Dressing up a dud of a kit - AMT Star Destroyer

[JudgeSabersmith]

I picked one of these old gems up at the local hobby shop for $4.99.

It's really a piece of crap. I cannot believe this was pushed out to consumers.

Still, building my own from scratch or waiting for the next run of RC star destroyers is way out of my price range, so I am left with trying to dress up this old gal into something nice looking.

I'm planning to sand down all the flats and scribe new lines and add surface detail out of sheet styrene. I'll try my hand at scratchbuilding a docking bay and trimming down the superstructure so it is a bit more in proportion with the ship.

No way am I going to be able to get to the level seen at the EFX booth, but maybe I can make a nice display piece for my workshop.

Is there a scale warship that would lend itself to kitbashing for this size of star destroyer? Naturally, I will want to add trench details and better cannons and so-forth. With Odyssey Slipways being out of stock everywhere I look, this seems my only option. Anybody here done it?

If anyone here has done what I am attempting, I'd appreciate your insights and advice.

 

[foj3000]

Just copy what this guy did:
http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/nikonikohoshizora/folder/860581.html

 

[Tony42]

:lol Piece of cake. Wow that looks superb.

 

[division 6]

After market parts.
http://www.starshipmodeler.biz/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=42
http://www.freewebs.com/arveymodelproducts/starwarsresinupgrades.htm

 

[Jedi Dade]

Personally I think its a stretch to call that the ERTL kit anymore. there not one part that hasn't been significantly altered - that's a scratch build that used the ERTL kit for a few donor parts :lol

cool none the less :thumbsup

Jedi Dade

 

[JudgeSabersmith]

The guy with the highly modified ERTL kit obviously has more money to throw at a project than I do. Even buying the Avery aftermarket kits is a bit of a stretch for a single project.

 

[foj3000]

Here's another that might be more practical:
http://www.starwarsmodels.com/stard.html

 

[Smiling Demon]

It's easy to dump alot of money into this $40-$50 kit!!

Didn't realize how expensive the detail kits were for this kit!:eek

 

[JudgeSabersmith]

Here's another that might be more practical:
http://www.starwarsmodels.com/stard.html

That one is a bit more paractical, agreed. The Japanese gentleman with his thorough rebuilding of the ERTL is well beyond my capabilities.

I noticed, however, that he kitbashed a bunch. Do any of you know what scale of battleships he was using for his trench details and whatnot?

I started sanding down the large pieces tonight. Pretty quick work with 220 grit wet/dry. The scribing is going to take me ages...thankfully I have some nice photos from which to work. It might not be 100% accurate, but anything done to this kit is an improvement, IMHO.

 

[FlyingDachshund]

I searched around on his blog until I found a section dealing with the trench detailing, then copied and pasted part of that into BabelFish. The result is somewhat readable:

"As for detail as for large portion the water line of 1/700 is stuck."

So, to paraphrase, a large portion of the detail is made from 1/700 scale waterline ship kits.

Hope that helps

Mark Snyder
Okinawa, Japan

 

[bluelight]

I searched around on his blog until I found a section dealing with the trench detailing, then copied and pasted part of that into BabelFish. The result is somewhat readable:

"As for detail as for large portion the water line of 1/700 is stuck."

So, to paraphrase, a large portion of the detail is made from 1/700 scale waterline ship kits.

Hope that helps

Mark Snyder
Okinawa, Japan

Yeah right! In any case at that scale most of the detailing has been scratchbuilt.. a real pain!
in addition he has not just added greeblies but rebuilt neck terraces and trenches cap and floor
that guy has real talent!

 

[foj3000]

Revell Has some 1/1200 mini battleships that you can chop up for details:
http://www.ipmsusa2.org/Reviews/Kits/Ships/Revell_1200_Shinano/Revell_1200_Shinano.htm
http://www.scalemodelsandparts.com/products.php?cat_id=4&page=17
I also saw some at Hobby Lobby.

 

[JudgeSabersmith]

Great!

I thought 1/700 might be too big, but I suppose they would work if modified. Those 1/1200 mini ships look like a nice source for parts. Mixed with some styrene bits and bobs, and I could nicely detail the trenches and decks.

It's still going to leave me to buy the turbolasers from one of the garage kit manufacturers, but I suppose that's not too bad overall.

 

[bluelight]

Great!

I thought 1/700 might be too big, but I suppose they would work if modified. Those 1/1200 mini ships look like a nice source for parts. Mixed with some styrene bits and bobs, and I could nicely detail the trenches and decks.

It's still going to leave me to buy the turbolasers from one of the garage kit manufacturers, but I suppose that's not too bad overall.

this is a very nice source of bits and pieces beautifully cast .. just what you need to add some spice to your upgrade
http://www.hlj.com/product/PITSP-20
to detail trenches another valuabel source are photo etched parts (rails and ladders)

 

[Jedi Dade]

Any "ship" models that are 1/700 or smaller are GREAT greeblie sources for bashing stuff! you can often find them in Lots off eBay... and pick up several at a time... good wat to load the greeblie box up!

Airfix tanks and WWII equipment too... but they will be too big for the SD... but also a GREAT source of greeblies!


Jedi Dade

 

[thunderbearr]

Hi. Just saw this thread. Thanks for the promo.

Keep Modeling!

Rob

 

[foj3000]

Here's another Modified MPC Kit:
http://photos.yahoo.co.jp/ph/adamad...h/adamada2010/lst?&.dir=/2c19&.src=ph&.view=t

 

[lizard821000]

Hi guys I know this is an old thread but all internet searches regarding any upgrade parts all seem dead, can someone help me out and point me in a sellers direction please.

Shaun

 

[swmodelfan1977]

How about Starship Modeler Shop page?
https://starshipmodeler.biz/shop/in...destroyer-engine-replacement-kit-for-amt.html

 

[Darth Africanus]

I have been looking into this for a long time Starshipmodeler only has the improved engines for the kit.I am going the scratch build route on my star destroyer's