CC X-Wing build!

[DeanPJedi]

Over the years as a quiet collector/artist, I've made latex masks and foam filled busts, resin busts and kits from scratch, prosthetic make up fx, dental appliances, prop builds, and I build high tech lightsabers keeping up with technology as things have progressed( neon plasma tubes, electroluminescent wire, and now single led and component blade with high end soundboarss, etc).

Now why do I mention all this fun stuff I still enjoy and have projects on table for?

Well, I just don't think I've ever had so much fun before! I'm avoiding the frustration of a scratch built sculpture and all steps and just having a blast on my 1st studio scale ship.

I've always wanted a studio scale xwing but I could never afford an icons or efx and quite honestly, licensed products just don't have the paint work I like that looks as if a model builder did it. So I saved my cash and bought the capt cardboard kit. Very happy I did as my final display will be way more cherished and appreciated.

I do wish I used my electronics skills but with my 2nd son coming in 7 weeks, my time frame for build would of been stretched for years instead of 4 or 6 months ive slowly worked on it.

Special thanks to blockhead pictures as I was way confused on what each part was at first. Blockhead, if your a member, thank you! In retrospect I should of built a fine molds xwing as reference.

I am not an accuracy freak but like it to look like I remember in my head. Accurate as i can to Luke's red 5 of course.

So far I've cleaned up everything with very very minimal filling needed. I primed it black and basecoated a revell spray color found locally called light aircraft gray as its a very subtle grey. Finished paint jobs I did early were cockpit done with small things like wire added, painted Luke and r2 as well.

Most of the structures are assembled and almost ready to complete assembly. Soon ill tape off red and yellow shapes and finish with slow weathering.

Now I know many use an airbrush for some burn type marks and weathering but i don't have that set up anymore. I've previously learned using a badger then with an iawata.

I am confident in my weird weathering techniques, stippling, thin wash layers, etc so im sure I don't need one for what i want to acheive...am I way wrong?

I will post photos tomorrow so the finishing steps on model can get some input to tighten it up.


Havin so much fun so wanted to share....ha ha
Thanks
Dean

 

[Robiwon]

Looking forward to your build pics Dean. You definately don't need an airbrush to finish one of these off. I didn't use one on mine either. You can achive great results with the methods you described. Again, looking forward to your pics!

 

[ThrakenSal]

Can't wait to see the pics I just got a CC X-Wing myself and am a bit intimidated by it. It's a beautiful kit and I'm afraid that my ineptness will mess it up. lol Hopefully sll the grest builds and reference material here will help shore up my confidence in making it look right

 

[DeanPJedi]

Honestly, the assembly is easy with filler super glue and 2 part epoxy for heavier holds.

Besides needing painting skills, I can understand the intimidation at first.

My best advice to remove any fear is to just become very familiar with each piece before really starting. Practice on a fine molds xwing for anatomy of ship and to nail paint is very good advice.

I want to do a pyro ship eventually to not only do a different xwing, but to take all the time I need and do electronics.

For this cc, I'm doing a death star base and glass case. Photos soon!

 

[DeanPJedi]

:sleepkSome quick photos. Engines didn't get full base as my two revel rattlecans ran out and I need one more.

I might redo xwing helmet rebel symbols as I couldn't find my expensive tiny fine brush and while it looks cool I don't want a tiny symbol to be washed out as size is no excuse. Might just go buy a new brush.

Do people usually do the hull lines slightly darker? I can always let the washes fill in creases but I have a 30 gauge hypodermic needle just in case. I took liberties on cockpit colors and buttons.

I'm also needing to redo r2d2 as craft paints metallic just doesnt pop like I hoped. I have a glass revell metallic silver that would be better.

I might remold R2 and cold cast in alluminum or silver, which ever my local smooth on store carries for metal powder. Would be able to buff a very shiny metal. Of course even though Scott used icons r2 and Luke for his kit, I will still ask him for permission to do so. I know people would love a metal source they can shine up for mini r2d2.
Thanks
Dean

 

[Talkierg]

Im currently working on mine too,very slow build because of adding the hero details taken me almost a year on it:cry
nice pics so far:thumbsupmore plcs?

 

[DeanPJedi]

Yup I will post more ASAP. I had a wide shot but couldnt get it going on phone so ill try soon. Mounting laser cannons now.

I really like the color I used for a easy to get can at Michaels. I know testors camo grey would of been better but this is close in my eyes and weathering will decide real look I want anyway.

I keep saying revell but the aircraft light gray is a testors spray.

My damn internet is down and need to call Comcast. Once it is back up I can finally type easier and post photos quickly. So annoying.

I still haven't paid attention to which yellow and red colors I need for hull shapes but ill do that soon and also head to local hobby shop for some thin masking tape.

Anyone add glass to cockpit ? I know they were open on studio scales so mine will be too.

May I ask what kind of stuff is extra on the hero ship? Hero studio scale or big lifesized ship they built? I assume tighter details , grebblies , etc.

I just ordered a good sized customsabershop order for mhs hilt parts as I'm building a very ambitious lightsaber soon as this Is done (purple evil looking Sith saber with petite crouton soundboard, 10w led w/ flash on clash, recharge, kill key, cool accent lights, and possibly bounding main body in faux human flesh as if the owner was a very evil and brutal killer sith).

Deadlines are for fx shops on films, not me...so no matter what I only work on this and other projects when I can so it's done when its done. I haven't even bought death star squares and glass case so when I am truly done will be when its on its final display. I wasn't sure how I was going to mount acrylic rod but I see a lot of builders do it from back. I'll have to get an acrylic rod and heat and bend it.

 

[Robiwon]

Good start. For a better looking R2 for your X-Wing grab the Revel Jedi Starfighter snap kit off ebay. That R2 is much better detailed and just a hair bigger. The only issue is the two part design leaves a seam to putty. The Hasbro action figures also fit the cockpit rather nice as well. Check out my pics below for examples.

 

[DeanPJedi]

Very cool thanks for info! I like how you had Luke's head turned.

I have a few R2s I can try out. Disney sells rubber star wars figurine that look just like the Hasbro toy line but are hard rubber and in frozen pose. It's funny that even tho I'm a lifelong SW nut, I still used the Disney R2 D2 as color reference when painting but part of me was tempted to just use the figurine and cut it. It's larger but still fits the spot.

Wish I had that snap kit on me. I actually have the small revell xwing snap kit I built for fun a while back. Tiny rubber r2 in that one. Kit required no paint and glue but of course I did both lol.

I'll try some stuff out tho as im not crazy about icons recast.

 

[DeanPJedi]

Oh I'm stupid. Didn't realize you used Hasbro Luke. Size of r2 is too big if using Hasbro with icons recast Luke. I might just go with icons recast r2 now and just repaint it. Next xwing I do I can mess around with a different r2 when doing lighting.

Thanks
Dean

 

[Robiwon]

Yeah, Luke is the Hasbro X-Wing pilot figure (slim build) and the R2 is from the Revel Jedi Starfighter (large snap-together). Turning Lukes head made for a more interesting pose. Had I thought about it, I would have turned R2's dome the same direction. That would have required cutting the dome off, but again, I never thought about it till it was too late. There are about 75 or so fiber optics running into his noggin!

 

[propcollector]

I have a cc cockpit and cc r2 i would sell to yo cheap if you want, just pm, i can post a pic if you like.