Studio Scale Vader X-1 TIE Advanced Progress
- Thread starter jvasilatos
- Start date
jvasilatos
Sr Member
Okay. Here is a picture of the sheet styrene plating I chose to do instead of continuing with the scribing. It consists of a base plate with the individual cut pieces glued on top from a template pattern I could use to make sure both sides were even. I have NO idea how people doing the Star Destroyers scribe or plate without going nuts:
I have to say, as nice as the work is on the frame that Steve did for his SS TIE (of which I have an extra I was planning on using for this Advanced), it would probably serve the model better if I could fabricate a brand new one from scratch just a little smaller in diameter to "cheat" the smaller size of the cockpit ball and make it all look closer to scale. The one that came with it was kind of flat, Steve's is great in it's angles and detail... but something mixing the two inbetween would be ideal. I don't know how to scratchbuild it to look as nice as Steve's or Chris's to try and bring it "looking" to proper scale to the eye. I wonder what the ILM model guys made the cockpit frames from, I don't think they were found parts and I will have to search up and down to find the right sized circle rings if I am even going to attempt it otherwise I will stick with Steve's and just live with it.
Here is how I am replacing the surface detail on the back, from the original body sanded down to the sheet plating I am doing to keep the lines straight instead of scribing:
Now I have 3 more to make... then I will add the extra raised panel plates on top and match them to pics of the studio model. Then I have to finish the tops and bottoms of the arms connecting to the wings. Almost there....
This is becoming a complete overhaul since I was getting obsessed with bringing it closer to studio detail. As I said it's a great out of the box kit but customizing it has been fun to get it closer to pics of the MOM model.
JV
I have to say, as nice as the work is on the frame that Steve did for his SS TIE (of which I have an extra I was planning on using for this Advanced), it would probably serve the model better if I could fabricate a brand new one from scratch just a little smaller in diameter to "cheat" the smaller size of the cockpit ball and make it all look closer to scale. The one that came with it was kind of flat, Steve's is great in it's angles and detail... but something mixing the two inbetween would be ideal. I don't know how to scratchbuild it to look as nice as Steve's or Chris's to try and bring it "looking" to proper scale to the eye. I wonder what the ILM model guys made the cockpit frames from, I don't think they were found parts and I will have to search up and down to find the right sized circle rings if I am even going to attempt it otherwise I will stick with Steve's and just live with it.
Here is how I am replacing the surface detail on the back, from the original body sanded down to the sheet plating I am doing to keep the lines straight instead of scribing:
Now I have 3 more to make... then I will add the extra raised panel plates on top and match them to pics of the studio model. Then I have to finish the tops and bottoms of the arms connecting to the wings. Almost there....
This is becoming a complete overhaul since I was getting obsessed with bringing it closer to studio detail. As I said it's a great out of the box kit but customizing it has been fun to get it closer to pics of the MOM model.
JV
Kuhn Global
Sr Member
GREAT JOB Jerry..
Bet Chris is smiling ear to ear with your build of his kit.
Super. Just super.
Bet Chris is smiling ear to ear with your build of his kit.
Super. Just super.
jvasilatos
Sr Member
I think I may have found a cockpit frame solution... the Hasbro Vader Gunner Station toy has a frame that might be the right scale that I would need to accurize but at least the base might be the perfect size...
I will score one on E-Bay and hope I'm right re: size.
JV
I will score one on E-Bay and hope I'm right re: size.
JV
rmschneider104
Sr Member
Looking good. Thanks for sharing the progress pics.
Once again great updates Jerry. I just recieved my X-1 kit today and your online adventures on building this kit has been a great help.
The number one issue I have found with the kit so far is the one that you already mentioned about the included cockpit frame. I agree it will have to be replaced.
Btw the link you posted of the hasbro cockpit frame might not work 'as is' because the center octagon looks way too large.
I think to solve the frame problem is to just start scratching a new one by using the outside ring of the original kit part as a guide for size. You can cut a new outside ring from thicker styrene with several passes from a compass fitted with a scriber.
The inner framings could be done by cutting out a new center octagon from styrene and using structural T-stock for the radiating frame sections.
This is probably the easiest way to do this especially if you don't have access to speedier high tech modeling gadgetry...like most of us here.
The number one issue I have found with the kit so far is the one that you already mentioned about the included cockpit frame. I agree it will have to be replaced.
Btw the link you posted of the hasbro cockpit frame might not work 'as is' because the center octagon looks way too large.
I think to solve the frame problem is to just start scratching a new one by using the outside ring of the original kit part as a guide for size. You can cut a new outside ring from thicker styrene with several passes from a compass fitted with a scriber.
The inner framings could be done by cutting out a new center octagon from styrene and using structural T-stock for the radiating frame sections.
This is probably the easiest way to do this especially if you don't have access to speedier high tech modeling gadgetry...like most of us here.
jvasilatos
Sr Member
The original cockpit ring frame is the right diameter, but it is not the right thickness... what do you mean about using a compass fitted to a scriber? It should also have an angled quality like the this frame from Steve's standard TIE:
I think the TIE Advanced at the MOM was refitted with a TIE Interceptor cockpit frame, it is not like the frames on the rest of the ANH TIEs... something just doesn't look "right" because of the flatter quality instead of the jutted out quality like how Steve did his frame, also it looks like there were some other hybrid standard TIES in the MOM exhibit with Interceptor frames which could have muddied the research waters.
JV
I think the TIE Advanced at the MOM was refitted with a TIE Interceptor cockpit frame, it is not like the frames on the rest of the ANH TIEs... something just doesn't look "right" because of the flatter quality instead of the jutted out quality like how Steve did his frame, also it looks like there were some other hybrid standard TIES in the MOM exhibit with Interceptor frames which could have muddied the research waters.
JV
Kuhn Global
Sr Member
The Hasbro Toy kills me. :lol
I can't wait to see your next progress pics Jerry.
I can't wait to see your next progress pics Jerry.
jvasilatos
Sr Member
A light update on the accurizing, since the cockpit frame size was driving me nuts.
Well the Hasbro gunner station frame is out...
And the spare SN one I had was too big...
Ahh.... just right (it better be, I kitbashed and changed the one that came with the kit to match the SN one with a smaller diameter.)
Here they are next to each other. The one I kitbashed that fits in the middle is 2 3/4" wide, while the SN one is 3 1/4" wide. That should illustrate the difference in scale between the Vader TIE and the Standard TIE Steve N puts out. The Vader is slightly smaller, but when displayed next to the standard TIE the size difference will not be noticeable because of the large scale of both fighters.
And here is a picture showing the accurately sized, kitbashed cockpit frame in place and comparing it with the studio model.
And finally, the rear panels covers I have been cutting and laying over the back part of the hull with the process I shared earlier:
The bottom is done too, now I just have to finish the arms and add the small squares and other shapes to the surface and it will be close to painting and finishing.
JV
Well the Hasbro gunner station frame is out...
And the spare SN one I had was too big...
Ahh.... just right (it better be, I kitbashed and changed the one that came with the kit to match the SN one with a smaller diameter.)
Here they are next to each other. The one I kitbashed that fits in the middle is 2 3/4" wide, while the SN one is 3 1/4" wide. That should illustrate the difference in scale between the Vader TIE and the Standard TIE Steve N puts out. The Vader is slightly smaller, but when displayed next to the standard TIE the size difference will not be noticeable because of the large scale of both fighters.
And here is a picture showing the accurately sized, kitbashed cockpit frame in place and comparing it with the studio model.
And finally, the rear panels covers I have been cutting and laying over the back part of the hull with the process I shared earlier:
The bottom is done too, now I just have to finish the arms and add the small squares and other shapes to the surface and it will be close to painting and finishing.
JV
