Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider

dbhs · 02-01-2010, 02:20 AM

Hi everyone. I've been a long time lurker here but haven't posted much - and I'm hoping to change that. This will be a long first post as I'm catching up with the progress. There's some fantastic talent here and I appreciate any feedback and suggestions you have. Thanks for looking.
-Doug

My new project is a scratch-built Studio Scale model of a Ralph McQuarrie concept design for the Cylon Raider. This concept was not used for the show in favor of the Raider that we all know and love. To my knowledge a model has never been built of this concept design. I'm calling this a Studio Scale model because I will be building it in 1:35 scale to match the scale of the Studio Raider.

http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-g...-sketches.html has a lot of McQuarrie's sketches and there's some really good ideas for scratch builds in there.

This sketch and the one above are the only two reference sketches that I have found for this design but they show enough of the ship to extrapolate the design for a scale model.

To round out the scratch built parts I'm going to add just a few kit parts from the Leopold and Morser Karl that were used on the studio model. The kit parts will be used in keeping with the design but will add just a little 'lineage' to keep this in the Cylon Raider family. Phil (Wombat) is helping me out with some parts from his stash. Thanks, Phil !!!

This photo show the Studio Scale Cylon Raider kit next to a 1:35 drawing of the Concept Raider. The Concept Raider is a slightly smaller craft as it is a single-pilot ship. In physical dimensions the model will be just under 16" from nose to tail.

My first step was to draw up to-scale plans in AutoCAD. The plan view-sketch was very helpful getting started but after a while I started noticing subtle differences in the design between the two drawigns. I really liked the feel of the perspective sketch so I used that as my reference whenever something didn't match.

The shape of the hull has subtle compound curves so I'm using AutoCAD to study the geometry and generating the series of ribs that will create this curve on the skin.

Most of the ribs and parts are ready to go so the next step is to start cutting styrene.

Transferring the pattern to the styrene went really well. It was a little tricky to get the top and bottom to line up exactly but I got it really close.

This is making cutting the ribs out to the right size really easy.

Here's the bottom flat section getting glued up.

This is what I printed the drawing on to. Sticks great to the styrene and luckily it doesn't get melted by the solvent glue. Doesn't seem to react at all. I do have to trim out the label film where each rib goes so the styrene will contact styrene.

I don't have a vacuum former so I had to improvise to get the styrene bent to shape. I did two before this one that I had to scrap but this one turned out ok.

The scoop will go on after the rest of the ribs and some of the plating are down.

I sacrificed a couple of pens to build the guns. There's some additional parts from the pens that I can use on this as well.

The first layer of plating is glued on.

Here is the projection under the engines under construction.

Here it is with the rib detailing added on. The two flat areas directly forward of this will have big grilles placed in them. I'm going to use the grilles from the Centurion Tank for these (used on the top part of the Studio Raider behind the cockpit). The details on that piece will look good there.

Here's the top view of the same area. I need to finish up around the engine compartment and then start working on the ribs on the top side.

modelcitizen · 02-01-2010, 02:48 AM

nice. very nice.
there's a lot of old mcquarrie designs i'd like to build

Kuhn Global · 02-01-2010, 03:29 AM

DOUG!!! You have my FULL attention my friend.

BrundelFly · 02-01-2010, 09:15 AM

Thats Brilliant!!!

I like the concept VIPER....hmmmmmm

Scott Graham · 02-01-2010, 08:29 PM

Nice construction sequence pics! Looks great! Nice fresh subject

Guy Cowen · 02-02-2010, 05:45 PM

Great work Doug, looking forward to more.

Tobin · 02-03-2010, 12:59 PM

Fantastic work! What a cool idea.

Did someone say "concept Viper?"

dbhs · 02-03-2010, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tobin

Fantastic work! What a cool idea.

Did someone say "concept Viper?"

I think he was referring to the Viper sketches on the web page linked to above of which there are several very cool designs.

Frank, 1:20 would be nice ;-) .

dbhs · 02-08-2010, 03:33 AM

I got the ribs on the top side done and finished up the sides of the engine compartments. I also started cutting out the top side plating but not far along enough for pics just yet.

3d-builder · 02-08-2010, 11:33 AM

Nice work.....wow thats looking impressive!

Saz · 02-08-2010, 02:35 PM

Noticed two concepts in particular, the one that looks like an A-Wing and the one that is exactly like the figher from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.

Oh darn, now I'm thinking of Erin Grey in those jumpsuits!

dbhs · 02-09-2010, 12:07 AM

I really like this one. It's a good hybrid of the Viper and Thunderfighter but quite different at the same time. Very sleek and I like the dual seats in the cockpit.

dbhs · 02-12-2010, 03:22 AM

Working on the engines now to take a little break from the styrene stuff. I'm using several different parts to make the shape of each engine and am mounting them on a metal tube. I was going to extend the same tube into the body and glue it in place but I was realizing that it will be much more convenient to attach them permanently later on. So for this I glued in a sleeve for the first tube to slide into. I'd like to get them painted up separately before gluing them in but I need to figure out how the lighting will factor in to that plan.

dbhs · 02-15-2010, 01:58 PM

Here's the status from last night:

The dashboard in the cockpit. Here it is with the lights turned on. I'll be adding color to the lights. To illuminate the screen I mounted the FO to project on to the back side of the clear frosted screen.

Cockpit seat.

I wanted to make the grilles on the top open but the rough part of the inside was visbile through them so this is an inner detail that will be visible through the grille.

The view through the grille.

Piping along the tail fin.

RedScare · 02-15-2010, 03:25 PM

this is awesome, looking forward to more

3d-builder · 02-16-2010, 03:48 PM

SOOOO nice!

Go Flight · 02-16-2010, 09:05 PM

Terrifc WIP of an awesome looking craft.
Looking fwd to seeing more!

modeleers · 02-16-2010, 09:43 PM

...by your command!

dbhs · 02-17-2010, 02:33 AM

Thanks, guys. I'm having a blast with this.

dbhs · 02-18-2010, 03:40 AM

Bottom rear detailing on the 'ailerons'.

Adding some kit parts to the center top detail. Can't help but add some lighting here too.

confusion · 02-19-2010, 01:09 AM

Wow! I can't wait to see the finished product in all it's lighted up glory.

GoldCylon1 · 02-20-2010, 12:50 PM

This is awesome, and love it very much. Your doing a great job with this, and will be watching this thread carefully. THX

bobjen · 02-22-2010, 12:49 AM

Honestly, this is a fantastic build and your detail and pictures are so amazing it borders on a religious experience...

baron von blondle · 02-23-2010, 04:15 PM

just WOW! really beautiful work!

dbhs · 02-26-2010, 05:05 AM

Wow, guys. I really appreciate the kind words. I'm definitely having too much fun with this one. Here's some progress from the last couple of days.

The green putty is really distracting on the white styrene but you'll have to trust me that it's getting smoother. I scribed all the panel lines in on the bottom side and have some greeblies figured out. I'm going to glue the greeblies on last so they don't get damaged in the mean time.

I wasn't happy about the edge detail I had before so I redid the finish surface all along the curved front edge. This was a big PITA but the final edge will be much cleaner this way.

This is the top side with the first layer of styrene on top of the ribs. I'm gluing this down to the ribs with epoxy.

These are the final sheets of styrene for the top side ready to be applied. I spent a whole evening just doing the little vent openings. I thought for sure that I'd break at least one of the thin spots between them but they came out ok. Put my needle files to good use cleaning up the holes.

More work in the cockpit tub. Yes there is no leg room in this design. Luckily the cylons have detachable legs

Tonight I glued in the piping on either side of the tail fin and added some detail tubing over the smaller tubes. I also worked on puttying/sanding in the engine compartment. The sanding there has to be finished before the final plating goes on. The engines and final plating are not glued in, just testing the fit.

The engines will be getting more piping and detailing added to be similar to the concept sketch. They look a little bare right now.

As always, thanks for looking.

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02-01-2010, 02:20 AM	#1
dbhs Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 129 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider Hi everyone. I've been a long time lurker here but haven't posted much - and I'm hoping to change that. This will be a long first post as I'm catching up with the progress. There's some fantastic talent here and I appreciate any feedback and suggestions you have. Thanks for looking. -Doug My new project is a scratch-built Studio Scale model of a Ralph McQuarrie concept design for the Cylon Raider. This concept was not used for the show in favor of the Raider that we all know and love. To my knowledge a model has never been built of this concept design. I'm calling this a Studio Scale model because I will be building it in 1:35 scale to match the scale of the Studio Raider. http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-g...-sketches.html has a lot of McQuarrie's sketches and there's some really good ideas for scratch builds in there. This sketch and the one above are the only two reference sketches that I have found for this design but they show enough of the ship to extrapolate the design for a scale model. To round out the scratch built parts I'm going to add just a few kit parts from the Leopold and Morser Karl that were used on the studio model. The kit parts will be used in keeping with the design but will add just a little 'lineage' to keep this in the Cylon Raider family. Phil (Wombat) is helping me out with some parts from his stash. Thanks, Phil !!! This photo show the Studio Scale Cylon Raider kit next to a 1:35 drawing of the Concept Raider. The Concept Raider is a slightly smaller craft as it is a single-pilot ship. In physical dimensions the model will be just under 16" from nose to tail. My first step was to draw up to-scale plans in AutoCAD. The plan view-sketch was very helpful getting started but after a while I started noticing subtle differences in the design between the two drawigns. I really liked the feel of the perspective sketch so I used that as my reference whenever something didn't match. The shape of the hull has subtle compound curves so I'm using AutoCAD to study the geometry and generating the series of ribs that will create this curve on the skin. Most of the ribs and parts are ready to go so the next step is to start cutting styrene. Transferring the pattern to the styrene went really well. It was a little tricky to get the top and bottom to line up exactly but I got it really close. This is making cutting the ribs out to the right size really easy. Here's the bottom flat section getting glued up. This is what I printed the drawing on to. Sticks great to the styrene and luckily it doesn't get melted by the solvent glue. Doesn't seem to react at all. I do have to trim out the label film where each rib goes so the styrene will contact styrene. I don't have a vacuum former so I had to improvise to get the styrene bent to shape. I did two before this one that I had to scrap but this one turned out ok. The scoop will go on after the rest of the ribs and some of the plating are down. I sacrificed a couple of pens to build the guns. There's some additional parts from the pens that I can use on this as well. The first layer of plating is glued on. Here is the projection under the engines under construction. Here it is with the rib detailing added on. The two flat areas directly forward of this will have big grilles placed in them. I'm going to use the grilles from the Centurion Tank for these (used on the top part of the Studio Raider behind the cockpit). The details on that piece will look good there. Here's the top view of the same area. I need to finish up around the engine compartment and then start working on the ribs on the top side.

02-01-2010, 02:48 AM	#2
modelcitizen Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: southern california Posts: 91 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider nice. very nice. there's a lot of old mcquarrie designs i'd like to build

02-01-2010, 03:29 AM	#3
Kuhn Global Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,768 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider DOUG!!! You have my FULL attention my friend.

02-01-2010, 09:15 AM	#4
BrundelFly Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 2,464 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider Thats Brilliant!!! I like the concept VIPER....hmmmmmm

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02-01-2010, 08:29 PM	#5
Scott Graham Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Up Your Ass Posts: 772 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider Nice construction sequence pics! Looks great! Nice fresh subject

02-02-2010, 05:45 PM	#6
Guy Cowen Guy Staff Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 2,362 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider Great work Doug, looking forward to more.

02-03-2010, 12:59 PM	#7
Tobin Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 22 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider Fantastic work! What a cool idea. Did someone say "concept Viper?"

02-08-2010, 03:33 AM	#9
dbhs Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 129 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider I got the ribs on the top side done and finished up the sides of the engine compartments. I also started cutting out the top side plating but not far along enough for pics just yet.

02-08-2010, 11:33 AM	#10
3d-builder Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,185 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider Nice work.....wow thats looking impressive!

02-08-2010, 02:35 PM	#11
Saz Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 48 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider Noticed two concepts in particular, the one that looks like an A-Wing and the one that is exactly like the figher from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Oh darn, now I'm thinking of Erin Grey in those jumpsuits!

02-09-2010, 12:07 AM	#12
dbhs Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 129 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider I really like this one. It's a good hybrid of the Viper and Thunderfighter but quite different at the same time. Very sleek and I like the dual seats in the cockpit.

02-12-2010, 03:22 AM	#13
dbhs Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 129 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider Working on the engines now to take a little break from the styrene stuff. I'm using several different parts to make the shape of each engine and am mounting them on a metal tube. I was going to extend the same tube into the body and glue it in place but I was realizing that it will be much more convenient to attach them permanently later on. So for this I glued in a sleeve for the first tube to slide into. I'd like to get them painted up separately before gluing them in but I need to figure out how the lighting will factor in to that plan.

02-15-2010, 01:58 PM	#14
dbhs Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 129 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider Here's the status from last night: The dashboard in the cockpit. Here it is with the lights turned on. I'll be adding color to the lights. To illuminate the screen I mounted the FO to project on to the back side of the clear frosted screen. Cockpit seat. I wanted to make the grilles on the top open but the rough part of the inside was visbile through them so this is an inner detail that will be visible through the grille. The view through the grille. Piping along the tail fin.

02-15-2010, 03:25 PM	#15
RedScare Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider this is awesome, looking forward to more

02-16-2010, 03:48 PM	#16
3d-builder Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,185 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider SOOOO nice!

02-16-2010, 09:05 PM	#17
Go Flight Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider Terrifc WIP of an awesome looking craft. Looking fwd to seeing more!

02-16-2010, 09:43 PM	#18
modeleers Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 537 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider *...by your command!*

02-17-2010, 02:33 AM	#19
dbhs Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 129 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider Thanks, guys. I'm having a blast with this.

02-18-2010, 03:40 AM	#20
dbhs Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 129 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider Bottom rear detailing on the 'ailerons'. Adding some kit parts to the center top detail. Can't help but add some lighting here too.

02-19-2010, 01:09 AM	#21
confusion Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 533 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider Wow! I can't wait to see the finished product in all it's lighted up glory.

02-20-2010, 12:50 PM	#22
GoldCylon1 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sacramento Califorina U.S.A. Posts: 432 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider This is awesome, and love it very much. Your doing a great job with this, and will be watching this thread carefully. THX

02-22-2010, 12:49 AM	#23
bobjen Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider Honestly, this is a fantastic build and your detail and pictures are so amazing it borders on a religious experience...

02-23-2010, 04:15 PM	#24
baron von blondle Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Surrey, UK Posts: 157 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider just WOW! really beautiful work!

02-26-2010, 05:05 AM	#25
dbhs Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 129 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Studio Scale McQuarrie Concept Raider Wow, guys. I really appreciate the kind words. I'm definitely having too much fun with this one. Here's some progress from the last couple of days. The green putty is really distracting on the white styrene but you'll have to trust me that it's getting smoother. I scribed all the panel lines in on the bottom side and have some greeblies figured out. I'm going to glue the greeblies on last so they don't get damaged in the mean time. I wasn't happy about the edge detail I had before so I redid the finish surface all along the curved front edge. This was a big PITA but the final edge will be much cleaner this way. This is the top side with the first layer of styrene on top of the ribs. I'm gluing this down to the ribs with epoxy. These are the final sheets of styrene for the top side ready to be applied. I spent a whole evening just doing the little vent openings. I thought for sure that I'd break at least one of the thin spots between them but they came out ok. Put my needle files to good use cleaning up the holes. More work in the cockpit tub. Yes there is no leg room in this design. Luckily the cylons have detachable legs Tonight I glued in the piping on either side of the tail fin and added some detail tubing over the smaller tubes. I also worked on puttying/sanding in the engine compartment. The sanding there has to be finished before the final plating goes on. The engines and final plating are not glued in, just testing the fit. The engines will be getting more piping and detailing added to be similar to the concept sketch. They look a little bare right now. As always, thanks for looking.