SS ESB Predator I Probot Jump Pod

seven

Inspired by Lee's original thread, I decided to tackle the Probot Pod. Trying to find any info on the pod online I found it on wookieepedia being referred to as the Predator I Probe-Mate Jump Pod. Kind of long winded, so I'll call it the Predator I. Just for fun, I'll call the variant Predator II, but that is just me.

OK, now I need to get started. First things first, get a model kit list:

5x – 1/72 Hasegawa Morser Karl #31032
5x – 1/35 Tamiya Schwerer Panzerspahwagen (8Rad) Sd.Kfz.232 #35036
5x – 1/35 Tamiya German 20mm Flakvierling 38 MIT Sd.Ah.52 #35091
1x – 1/20 Tamiya Team Lotus JPS MK III #2004
1x – 1/25 Tamiya Russian Tank Destroyer SU-100 #25104
5x – 1/24 Plastruct Lamp Shade #LF-416
5x – 31.8mm Plastruct Elliptical Dome #VHE-40
1x – 2mm x 7mm x 12mm Plastruct White Styrene Plain Sheet #SSS-108
Glue, Paint, Hobby Knife, sandpaper

Next, make a pattern for the rear and the front to be cut out in styrene. On the front, the corners are cut off to avoid conflict with the 20mm part. Which is the only scratch building for this model.

Prep the 5 hulls from the 8Rad, and start to glue together with the back in place

My cutting however didn't match my pattern. Guess that happens when you have no patience and are trying to rush through it.

I glued the hulls together and added hotglue to the inside seam to help hold it in place.

It was only after that I had got my hulls together that I realized I needed to add some styrene to the inside of the holes for the domes to sit on.

After the top and bottom where on, and the hulls together, I was again kicking myself that I didn't add anything for the model to be mounted.

Oh well, live and learn.

I would like to extend a special Thanks to all those who have contributed to ID'ing the Pod and for inspiring others (such as myself) with your build threads and invaluable photos.

Attached Thumbnails

         

 

Attached Files

pattern.pdf (1.5 KB, 47 views)

MonsieurTox

Don't worry, that's not an issue, that's how I did and it was planned like that from the beginning.

Just cut some round plates (a tad larger than the whole width, I mean diameter + notches). Then remove some material of your disks (parallel cut) to be able to insert them through the hole/notches with the help of a stick and blutak or tape or whatever you want. Then rotate your disk at 90° pull the disk again the inner hull and glue. Easy !

Good luck !

joewhite

Awesome so far!!!

Can't wait to start mine...I actually won 4 8Rads for $50!!!! I already had one so this is definitely going to be built! I 2nd the thanks to Lee and co. for ID'ing and sharing!!!

seven

Thanks for the tip Julien

Getting the back end together

Should've angled the 20mm part a little more out. Gaa making my hair fall out!!

and stuck them on

Attached Thumbnails

       

ralphee

Its so cool to see the work a group of good fella's put in, being followed so much by all you guys, and new props being built.

Seven you really do go for the rare stuff huh? Its really good to see, as its something i do strive for, fresh meat.

Man, why are there no pics of the TESB fleet Id blow a gasket to see some of those miniatures.

lee

marvin

Well Lee, we do need thousands of these to search the galaxy. I mean, we want proof not leads right?

Seven, you are a mad man...... you want to finish this model up this week or what? Looking good! How are you going to solve the mounting problem?

Cheers!
Marvin

seven

Lee, I do like the rare items. It's fun to do somethings that are not your regular run of the mill.

Thanks Marvin, not sure IF I am going to solve the mounting, I may just wing it.

Getting the Morser parts on

Sanded off the hinges of the 8Rad. Think I sanded a little too far in some places...

And glued in place

moving to the front, the 20mm parts were a pain to glue down. They just didn't want to sit still or in the right place.

Attached Thumbnails

       

ralphee

Seven, as for mounting, i fitted a 1/4" threaded insert into the centre of one of my domes on both my models, these allowed me to fit them to a Panavise. I too didnt really have a mounting option in mind when i built them.

It was a quick and effective fix, and plenty strong enough to support them well, may be worth thinking about.

seven

Thanks for the tip. I may do something similar later down the road. I am thinking I may just pop off the front and rig something to the back and glue it back on.

I honestly only count three unidentified ships in the fleet. I see the same three ships used more than once but from different angles to look like more ships. Isn't there a pic of the fleet in the new making of Empire book?

Attached Thumbnails

 

ralphee

Seven, yeah, you would be about right with the three. Its that twin boom ship at the Frigates underside i fancy.

TBH, it looks like two Saturn V tubes, maybe ven with L'eggs capping of the front, like two Y wing engines.....in reality, it possibly looks like poop, but, id still wanna see more......staple everyday stuff doesnt peak my interest these days lol.

lee

seven

Call me crazy, but I was looking at that ship myself. To me, it looks like two dixie cups end to end on either side, with a plastruct dome on the front, Morser rails on top, a hummel part inbetween (the one on the MF?) and the Dispatch pod stuck to the back. But I could just be seeing things

Scott Graham

Ha! That seems like a pretty good description seven!

ralphee

Jeez Seven, go at it buddy lol. Hmm Dixie cups, interesting. Well dependant in size, the part between the hulls, could also be a 223 chassis maybe, and those cups, "could" be larger paint buckets?

What ya reckon sir.....group build on what we can make out? May be fun just to build it hypothesised model.

lee

asemblyrequired

Lee that sounds like a great idea. Would be interesting to see everyone's interputation of it.

-James

seven

Love that idea sounds like fun. It would be fun to see all the background ships built

anyways, a little back on topic

Don't fret, the 20mm parts are not in the final or correct position

I did something similar to what Julien suggested. I got some scrap plastic and cut it it to fit, angled it in, and glued them in place. Now all the domes are in place and the other 20mm parts on....I really need to have ref in front of me when I am working. Trying it for memory just isn't serving me well
I snapped them back off after this pic was taken and flipped them around to face the correct direction.

The hexagon will need some more triming so it clears the holes.

I would say that superglue is so messy that I wouldn't recommend using it. I think I am going to use some Plastruct Styrene & ABS liquid weld from now on. Looks a lot cleaner, and I don't end up gluing the parts to my fingers.

Attached Thumbnails

     

Abaris

Good work Seven. Maybe this pic helps:

Attached Thumbnails

 

ralphee

Seven, man, i always use CA, but i use the gel, and apply with a piece of Blutak on a styrene rod......glue marks tick me off BAD, but you get no real gunk with the gel, and your fingers, are safe lol. Its VERY rare i apply a part with a naked finger, using the rod/blutak, gets a way better result.

This is all looking very nice, agreed, keep her on topic, but i say we maybe start a thread when were ready buddy, be good to join you on that fleet thing.

bests......lee

seven

Appreciate the help KannE

Thanks Lee. I def see a new thread in the future.

More 20mm

Gave the JPS wheels a light sanding for painting and gluing.

Just kind of eye-balled the center, not perfect, but it works

got the last bits on, and I think she is done.

I drilled a hole in the Styrene and just slid the rod in.

Attached Thumbnails

         

   

Mojo_Turbo

this is the most awesome thing ever! I wish you were my brother.

tk1608

Hey Seven, I've got just about all the bits for this apart from the 1/25th tank wheel...just wondering if you know if any russian tank with a T34 style hull will do, or does it have to be the tank destroyer version ?

Thanks a lot

Phil

ralphee

Ill shoot you a wheel Phil, no bothers.

Lee

MonsieurTox

T-34, SU-122, SU-100, SU-85, they all work.

tk1608

That would be great Lee, I can cast it and send it back to you if you like...no probs whatsoever..
Thanks Julien, I have a question for you too...I'll pm it, if that's ok..?

Cheers

Phil

KrokoHunter

Hey Seven .. Awesome work ..

These pods are suddenly everywhere .. they must be the new black :-)

almar bouwman

Looking great Seven .