Studio Half Scale TOS Enterprise Scratch build

[SteveNeill]

West Systems Epoxy. There are others but I like the way it cures nice an firm and easy to sand after 24 hours. I'll be using 2 oz. fine weave glass cloth. The actual model will be made from the same. The engineering hull and neck will be made using matt instead of cloth and cloth for the saucer and nacelles to keep those sections light.

Steve

 

[Shizman]

West Systems Epoxy. There are others but I like the way it cures nice an firm and easy to sand after 24 hours. I'll be using 2 oz. fine weave glass cloth. The actual model will be made from the same. The engineering hull and neck will be made using matt instead of cloth and cloth for the saucer and nacelles to keep those sections light.

Steve

OK so for your masters, you're not just giving them a coat of the epoxy and then sanding that but you're actually using the cloth as well? Trying to visualize what you're doing.

 

[GeorgeC]

I'm not familiar glassing...

Now, is this process done with all-plastics/transparent plastics, or is there actual silica/glass-glass as we think of its in window frames in this process?

Seriously... I have no idea what this is.

 

[SteveNeill]

The saucer, neck, secondary hull and Pylons are all glassed with fiber glass cloth and a couple of coat of West Systems epoxy. If you go back through the thread you will see the process more than once. One picture is worth...

http://www.therpf.com/f11/studio-half-scale-tos-enterprise-scratch-build-98400/index12.html

post 298

Steve

 

[SteveNeill]

Also: http://www.therpf.com/f11/studio-half-scale-tos-enterprise-scratch-build-98400/index2.html

Post 37

 

[Bondo Fett]

Is mat glass stronger than the weave? Is that why you'll use it for the neck?

 

[SteveNeill]

I don't if it's stronger but it will be built up thicker for more strength to support the saucer and nacelles.

Steve

 

[SteveNeill]

OK. Tomorrow I should be glassing. It's supposed to be 74. Good enough. After the main body of the nacelles are finished or the next couple of days it's on to the small parts and it's time to start thinking about molds.

Steve

 

[ZOMBIEREPELLENT]

It's so weird seeing you post and not have any attachments. Guess I'll just go to your blog to get my fix.

 

[SteveNeill]

Well things are pretty boring but here's some attachments from today to fix you. At this point I'm preening up the foam nacelles as much as I can before I glass tomorrow. Once they are glassed I can finish off that process and add the other details.

Doing the same thing to the other parts that finish off the nacelles.

Here's some pictures and as always more tomorrow.

 

[Tiberius Kirk]

Beautiful!

 

[SteveNeill]

Thanks Kirk!

Well more thrills today. Glass the darn Nacelles. At least this is the last of the glassing on these masters. Tomorrow I can sand the glass smooth, glaze it with finishing glaze and primer.

Worked on the bussard collector one more time. Drilled and whole dead center in it, carded it up with finishing glaze and gave it a spin on the drill press to make the walls absolutely flat and the beveled angles true. It's got a bit of spot putty on it now that will get sanded tomorrow so I can primer it.

We are looking at seeing the nacelles all one color and on the E in a couple of days now. This leaves the small details on the main nacelle bodies and a few other small parts. Then I need to lathe that deflector. This is the fun part. We are closing.

More tomorrow.

Steve

Laying the fiber glass cloth one. A very light coat of 3M77 helps position it making it easier to epoxy coat.

All glassed and ready to brush on epoxy. I use the alcohol to thin it a bit.

Epoxy on and setting up fast.

Bussard collector trued up.

 

[scifiguy67]

my first time on this site.........YOU ARE THE MAN STEVE!!!!!!

 

[SteveNeill]

Thanks!

 

[ZOMBIEREPELLENT]

I wish my fiberglassing looked that nice, I have to use the mat and tear it into a thousand small pieces. I really should get a chopper, but the start up costs for it are too much.

 

[SteveNeill]

Use glass cloth!

Steve

 

[SteveNeill]

Building up new arm muscles today. One on the left sanded down, one on the right not. Using a new glazing putty from 3M. Good stuff. One the Rt nacelle now. Spotting later, then primer.

Steve

 

[KUROK]

Sweet! What is the new putty called? Do you like it?

 

[zorg]

did you consider using plastic pipe at all for the engine tubes?

thats what i would have done but i'm really lazy!

i don't envy your task sanding those smooth.

nice to see your regular updates.

-z

 

[SteveNeill]

There's nothing wrong with using a tube if you could find the right taper and the right OD. No it's pretty thankless until all is said and done. My arms are killing me but the worse is behind me now. Tomorrow I can find tune it. A spot here and a spot there.

Bondo see the picture. I like it. It's a bit thinner than Evercoat but very nice material.

Steve