Revell 1/2700 ISD... reference pictures?

[starks]

Hey everyone,
I wanted a bit more of a deep dive model again, I haven't done anything that got too involved since my At-At years ago and have a Revell 1/2700 Star Destroyer I think will be good to dive into, as I'm just about finalised with my Razor Crest build.

If anyone can help, I have not been able to find too many good reference pictures of the ESB studio model online and would really appreciate if anyone has images they can share.

Also off the bat as corrections, I understand the side walls need raising by about 2mm? And the Bridge needs to be tilted forward a few degrees?
I also realise it is somewhat under detailed. What else should I be aware of?

Cheers,
Josh

 

[modelerdave]

I can't help with the reference pics, but pretty much everything you need to know about modifying the model is in Moska's build thread.

Revell 1/2700 Imperial Star Destroyer

Hello friends. I always wanted to make a Star Destroyer model, but the only kit on the market was the AMT one and... it's just too bad. The possibility of doing it from scratch didn't work for me either because the amount of work required scared me a lot. Fortunately -finally!!- the Bandai and...

www.therpf.com

 

[edge10]

I don't care for the changes to the site, but there are many here:

Star Destroyer AVENGER Studio Model - Modelers Miniatures & Magic

When Star Wars became such a success, and the opening of the film talked about so much, ILM and George Lucas decided to take the menacing Star Destroyer to a new level with AVENGER in the sequel The Empire Strikes Back! Here are some great photos gathered by different people from around the...

modelermagic.com

This is good reference for the 3 footer:

Reference: Star Destroyer - Forbidden Plastic

Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination" at the Museum of Science, Boston, October 19, 2005 –April 30, 2006These images are free for all model makers and fans to use as a reference source. Images may be reposted, but please leave the photo credit int...

www.behance.net

 

[starks]

I can't help with the reference pics, but pretty much everything you need to know about modifying the model is in Moska's build thread.

Revell 1/2700 Imperial Star Destroyer

Hello friends. I always wanted to make a Star Destroyer model, but the only kit on the market was the AMT one and... it's just too bad. The possibility of doing it from scratch didn't work for me either because the amount of work required scared me a lot. Fortunately -finally!!- the Bandai and...

www.therpf.com

Thank you! I will be sure to study through his thread.

I don't care for the changes to the site, but there are many here:

Star Destroyer AVENGER Studio Model - Modelers Miniatures & Magic

When Star Wars became such a success, and the opening of the film talked about so much, ILM and George Lucas decided to take the menacing Star Destroyer to a new level with AVENGER in the sequel The Empire Strikes Back! Here are some great photos gathered by different people from around the...

modelermagic.com

This is good reference for the 3 footer:

Reference: Star Destroyer - Forbidden Plastic

Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination" at the Museum of Science, Boston, October 19, 2005 –April 30, 2006These images are free for all model makers and fans to use as a reference source. Images may be reposted, but please leave the photo credit int...

www.behance.net

That helps, thank you.
I hadn't found either of those references and am somewhat surprised how under detailed the 3 ft model is comparatively. One thing you quickly learn is how incorrect the details are on the Revell kit.

Cheers,
Josh

 

[vomvom12]

That helps, thank you.
I hadn't found either of those references and am somewhat surprised how under detailed the 3 ft model is comparatively. One thing you quickly learn is how incorrect the details are on the Revell kit.

So if you're referring to the ESB ISD, then we're talking about a Class 2 Imperial Star Destroyer. And yes, the Class 2 SD is much more detailed in terms of visible greeblies, and what's also striking is the paint job. The Class 2 has significantly more panels, contrasting in shades of gray, and significantly more panel lines. Forget the Revell panel lines, because they actually have nothing to do with the panel lines of the original model. You can find some good reference images if you scroll through Modelermagic for "Star Wars Identities" and then to the ISD images. I would avoid washes and weathering completely and instead concentrate on sensible panel lines, which are best replicated with a 0.3 mm mechanical pencil with medium-hard (HB) leads. What's noticeable on the Revell model is the severely neglected engine bell area. You can get some help here by kitbashing 1:700 scale battleships, for example, and scratch building (using different diameters of styrene rods). Overall, the dimensions of the Revell ISD are a bit flattened. This applies to the side walls of the upper and lower halves, and also to the superstructure. Otherwise, the Revell model is actually a good basis for a Class 2 ISD. You do have to do some work, of course. I've found, however, that it's virtually impossible to build a really super accurate replica of some SW models for the simple reason that there are too many tiny details. This applies to the Class 2 ISD and also to the Death Star 2. You can get reasonably close, but that's it. The only reference images I can offer that you may not already have are from the book: Star Wars Chronicles Episodes IV, V, and VI Vehicles.. rpf don't let me upload them because the files are too large. i uploaded them to mediafire but rpf don't let me post the link...so i am sorry

 

[starks]

So if you're referring to the ESB ISD, then we're talking about a Class 2 Imperial Star Destroyer. And yes, the Class 2 SD is much more detailed in terms of visible greeblies, and what's also striking is the paint job. The Class 2 has significantly more panels, contrasting in shades of gray, and significantly more panel lines. Forget the Revell panel lines, because they actually have nothing to do with the panel lines of the original model. You can find some good reference images if you scroll through Modelermagic for "Star Wars Identities" and then to the ISD images. I would avoid washes and weathering completely and instead concentrate on sensible panel lines, which are best replicated with a 0.3 mm mechanical pencil with medium-hard (HB) leads. What's noticeable on the Revell model is the severely neglected engine bell area. You can get some help here by kitbashing 1:700 scale battleships, for example, and scratch building (using different diameters of styrene rods). Overall, the dimensions of the Revell ISD are a bit flattened. This applies to the side walls of the upper and lower halves, and also to the superstructure. Otherwise, the Revell model is actually a good basis for a Class 2 ISD. You do have to do some work, of course. I've found, however, that it's virtually impossible to build a really super accurate replica of some SW models for the simple reason that there are too many tiny details. This applies to the Class 2 ISD and also to the Death Star 2. You can get reasonably close, but that's it. The only reference images I can offer that you may not already have are from the book: Star Wars Chronicles Episodes IV, V, and VI Vehicles.. rpf don't let me upload them because the files are too large. i uploaded them to mediafire but rpf don't let me post the link...so i am sorry

Fantastic information here, thank you!
I'm no rivet counter so I dont expect to make or even attempt something perfectly accurate but I do expect the overall silhouette to be fairly on the money and I want some level of comparable detail, as you mentioned, detail in the engine bell area where there simply is none. To me that is not acceptable even if I don't have it perfect I expect something there and some sort of effort put in.
I'll do those searches as you suggest and see if at any point I can come across images from the Chronicles book, would be great to own a copy for sure.

One thing regarding kit bashing, I wish I was better at identifying parts, simple ones I can like a transmission or tank turret, panzer engine etc but some of the less run of the mill pieces I have no idea. So even to purchase and kit bash battleships, I'm unsure on what would be most effective for purchase for kit bashing. And battleship designs vary a lot.

One way or another I look forward to this build! It will be fun.

Cheers,
Josh

 

[Analyzer]

this site has some great info

STAR WARS: Bridge Towers

II is the bridge for the ESB "Avenger"

 

[Analyzer]

and then some odds and ends

It is funny. I have been on a WWII ship building binge and I am spotting a ton of battleship and aircraft carrier parts

A lot of life boats, gun turrets, gun barrels, carrier elevator. deck side walks and gun battery platforms etc...

 

[starks]

Thank you for that info! Those pictures will be invaluable moving forward.

Looking at the sidewalls, do you think the model doesn't have them quite recessed enough? Or perhaps lighting and casting shadows on the studio model plays a roll in the sidewalls looking deeper than they actually are.

Also I would be interested to know, the different classes of Star Destroyers while obviously canon now, was it an original concept of the films? Or were the differences on the screen used models originally simply due to the limits of kitbashing and some changes are acceptable such as the differences in the 5' and 32" Falcons?

Cheers,
Josh

 

[Analyzer]

Also I would be interested to know, the different classes of Star Destroyers while obviously canon now, was it an original concept of the films? Or were the differences on the screen used models originally simply due to the limits of kitbashing and some changes are acceptable such as the differences in the 5' and 32" Falcons?

I suspect they went with what looked good and later retconned in the concept of "class" vs intentionally creating different classes from the start

The "Devastator" class in ANH was never finished on top. Not sure if it was not finished because there were no shots planned for it, or if it was the opposite and they ran out of time to finish it and scrapped any shots showing the top.

Either way, I think when it came time to do ESB, they knew they needed more close up shots as well as shots showing the top.
As a result they built a much more detailed one that would look good close up from any angle

Thus the "Avenger" class was created

Likewise when it came time for Jedi, I think they needed something that would match the close up shot needed for the scene where the shuttle flies past the bridge tower

Looking at the sidewalls, do you think the model doesn't have them quite recessed enough? Or perhaps lighting and casting shadows on the studio model plays a roll in the sidewalls looking deeper than they actually are.

It has been a while since I researched the model, but I do remember the side walls needing to have more "depth" added

As mentioned earlier, the Mooska thread is a great resource as well as this one by INVAR

Zvezda Avenger-Class ISD-II - WIP

Part 1: Greeblies, Greeblies... Hangar Bays and Engine Section Now that the Master Builders like Robiwon, Scarecrow Joe and others have shown us novices the incredible efforts they have made to their Zvezda builds (and I truly stand in awestruck wonder looking at the threads with all the WIPs)...

www.therpf.com

 

[starks]

It has been a while since I researched the model, but I do remember the side walls needing to have more "depth" added

As mentioned earlier, the Mooska thread is a great resource as well as this one by INVAR

Zvezda Avenger-Class ISD-II - WIP

Part 1: Greeblies, Greeblies... Hangar Bays and Engine Section Now that the Master Builders like Robiwon, Scarecrow Joe and others have shown us novices the incredible efforts they have made to their Zvezda builds (and I truly stand in awestruck wonder looking at the threads with all the WIPs)...

www.therpf.com

Looking at these threads I'm not 100% sure how these guys went about adding height to their sidewalls but appears to have added a 2mm strip then greeblied onto that.
I need to work out how I best want to approach this.

Cheers,
Josh