COMPLETED -- Converting the FX toy X-Wing

[PHArchivist]

<div class='quotetop'>(PHArchivist @ Aug 14 2006, 03:41 AM) [snapback]1299851[/snapback]</div>

I've decided I do need to fill the inside of the wings, and will likely need to add some metal support in there.

[/b]

Actually, I do have a bit of an update... That which Ralphee was alluding to. (I'd takne it back out to edit, and forgot to put it back in.)

I don't believe I discussed my concerns with wing droop (don't want to replicate Icons problems.).

My first plan was to add brass rod or tubing. Rod wouldn't really work because to insert metal supports into the wing cavity shown above, you need to reduce the size as the wing grows more shallow.

Brass tubing can be nested or "telescoped" to reach a smaller diameter towards the wing tips. But circular tubing at the smaller diameters doesn't seem strong enough.

Now, I'm not an engineer or physicist, but I played around a bit with SQUARED brass "tubing", and it seems much stronger than traditional circular tubing.

So I believe that will be my answer.

 

[tgreco]

where'd the photos go?

 

[3D-builder]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tgreco @ Dec 15 2006, 10:25 PM) [snapback]1378828[/snapback]</div>

where'd the photos go?
[/b]

Ya I don't see any or any links even from the start?

 

[PHArchivist]

Wackychimp may have done some house cleaning...

 

[studioscale]

yeah where are the pictures? :cry

 

[PHArchivist]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(studioscale @ Dec 22 2006, 01:37 PM) [snapback]1382823[/snapback]</div>

yeah where are the pictures? :cry
[/b]

Again -- not sure. They were all posted on Wackychimps site. I still have them all on the hard drive. Maybe I'll burn a CD someday.

 

[PHArchivist]

Hey guys... Here's a reminder to you guys and to myself aout this project.

The white cone at the bottom is a cast of the FX toy nose. I'm going to sand down the hump of the top curve a bit, and take another mold of it. My target is to get it shaped more like the Max-Brute.

 

[yt]

I am so glad to see this thread is not dead.

 

[PHArchivist]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(yt @ Feb 14 2007, 12:56 AM) [snapback]1418362[/snapback]</div>

I am so glad to see this thread is not dead.
[/b]

Nope, not dead... I'll have pics of the reshaped FX nose tomorrow...

 

[PHArchivist]

Here's the modified FX nose cone cast. Modified on top, and a (bad) cast unmodified.

 

[PHArchivist]

Boys and girls I'm happy to say I'm sort of back into the swing on this thing. I told you early on this would be a long and drawn out project.

At any rate, I'm currently working on modifying the FX nose cone. It is quite "humped" (LUCKY cone.) and looks a little funny. Although, it is not too far from the large scale museum X-Wing Red 3. Funny...

Anyway--

I took a mold of the FX, cast it (or for Matt Munson -- casted) in resn, and began tweaking it. I sanded down the hump, and generally massaged the shape (NO comments about me massaging my cone). But...

PROBLEM.

I made it too narrow (see third pic). So now I have to go back and laminate on some additional styrene to widen the mother.

When all is "said and done" I'll mold this puppy. Must have repeatable mistakes (um -- I mean RESULTS) right....?

Here's some eye candy...

 

[PHArchivist]

Worked on widening the nose cone today... Hopefully pics before the end of the weekend...

 

[PHArchivist]

I'm also working on a solution for the engines.

In the pic below, the white can on the right is from the Maxi-Brute kit. On the left is the same thing, where I'm making a mold of the can attached to the engine. I intend to creat castings of the can/engine combo up to where the orange line is, and cut off the original engines at that line. Then I'll graft on the cast.

 

[PHArchivist]

More work on the FX nose cone today...

I widened it a bit by laminating some strene on the bottom half and using filler for the top half of the sides.

 

[yt]

Looking good.

 

[PHArchivist]

Thanks. And don't you just love that angle.? Toy or not, this thing reads (at least in my opinion) much more like the true X-Wing than most other offerings...

Look at the fuselage from R2 forward, and judge for yourself -- Maxi-brute (direct descendent of an original ILM model); FX toy (presumend to be taken from an Icons), and Capt Cardboard:

Really, about the only inconsistency/porportion problem with the FX is the rear portion of the fuse (under the R2 strip). On the FX it is the same height as the MB, but it should be shorter due to scale.

I'm sure the extra room was built in to accommodate the wing gears and mechanisms. I --ahem -- "toyed" with the idea of removing the extra height, but since it is almost entirely hidden by the wings (when open) I decided not to go to the trouble. The ROI was not worth it.

 

[Kuhn Global]

Rob,

I can't wait tosee this finished. This will be a fine example of your fantastic artistic ability in modeling to convert a toy into a studio model.

It shows GREAT promise sir.

I think I'll get my rear over to "general modeling" to see how your Falcon Display is coming out.

 

[PHArchivist]

Thanks Kurt. Going to start molding the new nose cone today...

 

[Kuhn Global]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PHArchivist @ Feb 26 2007, 08:12 PM) [snapback]1427480[/snapback]</div>

Maxi-brute (direct descendent of an original ILM model
[/b]

Rob,

You had spoken to me about this before and I know you believe it to be true. Are you able to elaborate on it's origin or thoughts as to why or how that may be true? :confused

This would be very important info if it is true,... thus my inquirey.

It's rear looks incorrect to me. Is the body correct to the original?

Can anyone else confirm this as well?

An interesting subject to be sure. I am interested in the "final word".

Let's see if we can't get to the bottom of this, eh?

----

As for the FX conversion? It's looking like it is going to be great Rob..

 

[PHArchivist]

Kurt, I really don't know anymore than anyone else. That is to say, the extent of my knowledge is largely based on what I've read on these boards, and the statement on the box.

In writing this however, I just pulled the box, and what it states is "Exact size used by Star Wars Special Effects Team.". Interestingly, it does NOT state "cast off of" or taken off of" an original model, which is often assumed.

Researching the history of this would go beyond my abilities of interenet research (or other form of research) as this was produced nearly 30 years ago. I doubt Estes has any info on file regarding this. Although I've never tried to contact them about it. May be worth a shot.

Another source of info is our very own "Building the 1:24 X-Wing" thread in this very forum. Quite a bit of mentions of the MB, but I'm not certain if there is a definitive bottom line. Somewhere, I have an abridged version of that thread. I'll try to glean some info out of it. I'll also check the Bill George build-up write-up to see if there's any other info. Stand by...

One thing I can say, is this: After nearly 30 years of love for and exposure to the X-Wing, once I held the MB in my hand there was (to quote Luke himself) "something very familiar about this...". Holding it in your hands, comparing it to reference photos and to to my own collective memory of the ship, it certainly does feel like the one true X-Wing. I know this is highly subject, but you should try it.