Building The Death Star - PRODUCTION

[dbuck]

Couple more tests:

The two on the right you've seen already. The one on the far left is Rust-o-leum grey primer with the same black and white speckling the second in from the left is the same combo but with some silver added.

From the picture, and I'm sure in person it may look different, but the far right one to my eyes is the best match so far in terms of color, size of speckles, etc. But that's just me.

 

[MsngPcs]

the jet black lines were likely a very fine-tipped marker.

rapidograph pen(s) possibly? link

 

[PHArchivist]

rapidograph pen(s) possibly? link

Funny you mention - just earlier today I picked up some pens at the local art mart. Points of .5mm and .25mm

Also got the mechanical pencils I need.

Thanks for the link!

 

[PHArchivist]

Couple more tests:

The two on the right you've seen already. The one on the far left is Rust-o-leum grey primer with the same black and white speckling the second in from the left is the same combo but with some silver added.

These are the main colors or shades of speckling present on the model today, though the variation doesn't show on screen

 

[nwjedidave]

amazing how much they used a pencil on the thing. Keep up the great work.

 

[PHArchivist]

TRENCH REDUX:

Here's the completed trench redo. I've taken back 2mm of height and added in the gaps. Where I before thought the gaps looked too "toothy" I added some tiny plastic shims in two of the largest gaps to make them smaller, and I'm much happier.

I've had a couple other problems. My brilliant idea of adding plastic banding around the edge of the domes is beginning to backfire, as the styrene is bubbling in areas, requiring patchwork that all but leaves some scarring. Plus, the upper dome has a bit of an "overbite".

But after all is said and done (for today at least), I'm still not satisfied that the trench is of the correct height. I seriously believe I need to take back another 1mm off the bottom.

So the process continues...

 

[nwjedidave]

Same pic we've been looking at (by the way, I'm just musing out loud here - I could analyze every square inch of the model like this)...

Look at that small sliver of speckle pattern in the circle. Keep in mind that is thinner than the marker lines adjacent to it.

How and why...!?


Good lord...

my guess is a gap in the masking(?)

 

[chris_s]

I've read every thread in here so far and am loving it!
I can't remember though - does it look like there is an 'inner trench.' In this photo it looks like the outer edge stops just shy of the actual trench area. Or am I missing a step that is still to come - Ack! Cool information overload! :lol

 

[THStudio]

Hey PH, You should stop worrying about others affairs and tend to your own. Just a friendly piece of advice...

 

[Robiwon]

First off this is just such an awesome model, it's beyond belief. I have followed it from the begining. But, something has always bugged me about it. To me, and this is just my opinion, I finally figured out what it was. In post 906 above with all the comparison shots, it's the super laser dish.To my eye, it does not appear to "sink" far enough into the body of the DS as does the studio model. Just my thought. Had to get it off my chest. I do think the trench looks fine though.

 

[dbuck]

First off this is just such an awesome model, it's beyond belief. I have followed it from the begining. But, something has always bugged me about it. To me, and this is just my opinion, I finally figured out what it was. In post 906 above with all the comparison shots, it's the super laser dish.To my eye, it does not appear to "sink" far enough into the body of the DS as does the studio model. Just my thought. Had to get it off my chest. I do think the trench looks fine though.

I'm pretty certain that's the lighting angle. They're putting the main light almost perpendicular to the dish to accentuate it.
The trench though... Now that he's called our attention to the height of it, and looking at the original, I can't believe it's as small as it is. Obviously the lack of detail specifically around the bands around the trench area calls attention to it, tricking our eyes into thinking it larger than it is. I guarantee if he makes it the same size as the original people will look at it and think it is way too small.
Helluva job, and I wish I was building one. Maybe someday...

 

[vaderdarth]

I thought the same thing about the depth of the dish initially, but if you put this model at the same lighting angle as that original shot, I believe the dish will prove to be quite deep enough. The shadow makes it practically look like a funnel, but it's far flatter than it seems.

Dave

 

[PHArchivist]

Robiwon, its so funny you mention that because I was thinking the same thing when looking at those two shots.

A question first though - are you referring to the overall depth of the dish, or how far seated it is (too much lip?)...?

So categorically:

Depth: This I've already come to terms with in my head/mind.

The dish is physically the same contour as the rest of the dome, heat-formed over a buck cut from the dome. As mentioned, lighting is key. The only way for me to light it with as much power as the pro studio lights is to use the afternoon sun, and getting the correct angle is a challenge. I've only got one or two shots that mimic the half-shadow shots so common from the studio, and it does look better in those shots.

Another factor is painting. My dish still has detail painting to go, which will accentuate the depth. I'm currently trying to decide if they shaded somewhat the inner-most disc to add an illusion of depth (or if I will shade acordingly)

Seating: Hmm... Tough one. Truth be told, I think the lip on mine is perhaps just a hair too high - but .5mm at most. Regardless, I can't do anything about that; it is what it is. Though I hope that once the surrounding cityscapes are completed, the lip won't be quite so prominent.

 

[Robiwon]

I think the whole dish needs to sit deeper into the DS. As is, the dish looks like it's sitting to far away from the DS, almost like it's sitting on the surface.

 

[PHArchivist]

The trench though... Now that he's called our attention to the height of it, and looking at the original, I can't believe it's as small as it is. Obviously the lack of detail specifically around the bands around the trench area calls attention to it, tricking our eyes into thinking it larger than it is. I guarantee if he makes it the same size as the original people will look at it and think it is way too small.

Its all related to the illusion of scale. Most of what I've done so far is out of scale slightly. Its hard to grasp just how small, or fine some of these elements need to be to convey the true scale of the model.

Examples are the radials off the north pole (to thick); the detail pieces on the dish surface (slightly too heavy); possibly the lip of the dish (see above post); and now the trench.

But the cool thing is now that the trench is coming in line with the correct scale, I'm confident it will literally leap out at us how much better it looks once the trench is properly scaled.

 

[Scott Graham]

Regarding this: I believe that the area on the right is light bouncing off the bottom wall of the trench, and on the left it looks like it was painted the darker gray in the center with some pinstriping tape masking the sides of the trench bottom. That's my guess...

I've read every thread in here so far and am loving it!
I can't remember though - does it look like there is an 'inner trench.' In this photo it looks like the outer edge stops just shy of the actual trench area. Or am I missing a step that is still to come - Ack! Cool information overload! :lol

 

[PHArchivist]

I think the whole dish needs to sit deeper into the DS. As is, the dish looks like it's sitting to far away from the DS, almost like it's sitting on the surface.

That's what I was afraid of. Can't fix that... :unsure

 

[THStudio]

I think you need to get to work on this and stop harrasing me!

 

[PHArchivist]

I think the whole dish needs to sit deeper into the DS. As is, the dish looks like it's sitting to far away from the DS, almost like it's sitting on the surface.

I think another challenge here is that in nearly all of the studio shots, the near edge of the dish in each such photo is in deep shadow, making it a bit deeper to assess how tall the lip is.

Rationalization, I know... But I have to find a comfort spot somehow!

 

[chris_s]

Regarding this: I believe that the area on the right is light bouncing off the bottom wall of the trench, and on the left it looks like it was painted the darker gray in the center with some pinstriping tape masking the sides of the trench bottom. That's my guess...

Yep - you're right. Its a bit of an optical illusion. My mind just keeps flipping back and forth as I look at it.