Building The Death Star - PRODUCTION

[Pauleysolo]

That thing is going to be so cool when you finish it.

 

[wbundrick]

Color matching can be a nightmare especially when photos are involved because of lighting, white balance, and many other issues.

 

[TridCloudwalker]

And ESPECIALLY when the color is grey. It takes on color characteristics of anything it's near. Star Trek TOS used this to their low budget's advantage. Most set walls were grey, and they just used colored lighting to change their look from scene to scene.

 

[PHArchivist]

Got more paint (direct frm Tamiya) today.

Working on the base coat. Should be done with the base coat this weekend, along with perhaps some work on the polar regions.

 

[PHArchivist]

OK base coat done - sort of. It will need touch up as I go along; fine sanding, re-sparying selct areas. Do you know how HARD it is to spray-paint something with no beginning and no end!?

 

[PHArchivist]

Pics...

 

[TridCloudwalker]

Oh, WOW, Rob! That looks amazing!

Jedifyfe, get thine ass over there and start helping with the masking and penciling!

 

[Guy Cowen]

Rob, you are a star for tackling this & I really cant wait to see all your efforts wrapped up on this build, it will be amazing to see.

 

[PHArchivist]

Thanks guys. Wil be tackling the polar regions tomorrow, perhaps with some assistance!

 

[REL]

Fantastic job! Look how smooth that is.

 

[PHArchivist]

Fantastic job! Look how smooth that is.

Richard, thanks... That's good to hear, because looks can be deceiving. Some areas are very smooth, while others have many dust particles worked in. And at this scale, a single dust particle would be like a two-ton boulder!

On the more critical areas where more of the lighter grey base coat remains, I'll wet be sanding with 1000 grit.

 

[PHArchivist]

Knuckleheads! (All you crazy enough to follow me through this insanity)...!

Big day today - started the detail painting!

Was a fun day all together. Had a couple fellow RPFers come by for a few hours of talking smack, and Death Star analyzing. Was a good time, Mike and Brian! :cheers

After our impromptu mini-prop party, I got to work on the north pole. Every once in a while I come up with a semi-decent idea. I thought (to make nice latitudinal circles) why not MAKE a large compass? I took two lengths of yardstick, attached them with a bolt, nut, and lock washer, then glued some pencils to it. Got to admit - it worked perfectly!

The results are below...

The polar region is darker than I anticipated. Its certainly darker than the original appears today, but I believe the original has faded over the years. It looks much more like the infamous Muren shot (taking a light reading against a blue screen), though even a tad darker than that.

The primary base coat is Tamiya Light Grey primer. I did a secondary base coat for the north pole region of Tamiya Grey Primer. On my test board, the color difference beteen their Light Grey and Grey wasn't much at all. On the model, it is more "contrasty". I also did a light speckling of black, white, and grey but it really doesn't stand out, even in person.

I think what I'll do to mitigate the contrast is this:
1. Wait until more is painted - it looks dark, but that is compared to the entire rest of the globe being quite light
2. Dust it with more white speckling or speckling of the primary Light Grey base coat - this will hopefully lighten the north pole region overall, and add to the speckling appearance.

Me at work

Closer shot showing my custom tool (stop it...!)

 

[MsngPcs]

That is every positive adjective you can throw at it. :thumbsup

 

[voice in the crowd]

Wow this is really coming together. This is just stunning :thumbsup

Keep up the brilliant work

Chris

 

[PHArchivist]

That is every positive adjective you can throw at it. :thumbsup

Thank you, sir, and welcome to the RPF a couple of months late!

Wow this is really coming together. This is just stunning


Keep up the brilliant work


Chris

Chris - thanks! Feels good to get to this stage!

 

[voice in the crowd]

Forgive my ignorance but on the original the areas where light is coming out do these areas have the paint scratched off? Or do you have another technique in mind for removing the paint on these areas?

Either way it is an epic task and good luck to you

Cheers Chris

 

[PHArchivist]

Forgive my ignorance but on the original the areas where light is coming out do these areas have the paint scratched off? Or do you have another technique in mind for removing the paint on these areas?

Either way it is an epic task and good luck to you

Cheers Chris

Anything/everyting that is written and published uses the verb "scratched", as in "scratched off the paint". Exactly what tool or physical technic used, I'm nut sure.

But I will be using a micro drill bit in a dremel chuck, hand spun in my fingers to drill through the paint (only the paint) down to the clear acrylic substrate of the domes.

 

[voice in the crowd]

Anything/everyting that is written and published uses the verb "scratched", as in "scratched off the paint". Exactly what tool or physical technic used, I'm nut sure.

But I will be using a micro drill bit in a dremel chuck, hand spun in my fingers to drill through the paint (only the paint) down to the clear acrylic substrate of the domes.

It looks a daunting job but I for one will be cheering you over the finishing line

The colours on the top are looking really great as well.

Chris

 

[Jedifyfe]

Sweet job Rob! Did you end up mapping the surface detail like we talked about before you started painting?

Brad

 

[micdavis]

It was GREAT seeing this project in person today. This will definitely elevate Rob to Godhood when complete. Great job man.

Don't over think it.