David G. Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 That's a great looking base facility. It reminds me of some of the space docks in KOTR. David G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madhatter Posted August 8, 2022 Author Share Posted August 8, 2022 thanks David - although what is KOTR? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted August 9, 2022 Share Posted August 9, 2022 23 hours ago, Madhatter said: thanks David - although what is KOTR? Knights of the Old Republic, is a Star Wars game released in 2003. It is considered a high water mark as Star Wars games go. David G. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bisc63 Posted August 10, 2022 Share Posted August 10, 2022 The added superstructure is a nice touch; looks like a small city unto itself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madhatter Posted August 15, 2022 Author Share Posted August 15, 2022 Thanks Rusty - that's good to hear as that is almost what I'm aiming for Got one building done and primed and have started on the second one. I'm hoping to have the first one painted by the weekend. I have already drilled out the holes where the fibers will be going. I lost count after 50 and 8 drill bits later The good news is it won't require a lot big lengths of fiber. I am contemplating sticking in just little bits of fiber and flood lighting the entire inside but I am not sure I can get much light through the top sections. They'd require longer lengths I think. Also, there would not be enough room to angle an LED bright enough to fill the space... unless I used SMD strip? Enough pondering, here are the pics. I used my phone and not my proper camera coz I can't be faffed getting it all set up In black primer with a very light white primer highlight coat brings it all together nicely And together with the new building. I drilled out some vents on the side of the tower and I'll stick in some strips of clear sanded styrene to cover the openings from the inside. With a red LED shining up from the bottom it'll look pretty cool with the sanded styrene diffusing the light nicely. At least - that's the plan and lastly, the new position of both on the surface: Well, I think I have bored you all enough, but as always, please feel free to critique or suggest anything that could be improved. Like, share, subscribe... LOL I watch way too much Youtube! Thanks for looking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted August 15, 2022 Share Posted August 15, 2022 Astounding! Even your backdrop buildings have as much or more detail than some other frontline builds. Nicely done Si! David G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madhatter Posted August 15, 2022 Author Share Posted August 15, 2022 Thanks David! Quick couple of extra shots showing how high the SD sits above the base: https://flic.kr/p/2nEmHp5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 Holy Cow! That thing's a monster! David G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madhatter Posted August 16, 2022 Author Share Posted August 16, 2022 LOL - yeah, it is pretty big. Nearly a meter high! I know I've already posted a fair bit over the past couple of days but I thought I'd share my successful lighting in the one part I had strong doubts about getting lit. The part itself is only 8mm x 5mm x 4mm and there was no way I was going to be able to thread nearly 20 fibers through it, so I went with the flood light method which is cutting off 4mm pieces of single strand fiber and sticking and gluing them just 1mm into the wall and then sealing off the bottom with a strip of styrene (that has some al-foil stuck to the bottom to better reflect the light up). Inside the rear of the wall. I stuck a 2mm SMD upright through another small strip of styrene and then glued that onto the roof. Hopefully the pictures will explain better than what I can in words (sorry for the slightly blurry image there - I was struggling to get the phone to focus) I've already fixed that light leak but I kinda wish I hadn't as I like that floodlit area. Maybe once its been painted black again I can chip a bit out and let that spread. We'll see how much light is left leaking soon enough. Anyway, I was pretty happy with this Thanks for looking Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted August 21, 2022 Share Posted August 21, 2022 That's a really clever solution to the light issue, well done! David G. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madhatter Posted August 30, 2022 Author Share Posted August 30, 2022 (edited) I have been busy with this and have got some colour on it. I only have to fit the nose section and then I can paint the rest of the top half and then of course the bottom. I have found the best colour match to the screen SD's in Gunze paints - in particular their Gundam paint. I'll look the # up if anyone cares enough to ask, but its the right shade (well, to my eyes anyway) to what they're meant to be. The first building is base painted as well, but I haven't taken any pics yet as there is more I want to do before then. Well, that's it for now. I'll glue the nose on tonight and get the top half ready for painting. I'm fine with the black basing, it's the hours of tedious, repetitive masking I'm not looking forward too Anyway, as always, thanks for stopping in and looking Si Edited August 30, 2022 by Madhatter 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madhatter Posted August 31, 2022 Author Share Posted August 31, 2022 dressed in black Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted September 4, 2022 Share Posted September 4, 2022 Hello Si, It's got to be a great feeling to be laying down some paint! Strangely, not only does the pint blend all the details together it also highlights in a way. David G. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madhatter Posted September 6, 2022 Author Share Posted September 6, 2022 thanks David Mate, I am so happy to see paint on it finally. It feels like I'm actually getting somewhere with it now. Whilst I let the base coat cure fully, I'm finishing off a project that I had started a while ago and I just want it finished. Then it's back to the fun with hours upon hours of masking coming up 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madhatter Posted November 29, 2022 Author Share Posted November 29, 2022 Well, I see I have forgotten to update this thread but a fair amount has happened since the black was laid down. That and the dark gray panels have been masked and now for the next and final shade of gray before the base coat goes down. I'm noticing that some of the paint is lifting which is not a good sign. This may end up being a total waste of time. We shall see Well, that's where she's at. Still a long way to go yet, but I'm getting somewhere Thanks for your patience and indulging me with this never ending build (4 years now!) Si 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madhatter Posted December 5, 2022 Author Share Posted December 5, 2022 Well, the moment of truth is here and she has been unmasked. As feared, there is some paint lift but its fixable where needed. Next pics will be the final base coat to bring it all down a notch or 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve.Wilson Posted December 5, 2022 Share Posted December 5, 2022 That level of detail on the underpainting will really make the final hull pop! Looking forward to seeing it. I need to get caught up in this topic... I have one of these in my stash too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madhatter Posted December 6, 2022 Author Share Posted December 6, 2022 thanks Steve. As you'll see in a sec, it worked out nicely. Well, so far so good. I need to add some more filter to the roof panels which I will do over the next day or so to bring them into line with the main body. I'll let you be the judge on whether or not the masking was worth it Obviously, there is still a clear coat and wash to go but yeah, am happy with how its looking Now to do the bottom part! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Yoder Posted December 6, 2022 Share Posted December 6, 2022 Awesome job! Later, Lee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted January 15, 2023 Share Posted January 15, 2023 The masking was absolutely worth it Si! If it shows this well in the photos, it must look great in person. David G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madhatter Posted January 15, 2023 Author Share Posted January 15, 2023 Thanks David and Lee I have not touched this since the last update as I have been working on my scratch building itch which has been there since 2016. I think I'm coming to the point of getting bored of general modelling and more interested in scratch building something of my own design. Don't get me wrong, I will finish this but I need to scratch that itch - literally 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang1989 Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 On 1/15/2023 at 2:58 PM, Madhatter said: Thanks David and Lee I have not touched this since the last update as I have been working on my scratch building itch which has been there since 2016. I think I'm coming to the point of getting bored of general modelling and more interested in scratch building something of my own design. Don't get me wrong, I will finish this but I need to scratch that itch - literally I hear what you're saying Simon. I've often thought about stepping outside of the norm in modeling but right now my greatest enemy is the time to make that happen. I barely have time to build model kits let alone something of my own creation. Hell it's taken me 5 months just to build an AMT 2017 Camaro and I'm still not done yet!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madhatter Posted February 11, 2023 Author Share Posted February 11, 2023 thanks Joe! Sorry for my late reply - haven't been online much these days and haven't touched a model for a few weeks now, let alone this one. Severe lack of enthusiasm for building Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunajammer Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 I just wanted to say Simon that this is such an epic piece that you owe it to yourself to see it through, not to the bitter end but to the reward of your vision being fully realized. I'm the worst offender for running out of gas on projects for which I've invested a lot of time and talent so I totally relate to your desire to explore greener pastures. Even though you have much to be satisfied with now, I hope you will come back to this fresh at some later time and rediscover how close you are to that grand, jaw dropping, convention stopping finale. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madhatter Posted February 12, 2023 Author Share Posted February 12, 2023 hey thanks Mike - I really appreciate the kind post of encouragement. I've always maintained that I will finish it and nothings changed on that front. I keep looking at it in the back room and thinking to myself 'just get it done', but then I remember all that masking and find myself quietly shrinking away from it And then I still have the base and lighting to do yet - which are mammoth tasks in themselves! I think my imagination is a lot bigger than my resolve at times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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