Bandia Razor Crest Lighting

[Antsnest]

Started work on a lighting module for the Bandai Vehicle Model Razor Crest. These are always a challenge because of the size, but trying to get something internal was the trickiest yet! There is virtually no empty space inside that's not take up with mounting lugs, but there was a tiny void between the top of the main fuselage and the wings that was just big enough to get a microcontroller and support circuitry into...
I ended up with a PCB that is only 12mm x 15mm, and had to get them made only 0.6mm thick to allow enough height for the components as well

There is also just enough space between the inside of the engine exhaust piece and the end of it's mounting post to include a SMD LED. The wires to the LED can then run back through the engine and wing to the PCB, after cutting out a few notches in the internal parts to let the wire pass between mating surfaces. The power wires can be run out through the stand locating point.

The center of the engine is easy to drill out to let the light out but in this quick test I also liked the glow you get from just the spill through the plastic of the engine cowl. Sadly most of that will probably be lost when painted.

More to come...

 

[Analyzer]

Nice!

 

[Galactican]

Awesome!

 

[Antsnest]

Been diverted on other things for a while but just catching up on this....

LED wiring routed to engine pods - held in place with small blobs of "tacky glue". I cut channels through the mounting posts that secure the top part of the fuselage to allow for a straighter cable run

Corresponding slots in the pegs on the upper part

Position of LEDs on engine pods. Vehicle has been primed gloss black ready for an Alclad chrome finish.

I created tiny jet flames and printed them in clear resin, then tinted with clear yellow. These help bring out the light into the engine nozzle

Power wires feed down through tiny holes in ball & socket joint on stand

A small extension has been printed for the base to contain the power source

 

[Antsnest]

Finished off with a coat of Alclad Chrome. Because you only get the stickers and not proper decals with the kit, I made a couple of masks for the side marking and cut them out in vinyl on my Silhouette. Colour was then sponged through the masks in varying degrees to replicate the worn and battered look in the show.
The window stickers also make great masks - these were applied before the Chrome coat and then removed afterwards.
The one thing I wish I'd done in hindsight was to use 2 black wires for the power instead of one red, as this remains visible up the back of the stand. I tried painting over the red, and even tried permanent marker, but the insulation seems resistant to any coating!

 

[Borjis]

Love it!
What about using a thin strip of electrical tape to conceal the red?

 

[Antsnest]

Love it!
What about using a thin strip of electrical tape to conceal the red?

Brilliant! That was of course the perfect solution!! Thanks

 

[Guns Akimbo]

Black tulip paint over the red wire. Secures, seals and conceals.

 

[Rust and Bolts]

That’s cool. Nice work.

 

[modelerdave]

I love it!

 

[stevielewis]

Really nice!