scratchbuilt TOS Enterprise..anyone done this?

[feek61]

Well, I would encourage saberMaN to do a lot of research first - both in how the original was made, and also some basic woodworking techniques. Feek61 could do the job based on the TOS Shuttlecraft he's done, but scratchbuilding a TOS Enterprise in a large size is not easy. And from saberMaN's question, I get the impression that he is just starting out in this hobby. And starting with something too difficult for one's skills (despite the advice and talent from this place) is a good recipe for getting frustrated, throwing the model against the wall, and giving up prematurely.

The secondary hull of the original was assembled much like a wooden ship model - plank on frame. Then it was sanded smooth and details added.

Gene

PS - Keep going saberMaN.....

You right on the 11 foot miniature. I went back and looked at the secondary hull information. I was confusing the two models. The 3 foot miniature was sugar pine turned on a lathe but it says the 11 foot miniature:

"The secondary hull was comprised of thick, segmented sections of sugar pine one to two inches thick . . .

As far as your scratch build; stay with it. Trail & error sucks but it's a hell of a good teacher. I know, it took me a couple of years to finish my SS shuttlecraft! :lol

 

[RGPFX]

would foamcore board work? will the putty eat it ?

I have done it with foamcore myself. It will work and if it does eat the foam slightly it is not enough to show through the outside layer of bondo. It doesn't hurt to experiment on scraps first, though.

RGP

 

[RGPFX]

thanks man

well right now im going through some trial and error stuff. first off i bought some foam blocks it called cellfoam 88 or something like that.

http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z309/saberman_album/?action=view&current=faom.jpg

i'm going to sand the disks down hopefully getting some sort of general shape i need for the dome shape then will coat it in plaster or glue and if it works attach it to my saucer outline

like you said i am a newbie but im sticking to it :cool

what do you guys think?

Some of those foams are easy to use, but some can be brutal to work with if you're sanding. You should wear eye protection, gloves and a dustmask, and work someplace you don't mind getting REALLLLLY messy.

 

[saberMaN]

well ive made a little progress tonight still got a long way though this foam rocks!! i started to sand down the foam and its starting to look like it should. heres some pics

http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z309/saberman_album/?action=view&current=sccfft.jpg

http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z309/saberman_album/?action=view&current=2man.jpg

ive glued up the discs for the bottom dome of the saucer i will sand them both some more tomorrow...stay tuned!

 

[saberMaN]

small update

on the top saucer i decided to use skeletal ribs as a guide then plaster bandage em then sand it down

http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z309/saberman_album/?action=view&current=ribs-1.jpg&newest=1

as for the bottom i sanded my foam down to the general shape. this will be plastered and sanded

http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z309/saberman_album/?action=view&current=bottom.jpg&newest=1

next up on the list is making the outer saucer thicker then angling it do the correct shape

stay tuned!

 

[vaderman1701]

I think you are going in the right direction with the skeletal approach. I think you should do the same for the lower saucer. Also, you should consider picking up some Foam-It

http://www.smooth-on.com/index.php?cPath=10_1122

This stuff is easy to sand and shape. It expands so you don't have to use too much. Once smooth to the correct shape, you can then take 2 part Bondo body filler and make a nice hard shell.

Scott