AMT Star Destroyer

El Visitor

Hi folks

Got myself a good deal on the AMT star destroyer through ebay to help referencing for a scratch build.

Turns out the kit isn't that good as a reference so I'm just gonna have a go at building it up and beautifying it.

Slow progress initially as I'm a noob in terms of this type of modelling.

Here's some pics of what I've managed so far:

Played about with making the bays deeper and adding some hull detail after sanding the life out of it!
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Also started adding some texture to the engine area:

<a href="Pictures by ElVisitor1 - Photobucket" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...0-24082445.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I've drilled for lots of fibre optics but they don't really show up on my phone's camera.

Progress is slow because I'm inexperienced and I don't want to make a mess of it...... Fingers crossed!!

jedimaster

Good luck with the build. I admire the guys that have a go at modding these factory kits. I just couldn't be bothered. I like em BIG!! ! ... Oh and accurate.

Simon.

3d-builder

Hey thats looking sharp already!
There is certainly a level of challenge in
working from what the kit offers.

blakeh1

Here is some amazing work on the AMT Star Destroyer that I used as reference for my own build. ã�¾ã�Ÿæ’®ã‚Šç›´ã�—(^_^：é�®æ–*呆人　Studio-ACCESS：So-net blog
It's in Japanese, but there are plenty of pictures in the PDF downloads to follow along. Scrolll down to the Start Destroyer part 1 and part 2 downloads here
?????Studio-ACCESS?STAR WARS Model Archives

El Visitor

Jedimaster: I'd love to go for bigger and more accurate but space and finances are not permitting at the moment

Thanks 3D builder, nice of you to say so. Yeah, the fit isn't great on this kit but I figure it's a good place for me to cut my teeth.

Blakeh1: That guy's work is amazing, something for me to aspire to but I don't think I'm likely to achieve it with my first build! LOL

I'm not going for accuracy with this one as I think it would be too challenging at the moment, I'll put that off till I start my scratch.
For now, I'm content just to make the kit fit together properly, add detail (made up in my head and not referenced) and hopefully get some lighting in there (if not, I've gotta fill in all the holes I drilled for FO!!)

It's slow going at the moment, I only get little periods to work on it here and there and a lot of the time is spent staring at the parts, scratching my beard and trying to figure out what I want to add and what's the most practical way to put it all together in terms of sub-assemblies.

Did a bit more engine work last night:



Quite hard to see but I've run some fishing line through to add super fine pipe detail.

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Zombie_61

That is one of the benefits of building one of AMT's original Star Wars kits--you get quite of bit of experience putting ill-fitting parts together, and puttying and sanding to hide seams and replace detail missing because of the gaps; it makes building well-engineered kits a breeze!

El Visitor

That's my philosophy, let's just hope it doesn't end in tears!! LOL

Finished detailing the engine section now, quite pleased with the look.

I also started building the trench sections for the notches.

I'm also pleased with their look which means I'm probably gonna have to build the lot as my parts look a bit odd alongside the supplied trenches.

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El Visitor

Small progress:

I got sick of doing the side trenches and decided to work on the lower hull a bit more.

Not sure if I've gone over the top at the front, might need to chip a few pieces off!

Any opinions are warmly welcomed.

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blakeh1

I don't think it's over the top. It looks good to me so far

El Visitor

Coolio, thanks
I gues it'll stand out less when the rest of the hull is detailed.
I think some of the dots are a little thick but I can always sand them down a bit.

Time to press on then!

center68

Turning out great - can't wait to see this done

El Visitor

Thanks center68, me too! LOL

There's a rumour that santa will bring me an airbrush and compressor for Xmas so I'll be able to get some primer on then.

I've noticed in other posts that primer makes everything look cooler.

Should get quite a bit done tonight so more pics tomorrow.

El Visitor

Started roughing in the main bay but my draughting square seems to be a little off so the cuts are all a little bit wonky! Still, I've made a startand there's a lot of detail to go over it so it should come out alright. I just need to think carefully about light leaks etc before I fix anything permenantly!

Also added a bit more detail, need to get some thinner sheet for some of the panel detail I want to put in.

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El Visitor

Few little bits of progress over the weekend:

Added some detail to the smaller bay and did some lighting tests and got cracking with the lower hull details after recieving the much needed strips and sheets of styrene.

Sorry the pics are a bit naff but I've only got my phone camera!

I'm feeling happier about the project altogether now I can see it starting to take shape, still a ways to go yet though!!

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El Visitor

Managed to get a start on the main bay but having to rework and adjust constantly as I go along to allow for lighting and assembly.
Starting to get fiddly now but it's an interesting/fun part of the work.

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Randy13

I love the detail you’re putting into this. You’re going to make this AMT model look great! Keep up the good work.

El Visitor

Wow! Thanks Randy.

I take that as a big compliment having seen the quality of your' work, your' aliens diorama is stunning!

I hope this'll turn out good, this will be my first time working with an airbrush which I'm a little daunted by but with a lot of patience..... well, fingers crossed! LOL

Randy13

Thank you so much for the kind words. I’ve wanted to build my AMT SD for a long time but never quite knew how I should detail it. Seeing what you’re doing is a big inspiration.

El Visitor

That's one of the great things about the RPF: loads of inspiration for all sorts of projects.

I was planning to do a bit of a lighting test for the main bay but realised I didn't have all the LEDs I needed. DOH!

Instead I decided to press on with detailing the interior walls and building the room behind the back door of the main bay.

Got some ok results but a lot of my time was wasted when some of the super-small details simply dissolved into a paste on contact with the cement!

I really hope all the splodges of glue won't show through too much when I come to paint but with a little luck the primer will take care of that.

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yuumi2891103

This is nothing an AMT kit anymore. This is your build.
More you go into it, more you love to put the detail.
The result will be fascinating.
This is rather a good size to put the detail and that look effective.
You can even use stapler staples to add as a detail bit.

Great works

katsu

El Visitor

Thank you kind sir.

Yeah, it's true that the more I do, the more detail I want to add on.
My estimated completion date gets pushed further back every time I look at this kit.

Funnily enough I do have staples in my detailing bit box, along with cigarette lighters, broken telephones, CDs etc etc.

Any thing that saves money means I can crack on rather than saving and waiting.

blakeh1

that bay detail is turning out very nicely. It should look great with lights behind it. I've got to do the same thing for mine

El Visitor

Thanks mate.

You gonna post your' build?

blakeh1

I'm working so slowly on it that I will wait until i've got it about 50% done. Only thing completed right now is the bridge tower and some details around the outside of the main hanger bay. I'm keeping my eye on your build anda few others for some ideas and guidance

Scratchy

Very nice work El Visitor. There's no such thing as "over the top" when detailing a star destroyer, just when you think it's done..... throw more in there

I know that .005" styrene is ideal for raised panels on a 1/2256 Star Destroyer... have you considered laying down some scotch tape on the plastic and cutting out the sections for the raised panels? I've heard of builders doing this technique with an adhesive vinyl for larger scales.

It's just an idea.