ME: A Tempest Scratch Build (Looking for advice)

tdl84

New Member
Hey everyone, after playing Mass Effect Andromeda, I have really been wanting to build of model of the Tempest (seen below). The problem is, I have never made a model like this before, I am a sculptor (wax), but have a little experience in working with styrene, mostly squarish shapes, but this ship is smooth and curved. I could probably sculpt it, but with Styrene it would be much easier to get nice clean lines, and I hope to make it 24" long, that would be a big brittle piece of wax!

Anyway, my thought was to have some base form, then add the styrene on top for the panels and details. Since I have never done this before, would that be a correct way to go about doing it, and if so, how should I approach building the form, what materials would I use?

I welcome any and all input, thanks!


landscape-1488811234-tempest-exterior.jpg
 
In the old days they'd use wood, polyurethane foam is more common today. I'd carve it in wood, then give it a layer of fiberglass and epoxy to make a hard surface.
 
In the old days they'd use wood, polyurethane foam is more common today. I'd carve it in wood, then give it a layer of fiberglass and epoxy to make a hard surface.

Thanks for the tips! I have never used fiberglass and epoxy before, instead of that, what about Bondo, just in case I mess up carving the wood, it would let me fill in mistakes, and create a harder smooth surface? And I wonder, would superglue or epoxy stick styrene to Bondo?

Your other option could be to create a vacuform buck for it

If I had the set up, that would be the dream. with the curves on the ship, I am going to have a heck of a time getting the styrene to bend the way I want.
 
Are you looking for this to be hollow or solid? That would make a big difference in how to approach it.
 
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