Building The Death Star - PRODUCTION

[PHArchivist]

In the more clear references I have, I've been seeing a slight color shift right at the
very edge of the upper dome (right at the top edge of the trench), and some gaps.

These features - though the resolution is low - are evident in the poster.
Looking at the poster, it just hit me that it sure looks like they did something
very similar to what I did; added additional pieces of plastic on the cross-sectional
edge of the acrylic, hence shrotening the height of the equatorial trench.

But it gets better...

See the lighter color right at the edge?

 

[PHArchivist]

Here is my theory...

When the model was originally built, I believe the added arced strips of plastic
along the edge of the domes (inside the trench) just as I have. The strips shortened the overall height
of the trench, and created the color shift we see along the very edge of the domes/trench. Plus (unlike on mine)
they left gaps in the strips, interrupting the "flow" of the edge of the trench, and creating gaps.
This may also expalin how they got a nice knife-edge for the trench (or alternatively the raw edge of the acrylic
wasn't "clean" enough").

Looking closely at these pics here, it seems to me that these strips have since fallen off or been removed.
It looks to me as if there is grey paint remaining where the gaps were (and there is no sign of the actual gaps on the model now),
where as the remainder of the cross section edge of the dome is blackish (clear acrylic).

This shot looks like the blank area on the acrylic back wall of the trench left by the edge of
the plastic strip added to the edge of the dome itself.

Finally, this would explain this shot. All along I thought it was a strip of plastic applied directly to the
outer surface of the dome, but it now seems to me to be one of these pieces of plastic attached to the inside edge of the dome.

 

[PHArchivist]

So conclusions...?

I was right about my trench being too tall.

And if I could even get my hands on the original and measure, it wouldn't matter since I believe it has been modified. This makes sense; its no doubt that the pieces could have been knocked off over the years, or somehow inadvertantly removed. Its been theorized by own of our own top model builders that the domes were separated for the sake of the museum display (to add the light and the dish).

The remaining question then is, do I have my trench at the correct height?

Or not...?

Of course, I think it is still too tall. I may be adding more plastic to the upper dome edge.

 

[TridCloudwalker]

Your theory sounds 100% plausible and was most likely the case. Great detective work, Batman!

And I'm still undecided about your trench width. Sometime it looks dead on, sometimes it looks a millimeter too tall.

 

[Scott Graham]

You don't miss anything Rob. Sounds like you've got the theory of those strips exactly right.

 

[PHArchivist]

And I'm still undecided about your trench width. Sometime it looks dead on, sometimes it looks a millimeter too tall.

I think it is in that zone where its not immediately apparent to the eye, but is in fact too tall.

Problem is that correcting it is a LOT of work. Call it an extra week.

 

[PHArchivist]

Check this out guys - landmarks pretty much align.

Note a couple of things...

The gaps on the original studio shots are clearly no longer there on the model now.

Also, note the feature that is jutting out in the shot with the Falcon; it is right around this gap that the lighter color on the edge of the trench is most notable, at least in the shots I have. This may be due to the way light is reflecting off the plastic pieces added to the dome edges since these pieces are "proud" of the edge of the dome at this location.

 

[PHArchivist]

Here's a look without all the red lines.

 

[TridCloudwalker]

Here's a good image. It's small, but it zooms in fairly well. Not sure if you've seen this one:

This is available as a ridiculously expensively priced glicee print from Acme Archives.

 

[PHArchivist]

Yeah that's the one in The Art Of Star Wars, andis republished a few times elsewhere. You're right- it is a great shot, and is the first shot where I noted the ligher grey color shift right at the very edge of the upper dome.

Thanks for posting it!

 

[PHArchivist]

I've decided I will be adding more plastic strips to my upper dome. Unfortunately, I will not be able to replicate the gaps exactly as there were, since I've already added some plastic (shortened the trench height) earlier.

Or in other words, the pieces of plastic on the original were probably about 4mm thick, and I've already taken back 2.5 mm, so I need to add only about 1.5mm - not enough to make a proper gap.

So the good news here is the Death Star replica will be that much more accurate, and wil "feel" even more "right".

Bad news is this will add yet another week or so before I get back to painting more.

 

[IEDBOUNTYHUNTER]

Take your time, its a awesome sight seeing this come to life.


Al

 

[PHArchivist]

Thanks, man... I appreciate the support.

The trench has always bugged me. Even after I adjusted the height last winter, it still felt too tall.

It is a signature feature of the model, and a focal point. Plus one of the features I've always been intrigued by (Fascinated by? Obsessed with!?)...

 

[PHArchivist]

I've decided I will be adding more plastic strips to my upper dome.

All right guys... So I'm going to putit out to you one more time - how tall do you think the trench should be?

Right now it is 11mm tall by 8mm deep. I'm wonding if the height and depth should be just about the same. Should I be taking 2mm to 3mm off the height (knowing I can't undo it), or closer to 1mm to 2mm?

Here's a closer look again at the current height.

And the original

http://www.wackychimp.com/uploads/zzcap001.jpg[/img]

 

[Scott Graham]

I'm looking at the ratio of the trench to outside ring of the dish on each and think that in order to meet that with yours you should go 3-4mm. The reason being that the trench looks about half that outer ring height. IMHO...

 

[darth_myeek]

Rob,
Might try blocking out different trench thicknesses, I'd say start shimming it with mat board. Just to see it visually. Also, I am wondering if the bandings above and below the trench look too thick (not too tall) but the gauge of the banding material might need to blend better with the rest of the DS surface.

-DM

 

[Bryancd]

Rob, first let me say that I am blown away by your work. Also, I am not an expert at anything related to scale modeling and only know about the D.S. model details from this thread. Having said that, as a total know nothing, your trench "looks" just a little too wide.

 

[PHArchivist]

I'm looking at the ratio of the trench to outside ring of the dish on each and think that in order to meet that with yours you should go 3-4mm. The reason being that the trench looks about half that outer ring height. IMHO...

Scott, I think you're dead right. I'd not compared the trench to the outer dish ring as you had, and that is notable. My trench is about the same as the outer ring, ans as you noted, it should be notably thinner.

 

[PHArchivist]

Rob,
Might try blocking out different trench thicknesses, I'd say start shimming it with mat board. Just to see it visually. Also, I am wondering if the bandings above and below the trench look too thick (not too tall) but the gauge of the banding material might need to blend better with the rest of the DS surface.

-DM

This may in fact be true, but on the other hand, this appearance will be diminished when the citycscapes are painted in.

 

[PHArchivist]

My theory on these lost arcs/strips of plastic along the edge of the domes adds insight to why the trench in this well know shot is blown out with light.

The exposed clear acrylic on the cross-section edge of the domes is conducting light, flooding the back wall of the trench with light, and blowing out any windows or bays seen in the movie.