Stop Motion Studio ESB AT-ST!

[ralphee]

Isel, the foot part is from the Lotus MKIII buddy, as for the rear deck, thats another of Allans killer finds, so ill let Allan get back to you on that when he can.
Rest of the basecoat should go on today, from there ill start laying down the weather job...yikes...but im thinking a good subtle shading and rust washes..the ATAT's on screen show quite a bit of rust weather around the butt and legs...so im going with the same kinda pattern!

lee

 

[Kuhn Global]

GOOD LORD LEE!!! eekeekeek

DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE!!! coolcool

love:thumbsup

 

[ralphee]

Ive been waiting for a DUUUUUDDDEE Kurt lol, thank you sir, BTW, good to know your back too....get well big guy!

bests......lee

 

[CutThumb]

That is simply one of the most stunningly accurate builds of a studio model that I have ever seen. Faultless craftmanship. Wonderfully built and clean cut . Magnificent. There is nothing else I can say or add.

 

[ralphee]

Whoa, go easy fella, youll have me thinking im a fairly decent builder :lol

Thanks for the comps though, gives me a buzz you guys like her so far, its why i do what i do!

bests.....lee

 

[imaginager]

Isel, the foot part is from the Lotus MKIII buddy, as for the rear deck, thats another of Allans killer finds, so ill let Allan get back to you on that when he can.

Isel, if you mean the toe shield....that's scratch - we've never found it. I still think it's a fuse from some warbird, but nada yet.

As for the other part, the rear deck... Well, think of the most unlikely part you can imagine and there ya go. I'd been thinking this whole time that the Morser wasn't pulling its weight...

Now, I'm not saying this is THE part. There is no way to know for certain. Unless someone has photoref of the deck before the prop was apparently disassembled (then abandoned) in prep for RoTJ. That said, however, there are too many coincidences about the profile, shape, and fit of this part (when properly trimmed) over the top of the 312T engine and valves for it to be wrong. In my opinion.

 

[ralphee]

Thanks for posting that up Allan, and going to the trouble of taking pics to show this part off!
Its an awesome achievement when just two guys can work together, find some amazing info, and share it with the board for all to see.

lee

 

[EchoLeader]

This part discovery along with the other one that Allan found on the Slave that was the backside of a sprue tree number make me wonder sometimes if Allan is even human.

Simply amazing! What a talent. :cheers

 

[ralphee]

Of course he's not human Ro'....he's a computer... runs about 10,000 calculations a second and able to process Studio Scale information like he was making coffee :lol

lee

 

[ralphee]

OK in the interest trying to keep this thread clean and about building, i began to weather up the ATST leg!

Ive layed down what i think is a good representation, of ILM's very "orange" rust in some of the recessed areas.

From here, ive layed over a darker grey, which was then rubbed back with wire wool, after that, a dusting of flat black, again scuffed back to achieve a very worn look!

Im trying, to follow, what seems to be a very simple tech used by ILM in weathering this prop...she doesnt seem to have anything fancy done to her, so ive tried to replicate that approach.

What is tricky, is trying to replicate, details, taken in black and white lol, as ive already stated, there arent many color shots on this one!

Sooooo opinions...not on me....just the model!

bests......lee

 

[Bantha Crossing]

Wow Lee! That is really looking KILLER!!!!:love I’m dying to start mine, but life’s every day busy things that need to be done, like working a job and a fiancee, keeping me too busy to start!:cry Out of curiosity, how much time are you able to devote out of your day for your "KILLER :loveMASTER PIECE", on average? :confused

 

[ralphee]

Ha, cheers buddy, but i dont get much time TBH, normal working week, i get a Saturday and maybe a Sunday afternoon if ive been a good boy, i do have a Family too...and they do miss me when in tied to the workbench...and likewise

Ive had the luxury of taking a week off work, so its given me some drive and time to crack on!

lee

 

[eagle1]

Lee, let me say DUDE!!, you just oooze talent my friend!. Yours and Alans incredible nack of finding kit parts is just, well a little bit freaky lol. Awesome , most awesome work on this model, you must be very chuffed with the results.

 

[ralphee]

Well cheers bud, got a bit more done on the paintwork, TBH, im kinda bummed right now lol, i think tha painting mojo has done a runner, for some reason, i just cant get a good flow going, and im not sure at this point...to repaint lol.

Could do with some advice from some painting guru's really, as im not sure if i should mist the weathering, with the basecoat, so try blend stuff in better....sound wise, just a fine mist once done with the weather job?

Anyhoo....the pics that are making me cringe lol.

lee

Could be that fact ive been looking at this thing in black and white for the past year...maybe im just not used to seeing it in color lol?

 

[moffeaton]

I think it looks fab so far - perhaps darken the leg streaking? Hard to say since our pics are black and white, lol...

 

[swpropmaker]

Looks perfect to me! Yeah its hard to paint from Black and White photos and the screen grabs are useless. I think you have done this prop as well as it could be done... its amazing what can be done with the right reference and a steady hand! I want to say Congrats to you and all involveled in this project, with the kit part sharing, progress picture upgrades and overall it's a fun one to follow and i'm sure I speak for anyone interested in this craft. :thumbsup

This level of accuracy has driven us to higher levels of detail for all the craft were workign on!

Steve

 

[ralphee]

Jason, a mist of basecoat seems to have blended things in a little better, darkening the streaking would have just added to the stark contrast shift.

Ive toned down the rust too, the flash really picked that out harshly, so thats now a little more pleasing to the eye!

Slowly getting there....once im happy with the complete weather pattern, i need to add some of the overspray "noise" and final scratch and blemish marks.

Then its just adding the parts to the rear deck, the head armor panels, and i think.....its around done lol.

Thanks Steve, yeah, im trying my best lol, just to odd to see this model in color.....man i wish i could paint it in greyscale lol...as mad as it sounds, ive become accustomed to looking at it that way!

lee

 

[swfan]

Looks great Lee. I think your being overly critical of your own work. The streaking looks great. Pictures really take out the nuances of the paint job. Beautiful.

...and thanks to both Allan and yourself for sharing your parts finds.

Isel

 

[Bookman]

I agree with everyone else. You have done a fantastic job on a model that had at best a cameo in the film. That's what makes this build stand out.

I'm just in awe of how this has turned out!

Thanks for putting all your hard work up for us to see!

-David

 

[Guy Cowen]

Mate you know what I'd do, I'd stay up all night thinking about it, then get really stressed. Change everything then get wound up that I didn't stick to the plan......sulk & beat myself up. Bud she looks ace but I know how you feel & If I was honest I think you've only tapped what YOU can do with this beauty. She does look stunning but if your not happy with the paint job then you should do what's best for you soul. You have spent so much time money & effort on this masterpiece that you should be as happy with the painting as you can. Go with your heart mate. Your Mojo has gone nowhere, the standard of the craftmanship you have done is so high that it also deserves the best paint work you can do. Never doubt yourself mate, just take a sit back & look at what you have created, then pop a stamp on it & give it to me for Xmas :love