PHArchivist
Master Member
I'll PM you something that dovetails with this later tonight or tomorrow.
But be sure to share the results only with verified members of the SSDSC!
Building The Death Star - PRODUCTION
- Thread starter PHArchivist
- Start date
I'll PM you something that dovetails with this later tonight or tomorrow.
But be sure to share the results only with verified members of the SSDSC!
I'll PM you something that dovetails with this later tonight or tomorrow.
But be sure to share the results only with verified members of the SSDSC!
This thread is 100% Awesome. Your work so far is top notch Rob
Thing about the "windows" is it will be mindless work. Especially if using a template like you suggest; would make it even easier. There will be little art or mental gymnastics involved.
However, the more I study this model, the more I realize how crazy-detailed the paint job was. From a distance, it looks basic - light and dark areas. But in reality there are probably upwards of ten different elements to the finish, between the varying paint colors, masking techniques, under-coatings, pencil markings, etcetera.
Good thing I have tons of reference pics of the real deal! But they're mine all mine!!! Bwa ha ha ha ha...!
Be careful - its usually doing something mundane where you F' up... mostly because you've relaxed and fooled yourself into thinking that you've got the hard stuff - you can't mess this up... Its true, but often where the mistake that "you" see that no one else does is made... its a modelers curse... a template (or 1/2 dozen) to keep everything nice and straight ... just a thought...
Jedi Dade
Last edited:
IndyFanChuck
Sr Member
Hey Rob, are you going to mount it for display in your garage or home, and are you going to mount it from the floor, or from the ceiling!!!!! Cause I can not think of anything cooler than a Death Star replica just hanging down from above!!!
Just wondering...:thumbsup
Just wondering...:thumbsup
PHArchivist
Master Member
AT-AT Luvah
Sr Member
Rob - love the progress you've made so far. Don't know if you have the below pic - thought I would share for you or others who might be interested. If you'd like an uncompressed version, just let me know.
Hector
Hector
PHArchivist
Master Member
No progress = no pics... :unsure
I may try to get the dish installed tomorrow. Brad, are you free!?
I just went through this thread for the first time and WOW - this is coming along amazingly! I can't want to see it finished.
PHArchivist
Master Member
All right, ladies, hold onto your butts...
I got the upper dome (mostly) installed today, along with the dish.
Lessons learned: I've spent a LOT of time on a structural support ring for the upper dome, matching the one in the lower dome. However, the rings reduce flexibility, for better or for worse.
Well...
What that means is this - WITH flexibility in the upper dome, the band of acrylic that forms the back wall of the equatorial trench provides enough tension that the upper dome flexes and conforms to the lower dome, aligning the two beautifully. BUT with the wooden support ring in the upper dome, there was no flexibilty, and the domes would not align. So the upper wooden ring is now firewood.
I will still add four vertical supports going straight up from the lower wood ring and terminating inside the upper dome, about where the arctic circle would be. Also, I will add a bit of acrylic cement between the upper dome and the equatorial band once I have it spaced perfectly (half an inch).
I also need to add the detail elements that line the lip of the dome. I'll be using triangular shaped styrene rod for this.
I got the upper dome (mostly) installed today, along with the dish.
Lessons learned: I've spent a LOT of time on a structural support ring for the upper dome, matching the one in the lower dome. However, the rings reduce flexibility, for better or for worse.
Well...
What that means is this - WITH flexibility in the upper dome, the band of acrylic that forms the back wall of the equatorial trench provides enough tension that the upper dome flexes and conforms to the lower dome, aligning the two beautifully. BUT with the wooden support ring in the upper dome, there was no flexibilty, and the domes would not align. So the upper wooden ring is now firewood.
I will still add four vertical supports going straight up from the lower wood ring and terminating inside the upper dome, about where the arctic circle would be. Also, I will add a bit of acrylic cement between the upper dome and the equatorial band once I have it spaced perfectly (half an inch).
I also need to add the detail elements that line the lip of the dome. I'll be using triangular shaped styrene rod for this.
Last edited by a moderator:
PHArchivist
Master Member
Yeah I noticed a bit of a Sasquatch look in that shot! Must be the hi-res photography; my arms aren't that wookie-ish!
PHArchivist
Master Member
Oh man - made me want Spring to come around that much faster! Neighbor two doors down had the BBQ fired up.
And DRY today too! Actually it was the weather that pushed me this far on the project. What a perfect day for spraying paint! But oh well - didn't get that far. Maybe in the next couple of days.
Similar threads
