1/72 Hoth Echo Base Hangar diorama

[gt350pony66]

ok, well...I did do more than just this all weekend. I finalized my landing lights, installed Age of Plastic pits (forgot that pic) post later...re-joined the front and rear lower hull, several times, had to do a bit more trimming for the pits and lighting...and I di the ventral quad turret. I have the Haynes Manual book of the MF, got as close as I could with the left side panel, and borrowed an image from Korban for the right as I couldn't find a complete pic on-line. Anyway, this is what I finished up with and I added some painted brass rod for the ladder. and one rung. Drilled for .25 FO and used sharpie colors to do the mushroomed ends of the FO. Laser bond again, is VERY useful in setting you FO in place I kinda guessed maybe the seats are similar to the rears in the cockpit so I did that, but in a darker brown for the cushions. I'm really thinking I want to try to scratch the ladder tube with some evergreen stuff (if there isn't a part in the kit I don't know about yet) and add a chip LED or two to get that ambient light into the turret wells...we shall see.

 

[gt350pony66]

The pits...
and I installed .75 FO for all the red low clearance lights. Back to the other thing with the ventral turret...I figured I'd best get it built and installed so I could start tucking away all the FO and wiring in preparation for the top hull install, nothing in the way, nothing getting pinched...right

 

[korben44]

Beautiful work!

 

[Analyzer]

Those gun turret wells look amazing! Excellent job

It's almost a shame to cover them up.

If I had money to spare, I would get another PG Falcon and build it as a cutaway to show details like that. I would love to do something similar for the Tie Fighter and first order tie fighter

 

[gt350pony66]

Thanks fellas! Although it takes me much more time that you guys, I've finally gotten to where I slow down and do things better and much of that is thinking it out more...good habits I picked up from you guys...it just takes me longer

 

[g0rb]

Just wanted to stop by and say Wow. Again

 

[gt350pony66]

Just wanted to stop by and say Wow. Again

Well thanks again and Happy New Years! I'm not really that good, but I'm getting there...influence from my bros here

 

[gt350pony66]

got some more wall up, just about time to stab the mandibles and tie in the red lights in the very front of those. started on the front add-on (ESB) landing gear and did the well lights. also got going on the rear gear, found that the stock lights go in the center, makes sense though. I added my second light forward of the front leg, but if it looks weird I'll have to add a third to the rear. This may be over-doing the lights...but, I like a lot of lights. I counted everything so far, including whats in the cockpit and the corridor there are 54 so far, if i do the 3 in each rear gear well, then 56...that doesn't include the 3, but likely 4 LED's I need to do yet for the FO...and likely a 5th. I want to takes a very few random FO from the cockpit and back wall and stick in at least two blinker LED's so I get an alternating blink effect. just got to see what I have room for once the rest is squared away.

 

[Analyzer]

Lighting levels and placement of lights look perfect in that shot showing the ramp down with the landing gear

 

[gt350pony66]

Lighting levels and placement of lights look perfect in that shot showing the ramp down with the landing gear

Thanks man! it's tricky getting the phone-cam to take good pics to represent what it actually looks like in person but occasionally I get lucky

 

[gt350pony66]

Lighting levels and placement of lights look perfect in that shot showing the ramp down with the landing gear

in the past with MPC's, I've gone so far as to do subtle ambient lighting in the pits, but Korban recommended I not on this one and I think he was quite correct...but it woulda looked cool

 

[gt350pony66]

didn't get much done last night, tough on week nights. Added the second rear gear well lamp hole over the weekend, got a pair of live led's in the stock center hole and the added forward hole, didn't quite get it done for even lighting. So, I had to add a third at the rear of the well to even things out, it might be too much but, I really want this thing to light up it's own display particularly in a low light situation such as the dark shelf it will be sitting in. So the present count of led's stands at 56. I can easily see the total topping 60 by the time I'm finished.
I like lighting...

 

[SofaKing01]

ok, well...I did do more than just this all weekend. I finalized my landing lights, installed Age of Plastic pits (forgot that pic) post later...re-joined the front and rear lower hull, several times, had to do a bit more trimming for the pits and lighting...and I di the ventral quad turret. I have the Haynes Manual book of the MF, got as close as I could with the left side panel, and borrowed an image from Korban for the right as I couldn't find a complete pic on-line. Anyway, this is what I finished up with and I added some painted brass rod for the ladder. and one rung. Drilled for .25 FO and used sharpie colors to do the mushroomed ends of the FO. Laser bond again, is VERY useful in setting you FO in place I kinda guessed maybe the seats are similar to the rears in the cockpit so I did that, but in a darker brown for the cushions. I'm really thinking I want to try to scratch the ladder tube with some evergreen stuff (if there isn't a part in the kit I don't know about yet) and add a chip LED or two to get that ambient light into the turret wells...we shall see.

BRILLIANT! The gunner station is beautiful!

 

[gt350pony66]

BRILLIANT! The gunner station is beautiful!

many thanks King! I didn't do as many FO in this one as I did the last MPC, but I think it works, particularly since this is the ventral and will hardly ever be seen. I cut the length at 8 inches which should be plenty to tie the dorsal in with it and if it will reach the cockpit FO I'll divert 3 or 4 FO from each gun well to the two flashing LED's that will service a handful of FO from the cockpit. I use at least two so the flash will be random and not all flashing at the same time. should be pretty cool, lots of tweezers work though...tedious.

 

[3Dsf]

Don't do flashing LEDs! Just put in a toy CPU like a Circuit Playground Express. Then you can program in super-simple random flashing and feed your LEDs super cheaply.

 

[gt350pony66]

Don't do flashing LEDs! Just put in a toy CPU like a Circuit Playground Express. Then you can program in super-simple random flashing and feed your LEDs super cheaply.

perhaps you are not yet aware, these other guys can tell you...i'm tech-F'n-stupid Like Spock said in "City on the edge of forever" i work with stone knives and bear skins

 

[korben44]

I could always help...lol

 

[3Dsf]

perhaps you are not yet aware, these other guys can tell you...i'm tech-F'n-stupid

Nah! That's why I think children's educational toys are so useful. They're super easy to use. Have a look at:

Lighting models V: Controlling and automating LEDs - Millennium Falcon Notes.

 

[gt350pony66]

Even though I have a chest cold from #3LL I've managed to get a little done. Finally got all the legs, hoses and well lights in place. I need to get all the existing electric work and the FO tied down and tucked away so I can flip the lower over and get the weathering and detail done or at least started. Thinking best now wile its just the saucer because it's time to press the mandibles on and wire them up. Had a slight problem with the add on ESB leg length, but I just added some styrene sheet with the appropriate holes and shimmed them down, wasn't much really but you would see the air between the foot and the floor. Had the same issue adding ESB legs to MPC's...not sure what I keep doing wrong, but it's fixed and you'll never see it.

 

[korben44]

Chest cold? That's a great excuse to call off work and continue modeling!