sbaxter
Sr Member
Greetings, all!
Has anyone here ever tried to accurize one of these fighters? I've searched the archives as extensively as I can, and all I've found is a repainted version (and frankly, I can't recall that was actually on this site). I've got at least a couple of these toys and have begun working on one (another is in progress but has been in storage limbo since before Episode III was released, so I have some previous experience messing with this thing).
According to multiple sources, the ship is supposed to be eight meters long. If the official measurements are correct, the toy (about 15.5 inches in length) scales out to about 1:20.
With the toy, one issue I've found is that I just cannot completely disassemble the thing! After removing all the visible screws, there are sonic welds to deal with, and more screws on internal elements. I succeeded in getting it apart from the front back to the cockpit tub, but no farther. I think the main issue is sonic welds that I cannot see, plus the detail machinery plate on the back wall. I can see that that piece has locater pins that are either welded or glued to the parts beneath it. I'm afraid to try to use a punch or anything to counter those pins, because I doubt I'm seeing all of them, and I definitely don't want to break that plate because it's fairly accurate, at least to the full-size set-piece. At least this time I was able to remove the built-in R4-P17 dome; I'll replace that with a current action figure version's dome.
Not being able to get it completely apart is disappointing. It means that I had to use brute force (just as I did years ago on the first one) to remove that flimsy fin aft of the cockpit. It also means a couple of details I'd like to correct on the engine cans will likely have to go by the wayside. Oh well.
I've sawn off the hinges on the aft section of the outer edges, and will replace that with scratch built parts. I have very good photos of the full-size set piece, including a close up of that area. I still need to determine whether I can use the parts of the hull that pop off when the toy is set to the full battle mode (which inspired the Eta-2 fighter used in Episode III) or if I will have to scratch-build replacements. I'm going to try washing those parts today and see if they'll take glue and paint. My latest theory is that those parts might be vinyl, which should be good news if I make sure they have support over time. If they're polypropylene ... well, time to get out the sheet styrene!
I've drilled out the buttons on the back panel and will probably replace them with some tiny allen screws I have, and then possibly add a small amount of detail on top of that area. I've got to scratch a new nose "arrowhead," but I was able to do that 10-11 years ago on the first one, so I'm confident on that.
Anyone have any good cockpit references (and is this board still rending that word as comic-book profanity)? I've turned up very little other than the HUD-like panel right in front of the pilot, and the top of the seat back. Also have to add the machinery detail strip on the bottom centerline -- I'll use the detail on the back as a guide, unless someone, somewhere, has any good reference material on that section. I'd also really love to get a good look at the shape of that aft fin as it appeared onscreen in the movie -- anyone have any such thing?
* I actually did the math! It is accurate to the date I am posting this.
SSB
Has anyone here ever tried to accurize one of these fighters? I've searched the archives as extensively as I can, and all I've found is a repainted version (and frankly, I can't recall that was actually on this site). I've got at least a couple of these toys and have begun working on one (another is in progress but has been in storage limbo since before Episode III was released, so I have some previous experience messing with this thing).
According to multiple sources, the ship is supposed to be eight meters long. If the official measurements are correct, the toy (about 15.5 inches in length) scales out to about 1:20.
With the toy, one issue I've found is that I just cannot completely disassemble the thing! After removing all the visible screws, there are sonic welds to deal with, and more screws on internal elements. I succeeded in getting it apart from the front back to the cockpit tub, but no farther. I think the main issue is sonic welds that I cannot see, plus the detail machinery plate on the back wall. I can see that that piece has locater pins that are either welded or glued to the parts beneath it. I'm afraid to try to use a punch or anything to counter those pins, because I doubt I'm seeing all of them, and I definitely don't want to break that plate because it's fairly accurate, at least to the full-size set-piece. At least this time I was able to remove the built-in R4-P17 dome; I'll replace that with a current action figure version's dome.
Not being able to get it completely apart is disappointing. It means that I had to use brute force (just as I did years ago on the first one) to remove that flimsy fin aft of the cockpit. It also means a couple of details I'd like to correct on the engine cans will likely have to go by the wayside. Oh well.
I've sawn off the hinges on the aft section of the outer edges, and will replace that with scratch built parts. I have very good photos of the full-size set piece, including a close up of that area. I still need to determine whether I can use the parts of the hull that pop off when the toy is set to the full battle mode (which inspired the Eta-2 fighter used in Episode III) or if I will have to scratch-build replacements. I'm going to try washing those parts today and see if they'll take glue and paint. My latest theory is that those parts might be vinyl, which should be good news if I make sure they have support over time. If they're polypropylene ... well, time to get out the sheet styrene!
I've drilled out the buttons on the back panel and will probably replace them with some tiny allen screws I have, and then possibly add a small amount of detail on top of that area. I've got to scratch a new nose "arrowhead," but I was able to do that 10-11 years ago on the first one, so I'm confident on that.
Anyone have any good cockpit references (and is this board still rending that word as comic-book profanity)? I've turned up very little other than the HUD-like panel right in front of the pilot, and the top of the seat back. Also have to add the machinery detail strip on the bottom centerline -- I'll use the detail on the back as a guide, unless someone, somewhere, has any good reference material on that section. I'd also really love to get a good look at the shape of that aft fin as it appeared onscreen in the movie -- anyone have any such thing?
* I actually did the math! It is accurate to the date I am posting this.
SSB
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