1/24 X-Wing near 100% from scratch

Hi guys.

The second stage of my model is finished.

Finally I decided that this second phase could not be terminated if not completed all the back piece, including also the end of the fuselage.

For the fuselage, I started by the upper block as it shows many angles and is the most complicated zone. By using Google SketchUp, I could determined the needed parts to build it using 1 mm. styrene. This is very important because not only did I define the specific profile of each piece, but I could even calculate the angle or bevel should have the sides of those pieces to fit perfectly with each other and obtain the desired part.

Once I got the top block, I made a template with 2 mm. rigid cardboard, in which I cut the outside profile of the fuselage, so that I could build the rest of the fuselage without risking to get out of that profile. Once the fuselage is finished, its perimeter is perfectly suited to the template, which guarantee that the shape is correct.

All the fuselage is made with 1 mm. styrene and some help of Milliput putty.

The next step was to define the inner profile of the rear fuselage to cut the back piece and sand the details until a good fit.

I Also put a inner tube on the Sherman piece that holds and reinforces the entire structure of the back piece.

Next… I'm still thinking about.

Thanks for looking.
Rafa

You're something else Moska - unbelievable scratchbuilding prowess !!!

Holy smokes, this is astounding.

Well, now I'm going to have to scratch build my next X-Wing from the subatomic level up. Looking for the correct quarks now...

This is just really, really impressive Rafa.

crackerjazz said:

---

You're something else Moska - unbelievable scratchbuilding prowess !!!

switchblade_slinger said:

---

Holy smokes, this is astounding.

Many thanks crackerjazz and switchblade_slinger.
I'm very glad you enjoy my work progress.

-... . .- --.. said:

---

Well, now I'm going to have to scratch build my next X-Wing from the subatomic level up. Looking for the correct quarks now...

This is just really, really impressive Rafa.

Hi -... . .- --..

Thanks so much for your support.

I don't forget that you helped me to identify some parts for my project and I'm very grateful.

I apologize for boring you in the past with my questions but I'm glad you can see now that my aspirations were to do a serious work.

All the best from Spain.
Rafa

Hey Rafa, that is one incredible rear end mate, x-wing that is.
Truly awe-inspiring work here, it's just flawless.
You must have so much more satisfaction scratching the parts, rather than assembling some resin kit Rafa.
Love it
Stu

The rear section is hard to get done correctly, so many angles connecting together... and you did it extremely well. I'm really looking forward to see more! Also, thanks for being an inspiration

Beautiful job as always Rafa, you da man for this scratch building lark.
Stu

eagle1 said:

---

Beautiful job as always Rafa, you da man for this scratch building lark.
Stu

Many thanks Stu. I try…

New update.

1 - The Hummel pieces for front and rear sides of the wings already been completed.

2 - Also the pieces that combine parts of Hummel and Sherman to the rear sides of the wings.

3 - I took that I was working with these pieces of the Sherman to make a new Milliput mold and obtain copies of the necessary details for the guns.

4 - I'm currently working on Sealab parts that go into the back of the outer surfaces of the wings.

Sometimes the pieces that seem easy require more time than you might think.

Thanks for looking.

Rafa

Hey! Moska-san!
You did magnificent job on all parts.
What are you gonna make next? Saturn engine bell? Or phantom engine and engine parts? Anyway I’m looking forward to your wonderful work from now on.

Changing the topic, IMO, about the pic of the rear section of MAXI-BRUTE contributed by you in another thread, I watched it for the first time, umm... I think it is apparent MAXI-BRUTE was made in reference to RED2.

atom said:

---

Hey! Moska-san!
You did magnificent job on all parts.
What are you gonna make next? Saturn engine bell? Or phantom engine and engine parts? Anyway I’m looking forward to your wonderful work from now on.

Changing the topic, IMO, about the pic of the rear section of MAXI-BRUTE contributed by you in another thread, I watched it for the first time, umm... I think it is apparent MAXI-BRUTE was made in reference to RED2.

Hello atom-san.

I'm very grateful to receive such kind words from someone as talented as you are.

I'm not sure what will be my next step. Probably I start to work on parts that go next to the guns supports. I think they come from a Tamiya Sherman.

An area that is beginning to worry me about is the bricks texture. I thought it would be easy to find something that would work in hobby shops, but the textures that sell for railroad modeling have little relief and I haven't found anything I like. If you or anyone knows a good solution, I appreciate suggestions.

Speaking now of the Maxi-Brute back plate, it seems clear that is based on Red-2. The shape of the rear end of the fuselage is very characteristic of this model… as you know very well.

I'm very glad to talk with you.
Best regards.

Rafa

Hello friends.

New updates:

1 - Sealab parts ended.

2 - First steps in building the Tamiya Sherman part. I did the grating using my scribbing tool on a piece of 1mm styrene.

3 - First attempt to get the hinges. To get the rounded shape of the bolts, I used a lighter, slightly approaching the flame to the end of a thin stretched plastic rod.

4 - The finished piece. Finally, I decided to make new hinges with unrounded bolts ends, because the heat rounded ones were too big.

5 - A full gun support. I think the E shaped piece is too thick (2.5 mm). Also lacks good height to accommodate the body of the guns. The base of the E shaped support is also too thick (2 mm), I think.

6 - Until recently, I always thought that the guns were centered on its E shaped supports but, most models show that it isn't true. I have drawn this outline of how I think it's right but not absolutely sure.

7 - Here I put some pictures of the different configurations that show the IL&M models.

As you can see, I'm not pretty sure about this question so, I'll appreciate any clarification.

Thanks for looking.
Rafa

I think they're rather just touching the E support from the side, here's how I imagine it:

Yes, that's the way I've always seen it imkold. It sits on the box-like part and the outter piece just stabilizes it.

Hello imkold and Scott.

I think both of you are right. I don't know why I've always wanted to see the guns more separated from the wings. But analyzing the images, I think it is as you say.

Thank you very much for your contribution.

Rafa

Good news!

The brick sheet that Scott Graham so generously sent me has come into my hands today.

What a blast! the relief is very good. Only the original stuff looks really like original stuff.

I have no words to thank enough the generosity and great help from Scott. Thanks to him, my long and laborious project is better now.

Thanks again to Scott and to this forum where I found so much valuable information and support.

Rafa

I'm glad to have helped, Rafa!

FYI: those outlines of the piece used on the wings are based on rubbings over the pyro casting I have. They might not be accurate for you!

Hi all.

During the past few weeks I've been pretty busy but I got some moments to continue my project.

I built all the pieces for the front engine (except the parts that goes into the inner wells of the wings).

No problem to dress the engine covers. Apollo parts only need a few extra panels applied with ease using self-adhesive vinyl tape. I pay much attention to fix the small mold defects in the striped sections of these pieces using a small triangular file.

Moreover I built the pieces that make the basis for the above, paying close attention to the thickness and the length of that base to match the original model. The semicircular front closure has the depth corresponding to a hero model, and I constructed the rear closure with thicker plastic to be a strong support for the rear engines.

The greeblies inside the intakes aren't any problem and just need to cut to the proper length.

The second halves of the intakes, which originally come from Sealab III kit, were entirely scratch built. This involved the need of bending some rectangles of styrene, and I've used the technique described in the attached image.

In these inner halves I've included the horizontal piece that makes the separation between the two halves and, in the background of these pieces, I also included the strip can be seen in the images of the original models.

Well, another little step that brings me closer to my goal.

Thanks for looking.

Rafa

Nice work! How thick was the styrene used for the scratchbuilt intakes? Looks spot on.

Hi Imkold.

The intakes are made of three layers of Evergreen styrene:

The main layer is 1 mm.
The inner layer that forms the step is 0.5 mm.
And the two outside strips are 0.4 mm.

Greetings.
Rafa

Thanks for the detailed description!

Lot of fine details. Keep the pictures coming.