1/8 Scale All Metal X-Wing Build

[Dshoe]

Well let’s get this party started! I’ve been wanted to build this for years and I’ve finally found the time. Original plan was for an all metal X-wing to go in the backyard on a stand. Not much detail, just painted all black, looking like it was coming out of the woods.
I think I’m already getting lost in the details for something that’s going outside. But I think this is going to be a fun big project. It should be about 64” long when finished.
In the last pic you can see I’ve already decided to build the cockpit, original plan was just panels and no interior.
Everything you see is rough, and most is just tacked in place in case of changes. And there will be changes.

 

[Dshoe]

In the back you can see where the pedestal will mount, that’s all 1/4” thick steel for the weight of this monster.

 

[Dshoe]

Oh this nose is fun, I wish I would have learned to tig.

 

[Dann]

Holy cow pies!

Man, this is impressive, to say the least!

I imagine it's already pretty dagummed heavy, I cannot wait to see this finished.

 

[jake88]

Anything X-wing is cool in my book, Great job so far!

 

[Duncanator]

I like that you've picked such an easy to work with material! (Sarcasm)
It looks really good!

 

[Dshoe]

Quick update with a couple of pics. The nose has taken longer than I thought, but I’m happy with the shape. Lots of welding and grinding to finish it. Also got the torpedo tubes installed, just like every thing else, Lots of finishing work.
I’ll get better pics when I’m happier with work.

 

[PAULH]

Seriously impressive! Watching with much interest to see how this turns out.

 

[kickman88]

Most impressive...

 

[TazMan2000]

The harder the material the more impressive the build.

TazMan2000

 

[SofaKing01]

OH WOW!!!! I had to sit down... FANTASTIC!

 

[Jkirkon]

Man, this is truly incredible work!!! Watching this with GREAT interest.

 

[Dshoe]

I had to get away from the nose for awhile. Started playing with the cockpit. I promise the canopy will be smooth as glass when finished. You just have to be in the mood to start grinding, and I’m not there yet, LOL.
I appreciate the complements guys, that helps me to keep going.
Also don’t beat me up on some of the details, remember this thing is going outside in the elements. I took design liberties with the seat.

 

[patrickivan]

 

[Dshoe]

Nose is done.

 

[Dshoe]

Just slowly plugging along. Had to make a jig to make the frames for the wings. And now I’m in the process of making the mounts for the wings. I scraped my original design for mounting, did save some weight though. The wings will be removable with 3 or 4 bolts. Plus I’ve got to think ahead and put threaded mounting point for the laser cannons to mount to the wings, so things are slowing down a little.
But here a a few pics to satisfy.

 

[Dshoe]

Sometimes you have to backup to go forward. It was just easier to cut it off to build the wing mounts than to fight around what I had done.
Nice thing about working with metal, if you don’t like what it’s doing cut it off and re weld it, if it doesn’t want to bend in the shape you want you get a bigger hammer and beat it into submission, (wait...did I just type that, issues...I don’t have issues).
Oh, and the hose you see is a drain from the bottom of the cockpit, so water doesn’t gather when this thing sees the rain outside.

 

[SofaKing01]

This is so much fun to watch! PLEASE go all out and detail the heck out of this thing!

 

[SteveStarkiller]

this is looking really great, proportions and details looking awesome

 

[Dshoe]

I am looking forward to working on some details on the engines and cockpit. I’m a machinist by trade and program/run just about every type machine there is, but can’t do any parts for my projects cause we do large work, I mean Large. Last job that left the shop was 147,000 lbs. and every part loaded on our machines are done with overhead bridge cranes. I guess it’s just fun to get home and try to make things by hand instead of programming the machines to do it.