Gladiator & Impulsor Magnetization Guide

This article explains how to magnetize the Impulsor and Gladiator model using the kit from The Magnet Baron.

Contents:

Please follow the normal assembly instructions as they come with the plastic kit.  The instructions below are only for the magnetization of the parts pictured and do not show the full assembly process.  In several pictures, the parts are held together with double-sided tape, rubber bands, or poster putty for illustrative purposes.

To keep track of the polarity of the magnets, we use a set of Magnicator tools.  We may refer to the polarity of the magnets as “red” or “blue,” after which magnicator is attracted to that magnet’s surface.  If you do not have those or similar tools, ensure you have some other method of tracking a magnet’s polarity.  For example, you might color one surface of a spare, large magnet with a marker and reference back to it every time you use a magnet.  Possibly attach that large magnet to a tool that you can keep nearby but you won’t need to use; A hammer or wrench, for example.

At this time, GW sells these tanks in two forms:

• Primaris Impulsor - Enables you to build:
  
  • Impulsor Grav Tank
    
    • “Light” sponsons:
      
      • Storm Bolters
        
      • Fragstorm grenade launchers
        
    • Top options:
      
      • Bellicatus missile array (AA gun)
        
      • Ironhail Skytalon array (missile launcher)
        
      • Orbital comms array (radar dish)
        
      • Shield dome 
        
• Primaris Gladiator - Enables you to build:
  
  • Impulsor Grav tank
    
    • Same options as above
      
  • Gladiator Lancer
    
    • Same sponson weapons as the Impulsor above
      
    • Turret laser destroyer
      
  • Gladiator Reaper
    
    • “Heavy” sponson Tempest Bolters
      
    • Turret twin heavy onslaught gatling cannon
      
  • Gladiator Valiant
    
    • “Heavy” sponson multi-melta
      
    • Turret twin las-talon 

The box kit for the Primaris Impulsor can only build the Impulsor while the box kit for the Primaris Gladiator can build the Impulsor and all three Gladiators.

All four tanks have sponsons built from a base pivot piece with a weapon barrel attached to the front.  The Impulsor and Lancer use what we’re calling a “light” sponson base pivot piece.  The Reaper and Valiant have a slightly-larger part we’re calling a “heavy” pivot piece.  When using this magnetization kit, you can use the light sponson weapons with the heavy pivot piece.

Magnets & Hardware
 
The magnets and hardware from the Gladiator & Impulsor kit.
Gladiator & Impulsor Magnets & Hardware

Tools Required:
1.    3mm drill bit and drill
2.    Glue
3.    Clippers, knives, files, and sandpaper

Step 1: Impulsor Only

Follow all of Step 1 only if you have the Primaris Impulsor kit from GW and not the Gladiator.

Step 1a: Impulsor Sponsons

Reference: Step 2f of the Primaris Impulsor plastic kit instructions.

The pictures show the parts for one sponson.  Please repeat for the other side.

1.    Drill a 3mm hole in the very center of light sponson main pivot part 35, in between the two raised bumps.  Repeat for the second part 35.
2.    Insert and glue a 3mm x 2mm disk magnet into the hole on both part 35s.
3.    Glue a 5mm x 5mm piece of sheet metal in between the two holes on the back of the storm bolter parts 42 & 43, and the grenade launcher parts 46 & 47.
4.    The magnet in part 35 will hold whichever sponson weapon parts you choose to use.
5.    Complete the installation of the sponsons as directed in the plastic kit’s instructions.

Step 1b: Impulsor Top Options

Reference: Step 4a and 4b of the Primaris Impulsor plastic kit instructions.
1.    Glue a 10mm x 1mm disk magnet in the very center of the ring on the Impulsor top hull piece part 59.  If you are only ever going to use this model as an Impulsor, you can glue part 59 to the tank chassis.
 
2.    Glue a 10mm x 1mm disk magnet on the underside of the shield dome/radar dish mount piece part 76.  Ensure the polarity of this magnet is compatible with the one on part 59.  Blue up, for example.
3.    Glue a 10mm x 1mm disk magnet on the underside of the turret mount piece part 77.  Ensure the polarity of this magnet is compatible with the one on part 59.  Red down, for example.
 
4.    Using clippers or a knife, remove the bottom peg from the radar dish arm part 78 and ensure it is as flat as possible.  Glue a 3mm x 2mm disk magnet in place of that peg, with compatible polarity to part 76. Red down, for example.  Complete the assembly of the radar dish.
5.    Assemble the shield dome parts 69, 70, 71, 72, and 73.  Glue a 3mm x 2mm disk magnet in the recess of the shield dome, with compatible polarity to part 76.  Red down, for example.

 
 
 6.    Glue a 5mm x 8mm piece of sheet metal in the very center of the back and front of the missile launcher plates, parts 61 and 67.
7.    Glue a 5mm x 8mm piece of sheet metal in the very center of the back and front of the AA gun plates, parts 62 and 63.  Complete the assembly of the AA gun front plate using 2x part 66.
 
 
8.    Cube Magnets:
a.    Experiment with the 3mm x 3mm x 3mm cube magnets to determine which side has which polarity and pick one as “front.”  We found it convenient to mark the top of the cubes with an arrow pointing front.
b.    Glue a cube magnet about 1mm away from the front of the Impulsor gun bottom plate part 64.  This space allows the weapon front plate parts 61 and 62 to fit with no gap.  More space is better than less space.
 
 
c.    Glue a cube magnet about 1mm away from the back of part 64.  This space allows the weapon back plate parts 63 and 67 to fit with no gap.
 
d.    Glue the Impulsor gun top part 65 onto part 64.  Find a fun angle and glue part 64 to turret mount piece part 77.
 
9.    You should now be able to use either part 77 for the turret or part 76 for the alternative features.
e.    Part 76 can be used with the radar dish or shield dome.
Note: Part 76 fits very tightly on part 59, so you might want to use a small tool to help you remove it.  Here we use a toothpick.
 
f.    The gun assembly can be used as an AA gun or as a missile launcher.

Step 2: Gladiator Only

Step 2a: Gladiator Turret

The three different main turret options can all be swapped out without the use of magnets!  The turret is perfectly suited for push-fit modular assembly.

Reference: Step 2a, 3a, and 4a of the Primaris Impulsor plastic kit instructions.

1.    Assemble the Gladiator Valiant’s twin las talons parts A12 to A15.
    
   2.    Assemble the Gladiator Reaper’s twin heavy onslaught gatling cannons parts A35 to A39.
    
   3.    Assemble the Gladiator Lancer’s laser destroyer parts A26 to A28 and A40 & A41.
    
   4.    Prepare the Gladiator main turret upper part A21 and main turret lower part A1.  Do not glue.
    
   5.    When installing a Gladiator main weapon, we advise pushing it up into the socket area on part A21 and then insert A1 into the gap under A21 to hold the weapon in place.
   

Step 2b: Gladiator Sponsons

Reference: Step 2b, 3b, and 4b of the Primaris Impulsor plastic kit instructions.

The pictures show the parts for one sponson.  Please repeat for the other side.
 
 
1.    Prepare the Gladiator’s “heavy” sponson main pivot, parts A8 and A11.
a.    Using a knife or clippers, remove the upper bump of the two raised bumps on the front face of the pivots.
b.    Drill a 3mm hole in the center of the two bumps on the face of the pivot.
c.    Glue a 3mm x 2mm disk magnet into the hole.  Blue out polarity, for example.
2.    Prepare the Gladiator sponson plates parts A30 and A31.
a.    Using a knife or clippers, remove the square nub from the front center face of the sponson plates.  Make it as flat as possible.  You do not have to glue anything to these parts.
3.    Assemble the Valiant’s multi-melta barrels, 2x parts A4 and A5.
a.    Drill a 3mm hole in the center of the back of the multi-meltas.
b.    Glue a 3mm x 2mm disk magnet in the center of the back of the multi-melta with polarity compatible with the magnet on the heavy sponson main pivots.  Red in polarity, for example, to be compatible with parts A8 and A11.
4.    Assemble the Reaper’s tempest bolters, 2x parts A6 and A7.
a.    Drill a 3mm hole in the center of the back of the tempest bolters.
b.    Glue a 3mm x 2mm disk magnet in the center of the back of the tempest bolters with polarity compatible with the magnet on the heavy sponson main pivots.  Red in polarity, for example, to be compatible with parts A8 and A11.
5.    The Lancer’s sponson weapons are the same as those in the Impulsor.  We will use the Impulsor’s sponson weapon parts on the Gladiator’s heavy sponsons.
a.    Glue a 5mm x 5mm piece of sheet metal in between the two holes on the back of parts 42, 43, 46, and 47.
6.    To use a sponson weapon:
a.    Multi-meltas: Hold the sponson plates A30 & A31 onto the heavy sponson pivot pieces A8 and A11, using the remaining bump on the face for alignment.  The multi-melta’s magnet will be attracted to the magnet in the pivot piece A8 & A11, holding it in place.
 
b.    Tempest bolters:  Hold the sponson plates A30 & A31 onto the heavy sponson pivot pieces A8 and A11, using the remaining bump on the face for alignment.  The tempest bolter’s magnet will be attracted to the magnet in the pivot piece A8 & A11, holding it in place.
 
c.    Impulsor or Lancer Sponsons:  The magnet in parts A8 & A11 will hold either storm bolter parts 42 & 43 or grenade launcher parts 46 and 47.  The sponson plates are not necessary.
 
 

Step 3: When Using All Versions of Tanks

1.    To be able to swap the top turrets from the Gladiator to Impulsor:
a.    Carefully glue the Gladiator top turret hull plate part A2 to the Gladiator rear hull plate A22.  Do not glue to the main hull if you want to be able to use the model as an Impulsor!  You can use the hull to insure you get the two plates assembled correctly.  You can remove the assembly when you want to use the Impulsor.
 
b.    The Impulsor top hull piece part 59 can easily be removed or installed in its location without the need for glue.
 
2.    Antennae:
a.    The Impulsor uses antenna part 74 on the rear hull (step 2g) and antenna part 75 (step 4b) on the top hull piece when using the radar dish.
b.    The Gladiator uses both antenna parts 74 and 75 (steps 2a, 3a, and 4a) on the back of the main turret assembly.
c.    To swap between antenna options, we suggest not gluing part 75, as it will push fit in both versions.  Part 74 will not push fit, so we recommend that you choose whichever location you prefer and glue the antenna in place.
3.    Additional Pictures: