putting off my falcon even longer......1/72 tie fighter

[astroboy]

Wow...I REALLY don't enjoy wiring. As my FM falcon sits there under a pile of wire and LEDs, I decided to pull out my TIE fighter.

Quick build. Looks great. You can tell that it's one of the early FM efforts. It doesn't dry fit quite as nicely as later things...but it's still easy.

The one criticism (And I felt this on my 1/144 falcon) is that they really need to make the glass pieces in two parts. One for the glass, the other for the solid ribbing of the window frame. Masking it really doesn't cut it.

So the question is....do I attempt to cut out the glass portions of the window? the risk may be too high. Or do I watch some youtube vids on making resin casts? Anyone know of a great primer on that?

 

[jah5150]

Starship Modeler Store: Fine Molds' 1/72 TIE's Canopy Masks

 

[astroboy]

crap...how did I miss that?

 

[CessnaDriver]

Nothin' like a good ol' styrene TIE to just get something built up without a lot of hassles.

 

[Zac]

1:72 and 1:48 Tie canopy frame prototypes- Model Forces

 

[astroboy]

1:72 and 1:48 Tie canopy frame prototypes- Model Forces

THAT'S AWESOME!!!!!


How can I get one????

 

[Dewka]

very nice work.
what shade grey blue did you wind up going with? is this Tamiya haze grey?

 

[CessnaDriver]

very nice work.
what shade grey blue did you wind up going with? is this Tamiya haze grey?

Yeah, I think it's the best solution short of mixing your own if your going for the ESB look. Plus it's in rattle can.

 

[astroboy]

very nice work.
what shade grey blue did you wind up going with? is this Tamiya haze grey?

I often mix my own. I think it was white, a touch of german grey and a splash of some blue. I prefer the grey look but couldn't resist a hint of the blue.

Incidentally, I'm now working on the landing platform. I'm modifying the stock FM platform and turning it into a bit of a diorama. Added greeblies and a couple of stormtroopers on top of a hunk of shaped MDF.

Currently I think it's going to be landed on tatooine because I think the desert would be easiest, but we'll see how ambitious I get

 

[Sluis Van Shipyards]

THAT'S AWESOME!!!!!


How can I get one????

Yeah are those for sale anywhere? I've got two TIEs put away, plus I will need an Interceptor.

 

[astroboy]

Yeah are those for sale anywhere? I've got two TIEs put away, plus I will need an Interceptor.

Starship Modeler Store: 1/72 Imperial Star Fighter/Interceptor Cockpit Detail Set

 

[astroboy]

so now we're working on a tatooine landing station!

 

[astroboy]

one more

still lots to do on this!

 

[vixr]

astroboy, I think I can help with your Falcon if you were interested in a IR remote switch scheme... CLICK HERE
it eliminates a large percent of the wiring. I have to wait out the probation period set by the forum rules, so no rush...No worries if it isnt your cup of tea, just ignore.

 

[JMChladek]

I feel your pain about the canopy masks FM included in their kit. When I did my FM tie years ago, I applied the masks over Tamiya tape and used them as templates to cut out. It was time consuming, but it worked. One of the reasons I did it that way is I heard a horror story that somebody who used just the FM masks soaked them and paint bled through them since the paper stock wasn't moisture proof (Tamiya tape on the otherhand is). But we didn't have the pre-cut canopy masks either.

I personally prefer the AMT/Ertl 1/48 TIE kits precisely because they have a separate frame from the glass. So one can paint VERY quickly. Of course, the kit also has the one piece wings compared to FM splitting the black solar collectors from the gray frames. So it is like you are trading one problem for another. But, doing the TIE wings completely in black and then masking off the solar collector areas to spray on the gray achieves a nice look anyway, thanks to the black on the frames acting like a pre-shade (and the greeblie details really pop, like they have a wash on them almost).

 

[Keiko]

I like that landing station - ingenious way to use the kit stand but make it so much more.

 

[astroboy]

I like that landing station - ingenious way to use the kit stand but make it so much more.

I also realized how awesome MDF is for shaping. I can't wait to start sanding the desert down for a more scaled look

 

[astroboy]

couple more...with tie

 

[Damocles]

I like that landing station - ingenious way to use the kit stand but make it so much more.

I'll second that comment. Really cool way to use the stand & nice work.

 

[astroboy]

some close ups of the base before I get to the finished product.



not too sure about the terrain. I think I should have done it with durabond..