Orca from JAWS

[enjaypee]

Hey everyone. This has been on my must-do list for ages so I thought I’d make a thread here so I’m accountable to my procrastination . NECA scale ORCA. Sort of. I wanted this model to fit with Quints figure. So I scaled my drawings to Robert Shaws height. The 8” NECA figures are scaled to fit 6’ tall. Which means that their figures are around 1/9 scale. I think this model is around 1/8.something ‍

 

[enjaypee]

The first part of the model I “completed” construction of was the flybridge. The joinery is pretty nuanced but I think it came out ok. I used the smaller 1/12 scale flybridge for colour testing the grey/green paint scheme to match the movie. In the end I managed to get an interview with Joe Alves, the production designer on JAWS, who helped me get the shade down.
The next step for the flybridge would be the bridge furniture. I will probably 3D print some of the elements for speed (impatience) but I’m enjoying the scratch built process too.

 

[enjaypee]

Some of the joinery and moulding details of the fly bridge for reference.

 

[enjaypee]

Here’s a 1/8 scale cage I made about 10 years ago. Unfortunately it’s slightly too big to be to scale with the Orca model I’m making however, it’s perfectly scale with the Hooper figure by NECA if you consider Richard Dreyfuss’s height. Some repairs needed and I’ve replaced the piano wire floor with butyrate coated wire that I’ll paint and weather.

 

[enjaypee]

A 1/12 scale study model of the rear facing wheelhouse wall. Making these smaller scale sketch models have been really helpful, moving from 3D cad to hard edged model making.

 

[enjaypee]

The Orcas wheels. The black wheel with the brass handles is the weather proof option for the fly bridge and a the walnut handle version is the one inside the wheelhouse. I made the wheel by engraving acrylic on the laser engraver. I made several passes with slightly different layers to give it a look of cast iron and to create the contours inside the wheel for the handle spindles. The brass handles are 4 and 3mm tubing with 2mm tubing to mount to the wheel. I turned both the brass handles and the wooden handles on my drill as I don’t currently have a working lathe (it’s in bits on the garage floor). I’m pretty happy with these and they’re a little more rugged than the resin printed versions I initially planned.

 

[enjaypee]

Photo reference for the flybridge wheel. I engraved a bit too deep for this wheel but corrected for the wheelhouse version. I may do this wheel again. I could afford to round over the handles a bit more. For the other wheel, I also offset the engraving by about 0.1mm so it looks less “scale”. Always go thinner than you think you should to give the model finer lines and a full scale look.

 

[joberg]

Looking very good so far...I'm sure you're following flimzy's build of the Orca also

 

[enjaypee]

Looking very good so far...I'm sure you're following flimzy's build of the Orca also

Thanks! Yes I am. It’s really inspiring to see a NECA scale Orca at that stage! I hope I can make mine at least half as good as that one.

 

[enjaypee]

Just about to try to cut some gears out of acrylic on the laser. I’m hoping to make this winch a working model at this scale.

 

[enjaypee]

As a little side project from earlier this year I was also going to build Quints shack for a garden display. Now though I’m really tempted to build this also at NECA scale for the ultimate “where the **** am I gonna put this thing” display

 

[joberg]

I think it's feasible at that scale I love the fact that so many details can "work" like in real life. Doors, windows, chairs, cable, winch, etc...
As for the shack...you got me there. The real-estate that one is going to occupy is, and you're right about that, where the eff I'm going to put it...or start filing your divorce papers

 

[enjaypee]

I think it's feasible at that scale I love the fact that so many details can "work" like in real life. Doors, windows, chairs, cable, winch, etc...
As for the shack...you got me there. The real-estate that one is going to occupy is, and you're right about that, where the eff I'm going to put it...or start filing your divorce papers

Yeah I’ve been trying to steer my wife away from the huge Orca project in the workshop but seriously, that thing is over 5 feet long and almost as tall with the mast. The divorce will be justified

Yeah the larger the scale, the more realistic you’re able to get with these details. I have looked at off-the-shelf parts to make these moving sections work, but in truth I think I’m gonna have to go custom for a lot of stuff. Trying to find piano hinges for the forward windows and the foredeck storage areas - everything store-bought is just slightly out of scale. Besides, I’ve never made hinges before so it might be fun

 

[DCN]

Yeah I’ve been trying to steer my wife away from the huge Orca project in the workshop but seriously, that thing is over 5 feet long and almost as tall with the mast. The divorce will be justified

Yeah the larger the scale, the more realistic you’re able to get with these details. I have looked at off-the-shelf parts to make these moving sections work, but in truth I think I’m gonna have to go custom for a lot of stuff. Trying to find piano hinges for the forward windows and the foredeck storage areas - everything store-bought is just slightly out of scale. Besides, I’ve never made hinges before so it might be fun

You didn't find any doll house hinges that worked? I've seen them as small as 5mm. the long cabin window hinge is a challenge. i've only found a 6cm long hinge, and that's way too small.

 

[enjaypee]

You didn't find any doll house hinges that worked? I've seen them as small as 5mm. the long cabin window hinge is a challenge. i've only found a 6cm long hinge, and that's way too small.

Yeah I think there’s a standard in those little brass barrel hinges. I think I can Machine some better ones. Those brass ones are the smallest I could find. I saw that Flimzy got some piano hinges from a modelshop here in the U.K. but they’re still too wide. I’m going to try to replicate the full scale ones as best I can.

 

[enjaypee]

So while waiting for some ply to arrive to start the decks, I scaled my cage drawings for the unassembled cage. What I’ll be using-

24 x 4mm by 305mm square aluminium tubing
20 x 3mm by 305mm round ally tubing
0.8mm butyrate covered wire
30mm by 300mm aluminium tube
Dress pins for the screw heads. I’ll post up some close ups of my previous cage to show the assembly. Looking forward for the materials to arrive but this close to Christmas and postal strikes, I won’t hold my breath

 

[enjaypee]

Just like the full sized cage, I had to drill holes into the square tubing to receive the preassembled floor grate. Initially I made this using piano wire however my soldering ain't so great so I replaced it with buyrate covered wire to be painted.

 

[DCN]

As a little side project from earlier this year I was also going to build Quints shack for a garden display. Now though I’m really tempted to build this also at NECA scale for the ultimate “where the **** am I gonna put this thing” display

If you're going to do it, might as well go full tilt.

 

[Jamesfett]

That is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[danzig]

Yeah I’ve been trying to steer my wife away from the huge Orca project in the workshop but seriously, that thing is over 5 feet long and almost as tall with the mast. The divorce will be justified

Yeah the larger the scale, the more realistic you’re able to get with these details. I have looked at off-the-shelf parts to make these moving sections work, but in truth I think I’m gonna have to go custom for a lot of stuff. Trying to find piano hinges for the forward windows and the foredeck storage areas - everything store-bought is just slightly out of scale. Besides, I’ve never made hinges before so it might be fun

In all the years,Ive never been able to ever find anything off the shelf..Your doing a fine job making all the the stuff.Thus far it all looks beautiful