Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Here are some photos of one of my works-in-progress.  It is intended to be the 4th ship in the Corellian Freighters series, and like the Quagmire and Arrogant Magistrate, it was designed by one of my brothers decades ago.  So long ago, in fact, that none of them remember drawing it.  I have my suspicions that it was Robb...
The original drawing was done on a standard letter envelope, so I expanded it to the size I wanted to facilitate the construction.
So, here's a photocopy of the drawing;


And here's what it currently looks like.  The interior is about 75% complete.  All that's left in that category are the dorsal gunner's station, some ceiling work for the cockpit, and a lot of work in the engine space.  There's about 2 inches for the engine space that is still under construction elsewhere, and hasn't been attached.



Here's a size comparison with the 150th scale Falcon.  The similarities are evident, especially at the mandibles and gunport.  However, I like the structural transitions to another well-known Corellian ship.



A view from starboard forward. There isn't as much asymetrical detail as on the Falcon.


Belly view, showing the battery and its future storage compartment.  A few of the exterior lights are faintly visible.



Closeup view of the cockpit.  The seats aren't yet installed.  I should have put one in to show scale, but you can judge it somewhat by the size of the door.  The design is for a single pilot at the main console forward.  Maybe you noticed the LED above the door, and the fiber optics...



Here it is illuminated.  I covered the LED with a scrap part, to prevent it from washing out the image.  As it is, it does cause a significant glare on the floor below.  But that's just so you can see that there's a hallway back there that runs the full length of the cargo section of the ship.



A lower view looking down the mandibles and showing more of the hallway.  I gave it a tubing-style, like the Falcon, with similar white padding sections.



A view looking into the port side cargo bay.  A workbench is visible through the forward door.  The aft door is larger to facilitate loading and unloading.  Of course, the fact that it offers a better view is only secondary.  Note that some detailing in each bay is only visible when viewed from the other side of the ship.


The same location, but now looking almost straight across and out the starboard loading door.  You can see the difference in the interior bulkhead detailing between these two shoots.  The aft section shows a newer, modular design.  That's because the ship is undergoing some renovations.
Why renovations?  As the ship was in its early phases of construction its character was beginning to come out; old, rugged, reliable of course, but also recently punished more than the crew could patch up at a quiet spaceport.  At least, that's what she told me.  However, she hasn't yet told me her name.

So, that's what's on the table, although, to be honest, I've kept back a few surprises for later.
'Later.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Imperial Galactic Navy now under new management.
Imperial II class Star Destroyer for sale.

When you let one thing slow you down, soon you let a second, then you wonder where the time went.  We moved a year ago, and the months before and after were filled with related duties.  My hobby tools are still packed away, but we've recently freed up some floor space so the desks for my wife and I may soon be available again.  I have a couple of unfinished modelling projects to work on, and for those reasons I've decided to put the Foray on the market.  Selling it will provide finances and opportunities to complete those unfinished projects.
So, for anyone interested in owning this creation, here are some of its selling points;

The model is 30 inches long, and was built with the intent that it could be used not just for static display, but also for filming.

It has a wooden framework interior, and is built primarily of sheet styrene on the exterior.

It is illuminated via a fiber optic network with over 1600 'windows' showing.  It also has some interior and exterior detailing illuminated by approximately 20 miniature incandescent bulbs.  The three main engines and four sub-light engines are also illuminated.  Of these bulbs, all are replaceable with the exception of the miniature incandescents, which were built into the structure.  So far, none have burned out or needed replacement.

Power is supplied through a scratch-built 120vac to 5vdc rectifier.  The 5vdc output plugs into the model's hardwood base and feeds into the ship's aft starboard side though the two metal support prongs, as shown;
(Incidentally, the photos here were taken in front of the Hobby Works store in Rockville MD.  They've been generous to allow the model to be on display since its completion.)


Removing the prongs leaves the two holes... (Click on the pictures to see the larger images.)


Which then can be covered by a pair of sliding doors, in case viewing or filming is desired.


One possible reason for closer viewing is the TIE fighter bay on the starboard side, just forward of the prongs.  A better view can be seen in the under-construction photos of this blog.


(Most filming models have a good side, which always faces the camera and which shows the highest quality in detailing.  The mounting side usually has only basic detailing.  I decided to add something special over here to try to keep things balanced.  In effect, I built the Foray so that it is viewable from all angles.)

In case filming is desired from this side while still maintaining the model's illumination, a separate receptacle for the power plug was built into the port side of the superstructure.  Here's the normal view;


...and here's with the receptacle exposed.


Oh, and yes, the Millennium Falcon on the back of the bridge is included.  It's removeable, so you can go interactive with it and impress your friends.  Although the Foray does not represent the ship that the Falcon landed on in TESB, I feel that the size comparison is helpful for getting a feel for the 1600-meter length of the Imperial II class.

Those are the details that I don't think were covered during the earlier entries of this blog.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

$7550 is the price.  Contact me at;  fitttodd@yahoo.com