thanks for sharing your journey, and letting us know what to avoid 😅.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks as always Is!

[@evil_noodles]

Always a highlight when you post!

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you Evil

[@goforitpainting]

Awesome 🤖

[@nplillustration]

Loved this little thing. It almost looks cute!

[@Starstrykerx]

Very cool Alex! Kit bashing is fun and that turned out pretty nice. Great inspiration as always and I think I am going to have to pick up a copy of A War Transformed for my collection, everytime I watch one of your videos lately I find my self going and looking at it on Amazon....😗

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks man, I mean, its great just for the art :)

[@ryanmartin1283]

One of the cooler kit bashes I've seen!

[@Matt-md5yt]

glad my friend gotten part of the great Bash that Bill started

[@52Miniatures]

Fun challenge Matt!

[@crystalclearchaos5387]

You could have gotten some skeleton minis or citadel skulls boxes for the legs

[@sonjabutler7188]

Oh boy, wouldn't know where to start. Much like cobbled-together weapons systems used in resistance movements. While not an exact historical parallel, (history doesn't repeat itself but it often rhymes) it reflects the spirit of improvisation and adapting existing technology to achieve new objectives. (I am not suggesting resistance movements for any country)

[@timjupp2334]

It reminds me of a character from kids books . Like iron giant

[@magnusmillerwilson]

Dude, Alex, the look on your face in the first 5 minutes of the video is so “I am a mile outside of my comfort zone.” I love it! Really fun to see your entire creative process with the dinosaur and the monster truck. I was laughing. That’s the look I get on my face when I have to deal with trash, too. 😂

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Magnus, I was outside my comfort zone at first but also kind of a little stressed to get this one done.

[@Dan_Does]

This is how you paint a Big Bot

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you Dan! I do enjoy myself a spot of bot painting

[@CCMinis]

Lovely build and paint job Alex! That head is so so freaky

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks man! Been very busy and still not had a chance to watch any of the other video, but looking forward to getting around to yours 👌

[@BunsenB14]

I don't know if it would make a difference, but I find Tamiya's regular liquid cement holds better than their Extra Thin formula. I have also experimented with water colour paints. You can get the same effects as oil paints, but with water as a solvent. You need to do it later in the process because it never dries permanently, you can always reactivate water colours.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks for the tip B!

[@Tine_Fieldling]

This is so cool!!

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you Tine! Looking forward to checking out your video

[@jonnil1997]

I love it, looks kinda cute untill you notice the human face.

[@TBL_stevennelson]

Do like a good kit bash themed video

[@janandersson9411]

Trash: the things you need two weeks after throwing them away.

[@1annicej]

💚

[@spacetoy4584]

Got the feeling you had a tough time with him, but he or it turned out great

[@52Miniatures]

Aye, and a bit pressed for time. But good practice that too. You doing well?

[@spacetoy4584]

Had a very nasty flu a few weeks back and work life has gone a bit crazy - but I'm okay now after a nice weekend with friends and a bit of painting random things@@52Miniatures

[@X.davidWilliams]

Huzzah

[@thoughtengine]

Can't fathom why the solvent would dissemble a joint created by what is supposed to be melting and fusing the plastic together. Though I have found that the Tamiya paint-on solvent can be too thin and not melt enough of the plastic; so I often put gobs of thick tube solvent right in the middle, then paint-on solvent around the outer edges of the mating surfaces.

[@MarcinEstkowski]

This type of walking around video turned out great! You've made a mistake, when you said "nothing fancy" in 14:32 - what about fancy pants?? I think it would be fun to have some loose cables hanging from this type of electric hands...

[@marsgarage8217]

Very nice work. New sub here.

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you and welcome to the channel

[@marsgarage8217]

@@52Miniatures Thanks.

[@rub-al-khali4265]

Great build! Please film a base for it! Will you use it for a battle report?

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Rub, I don't really do battle reports, not yet anyhow.

[@Wijkert]

I am intrigued about the glue issue. You accidently achieved something that people have been looking for: like a plastic cement debonder. The weird thing is, that should not be possible, because plastic cement melts the plastic, yet your issue speaks for itself. Maybe the plastic cement reacted differently to the specific plastic bits you used? Could this be replicated on the sprue's you have left? Would be interesting.

[@52Miniatures]

I think there is several things that might have affected all this. One is that the sprue goo is made from GW sprue. The scale model kit is of a different style plastic, one that seems lees prone to "melting" when using plastic cement. Now the strange thing is that the solvent / oil washes created by Modelers World dissolved the glue joints but did not interfere with the paint. An alcohol or acetone would surely have dissolved the primer and airbrushed layers of paint... so I am at a loss of what they put in there. I've tried emailing them but no response yet.

[@Wijkert]

@@52Miniatures out of the box theory: what if the solvent from Moddelers World did not desolve the glue. Maybe the bonds between the part where weak to begin with, because the plastic cement had only a minimal effect on the kit you used. Just enough to hold it together, but not enough to handle the stress on the joints from rubbing off the excess oil wash? The 2 happened at the same time making you think that it was the solvent even though it wasn't. Because you are correct, any ingredient that can weaken plastic enough to break the model apart, would also remove the paint.

[@52Miniatures]

@@Wijkert No there was definitely a dissolve happening. The build was pretty sturdy. I thought when the first arm and one leg came loose just what you wrote. But when it kept happening and pretty much every glue joint came loose... there had to be more to it.

[@michaelskelton7770]

That is a nice kitbash. I enjoy watching your vidoes and especially your narrative style. I would love to know what that "alternative" white spirit is, as sometimes it's a pain when you glue a plastic model together in a way you aren't happy with.

[@52Miniatures]

Me too, I've reached out but not gotten any reply...

[@centaur1a]

Well done for a person who rarely scratch build. Have thought of trying “voice over” your videos if you need too?

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you 🙏 If you have a look at my videos you’ll find that most have a voiceover