1/48 MiM Gunstar - Now with 3D Printed details!

[Redfinger]

I recently acquired a 1/48 Gunstar from Monsters in Motion. I do believe it is an original and not a recast. There is a certificate of “authenticity”.

Anyway, the kit is rough. Lots of detail is soft, damaged or missing

I believe it was originally modeled by Randy Cooper. I can post more photos later, but I want to give this kit some love as I have a soft spot for the movie.

Does anyone recognize some of these detail parts? I think the smaller part was likely 1:700 scale photoetch battleship hand rails, but I am not sure what the larger railing looking part is from.

Of course, another alternative is to not try and replicate the original detail, but just go a new direction all together.

Any thoughts?

 

[TazMan2000]

Nothing jumps out at me, but I'd just use Evergreen Styrene parts to replace some detail and fill in some of the pinholes in the larger parts. Regardless of the issues, it's a nice score.

TazMan2000

 

[Redfinger]

Nothing jumps out at me, but I'd just use Evergreen Styrene parts to replace some detail and fill in some of the pinholes in the larger parts. Regardless of the issues, it's a nice score.

TazMan2000

I think I found the part, it looks like it may have came from a NorthStar photoetch set, 1/700 scale perforated steel support beams. Sadly, it seems like one one has that in stock and that NorthStar is no longer around.

So, I think this will push me is the direction of doing some custom detailing.

 

[rbeach84]

Although a pain, it would be straight forward to make a pattern for the existing detail, sand off the damaged features then scratch up replacements from sheet styrene. Essentially it all looks like 'little ladders' which should be pretty simple to make. Going this route would likely be less hassle than attempting to repair the casting damage.

Nice find, I also congratulate you, I'm a 1/48 and 'Last Starfighter' fan and have been looking for just such a kit.

Cheers!
R./ Robert

 

[Redfinger]

Spent some time on TinkerCad making and editing some 3d stuff to try and recreate something that looks a little better and repair some of the miscast details. Not trying to do much by way of accuracy here, just going with what feels right and to give the ship a little better detail.

Not sure which vent style I am going to go with though for the details near the gun, the Gundam style, or the vent that looks more like the original.

 

[Redfinger]

Work continues on the Gunstar. These side trenches along the nose of the ship had a lot of miscast detail. I started sanding it down and realized I would need to remove it all and star over.

There also seems to be a misalignment in the molds as the edges don’t line up now. I will need to build out the upper edge of the trench on one side, and the lower edge on the other.

I will likely design and print a detail strip that I can put inside this trench, I think that will be the most straightforward way to do, and I am feeling a little more confident in my 3d design skills to make something.

 

[Redfinger]

Made up some trench details, something with some greebles, and something more in line with the original.

Not sure which way I am going to go.

 

[Redfinger]

Work continues. Lots of rescribing panel lines and details to give them a crisp edge again. Also got around to securing some of the resin and photoetch bits for added detail.

Still lots of sanding and filling.

 

[Redfinger]

More work on the MIM Gunstar 1. The main body is getting pretty close to done. The original concept art shows a fin or vent on the underside of the cockpit, I think I will be adding this detail.

The vacuformed canopy was horrible. So I used some 3d printing and styrene to scratch a new one. Happy with the results so far.

One of the outriggers was damaged in shipping. Roto-Casting can make for some thin, fragile walls. So repairing this is my next goal.

I have taken some liberties with the details, but I think it adds some visual interest and stays true to the original.

 

[Analyzer]

Love all the detailing your doing on this!

 

[modelerdave]

The new canopy is a perfect fit. Looks great. Nice work on that and all of the other details.

 

[Redfinger]

The new canopy is a perfect fit. Looks great. Nice work on that and all of the other details.

Thanks, getting that canopy right took some trial and error. I am hoping to get some more pics up this weekend, I am getting pretty close to having assembly done!