I've been into scale modelling quite a lot in the last months. It started with the SS AT-ST (ROTJ) and then came the Cooper SD which I lit with over 2600 Fiberoptics and 61 LEDs. After completing that beast, I was not totally satisfied with the amount of FOs I used. But I did not want to build that thing a second time so I looked for a Super Star Destroyer.
I purchased a Korbanth SSD and just after it arrived, the Knightwire SSD was released. :/
In my opinion, the Knightwire is more true to the original, while the Korbanth is easier to light.
Both kits have numerous bubbles in the castings, especially in the buildings.
Here are a few comparison pics:
I chose the Knightwire to be build.
First I dremeled out a lot of material, to make room for the FO strands.
Here's my "special technique" for the bundling of the fiberstrands
The fibers in one trench...
All fibers where bundled to strands of about 200 single pieces. Shrinktubing was then applied and after heating cut straight with a dremel cutting wheel. The LED was then placed in front of the fibers and fixed in position by wrapping it in self adhesive aluminum tape. Another layer of shrink tubing did the job then.
A few details had to be rebuild and rescribed.
Here's the last building to be glued on. Notice the brass rod which will be used as a housing for the mounting rod.
I added some more details to areas that looked not crowded enough. Small gaps and flaws were filled using wax putty (which IMHO is one of the greatest inventions for scale modelling).
Here's the model prior to painting:
I used these tools to cut of the fibers after painting. I learned a lot building the Randy Cooper SD. Mostly a sharp #11 blade did the job.
The model painted in automotive grey/blue water color (NEXA Aquabase Plus Engine Bay).
Some fibers cut off, 10,000,000,000 or so more to do ^^
The finished model. So far I only airbrushed the buildings in a darker grey. In this scale, weathering gives me a headache.
The kit next to the RC SD.
Sorry for the bad pics, but I'm not very good at photography. I'll try to take some better ones soon.
Additional info:
It took me 130 hours to complete this kit as you see it here. 5,761 holes where drilled for the fibers. Each fiber has a diameter of 0.25mm. I did not count how many meters of fibers I used but I had to reorder when I suddenly went dry The base features a blue LED for indication that the power is on. The 11.1V custom lipo pack can be decoupled. Base is made of MDF with an aluminum plate.
Here's a quick youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIJfRFyEHVU
Thomas
I purchased a Korbanth SSD and just after it arrived, the Knightwire SSD was released. :/
In my opinion, the Knightwire is more true to the original, while the Korbanth is easier to light.
Both kits have numerous bubbles in the castings, especially in the buildings.
Here are a few comparison pics:
I chose the Knightwire to be build.
First I dremeled out a lot of material, to make room for the FO strands.
Here's my "special technique" for the bundling of the fiberstrands
The fibers in one trench...
All fibers where bundled to strands of about 200 single pieces. Shrinktubing was then applied and after heating cut straight with a dremel cutting wheel. The LED was then placed in front of the fibers and fixed in position by wrapping it in self adhesive aluminum tape. Another layer of shrink tubing did the job then.
A few details had to be rebuild and rescribed.
Here's the last building to be glued on. Notice the brass rod which will be used as a housing for the mounting rod.
I added some more details to areas that looked not crowded enough. Small gaps and flaws were filled using wax putty (which IMHO is one of the greatest inventions for scale modelling).
Here's the model prior to painting:
I used these tools to cut of the fibers after painting. I learned a lot building the Randy Cooper SD. Mostly a sharp #11 blade did the job.
The model painted in automotive grey/blue water color (NEXA Aquabase Plus Engine Bay).
Some fibers cut off, 10,000,000,000 or so more to do ^^
The finished model. So far I only airbrushed the buildings in a darker grey. In this scale, weathering gives me a headache.
The kit next to the RC SD.
Sorry for the bad pics, but I'm not very good at photography. I'll try to take some better ones soon.
Additional info:
It took me 130 hours to complete this kit as you see it here. 5,761 holes where drilled for the fibers. Each fiber has a diameter of 0.25mm. I did not count how many meters of fibers I used but I had to reorder when I suddenly went dry
The base features a blue LED for indication that the power is on. The 11.1V custom lipo pack can be decoupled. Base is made of MDF with an aluminum plate.Here's a quick youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIJfRFyEHVU
Thomas
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