Bigturc's Tie Bomber thread
- Thread starter Bigturc
- Start date
Ok, I'll chime in.
The starter kit measures are taken from my own build (except the centre tube which was 18.5mm on my build & 19.1mm on the starter sets).
The largest outer ring in the set is the same diameter as my build & everything worked & fitted for me, it is slightly larger than the 'Leopold' panel part!.
The 'second' ring is also tapered as it shows it to be in the 'Chronicles' book. If it weren't the insert part would look flat & therefore inaccurate!.
I have never & will never say that my build & the starter set is 100% SS accurate, I didn't have access to the 'Lucasfilm archives model' sorry!. I feel no model is 100% SS accurate!.
It is my interpretation of this model & most folks have seemed pleased with the results.
It has given many people the chance to build their own bombers without the headache of having to scribe the body tubes, make the wing rings & basically having to figure out much of the sizes, the hardest parts have been done for them.
Anyhoo, we have just sold the last starter set & that guy's will be the last one.
Stu
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Ah Stu, im sure 99.9% of the fella's that bought a set are very happy, including me, we all appreciate the work you put in for us.
Your right though, NO model is 100% to the letter accurate, there insanely close, but never a direct facsimile.....like the recent Cloud Car garage kit, way off in MANY area's, the Probe droid im working on, WAY off in many area's again, even my own first gen on the 223 pod master is off with a few parts.
I think sometimes, folk just like to harp on how everybody else gets it so wrong, best just to let them dazzle us with there knowledge and skills.
Al, keep right on buddy, looking good, M3 parts in the mail for you too!
lee
Your right though, NO model is 100% to the letter accurate, there insanely close, but never a direct facsimile.....like the recent Cloud Car garage kit, way off in MANY area's, the Probe droid im working on, WAY off in many area's again, even my own first gen on the 223 pod master is off with a few parts.
I think sometimes, folk just like to harp on how everybody else gets it so wrong, best just to let them dazzle us with there knowledge and skills.
Al, keep right on buddy, looking good, M3 parts in the mail for you too!
lee
Hey George,
I guess at the end of the day we all see things differently & the Tie Bomber is no different. All ref Iv'e seen doesn't show the larger ring in clarity, so really my build & subsequent starter sets were a guesstimate. Trial & error with all the donor parts dry-fitted gave me the desired fit & diameter I was happy with.
I don't have a problem with folks inputting their thoughts, it is most welcome, a better product insues.
We have though finished the last run & don't wish to do anymore for quite a while, it's time to move on with other products, so watch this space guy's!.
Lee, thanks bro, yeah I'm confident that 99% of folks really liked these sets & that's what counts. Already there's some awesome builds coming from these sets including Al's.
I must say it really is quite humbling to see models being built from something youv'e had a hand in producing, many thanks to the scores of people that bought a set, happy building dudes!.
Cheers
Stu
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joewhite
Sr Member
Woohoo! :cry (Tears of joy!)
Too many times in the past have I passed on nice kits like the starter set! Not this time!!!
Thanks for the heads up, timeslip! If I happen to be bothered by the ring size, I'm sure it'll be an easy fix. Those scribed lines, however, are worth the price alone since I'm still saving for a precision lathe.
Anyway, back to Bicturcs's awesome and helpful thread!
Joe
Bigturc
Sr Member
Yes, thanks for all the input guys, I think it's most useful info for other builders and its much welcome to the thread! 
I'm super happy with Stu's set and since I'm not anal about screen accuracy - this is already much closer to anything I could ever hope - it'll definitely be perfect for me! Heck, just the fact that I'm buying hundreds to $$$ of kits is already crazy enough for me!
As an update, I've received some cast parts to help me on this build .. I'll update with more pics real soon!
Cheers and thanks for following this thread!
I'm super happy with Stu's set and since I'm not anal about screen accuracy - this is already much closer to anything I could ever hope - it'll definitely be perfect for me! Heck, just the fact that I'm buying hundreds to $$$ of kits is already crazy enough for me!
As an update, I've received some cast parts to help me on this build .. I'll update with more pics real soon!
Cheers and thanks for following this thread!
That is why I'm waiting to see how all you nice folks get this part done before I start on it. :lol
Snap, I've been putting this part off for months now! I just know I'll make a hash of it & my spare & my spare spare :lol
Bigturc
Sr Member
I'm happy to report this went failry well .. it took me around 2-3 hrs to do though .. it's not 100% symetrical, but I'm really happy I didn't mess it up!!
What I did is this : Under the cap, there's marks every 90 degrees and mold marks at 45 degrees so I used that as a start .. then, I thickened my lines to 7.5mm and drew my 3 circles with a compass. Got the dremel out with a drill bit for the center and removed As much as I could and finished with a jeweler file .. used a cutting disc for the notches around and finish with a big wood/metal file for the rest.
Now, what I'm unsure is how the Prince of Wales parts fit in the notches. Are they at 90 degree .. all ref seems to say so to me. Also, I feel like they are backed with pretty thick styrene to bring them up. I guess I'll also have to build walls inside around it? Plus it seems like there an extra lip inside that not everyone put on their build ..
What I did is this : Under the cap, there's marks every 90 degrees and mold marks at 45 degrees so I used that as a start .. then, I thickened my lines to 7.5mm and drew my 3 circles with a compass. Got the dremel out with a drill bit for the center and removed As much as I could and finished with a jeweler file .. used a cutting disc for the notches around and finish with a big wood/metal file for the rest.
Now, what I'm unsure is how the Prince of Wales parts fit in the notches. Are they at 90 degree .. all ref seems to say so to me. Also, I feel like they are backed with pretty thick styrene to bring them up. I guess I'll also have to build walls inside around it? Plus it seems like there an extra lip inside that not everyone put on their build ..
Bigturc
Sr Member
Well .. thanks to another RPFer's tip, I just won an old tooling Yamato on Ebay .. pretty cheap at that I hear .. This will probably go in rubber (not me) before I use it. It's ridiculous that this is not available anywhere yet ..
I'm in need of a Yamato part. I can drop it in rubber if you want.
Cool. Let me know when parts are available.
Got the dremel and file out tonight .. had no idea this thing would take so much time!!! Am I the only one here thinking this should have been much easier?! I'm still unsure how the shape could have been perfectly done ...
Looking good Al!. This part is indeed a complex part & I can see how it can be a nightmare to make for some!. It's interesting that most builders like yourself cut the rectangles out all the way & don't leave an edge. I thought it easier & also better to leave a lip around the edge to leave a bit of structural integrity to the dish. The POW part then sits on top & you just sand the edge. Either way works fine & you can't tell the difference.
There is a lip of styrene on top of the POW part, ILM probably added it to hide a seam.
If you thought this part is hard wait to you start the wing connector inserts, fun, fun, NOT!.:lol
MonsieurTox
Master Member
Nice work Alain !
Bigturc
Sr Member
Good point Stu!! :| Never even tought about leaving that edge there .. I guess it would have made the cutting much more complicated.
At least it answers my question of where the POW part was sitting in the slot .. pretty high .. I'll add that edge too .. simple detail that goes a long way if you ask me!
Nice work Alain !
Thanks Julien! :thumbsup I love the fact that you experts are watching this thread .. gives me confidence that I'm not doing anything stupid! loll
Thanks Julien! :thumbsup I love the fact that you experts are watching this thread .. gives me confidence that I'm not doing anything stupid! loll[/QUOTE]
Hey Al, not being picky but the term 'experts' I feel isn't the term you should give to us previous builders. I mean at the end of the day we have just built a replica of the Tie Bomber, using different aproaches to construction etc... & have gathered & used all the information at the time. All the bombers I had seen before mine & the help given is a credit to them, the pioneers I guess for this build.
If we can help in any way we will, but everybody's build will be different to a certain degree.
Your'e off to a great start mate & of course we'll let you know if you do anything major wrong lol:lol
Stu
Hey Al, not being picky but the term 'experts' I feel isn't the term you should give to us previous builders. I mean at the end of the day we have just built a replica of the Tie Bomber, using different aproaches to construction etc... & have gathered & used all the information at the time. All the bombers I had seen before mine & the help given is a credit to them, the pioneers I guess for this build.
If we can help in any way we will, but everybody's build will be different to a certain degree.
Your'e off to a great start mate & of course we'll let you know if you do anything major wrong lol:lol
Stu
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