Again, I don't know how majestic or dynamic a model of this scale comes accross in pictures in comparison to the studio prop but here's some pics.
Sunday, 25 September 2011
Revell TIE X-1
Revell Darth Vader's TIE Fighter, also known as the TIE X-1. A tad smaller than the classic MPC kit. Its quite a nice little snap fit kit, but it still lacks quite a few details and I carried out a bit of accurizing work and had a go at adding lighted engines and laser canons. The latter being a bit over sized given the scale. But I just wanted to see what the lighting would look like with lasers drawn on top of them when lit.
Again, I don't know how majestic or dynamic a model of this scale comes accross in pictures in comparison to the studio prop but here's some pics.
Again, I don't know how majestic or dynamic a model of this scale comes accross in pictures in comparison to the studio prop but here's some pics.
AMT/ERTL TIE Fighter
This was one of the first models I ever constructed, the AMT/ERTL TIE Fighter. Though only one ship is pictured the release is a great two kit set with a Death Star tile base and got me back into the hobby. It's probably around 1/48 scale and quite small for pictures.
A few years later I had one of those desires that causes you to carry out silly ideas, in this case try and build a bigger TIE to get better details for photography.
Why was it was a silly idea, well, essentially due to the lack of resources available locally. There's no real stockist or access to standard modelling supplies round here, so the main options are materials like automotive filler, cardboard and matchsticks and its just awkward and a bit too ambitious for the requirement so I didn't get or pursue it very far. Desires like that can be grounding though. They make you reevaluate things and tend to bring an appreciation for what you have as opposed to what you can't have. I imagine that happens a lot with hobbies, and you have to soothe that initial impulse and move on to other things, otherwise you get stuck and that wouldn't be much fun. On the other hand it could also be argued that abandonment might be an exercise to avoid thinking. I reckon in my case, its probably a little of both.
A few years later I had one of those desires that causes you to carry out silly ideas, in this case try and build a bigger TIE to get better details for photography.
Why was it was a silly idea, well, essentially due to the lack of resources available locally. There's no real stockist or access to standard modelling supplies round here, so the main options are materials like automotive filler, cardboard and matchsticks and its just awkward and a bit too ambitious for the requirement so I didn't get or pursue it very far. Desires like that can be grounding though. They make you reevaluate things and tend to bring an appreciation for what you have as opposed to what you can't have. I imagine that happens a lot with hobbies, and you have to soothe that initial impulse and move on to other things, otherwise you get stuck and that wouldn't be much fun. On the other hand it could also be argued that abandonment might be an exercise to avoid thinking. I reckon in my case, its probably a little of both.
Saturday, 24 September 2011
Slave 1
This is a hybrid build of the AMT/ERTL and Revell Slave 1 kits. If I recall correctly, the A-surface is all the AMT kit and the B-surface and canopy is the Revell kit. Can't say what prompted the fusion other than just aesthetics, sentimentality and tinkering about. The finish is a bit lumpy due to the amount of layers while trying to obtain the right tone of colours which were all hand painted.
It was a great learning curve as it really taught me to be able to create the look of damaged paint as in these WIP pics based on Jango's Slave 1.
It's more subtle on Jango's as the craft is in a newer state.
I never did finish the Jango build. Maybe I just got what I wanted to out of it at that juncture and its on hold until I find some further motivation.
Despite that, I'd really love it if I could have a go at a bigger scale of this ship. I know there is a good sized one by Hasbro in scale with the action figures but it's released as part of some multi-pack and really expensive. Ironically, although there are a lot of raves about the Fine Molds release, it would cost me just as much to try and get hold of that kit as it would to purchase the Hasbro toy. "It's a funny old universe" as some might say.
It was a great learning curve as it really taught me to be able to create the look of damaged paint as in these WIP pics based on Jango's Slave 1.
It's more subtle on Jango's as the craft is in a newer state.
I never did finish the Jango build. Maybe I just got what I wanted to out of it at that juncture and its on hold until I find some further motivation.
Despite that, I'd really love it if I could have a go at a bigger scale of this ship. I know there is a good sized one by Hasbro in scale with the action figures but it's released as part of some multi-pack and really expensive. Ironically, although there are a lot of raves about the Fine Molds release, it would cost me just as much to try and get hold of that kit as it would to purchase the Hasbro toy. "It's a funny old universe" as some might say.
Revell Cylon Basestar
This is the 97 re-issue of the Revell Monogram Basestar. A bit of a stasis build. I was never happy with my efforts on this. I think perhaps the kit might be a bit chunky or maybe the diameter a little smaller than its screen counterpart or maybe the bridges a bit taller. Either way, it doesn't replicate as I'd wish it to on camera. I'm not knocking the kit, after all, it is only a model and not designed to be a screen worthy replica.
One thing I noticed was that it lacked the channels that go around the edge of the screen ship. I sanded down the edges and tried to add my own with some strips of styrene. I'm not sure if that will improve the look and add some extra dimension to the model. It looks sort of promising in these pics. I also made a little intersection strip for where the two saucer halves mate.
Sadly this is as far as I got as basically the whole model will require repainting from this work and it will also require many tiny panels to be added on the channel edges and that's when it got a bit too tedious, but I will get back to it at some point as I'd love to see how all that work will finally look.
One thing I noticed was that it lacked the channels that go around the edge of the screen ship. I sanded down the edges and tried to add my own with some strips of styrene. I'm not sure if that will improve the look and add some extra dimension to the model. It looks sort of promising in these pics. I also made a little intersection strip for where the two saucer halves mate.
Sadly this is as far as I got as basically the whole model will require repainting from this work and it will also require many tiny panels to be added on the channel edges and that's when it got a bit too tedious, but I will get back to it at some point as I'd love to see how all that work will finally look.
Aqua Pod
This was a scratch build made mostly out of cardboard and Milliput with a few kit greeblies added on. You may notice the Alpha branding from the Space:1999 TV series, this was because it was initially built as an alternative to the standard Eagle pods for a web contest, and would fit in its place incase the Alphans ever needed a submersible explorer. It's built to scale with those Airfix, and later AMT/ERTL kits but I don't have any pictures to hand of that and my Eagle is currently in pieces in the hopes of accurizing it at some point.
I now consider it an independent vessel, and I added a few extra pieces on the top (which would not have had height room otherwise), but I left the branding on and would digitally paint over them for renders.
I now consider it an independent vessel, and I added a few extra pieces on the top (which would not have had height room otherwise), but I left the branding on and would digitally paint over them for renders.
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
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