MonsieurTox
Master Member
The EFX Tie and future PD model... Julian/Guy have either of you ever had direct access to a studio used Tie Fighter or the PD model that wasn't behind glass? Julian your Tie ball IS 1/4" too big and your wing stars are FAR TOO thin. We had direct access to an original Tie that was measured,and extensively photographed. As far as scanned,grown parts used by the manufacturer, once we send the models to China they do what they do, it's out of our hands for MASS PRODUCTION.
That's funny Jamie, the Icons TIE cockpit ball, which was made after a production casting has a diameter of 132 mm (the eFX is 127mm). I used a 133mm ball (5-1/4") which should be close taking in account shrinkage of the various generations. The pipe of the original is 31.75mm and was also measured by eFX being that diameter. But it's smaller on the eFX. Also Gene measured the top hatch of an ANH TIE Fighter (Edlunds) at 79.75mm. In no way it can fit a 5" ball. Another guy who has production TIE castings (also a top hatch and a rear cone), confirmed the measurements. And the most important, the parts placement, kit parts dont lie !
Regarding the thickness of my wingstars you are right... Ans wrong. Actually they are correct to the original wing star pattern. However when they did the pulls, resin flew between the 2 parts of the mold making them an uneven thickness. The thickness was twice thicker in some case ! Since the resin flashes of the original were snapped by hand and not cleaned up, you can clearly see the additional thickness made by the flash (I can post pics if you want).
Gene took a good close up on one of the wing edge showing the thickness of 2 opposite arms. One is twice thicker than the other. I replicated that on the first wingstar I made but I finally opted for an even thickness, the thickness of the original wingstar master pattern.
I do understand the models are made in China for mass production but the problems are still real (no real kit parts used which is more important than the size itself). That's why I hope they'll find a better way to reproduce those parts even if they're not original, at least they could be modeled better.