Another Zvezda Star Destroyer

[Madhatter]

So, I have managed to get most of the starboard sidewalls and roof parts detailing done with only 3 left to go. Then it'll be time to blend in the walls to the surface and add some other stuff around - then the last part of the top side surface detailing will be over.
I'm still deciding if I will paint first then add the fiber or vice versa. I'm leaning toward paint first because I just think it'd be too hard to be able to trim off fibers without damaging the paint work but shuddering at time it'll take to do it like that. No pain no gain right?
Anyway, here's some pics of where I am at currently

That's it for now, but as always, thanks for stopping in and having a look

Si

 

[gedmac66]

This’s looking brilliant ! I’ve one ( Zvezda ) in the stash, but reading through various threads & builds - I’ll probably start practicing with the (relatively) cheaper, smaller scale Revell - Imperial SD ( lights & sound ) or Republic SD ( Venerator ).

The dilemma with/when to add the FO, are you planning to ‘ mushroom ‘ the ends before securing, and is the main concern ‘ trimming ‘ back the fibres to sit as flush as possible once in situ ?

 

[Madhatter]

I started to learn how to detail on the Venator. It was my first ever attempt at detailing on this level. I've learnt a lot from that build.
No, I won't be mushrooming the fibers. Yes, getting the fibers as flush as possible is my main concern. I have fine tipped cutters but even thet won't be able to get into the recessed areas and I don't trust myself with a knife tip enough to trim them either. Whuch is why I think painting first maybe better.

 

[Analyzer]

Amazing details as always! You gotten really far with this. I can;t imagine numbers wise how many little styrene pieces have been cut

As far as mushrooming the fibers, I am not a fan, it is hard to get consistent and in some cases you wind with with a big hemisphere sticking out. Works ok for some effects, but at this scale would not look good

 

[Artistar]

Madhatter, you know exactly how to 'detail-up', so as to make the ship appear in it's correct scale: FABULOUS.

 

[Madhatter]

I had the camera out today for other things and decided today is a good a day as any to take a couple of update shots. I'm not as far along as I would have liked but I had the spare time. I'm almost finished the top. I just have to finish the edging and then the top will be considered done.

I test fitted the bridge to the body to make sure I could. There are definitely going to be fitting issues but nothing some super glue won't take care of. Looks like I'll also have to add some more details once the body has been glued together to help tie in the areas better. This adds to the ever compounding issue of painting first or not (first world problems....)

Anyways, that's all the pics I took but thanks for looking in.

Si

 

[stevielewis]

That looks amazing! Your level of detail looks spot on for this scale.

 

[Analyzer]

I love how it gives the feeling of a small cityscape viewed from an airplane. A great sense of scale

 

[Madhatter]

Thanks guys. I have about 4 cm left of the top side to do then I'll flip it over to add a few details underneath
Im still really undecided if it's not better to paint first then add fiber or should I do it the other way around. The only drawback to doing it FO first is not being able to really get that full flushness of the fibers against the surface.
Anyone keen to offer some sage advice on this?

 

[Hoplitespear]

Jaw dropping work as always. Big source of inspiration!!!! Keep it up!

 

[Madhatter]

Hello once again everyone. It's been few months since this was last updated and sorry to say, I haven't done as much as you might hope I had, but I have finished off the top section - well, mostly. I still have the SMD's to add for the trench spot lighting but in regards to detailing, that's all done

So here is the top section shown as finished. I added some of the bits that sort of frame some of the lines to balance it out. You'll catch my drift if you look at the last picture in the previous update and look to the left of the ship and you can see some chips that run down the mid-section in a line toward the front. They have been replicated on the other side to make it right.

That was a lot of explaining for something so trivial, so I shall move on and let the pics do the talking:

Its pretty much the same on the other side. I might yet bulk some of the rear section out some more but I need to see how the side walls go on first. I do need to sort out that section at the very back of the ship - looking at these reminded me about it

The bottom hull has also been started. I made the very foolish mistake of gluing the nose to the body in a hurry to install the hangar bay. This in hindsight was very silly. I has also located glue marks and other blemishes on there and I am not happy about it. I do not know when or how they got there but I also realised I forgot to grind down the old hangar surrounds and it has created a gap where there shouldn't be and now I have to fix and live with my decision to install when I did.

Still, none of this is unfix-able and I will fix it as much as I can accordingly. I just wish I hadn't created this unnecessary work for myself is all

Well, that's all I have for now, but I will be back again soon enough. As always, thanks for stopping in and having a look

Si

 

[kamandi]

Please post some higher res images. This is really lovely. It's almost a shame to prime coat this.

Edit: I just purchased a Zvezda SD kit thanks to this thread (GHAAH!!) I hope you don't mind if I look at your homework.

 

[Madhatter]

thanks mate - I will make sure I choose the larger sized picture links for next time
No, I don't mind at all if you wish to use my work as reference - but remember this: none of the stuff I've added is screen accurate. It's all just detail I personally feel should be there. Disclaimer done
I look forward to seeing what you do with yours when you start it!

 

[Krest]

Really Impressive work.

... but remember this: none of the stuff I've added is screen accurate. It's all just detail I personally feel should be there. Disclaimer done

The way I see it, it is with all real Battleships, none are alike – every one is different in some way and every ship is a revision of the ones before. So screen accuracy, while impressive to see (and if you are trying to recreate a SPECIFIC ship like the Falcon a must), might not be the ultimate truth in a living, used universe. Differences make sense in a lot of ways.

 

[kamandi]

I just received my kit in the mail today. Comparing the raw parts to your pictures gives me a new level of respect for your work. Outstanding stuff.

 

[Madhatter]

I hope we get to see what you do with yours Kamandi. Its a great kit - soo much better than the previous offerings in the past.

Krest, it's what I love best about sci-fi. Its open to interpretation and IMO, kind of pointless rivet counting a non existent craft. But like you say unless its a very specific craft your going for then correct details are important

I'll have an update hopefully next week.

 

[Madhatter]

Hi again everyone

So, time for a small update. Things are progressing slower than I had hoped as I had to fix my screw up with the hangar bay installation. I've got one side sorted and I just need to finish the other side later on. I forgot to grind down the existing surface detail before slotting in the hangar bay, but it's fixable. You can see the gap that mistake left in the first pic if you look where it goes in. Then on the pic below it, you can see my fix for it which is working well.

It looks very busy up here but the paint will bring that down a few notches. I'm also going to space out the detail more and not add as much the further back I go. I have to be careful not to over do it (although I dare say there are some of you who already think I'm well past that) as I fear I will loose the grandness of the ship.

Well, that's all I have for now, but once I have done something worth taking pics of, I will of course update again.
Feel free to critique, make a suggestion, comment or just do nothing at all but as always, thank you for stopping by and having a look
Till next time

Si

 

[Analyzer]

Definitely not overdoing it. You've done an great job keeping a sense of scale with the greeblies

 

[acesh007]

This is stunning

 

[joberg]

Yes!! The WOW factor is up there for sure