The Imperial Shipyards
Imperial Creative Engineering => Custom Vehicles => Topic started by: Delaton on February 28, 2013, 05:43:28 PM
-
Hey guys. I've been lurking here for a while and thought I'd share a project I'm currently working on. It's a 3-3/4" scale Twilight from The Clone Wars.
(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/225203_561526380533363_1131063145_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/76152_513628961989772_1795066959_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/523136_493789957307006_195859247_n.jpg)
Normally when I do these projects, I post as I go to show progress. Since this is my first post despite me working on this for 6 months, I have some progress pictures that are pretty far along.
LMK what you think and I can add more to further the discussion!
-
oh wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
;D ;D ;D
-
Wow is right! Once of the nicest scratch build ships I have ever seen. Of course I am going to the front page with this.
I would love to hear the process of how this was built. Nice work.
-
SSSSSSSOOOOOOOOO CCCCOOOOOOOOOLLLLL
-
I believe this is the first custom twilight of this scale I have seen. Your attention to detail especially in the cockpit area is amazing. Thanks for coming on in and showing this to us.
-
Very nice! This makes the AT-TE and AT-AT look like a couple of mini rigs! I also like the very fine details inside the ship, great work.
-
oh man all i get are red X's
bet work is blocking
but from front page pic this looks to be awesome, best ship to come around since the Falcon.
-
Bloody Hell!!!!!!!!!!! :o :o :o :o :o
-
I wish I could scratchbuild like that
-
Dude, that cockpit area is amazing! Great work!
-
Thanks guys. I'll be posting more construction pictures going back to the beginning of the mockup built last August! In the meantime, checkout my album on the Twilight and like my Facebook page for regular progress updates!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.478202942199041.111970.456878690998133&type=1&l=fda0153b8b (http://"https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.478202942199041.111970.456878690998133&type=1&l=fda0153b8b")
Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/DelatonsCustoms
-
Holy Cow! That is freaking amazing. Great work. Can't wait to see the finished product!
-
WHOA...... :o
-
Love it and I'm about to start my own scratch built project so I'll be looking to your project and you for advice.. no more lurking for you! ()rr
-
I've been watching your updates on Facebook and can say enough about all the cool work you've put into this! Truely a one of a kind and will look fantastic when complete!!!
-
This is one of the coolest customs I've ever seen! Such great detail; the cockpit alone is worth the price of admission! Can't wait to see more updates...
-
Hello Delaton,
I have studied your twilight gallery and am in awe.. amazement at its splendor does not put into words what I saw or what I felt..... However, after seeing all that work I have questions for you. = ) I hope that what I ask is not out of line, I know how everyone has their secrets. But I'm about to embark on a scratch built project and I'm coming at it head on with no clue = )
Questions..
I see that you built the entire TW out of 1/4 inch foam board? Is that the right size or was it some smaller board?
How do you cut your foam board? Do you use just a razor and straight edge, scissors or hot blade?
I noticed that you use software, is it the paper craft software? Do you use this to print out template shapes to cut out of the foam board?
What kind of glue do you use?
Do you build with any skeleton under the foam board or just out of the foam board.
If I have questions later would you mind if I ask? = )
Thank you for responding to all or any of these.
-
Quick answers to your questions:
1. I used 3/32" foamcore board. Since my day job is an Architect, we have a lot of older presentation boards for projects that are complete. I use these boards to form the base of the ship.
2. I cut the foamcore using a zipknife, breaking off pieces to keep the leading edge sharp very often.
3. Software? I'm not sure I follow. There is no pattern. Although I'll go over this in further detail when I start sharing the early pictures, I started with the cockpit pieces and built the ship around it, basing all my decisions on proportion and reference photos. There were no scale plans. Just on-the-fly adaptation and trial-and-error using corked-back rulers and math.
4. The glue for the foamcore base is standard medium temp hot glue. The trick with making a strong base is to not skimp on the glue. Major joints will need the strength of a lot of glue. You'll see from the pictures I'll post soon that I mocked up the whole thing with taped joints first, then glued it up before covering the piece with styrene.
5. Some areas that needed a lot of strength had some additional reinforcement, but not as much as you might think. The floors and roofs of the cargo bay and cockpit add a surprising amount of rigidity to the whole piece.
Thanks for checking it out. I'll try to "go back to the beginning" and share the process with future posts.
-
So as I mentioned, the Twilight started with a mock up. I intended this to be a pattern only. However, when I realized how strong I could make the ship with foamcore and hot glue, I turned it into the actual base. As you can see from the following picture, I was taking lots of measurements to get everything to fit. However, I was never concerning myself with exact tight joints because I knew everything would be covered in a skin of styrene.
(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/405178_478980695454599_477601386_n.jpg)
The cargo bay floor became a crucial component to the rigidity of the entire model. Once that large flat piece was installed, I wasn't afraid to move the model around!
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/549622_478980745454594_973765718_n.jpg)
What I found was very important as I worked on something with such a complex geometry was reference lines. You can see one down the belly of the ship. That allowed me to confirm that I was staying square when forming the angled panels.
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/563048_479741135378555_1387119827_n.jpg)
-
Loving these wip pics. show us more please.
-
yes these wip pics make it all the better
-
I am with Clint. I love to see how this was all put together. I just have to put this back on the front page.
-
Yes, so glad you decided to join up Ashley! As I have said before this is an amazing build and will be the highlight of your collection when you complete it! Thanks for sharing!
-
Thanks for all the answers! I have one last question for the weekend = ) What kind of putty did you use as joint filler? Aves Fixit? or something different?
Thanks, this project is awesome!
-
WOW!!!
Picking jaw up from the floor! This is simply stunning. Something I am sure would have been a big hit if Hasbro had chosen to make something of the same scale.
-
I use a modelling putty called White Putty from Squadron:
http://www.amazon.com/Tube-White-Putty-Squadron-Tools/dp/B000H7L6RC/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1358441851&sr=8-6&keywords=model+putty (http://www.amazon.com/Tube-White-Putty-Squadron-Tools/dp/B000H7L6RC/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1358441851&sr=8-6&keywords=model+putty)
The stuff is great because it not only fills the holes but is made for this purpose so it melts into and bonds to the styrene. This allows feathering of the putty and a smooth result.
-
So continuing on with the story of the Twilight build, I figured I'd showcase the rest of the foamcore base before going into the details of the styrene.
I discovered that the dorsal wing is canted towards the stern, which made the mockup a little more complicated.
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/557359_481306001888735_110667140_n.jpg)
The front engine pod are created by a grated cheese container, a Gungan cannon base, and a GI joe wheel. The rear engine was fabricated from baby formula containers and a GI Joe wheel.
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/297777_481713228514679_1756697194_n.jpg)
The front of the engine dome was made using half a plastic Christmas ornament. I made sure to pick up a bunch of these for other projects before the holidays were over.
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/601582_486652151354120_556741717_n.jpg)
Keep in mind, other than the GI Joe greebles and the grated cheese container, everything else will be covered with styrene, meaning you can use just about anything as a base as long as you're willing to wrap it in styrene! The engine pods have the duty of counter-balancing the long single-sided wing so their weight wasn't as much of an issue, at least not until I figured out the landing gear. More on that soon....
-
Anyone else seeing red x's for the new pics? Could be my computer.
-
They look fine here but then again, I posted them. :P
-
They look fine here but then again, I posted them. :P
I got em now, must have been my work comp. Love this build. Thanks for sharing.
-
Very cool!
-
So once I built the ship frame, I realized that due to the geometry of the ship itself, I would need to build the cockpit completely and install it before securing the top of the ship. Since I sized the whole ship around the Mobile Battle Bunker, I started with that in the center.
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/523694_487025357983466_553302933_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/291249_487025737983428_243142967_o.jpg)
Working with my box of GI Joe greebles, I started adding to the cockpit. I even decided to create the engineering station to the right of the co-pilot's seat.
(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/251092_487444347941567_858018307_n.jpg)
Using more parts from the Mobile Battle Bunker, I created the rear wall computer stations.
(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/408610_487444544608214_168200968_n.jpg)
Prior to paint, you can see that the cockpit was split into about 6-8 pieces in order to fit through the ship's roof.
(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/282163_491722654180403_569273687_n.jpg)
Finished product, painted and weathered.
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/317564_493789700640365_1740484371_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/523136_493789957307006_195859247_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/283425_493790090640326_506544139_n.jpg)
I've left the cockpit chairs out for now, pending a possible 3D purchase in the near future.... ;D
-
The detail here is fantastic. Loving the play by play!
-
Thanks for going back and showing all the wip pics Ashley. This vehicle can only be described as...EPIC!
-
My goal was to get this displayed at C7 in Frank's diorama workshop but with Disney axing everything related to prequels / clone wars, I might not have a canvas or a receptive audience from the Mouse.
-
My goal was to get this displayed at C7 in Frank's diorama workshop but with Disney axing everything related to prequels / clone wars, I might not have a canvas or a receptive audience from the Mouse.
Well Delaton you will always find a receptive audience here and I for one think this is one of the most outstanding scratch builds period. Your update is on the front page.
-
Well they may dictate the theme for the next dio build but that is normally up to Frank. I don't see them telling us what vehicles and figures could be on display. I am dying to see this amazing vehicle in person!
-
WOW! this is amazing! i tried doing a build of the twilight and gave up 2 days in. now i really want to finish it! i only wish i had your attention to detail!
-
It's not so much attention to detail but time. I started this project the day after I got back from Celebration 6. Thanks for checking it out! I have a lot more detail coming up in the Cargo Bay ad exterior!
-
I just now made the connection of your awesome custom site. Very nice. I am gonna have to get that on our links page at the least. Perhaps down the road a banner exchange might work out.
-
Customizers Cookbook hasn't really been updated since 2004. I maintain it for the sake of, well, laziness. All my stuff is on Delaton's Customs on FB now.
-
that Twilight is utterly superb i love the attention to detail !
-
Customizers Cookbook hasn't really been updated since 2004. I maintain it for the sake of, well, laziness. All my stuff is on Delaton's Customs on FB now.
I noticed I couldn't find the Twilight on there with a cursory look. I will make sure we at least get your FB Link on your hyperlink pages here real soon.
-
Awesome, thanks! It's a lot easier to update my FB page directly from my workshop though my phone.
-
Very impressive work! I enjoyed the video!
-
So after working on the cockpit, I moved onto the cargo bay. The only other major interior space, it also needed to be 100% complete and sealed in before the outside could be completed.
As you see from this reference photo, the rear hatch is straight and hinged, making the build that much more difficult.
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/427928_500772869942048_1015328159_n.jpg)
I decided to go fanfic on the interior configuration since the whole ships was not built exactly 1:18 to scale. Taking cues from interior environments we've already seen in the live-action movies and CW cartoon, I began making believable structural components. I also looked at modern naval ships for additional inspiration on the utilitarian nature of "ships".
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/292792_499610126724989_1195949814_n.jpg)
This was the first time on this model where I did not cover every inch with styrene either. I kept areas of chipboard and foamcore exposed to save time and material. Later on, painting would prove that I should have covered everything. In order to get the paint looking the same on all surfaces, I had to spray several more coats that I normally would have.
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/576440_500008136685188_563324036_n.jpg)
I used jewelry box hinges glued and sandwiched into the styrene doors. The doors, even after painting, work quite smooth.
(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/374022_501160149903320_701256264_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/178932_501160766569925_659075419_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/425955_501160886569913_761888851_n.jpg)
Although a little grainy, the finished paint included oil stains and rust weathering to give the ship a used look. The seams around the perimeter of the interior panels show the white foamcore structure beyond. I've learned my lesson that I should pre-paint the substrate to avoid this in the future. During final paint, these will be filled with a black pain wash to make them disappear.
(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/557673_508174909201844_1713871604_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/481818_508175002535168_1528370473_n.jpg)
Next up, the wings....all three including two operable ones.
-
Great Job on the hinged doors. All together, a great work up of that area. The documentation of this project continues to astound.
-
Dude !!!!!
Ashley, great to see you here. This scratch build is the bomb. Congrats.
-
Love it. Back on the front page.
I am gonna forward this to my hasbro contact for a ship they need to build. You have shown it can be done.
-
This is turning into a major work of art! Brilliant! :)
-
Tamer-
I actually spoke to Derryl DePriest about this project for a good 5 minutes while at Celebration 6. He knew more details about the ship than I did at the time (it was only rattling around in my head back then). It shows that a) he's a true fan, and b) they (Big H) probably did look at making one for a while.
The problem I see with Hasbro making one is that mine is the size of the BMF. However, the only way it'll sell is if it's in the $50-$75 range, and even that's a stretch. I think it would be so cartoonish, like the new smaller scaled Slave I, that collectors wouldn't buy it. If they're going to make a ship / playset that's worthy, let it be Jabba's barge.
-
Delaton,
I think its vehicles like this that would give Hasbro hope for the future of their larger vehicle line. I definitely agree with you about the Sailbarge, but think that they should offer probably one newer and one older per year (or even flip flop years for that matter). Lets face it, the OT vehicles while nice for us older folks who grew up with the first movies sure don't do as much as this ship would for the younger audience.
-
Very Nice.. Am Much Impressed !! ;)
-
Tamer-
Then forward along! Let me know what you hear.
-
Tamer-
Then forward along! Let me know what you hear.
Will do.
-
Why, why, why can't we get something even close to the cool factor that your work on this shows from Hasbro?
Hasbro bean counters, I'd buy this in a heartbeat---if done as awesomely as Delaton has shown here!
Great piece of work; looking forward to your continued progress. Thanks for the videos!
-
I'm usually more of a lurker than a poster, but I had to give kudos to you on this build.
I have a degree in architecture which I've never used, but I still remember spending long hours in studio working with foamcore and balsa wood to build mockups and models which my TA's and professors proceeded to rip, figuratively and literally, in jury reviews.
I can only imagine the hours that you've put into making this ship look so detailed.
My hats off to you sir. I look forward to seeing more pics.
JD
-
So now that the interior was complete and installed, I moved onto the exterior skin. This included installing the top hatch to the cockpit, all three wings, and engine pods.
The top wing had a PVC sleeve installed. The post was fixed to the body panels.
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/522286_497109713641697_1189791070_n.jpg)
The side engine pod and intake was roughed in. I used Millennium Falcon parts for the interior "engine" pieces.
(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/409334_499080270111308_982704315_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/229960_502499763102692_1825751365_n.jpg)
Up to this point, the two main wings were separate from the ship. This allowed the piece to be worked on easier. In retrospect, the wing should have been installed all the way through the ship for stability and sag prevention.
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/61451_508585802494088_1561540143_n.jpg)
The belly wing was installed with the same sleeve and post technique as the top wing.
(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/556955_513587348660600_336991132_n.jpg)
Finally, to give everyone some perspective, here's a size comparison:
(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/76152_513628961989772_1795066959_n.jpg)
Next update: Wing guns, engines, and details.
-
Still shake my head when I consider this build. So awesome, back on the front page.
-
One of my favorite vehicle builds of all-time ;D
-
^^^ I agree- this piece is next-level awesome. Thanks for sharing and good luck. Can't wait to see this done!!!!!
-
Just wondering what the status is of this hugely inspiring project? I know from your FB updates, you've got the 6" ML bug, but still...... ;D