Dune Harkonnen Ornithopter

The real subject

In the world of Dune an ornithopter stays in the air with flapping wings and is the main means of transport over desert Arrakis. This model represents a machine in the service of House Harkonnen, which differs from the machines of House Atreides in the treatment of both fuselage and wings. The movie treatment gave Harkonnen equipment a colder and more menacing character than that of their rivals, which shows in the build above all in the choice of shades.

What the set contains

This is a plastic kit, the parts are on sprues and the model is supplied unassembled. With a science fiction subject you are bound neither by period photographs nor by a table of shades, so you can work with your own idea of the surface, the highlights and the dust.

Building and painting tips

Cut the parts off the sprue with a sharp blade a little away from the gate and sand the stub down. Leave the thin booms and the wings until the end of the build, as they are the most likely to break off, and hold the model by the fuselage while painting. Fit the glazing last of all and with an adhesive that will not haze clear parts. A dark base calls for patience: cover in thin coats and bring out the edges with a dry brush, or the model will merge into a single silhouette in the display case.

Who it is for

The kit suits modelers of science fiction subjects and anyone who wants a machine from the world of Dune in their display case, perhaps set beside the ornithopter of House Atreides. The package contains the kit; paints, glue and a base with figures are not included, unless stated otherwise.