Federation Space Tug DS9 U.S.S. Atlas

[Clerval]

Oh great timing (he says in a self-serving way)

A friend has a full Robotix set and is willing to bring bits from them for this and the Frankenfleet... do you recall in particular which sets were the main contributors to the models? For the ships, I have a few that I *think* I'd like to start with, but I need to decide 100% on them, so today I'll be starting to match parts etc. the best that I can. I hope I leave him enough time to dig them up before he's here, in ten days.

Should also ask if there's anything you're still looking to ID...

 

[stevielewis]

Oh great timing (he says in a self-serving way)

A friend has a full Robotix set and is willing to bring bits from them for this and the Frankenfleet... do you recall in particular which sets were the main contributors to the models? For the ships, I have a few that I *think* I'd like to start with, but I need to decide 100% on them, so today I'll be starting to match parts etc. the best that I can. I hope I leave him enough time to dig them up before he's here, in ten days.

Should also ask if there's anything you're still looking to ID...

As far as IDing anything else for the Frankenfleet, I pretty much have them identified. The Robotix parts needed for the Space Tug should come from the Robotix-Electronix CR 5000 with two motors. I suggest that toy set as it has two of the parts needed for the back of the main body for the Space Tug, the part that eluded me for so long. I hope that helps you out. If you need parts, PM me. I believe I mentioned which model kits were used for the Space Tug as well in the thread here. Click on the picture for a larger view of the Robotix set.

 

[Clerval]

As far as IDing anything else for the Frankenfleet, I pretty much have them identified. The Robotix parts needed for the Space Tug should come from the Robotix-Electronix CR 5000 with two motors. I suggest that toy set as it has two of the parts needed for the back of the main body for the Space Tug, the part that eluded me for so long. I hope that helps you out. If you need parts, PM me. I believe I mentioned which model kits were used for the Space Tug as well in the thread here. Click on the picture for a larger view of the Robotix set.

This is fantastic thank you. I haven't seen that set at all. Only the large commander seems to have that part as well, but I'll hold off a while on this and keep my eyes open, be sure of what I'm going after. Kit ID is 'my thing' for many projects, and I've been able to pick up on a number of them, and yeah, I think in a few of your posts you made a quick list or at least called out additions to your build, which is always incredibly helpful and appreciated. So thank you for that as well. I'll re-read and not just look at it for the pictures...

I also get these to build _very_ accurate digital versions of ships, not only to build great objets to chat about and share with Trek friends etc. ;-)

 

[Searun]

stevielewis,
Glad to see your back at the space tug. Very nice work and helping another along the way. Congrats.

 

[stevielewis]

Thank you Searun and Clerval. I do have several builds of the Frankenfleet scattered throughout the General and Studio Scale sections. A couple of them were started by other modellers and I added my builds with theirs, so read up on those builds as well. Good luck with whatever you build. Sharing is what helps keep this hobby going.

 

[Clerval]

Thank you Searun and Clerval. I do have several builds of the Frankenfleet scattered throughout the General and Studio Scale sections. A couple of them were started by other modellers and I added my builds with theirs, so read up on those builds as well. Good luck with whatever you build. Sharing is what helps keep this hobby going.

Right now I'm locked in mortal combat with the Merchantman from STIII... as much as this brutal unemployment stretch has let me be. Digital and practical together since the ship is an outlier in a few ways, such a beastie.

So sadly there's no real 'hobby' (ie fun) time any more; this all has to be trying to set up reference and potential material for portfolio pieces. It might be a while til I can justify getting the kits, but I can plan and think about next steps with more clarity when I get leads and some inspiration like this thread And it'll be longer til I can build 'the real deal', digital will be done before then. I've just hit S7 of a DS9 rewatch to look for model and painting ideas, so have been seeing the ships a lot...

 

[stevielewis]

Clerval, I understand what you are going through right now. I do hope your situation gets better and you can return to your build of the Merchantman ship. I'm glad that my thread here has helped you with leads and inspiration for future builds. I have, at the time of posting this reply, seven builds of ships from the Frankenfleet. I find them fun to build as well as hunting down which model kits and toy sets they were built from.

 

[Clerval]

Clerval, I understand what you are going through right now. I do hope your situation gets better and you can return to your build of the Merchantman ship. I'm glad that my thread here has helped you with leads and inspiration for future builds. I have, at the time of posting this reply, seven builds of ships from the Frankenfleet. I find them fun to build as well as hunting down which model kits and toy sets they were built from.

!! I'm not sure how I missed your post and have pffted on replying. Sorry about that! I'll try to chalk it up to the job hunt madness. Being a modeler here in the US is... well, my resume doesn't get me looks any more, sigh.

Thanks for the note here, and yeah, they're a blast to look into. I've got a few of the kits already from other endeavors, but specifically on the Tug, I'm in ok shape. I have a friend who has a full run of Robotix, and is willing to send along a tug's worth of bits ;-) To that, I've been able to find the rarer piece in a small parts collection, and will cast and mold that so I can leave the original as original.

Once that arrives, I'll have bits for the Atlas Class and a Boimler, pardon me, a Bradford. I feel bad for one of the kits- I opened my ~30 yo Reliant kit and started to check its fit etc, expecting some of the usual problems. But it is a fantastic kit, everything aligns and hardly any work to do on it. I feel bad not building her as intended. ;-)

There is still a bit that I can't track down, but I think I'm in good shape, and excited for the time when I can come up for air and build these. Sorting out a lighting diagram as a task C over the next couple of weeks too, for both. That doesn't cost anything ;-) Thanks again!


edit- ahhahhaaa in a fit of 'oh hey wait, I was going to look at X, to find that last part...', I hadn't looked at the clear parts on the Voyager. Of course it's the deflector dish ;-) afaik, I'm pretty well sorted on IDing parts for this wee beastie.

 

[Art Vandelay]

I have a bunch of Robotix parts, if you need any.

 

[stevielewis]

Just as a follow on, did I mention that I have built another DS9 Tug? Yup, I have. Here are some pics of that build:

Come Spring when the weather warms up this will be getting painted. Thanks for looking.

 

[Searun]

stevielewis,
Love your tugs. Nostromo and its clever, unique space ship function started it for me. Long haul truckers of the universe will have robots Unionized one day no doubt. Looking forward to you painting and weathering technique.

 

[stevielewis]

stevielewis,
Love your tugs. Nostromo and its clever, unique space ship function started it for me. Long haul truckers of the universe will have robots Unionized one day no doubt. Looking forward to you painting and weathering technique.

Thank you Searun. I hope my painting and weathering technique is worth looking in on.

 

[TheBeast]

Okay, made it through the thread, and quite blown away. Though I did have to scroll back and forth to find mention of the runabout pod. It kept jumping out at me, it HAD to be there!

By the way, you can all hate me for buying up a bunch of Robotix connectors for making sci-fi doorjambs.

The greebles are so damn pretty!

 

[stevielewis]

Glad you were able to find the Runabout pod on the top of the tug. I have a huge box of Robotix parts now. I had not thought of using them as doorjambs.

 

[Clerval]

An update on my digital ver. The job hunt has been a disaster (I'm sure many in this forum are aware of what has been happening in vfx, animation, games... so I won't belabor it) and so only the digital has got any love. Trying to make out some of the light kicks and paint layers. Will work up a better metallic model paint in a day or so, then get this over to lookdev-ish stages. Folks who have built this, any other ref or thoughts on a paint breakdown?

 

[stevielewis]

What are your plans for the underside? I know a lot of people don't usually look underneath, but there is a lot of real estate to cover there. I painted mine all the blue color as it seemed the logical thing to do.

 

[Clerval]

Almost entirely blue and dirtier--- there's a bit of blue at the 'back' of the robotix cockpit that has to end a little abruptly since it's not on the front section (seenin the top view). I found a spot to just stop it and let the rest be white. I wish there were ref... no idea if there are additional parts, lights, graphics, registries, etc.

 

[stevielewis]

What can be made out in the original photos by Doug Drexler, the bottom is where the electronics hook up to power the lights at the end of the arms, and for the nacelles. Plus they had to have a way to mount the model to the motion control stand, so probably nothing was done to the bottom of the prop.

 

[Clerval]

What can be made out in the original photos by Doug Drexler, the bottom is where the electronics hook up to power the lights at the end of the arms, and for the nacelles. Plus they had to have a way to mount the model to the motion control stand, so probably nothing was done to the bottom of the prop.

Yeah I don't doubt it... I like the idea of something going on there in the digital realm though. Still, if it were ever used in a sequence, really what are the odds of ever seeing it from below etc. Hmmm and all that.

 

[stevielewis]

There is the small die-cast Tug, their idea of how the bottom was filled in is unique.

If you should ever use the digital version from say below the front 3/4 view looking up at an Excelsior ship or similar, you could just use shadows to "cover" the bottom.