death star
- Thread starter hartmann
- Start date
<div class='quotetop'>(Jeeves @ Jun 29 2006, 12:16 PM) [snapback]1270883[/snapback]</div>
You can start with Gus Lopez' Death Star...because it's the actual filming model.
You can start with Gus Lopez' Death Star...because it's the actual filming model.
Kuhn Global
Sr Member
Yup... I think this would be a must have in Studio Scale. BOTH the ANH and ROTJ versions. 
Kuhn Global
Sr Member
Jango_Fett_Jr
Well-Known Member
Pretty crazy, I was just thinking about a Death Star 1 project today at work. I've got so many projects on the go I wouldn't be starting for a while, but I'm hoping to find some more info out there on the original model.
The Star Wars 365 Days book has a couple pages about the model on day 43:
"Distant views of the Death Star were originally planned as a matte painting. When initial test shots of this painting were deemed to be not realistic enough, it was decided to build a model instead. A three-foot diameter construct was created from two blown Plexiglas hemispheres. In order to produce the tiny lights on the surface, the clear plexiglass was opaqued by painting it silver (silver paint is much better at blocking light than black paint); after the final suface details were added and the final paint job finished, light points were added by scratching the model down to the clear plastic. A bright stage light was positioned so it shined through all the tiny scratches.
The Death Star originally had its laser eye along the equator, as seen in the matte painting. When this approach was abandoned and a model built, the laser eye was moved above the equator. However, the computer graphics for the briefing-room scene were already complete, and it was too late to change them, so the original design can still be seen in the film."
The Star Wars 365 Days book has a couple pages about the model on day 43:
"Distant views of the Death Star were originally planned as a matte painting. When initial test shots of this painting were deemed to be not realistic enough, it was decided to build a model instead. A three-foot diameter construct was created from two blown Plexiglas hemispheres. In order to produce the tiny lights on the surface, the clear plexiglass was opaqued by painting it silver (silver paint is much better at blocking light than black paint); after the final suface details were added and the final paint job finished, light points were added by scratching the model down to the clear plastic. A bright stage light was positioned so it shined through all the tiny scratches.
The Death Star originally had its laser eye along the equator, as seen in the matte painting. When this approach was abandoned and a model built, the laser eye was moved above the equator. However, the computer graphics for the briefing-room scene were already complete, and it was too late to change them, so the original design can still be seen in the film."
^ One day, I WILL do a 3 footer.
As practice, I'll be doing basically a 1/6 scale. My approach, coincidentally is the same as you just described for painting and lighting.
1. Clear plastruct hemispheres cut or sanded back and then roughed up to be translucent.
2. Superlaser dish hole cut and then built in.
3. Initial paint coat of silver.
4. Light gray color coat.
5. Patterns laid out with a specially made compass guide attached at the pole.
6. Darker gray shot in panels.
7. Using compass guide, make many many many lines drawn in with both thick and thin mechanical pencil leads on the dark panels.
8. Single H/O white LED mounted internally..aided with solar garden light reflector(s) if necessary.
9. Tiny nicks made anywhere that light is to be permitted to show.
In theory, quite simple to make. In practice, well....I'll be finding out.
As practice, I'll be doing basically a 1/6 scale. My approach, coincidentally is the same as you just described for painting and lighting.
1. Clear plastruct hemispheres cut or sanded back and then roughed up to be translucent.
2. Superlaser dish hole cut and then built in.
3. Initial paint coat of silver.
4. Light gray color coat.
5. Patterns laid out with a specially made compass guide attached at the pole.
6. Darker gray shot in panels.
7. Using compass guide, make many many many lines drawn in with both thick and thin mechanical pencil leads on the dark panels.
8. Single H/O white LED mounted internally..aided with solar garden light reflector(s) if necessary.
9. Tiny nicks made anywhere that light is to be permitted to show.
In theory, quite simple to make. In practice, well....I'll be finding out.
Darth Domain
Well-Known Member
<div class='quotetop'>(hartmannph @ Jun 25 2006, 07:53 AM) [snapback]1267677[/snapback]</div>
Have you used Babel fish to translate from your language-English, if so , it kinda translates into no sense sentences sometimes
Kuhn Global
Sr Member
Why don't we do a "Studio Scale" of that DSII Bob? After getting the sphere shape taken care of,.. that small and tiny detail is right up your alley for the surface and individual decks. Then there is the billion light sources. LOL. This may be one to place on the books.
<div class='quotetop'>(Hand Solo @ Jun 30 2006, 01:13 AM) [snapback]1271320[/snapback]</div>
Then there is the billion light sources. LOL. This may be one to place on the books.<div class='quotetop'>(Hand Solo @ Jun 30 2006, 01:13 AM) [snapback]1271320[/snapback]</div>
PHArchivist
Master Member
I have what I call a 1/4 scale Death Star... Its actually the ERTL kit which is 9" in diameter (1/4 of 36".). I customized it to improve the equater and the dish.
I drilled holes in only the front 75% of the model.
Guess how many holes I drilled?
I drilled holes in only the front 75% of the model.
Guess how many holes I drilled?
<div class='quotetop'>(Kuhn Global @ Jun 30 2006, 07:47 AM) [snapback]1271444[/snapback]</div>
Let's put that in the queue. And give me a pretty generous deadline AND budget. But Oh Yeah...I'd love to give that project a whack. It'd be the ultimate. :love :thumbsup
<div class='quotetop'>(PHArchivist @ Jun 30 2006, 08:41 AM) [snapback]1271480[/snapback]</div>
" You drilled a Go-Jillion holes. You did that on a Tuesday, Jenn-ay. That's all I got to say about that. "
Why don't we do a "Studio Scale" of that DSII Bob? After getting the sphere shape taken care of,.. that small and tiny detail is right up your alley for the surface and individual decks.
[/b]
Let's put that in the queue. And give me a pretty generous deadline AND budget. But Oh Yeah...I'd love to give that project a whack. It'd be the ultimate. :love :thumbsup
<div class='quotetop'>(PHArchivist @ Jun 30 2006, 08:41 AM) [snapback]1271480[/snapback]</div>
" You drilled a Go-Jillion holes. You did that on a Tuesday, Jenn-ay. That's all I got to say about that. "
Kuhn Global
Sr Member
<div class='quotetop'>(PHArchivist @ Jun 30 2006, 08:41 AM) [snapback]1271480[/snapback]</div>
In any case,... that's alot of drilling. You have my respect.
I think we would avoid the drill on the Studio Scale if possible. Maybe a clear fiberglass shell like Richard is doing on my 41" 1701E commission. What do you think Bob? :confused
Lear60man.... is that Bill George? :confused
Well... maybe a few fiber optics wouldn't be bad. Did anyone of you work on the real deal here? If so,.. and Lucas doesn't flame your behind,.. feel free to tell all please.
At 9 inch Diameter.... just the front.... I will guess.... sayyyyyyy......... about 2500? :confused
In any case,... that's alot of drilling. You have my respect.
I think we would avoid the drill on the Studio Scale if possible. Maybe a clear fiberglass shell like Richard is doing on my 41" 1701E commission. What do you think Bob? :confused
Lear60man.... is that Bill George? :confused
Well... maybe a few fiber optics wouldn't be bad. Did anyone of you work on the real deal here? If so,.. and Lucas doesn't flame your behind,.. feel free to tell all please.
<div class='quotetop'>(Kuhn Global @ Jun 30 2006, 10:20 AM) [snapback]1271551[/snapback]</div>
Fiber is one option. But someone else will have to lay those up and make the hemispheres. It would be really useful to find out the upper size limit of acrylic or some other plastics and who can make them that large. We'd be looking for four things:
1. Cost.
2. Uniformity of the curvature.
3. Overall durability.
4. Compatibility with finishing materials
<div class='quotetop'></div>
That's got me thinkin'. More data, please.
<div class='quotetop'></div>
FO would work in some areas such as the exposed decks and reflected lighting near the interior would be my preliminary plan.
Fiber is one option. But someone else will have to lay those up and make the hemispheres. It would be really useful to find out the upper size limit of acrylic or some other plastics and who can make them that large. We'd be looking for four things:
1. Cost.
2. Uniformity of the curvature.
3. Overall durability.
4. Compatibility with finishing materials
<div class='quotetop'></div>
That's got me thinkin'. More data, please.
<div class='quotetop'></div>
Well... maybe a few fiber optics wouldn't be bad. Did anyone of you work on the real deal here? If so,.. and Lucas doesn't flame your behind,.. feel free to tell all please.
[/b]
FO would work in some areas such as the exposed decks and reflected lighting near the interior would be my preliminary plan.
PHArchivist
Master Member
<div class='quotetop'>(Kuhn Global @ Jun 30 2006, 05:20 PM) [snapback]1271551[/snapback]</div>
Close, but not quite (Scroll down).
If that is Bill posting in our little world, we should feel blessed and graced.
9" diameter ball, 75% drilled for lights = 10,000 holes
But good point -- as this was the ERTL it in non-translucent lastic, I had to drill all the way through... On clear acrylic, you wouldn't have to go all the way.
And I'm fairly certan 3' diameter hemispheres can be found. But 4' or 5'...? Call a Union 76 station. I heard they're dismantling all they 76 Ball marquees....
Close, but not quite (Scroll down).
If that is Bill posting in our little world, we should feel blessed and graced.
9" diameter ball, 75% drilled for lights = 10,000 holes
But good point -- as this was the ERTL it in non-translucent lastic, I had to drill all the way through... On clear acrylic, you wouldn't have to go all the way.
And I'm fairly certan 3' diameter hemispheres can be found. But 4' or 5'...? Call a Union 76 station. I heard they're dismantling all they 76 Ball marquees....
Similar threads
- Sale
