COMPLETED -- Converting the FX toy X-Wing

[Dobber]

Re: Converting the FX toy X-Wing into a display piece

Rob, I bought the newer dagobah X yesterday and desprately need a new nose for this thing. I missed uncannyx's post about the "safety nose" it has!!! I will gladly pay for one of your modified cast noses and engine cans if they are available yet. Please let me know........................"Help me PHArchivist, you're my only hope."

I tried to send you a PM but your box is full.

Chris

 

[PHArchivist]

Re: Converting the FX toy X-Wing into a display piece

Rob, I bought the newer dagobah X yesterday and desprately need a new nose for this thing. I missed uncannyx's post about the "safety nose" it has!!! I will gladly pay for one of your modified cast noses and engine cans if they are available yet. Please let me know........................"Help me PHArchivist, you're my only hope."

I tried to send you a PM but your box is full.

Chris

Sorry about the in box. The litel casting project (cans and cone) has rotated out of the limelight for the moment, but is by no means "done for". It will probably be a week or two before I get caught up and start casting a few more... Bear with me!

 

[Dobber]

Re: Converting the FX toy X-Wing into a display piece

Thanks for the update, that's good news! I'm in no rush just as long as I can purchase the fruits of YOUR labor

Chris

 

[PHArchivist]

Re: Converting the FX toy X-Wing into a display piece

Poured some casts of my modified engine cans, and things are looking good...! Also poured a couple of extra nose cones...

 

[Dobber]

Re: Converting the FX toy X-Wing into a display piece

Awesome news, I'm down for both!!! Just let me know how, when, and how much and I'll send you the funds!:love

Chris

 

[PHArchivist]

Re: Converting the FX toy X-Wing into a display piece

Awesome news, I'm down for both!!! Just let me know how, when, and how much and I'll send you the funds!:love

Chris

I started a second set of molds for the cans... I have two molds now, but want to be able to cast a full set of four cans in one pouring.

 

[PHArchivist]

Re: Converting the FX toy X-Wing into a display piece

Awesome news, I'm down for both!!! Just let me know how, when, and how much and I'll send you the funds!:love

Chris

Shoot me an email at PHarchivist@aol.com

 

[PHArchivist]

Re: Converting the FX toy X-Wing into a display piece

Recall that the engine cans are cast solid (the turkey fethers are closed off), requiring some drilling and dremeling out. I did one today, and it came out quite nice! Pics later if I can...

 

[Dobber]

Re: Converting the FX toy X-Wing into a display piece

Sorry for the delay. Email sent.

Chris

 

[Dobber]

Re: Converting the FX toy X-Wing into a display piece

Was wondering if the new CC/salzo Xwing cockpit that StarshipModeler is selling would fit this toy. Anyone have any idea...not sure of the size differences between them.

Chris

 

[PHArchivist]

Re: Converting the FX toy X-Wing into a display piece

Here's an update on the engine cans.

I successfully removed with a razor saw the existing cans, and found a light tube inside. I had to cut through this tube to remove the cans, but I saved the end pices, because they reminded me of how the gels appeared inside the original engines on the ILM models.

I used two-part expoxy to glue my new cans on. I will most likely add some filler where the "pinch" is at the attachment point.

Note the Capn' Cardboard engine comparison.

 

[phase pistol]

Re: Converting the FX toy X-Wing into a display piece

:thumbsup

 

[bleyd]

Re: Converting the FX toy X-Wing into a display piece

Wow! This makes me want to pull mine out again. I masked mine off just to do a repaint but never got round to it. Look forward to the updates.

 

[PHArchivist]

Re: Converting the FX toy X-Wing into a display piece

For those using the resin cans I cast, I suggest taking the cut line of the original engines back a little to about where shown in the pic below. Reasons are three-fold:

1. While theoretically the resin cans and the original toy should match once the original cans have been sawn off, the saw blade removes enough material to create a slight mismatch; a bit of a step. Moving the cut line back a tad places it where the diameter of the toy is a bit greater, solving this problem.

2. Adding my new cans as I have (see the last pic in the above post), the engine is the same length as the CC engine. The toy, overall, is smaller than the CC model, hence my engines are now too big. Moving the cut line back shortens the modified engine.

3. Moving the cut line back lessens the "pinch" between the toy and my resin casts.

 

[tgreco]

Re: Converting the FX toy X-Wing into a display piece

has anyone tackled the "where to get an appropriately sized R2" question

 

[Anakin Starkiller]

Re: Converting the FX toy X-Wing into a display piece

has anyone tackled the "where to get an appropriately sized R2" question

If you buy the OWK ROTJ starfighter kit, I think it has an r2 that should be just the right scale.

Dan

 

[tgreco]

Re: Converting the FX toy X-Wing into a display piece

shiny!

thanks

 

[PHArchivist]

Re: Converting the FX toy X-Wing into a display piece

has anyone tackled the "where to get an appropriately sized R2" question

I most likely will be using the R2 from the ROTS Jedi Starfighter kits.

It matches the Capn Cardboard R2 in size, and is better detailed. It may be a tad too big in scale, (since the CC is a slightly bigger model), but I think the differences will be imperceptible, and its a far cry better than the stock toy R2.

 

[tgreco]

Re: Converting the FX toy X-Wing into a display piece

Hey PH, are you replacing the details that go behind R2 or are you sticking with the toy piece?

I was wondering because I pulled the piece out, and filled in the 2 cut out areas, just in case, but if there's a better (more accurate) way to do it, I'm all ears

oh, and I managed to get the pieces apart on the engine mounts, so I was able to get the clear engine piece out intact (which should help keep the replacement engine cans in place)
I took the rubber cans off, then used a flat head screw driver and a slight twist and mine popped right off.
There was only one glue point.
it also made trimming the back part where the new cans go much easier, as I could just use plastic snips and
trim it off

I've got alot of mine primered and puttied, so with just a bit more sanding on the bottom piece, I should be in pretty good shape

by the way, did you ever find the pics of the mods you did to the laser cannons (replacing the plastic with brass rod)
I have an idea how I plan on doing it (two diameters stuck together, with the original plastic tip on the end) but was hoping to
see your approach to securing them inside the cannon mounts

 

[PHArchivist]

Re: Converting the FX toy X-Wing into a display piece

I figured there was a better way to remove the original engine cans! I'll have to be more diligent on my next one!

Regarding the cannons, I stopped on that component sort of midstream. I do have pics, but again -- I've not completed the process.

On the R2 strip, I have a cast of one of ths scratch-built, studio scale versions (not sure whose, and can't recall where I got it from). It will take some modification to make it work, but that's the approach I'm going to go with. That is a component of the overall model I'm looking forward to.

I'm not looking forward to the wings...

As I recall, I realized the wings will need some degree of support, and was thinking about using brass tubing. I'd made some progress towards a final plan, but have not yet come up with full solution.