The Imperial Shipyards
Imperial Creative Engineering => Models, Scratch Builds, and Miscellaneous => Topic started by: Splashcoat on April 30, 2014, 08:59:59 AM
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I know that it isn't actually Star Wars tech, but the model was designed by John Dykstra's miniatures team and the style bears more than a passing resemblance to something we might see on Yavin or Dantooine. So here's a W.I.P. look at my build of Moebius' 1/32 Colonial Viper MK1:
Box art and a snazzy art card of Ralph McQuarrie's viper concept design.
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/BoxArt_zps5b8b52ba.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/img176_zps5e669d10.jpg)
Stock Cockpit:
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/StockCockpit_zps1e84cb2a.jpg)
I removed the molded detail from the cockpit tub and re-faced it with ParaGrafix's photoetched set:
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/CockpitPaneling_zps37d47df4.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/PhotoEtchedCockpitPanels_zps4c04aaef.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/MeltedScreen_zps013fc2b4.jpg)
I opted not to use the pilot figure; so I made some cushions out of styrene to dress-up the pilot's seat:
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/ViperPilot_zps6c52a42d.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/SeatCushions_zps5c52dfdc.jpg)
My initial inspection of the kit revealed that the manufacturer's mark on the side of the fuselage is going to have to go:
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/FuselageText_zpsfdcf8586.jpg)
The kit features a clear insert for the engine exhausts. I'm not going to light this kit so it will be painted:
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/EngineInserts_zps8771a564.jpg)
Engine assembly - Moebius has engineered a fanstastic alignment/locking tab system into this part of the kit:
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/LockingTab_zpsd34f2322.jpg)
I covered the stand attachment slot with a length of styrene channel:
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/StandSlot_zps872ad3bc.jpg)
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That's a good-looking kit! Personally, I'd say you are slightly insane to tackle those PE parts, but 20 years ago, I'd'a bailed off into it without a second thought. :D
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That's a good-looking kit! Personally, I'd say you are slightly insane to tackle those PE parts, but 20 years ago, I'd'a bailed off into it without a second thought. :D
Only slightly insane? I think insanity is a characteristic of most modelers and customizers ;)
The PE isn't that bad, it's very well engineered. The cocpit tub is formed out of four large pieces and all the little panels get stuck to that with acetate screen faces sandwiched in between.
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Utterly fantastic. Can't wait to see how it ends up looking!
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Wow, already some great work has happened here. Off to share.
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Cheers, Tamer!
This kit's construction is very straightforward and no modification is required apart from the cockpit. So now on to the fun part... paint!
The kit is very well engineered and can be built and painted in sub-assemblies. Starting at the front; the nose intake cone is a darker grey than the rest of the fuselage so it will be painted separately. After painting the intake grille a dark metallic colour, it was masked off with tape using a molded line on the back of the part as a template for the mask. The recessed line is exactly the same size and shape as the grille and makes a pefect guide to cut the mask - coincidence?
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/IntakeMask_zps1e83951e.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/NoseIntakeMask_zpsae590db6.jpg)
I pre-painted the intake fans and masked them off prior to installation in the inatke scoops. The fit is very tight - they practically snap in, so you can get away with doing it this way.
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/IntakeFans_zps98fd85c7.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/IntakeScoops_zps46c5287d.jpg)
Sub-assemblies masked and primed:
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/SubAssembliesPrimed_zps48ff77f4.jpg)
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I'm not going to use the kit decals for the red and grey stripes; rather, I'm going to paint the markings. I'm going to keep the grey primer for the stripe around the engine intakes, I masked this off prior to painting the main body colour.
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/Tri-IntakeMasked_zps4e6ebfb5.jpg)
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I am really enjoying this. Update on the fp. Keep it coming!
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This bears a striking resemblance to a kit I made a while back. I lighted mine and it turned out pretty sweet. Although I used too much paint and wound up ruining some of the sculpts details...
I'd love to come back and do another viper... its such an iconic ship! love battlestar...
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True, Spudafett. The design is iconic - one of my favourites as a kid... and still.
Sub assemblies pre-shaded:
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/Pre-Shading_zpsc2ba8b84.jpg)
Sub assemblies painted:
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/SubAssembliesPainted_zpsb61987ed.jpg)
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I've also liked the older style vipers and yours is looking great, I can't wait to see her completed.
Ron
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Wow, that is looking great! It looks great on our front page too.
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Thanks, Guys, I'm having a lot of fun with this one. I'm skipping the decals and painting on the Go Faster Stripes with a custom mix of Tamiya Red and Orange. First... a great deal of masking:
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/StripesMasked1_zps9d39bc50.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/StripesMasked_zps995c68bb.jpg)
Looks faster already:
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/StripesPainted_zps88aaaee0.jpg)
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Wow, that build is looking great.
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Okay - I may have to stop watching Buck Rogers and break out Battlestar Galactica! ;D Looking good!!
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Finally got this on the front page. Sorry it took me so long. It has been one of those types of weeks!
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Cheers, Tamer.
After I test fitted the sub assemblies, I noticed that the two wing wing mounted cannon were aiming slightly lower than horizontal. It's particulary notciable since the cannon are directly in front of the two open access bays which perfectly follow the horzontal plane of the fuselage. The wings are slightly warped, so softened them with a heat gun and coaxed them up a bit. This wasn't quite enough, so I carefully broke the glue line where the top of the fuselage meets the front of the intake section and added a styrene shim to push the nose down a little. This straightened everything out and the shim will be hidden by the rear section of the canopy.
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/FillerStrip_zpsb48f057d.jpg)
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The secondary weathering stage - After painting in the engine plumbing and other details, I applied various colours of pigment powder and sealed that down with a layer of Future. I added a few drops of gloss white acrylic paint to the gloss coat to lighten up the overall look of the paint finish and to tone down the bright red/orange stripes a bit.
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/GlossCoat1_zpse391aa05.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/GlossCoat_zps566348e8.jpg)
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Had to get more of this update on the front page. Talk about one excellent painting tutorial you are giving us!
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Had to get more of this update on the front page. Talk about one excellent painting tutorial you are giving us!
Thanks, Tamer. The painting stage is the most fun.
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Well, it's 99.9% finished. I haven't installed the landing gear and landing gear doors yet, I'm going to cast copies of those to use on my old Revell/Monogram Viper kits. In the meantime, here are a few test shots of the (almost) finshed product. The weathering was finished off with burnt sienna, black, and grey washes sealed in with a couple of coats of Liquitex matte varnish. I added a couple of drops of white acrylic paint to the matte coat as well to lighten the finish even further.
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/DSC_31772337_zps928e7c32.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/DSC_31792339_zpsacd3f699.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/DSC_31802340_zps60ae4694.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/DSC_31822342_zpsc42bf209.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/DSC_31832343_zpse9d91931.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/DSC_31942354_zpsc2a5efae.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/DSC_31922352_zps7f02e743.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/DSC_31912351_zps5e340e84.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/DSC_31902350_zps1b0df054.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/DSC_31892349_zpsfc7febf1.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/DSC_31882348_zps8f7c2ce2.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/DSC_31872347_zpsfee9b056.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/DSC_31862346_zps0c410932.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/DSC_31842344_zpsc4b882ab.jpg)
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Wow. You have to walk by this and smile everytime. Let me get this back on the front page.
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Damn impressive work indeed, your paint apps are just stellar.
Ron
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Cheers, Guys. At last I got around to casting copies of the landing gear and installing the originals on this model. Finally I can call this one DONE!
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/Zathros2354/ViperMk12_zpsf26fe473.jpg)
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She turned out beautifully mate well done indeed.
Ron
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She sure looks good on the front page.