Spaceship from Concept Art -WIP Scratch Build- w/FINAL PHOTOS
- Thread starter Carlb
- Start date
Carlb
Sr Member
At the very top of the ship is the 2 level “Command Control Center”. The top level is a bit larger than the bottom.
Since the opposite sides have windows, am using separated LED strip mounted on the bottom, which will
reflect light into the white "ceiling”.
I added some small details to the "window walls" to create more visual interest. Bringing together the pieces...
Each floor was assembled with window strips, styrene diffusion, and white paint for bouncing the light around.
The top floor power feed was soldered to the bottom floor.
Testing fit and details...nothing glued. Finished for now.
We all make mistakes. An "almost" disaster occurred during a photo test. I discovered that the base support rod
(1/2" CPVC pipe) was going to be too close to the antenna array at the bottom. The rod was obliterating
the camera view to the point of unacceptable.
I had only one option, which was to re-cut a new hole in the bottom plate and move the array as far back as possible.
This required ripping out details, cutting a new hole, and then covering the old hole with new details.
In process of the move...
Set in temporarily, much better.
Till next time...work on the base support stand begins.
Since the opposite sides have windows, am using separated LED strip mounted on the bottom, which will
reflect light into the white "ceiling”.
I added some small details to the "window walls" to create more visual interest. Bringing together the pieces...
Each floor was assembled with window strips, styrene diffusion, and white paint for bouncing the light around.
The top floor power feed was soldered to the bottom floor.
Testing fit and details...nothing glued. Finished for now.
We all make mistakes. An "almost" disaster occurred during a photo test. I discovered that the base support rod
(1/2" CPVC pipe) was going to be too close to the antenna array at the bottom. The rod was obliterating
the camera view to the point of unacceptable.
I had only one option, which was to re-cut a new hole in the bottom plate and move the array as far back as possible.
This required ripping out details, cutting a new hole, and then covering the old hole with new details.
In process of the move...
Set in temporarily, much better.
Till next time...work on the base support stand begins.
stevielewis
Sr Member
Great catch on the antenna array and the mounting post. Your solution is much better. 
joberg
Legendary Member
^^Great catch on the antenna array and the mounting post. Your solution is much better.
What he said exactly
CosmicQuest
Sr Member
I was actually going to ask about the masking as well! It looks like you'll have your work cut out for you Carl! Beautiful work though. I love it !!
Carlb
Sr Member
Thanks for commenting everyone! It really helps the motivation to finish this project..
JamesM242 & CosmicQuest- Indeed, masking will be tricky. I've decided to stay with white as shown in the concept art,
so messing up any areas shouldn't be too noticeable. I'm certainly not a great painter.
stevielewis & joberg- The time it took to repair the issue was long, but actually less than I predicted. I thought I had checked
and re-checked the clearances for the support stand pipe. I'm still kicking myself that it happened at all!
Searun- Thank you for your kind words. I see your point about the War Hammer Barge.
I do enjoy browsing thru space concept art....
JamesM242 & CosmicQuest- Indeed, masking will be tricky. I've decided to stay with white as shown in the concept art,
so messing up any areas shouldn't be too noticeable. I'm certainly not a great painter.
stevielewis & joberg- The time it took to repair the issue was long, but actually less than I predicted. I thought I had checked
and re-checked the clearances for the support stand pipe. I'm still kicking myself that it happened at all!
Searun- Thank you for your kind words. I see your point about the War Hammer Barge.
I do enjoy browsing thru space concept art....
Carlb
Sr Member
I finished the assembly of midship...
I used a 7/16” (11mm) steel bar to be inserted INSIDE the CVPC core pipe. This will stiffen & support all three sections nicely.
I wrapped/glued some thin styrene around it for a bit more thickness.
To start the base support stand, I gathered together CPVC pipe, pipe coupler, and styrene sheet .04" (1mm) thick,
doubled to .08"(2mm) for braces.. I created channels in the pipe for extra gluing surface for the braces.
I had some 1" (25mm) thick maple hardwood around that I cut and chamfered to 14"X 10" (355mm X 254mm).
The smaller 3/4" (.75mm) thick piece (ROA furniture flake board) is cut to 6" X 6" (152mm X 152mm).
Underneath, I routed out a channel for the DC power jack & 2 conductor wire.
I skinned the top piece with .04" (1mm) styrene on all sides except the bottom.
I also skinned the bottom piece with .04" (1mm) styrene on all sides except the bottom.
Each brace was aligned and then glued in place.
Painted a primer coat of black, which is also the final color. I provided an additional jack on top of the support pipe
so the model can be removed for safe transport. It weighs nearly 4 lbs (1.8 kilograms).
Till next time...finished model photos.
I used a 7/16” (11mm) steel bar to be inserted INSIDE the CVPC core pipe. This will stiffen & support all three sections nicely.
I wrapped/glued some thin styrene around it for a bit more thickness.
To start the base support stand, I gathered together CPVC pipe, pipe coupler, and styrene sheet .04" (1mm) thick,
doubled to .08"(2mm) for braces.. I created channels in the pipe for extra gluing surface for the braces.
I had some 1" (25mm) thick maple hardwood around that I cut and chamfered to 14"X 10" (355mm X 254mm).
The smaller 3/4" (.75mm) thick piece (ROA furniture flake board) is cut to 6" X 6" (152mm X 152mm).
Underneath, I routed out a channel for the DC power jack & 2 conductor wire.
I skinned the top piece with .04" (1mm) styrene on all sides except the bottom.
I also skinned the bottom piece with .04" (1mm) styrene on all sides except the bottom.
Each brace was aligned and then glued in place.
Painted a primer coat of black, which is also the final color. I provided an additional jack on top of the support pipe
so the model can be removed for safe transport. It weighs nearly 4 lbs (1.8 kilograms).
Till next time...finished model photos.
CosmicQuest
Sr Member
Looking great Carl!! That's going to be a good-sized piece when done. Do you have your spot picked out to display it when all done?
stevielewis
Sr Member
Looking forward to seeing this build all done. The stand looks great!
Went back a couple of your posts to see your method of building the ships main body. Stacking bulkheads with bits of random balsa a spacers like a “house of cards.” The spacers act like staggered stringers. Hence, no interference to apply the unique window strips later wherever you want to. Then the styrene armor plates as needed for significant strength as stressed skin. Interesting method of skeleton frame construction.
Carlb
Sr Member
Thank you joberg, Cosmic, stevielewis and Searun, for your kind comments.
I'm working on the final photos presently, and my early tests are very encouraging.
Searun- Appreciate your recognition. My frame construction method probably stems from by background with architectural model subjects.
Note: I used basswood for those spacers.... harder, stronger and tighter grained than balsa.
I'm working on the final photos presently, and my early tests are very encouraging.
Searun- Appreciate your recognition. My frame construction method probably stems from by background with architectural model subjects.
Note: I used basswood for those spacers.... harder, stronger and tighter grained than balsa.
Carlb
Sr Member
I’m calling this done. Thanks to everyone who read and commented on this thread. I posted over 140 images, and received
11,000 views during the last 6 months. I appreciate the encouragement and support of RPF members.
Many challenges were here. I learned some new things-& tried a few techniques I'd never done before,
which is the best way to improve. There were many sessions of head scratching, and trashed "first & second attempts".
I followed some of the techniques offered by the excellent scratch builders on this forum. And the calculations
and problem solving involved, may keep the old bean from becoming atrophied.
If interested, questions on the techniques used to produce these final images will be answered…
Till next time...another ship?
11,000 views during the last 6 months. I appreciate the encouragement and support of RPF members.
Many challenges were here. I learned some new things-& tried a few techniques I'd never done before,
which is the best way to improve. There were many sessions of head scratching, and trashed "first & second attempts".
I followed some of the techniques offered by the excellent scratch builders on this forum. And the calculations
and problem solving involved, may keep the old bean from becoming atrophied.
If interested, questions on the techniques used to produce these final images will be answered…
Till next time...another ship?
CosmicQuest
Sr Member
Carl, you did great on this build! The way the lighting worked out is awesome!! Thank you for sharing your build along the way. I know I saved some of your images for my scratchbuilding folder. I'm also really impressed with how your engines turned out. Great images too what would you say was your biggest challenge on this build?
stevielewis
Sr Member
Fantastic photos of this completed build! It was fun reading along the way and the steps taken to bring this from idea to the end were enjoying to look at. Nice work on this project.
Carlb
Sr Member
Thank you very much Cosmic and Stevielewis. My late reply can be blamed on our loss of power during Hurricane Helene.
(Gratefully, no other harm done)
Thanks as well to others who clicked a favorable gesture.
Cosmic-
Appreciate the comment on the engines. They turned out even better than I expected.
I'd have to say the biggest challenge for me was maneuvering the size of this thing, and how difficult it was to bring the
final separate pieces together. Soldering, alignment and gluing. It was impossible to do alone- so I had to recruit a "helper".
Stevie-I enjoy sharing. I learned from others who were willing to share.
(Gratefully, no other harm done)
Thanks as well to others who clicked a favorable gesture.
Cosmic-
Appreciate the comment on the engines. They turned out even better than I expected.
I'd have to say the biggest challenge for me was maneuvering the size of this thing, and how difficult it was to bring the
final separate pieces together. Soldering, alignment and gluing. It was impossible to do alone- so I had to recruit a "helper".
Stevie-I enjoy sharing. I learned from others who were willing to share.
