Scratchbuilding USS Excelsior - 1:350 *updated photos* 15/04

Re: Scratchbuilding USS Excelsior - 1:350

Later this evening I will post up my progress on my test build, this is being made from my 1:350 dimesnions but at exactly half scale, its coming together very nicely and has made me believe once again that 1:350 is achievable!
 
Re: Scratchbuilding USS Excelsior - 1:350

17/01/12

Here are the first bunch of photos of my test model, this is going to be made up of sheet styrene, filler, cardboard, and basically anything else I can utilise, the photos show the construction of the lower saucer, I cut out the basic shape and then added a smaller diameter circle in the centre and also a ring around the outside to give it the trench feature, then I went about mocking up 10 'ribs' which I spaced about the centre of the main circle, over these ribs I then layed 'pizza slices' of 0.25mm styrene to get the basic profile of the dish, I learned that more support was needed and more separate slices, which sums up the purpose of this test model, for me it is going to hopefully highlight any areas that I will need to re-think so I dont just go wasting a load of my actual build materials. You can also see the basic shape of the primary hull and the neck section which is made up of 36 sections all hand cut and layered up, as of now I have lightly bondo'd over the saucer profile and will begin sanding tomorrow, then I will assemble the neck and begin work on marking out the primary hull profile. Questions, comments and suggestions are very welcome :thumbsup
 
Re: Scratchbuilding USS Excelsior - 1:350 **test model photos**

Looking forward to seeing the final model, especially if you end up doing it in 1:350!
 
Re: Scratchbuilding USS Excelsior - 1:350 **test model photos**

Thanks, I have now smoothed out the underside of the lower saucer, again I'm not looking for 100% on this test model but I want it to look half way decent when she goes together. I have started applying ribs to the secondary hull, the spaces in between will then be filled with expanding foam and then bondo. After that I forsee lots of sanding to get the curvature of the hull correct. I hope to post up photos later of the almost finished neck section.
 
Re: Scratchbuilding USS Excelsior - 1:350 **test model photos**

18/01/12

Here is the main neck section fitted together, it is made up of 50 sections of 0.5mm styrene, 25 large and 25 ever so slightly smaller on all internal dimensions. I am now constructing the 'surround' that surrounds the section of the neck where it joins the lower saucer, I will place temporary magnets in the neck and lower saucer so I can test fit them securely before gluing. The 2nd photo shows the lower saucer with a piece of .75mm styrene cut to the contour of the neck, I have marked out in pencil the area to be built into the surround, thanks
 
Re: Scratchbuilding USS Excelsior - 1:350 *test model photos* 18/01

Hi,

I know your whole thread is on Scratch building the Excelsior and it looks like your doing a great job.
I just wanted to let you know if your interested that I came across this on FeeBay

Lunar Models "Star Trek: USS Excelsior" resin vacuform garage model kit RARE!
BIG! 41 Inches in length
Item number: 200704094912

As of today it's got 5 days left.

You could use it for reference.
 
Re: Scratchbuilding USS Excelsior - 1:350 *test model photos* 18/01

Thank you, I appreciate the heads up but I am determined to do this fully from scratch, besides which, the supposed inaccuracies of the Lunar Models kit don't justify the high price tag but thats just my humble opinion.
 
Re: Scratchbuilding USS Excelsior - 1:350 *test model photos* 18/01

The Lunar kit is *CRAP*.I've acquired two of them over the last 10 years or so and they definately aren't worth the $$$.It was hard selling them too due to the amount of money it cost to purchase them orignally.
 
Re: Scratchbuilding USS Excelsior - 1:350 *test model photos* 18/01

Good job so far. Can't wait to see how this turns out.
 
Re: Scratchbuilding USS Excelsior - 1:350 *test model photos* 18/01

Thanks, I hope to have some more photos to show soon, I have foam filled the main hull and am working on the exterior filler layer to get the profile right, I am also building the bridge section.
 
Re: Scratchbuilding USS Excelsior - 1:350 *test model photos* 18/01

Always nice to see your progress, this is going great. Finally some proper attention to the Excelsior.

That's the first time Ive seen the Lunar Models unbuilt. Every time I read about it theres never good things said. Its an NX patterned before a whole lot of reference and WAS the only one ever made in approx scale to the AMT refit.

The NCC detailing better conveys the sense of scale IMO.
 
Re: Scratchbuilding USS Excelsior - 1:350 *test model photos* 18/01

I am very happy with how the main hull is shaping up, having never scratch built anything like this it was a relief that the expanding foam worked so well, its made me re-think how to go about the saucer which is the main thing that worries me, lots of funny angles and curves
 
Re: Scratchbuilding USS Excelsior - 1:350 *test model photos* 18/01

The impulse/bridge section has now been foam filled and a layer of filler applied over to smooth it out, I will have photos to show tomorrow.
 
Re: Scratchbuilding USS Excelsior - 1:350 *test model photos* 18/01

UPDATE 01/02

Here is a long overdue update, I have made good progress since the last, here you can see the main hull section where I added several ribs to layout the general profile, from there I added expanding foam in between which fills out the space in between, over that I then added a few thin layers of P38 (bondo) and sanded to get the desired shape. I have also nearly finished scratch building the Bridge/Impulse Engine section, this will be slotted into the upper profile of the saucer and blended in also using the expanding foam and P38, the last photos show all the respective parts thus far, thanks
 
Re: Scratchbuilding USS Excelsior - 1:350 *updated photos* 01/02

Excellent construction pics...... thanks for sharing
cool stuff!:thumbsup
 
Re: Scratchbuilding USS Excelsior - 1:350 *updated photos* 01/02

thanks, getting set to apply expanding foam to the upper saucer and then I'll smooth that out and work on the filler, I am also sketching out ideas for how to build the warp engines
 
Re: Scratchbuilding USS Excelsior - 1:350 *updated photos* 01/02

Whoa be careful with the expanding filler on styrene. The foam generates alot of heat and sometimes it can warp thin styrene. Been there and done it once. but your parts are small enough you should be ok.

Al
 
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