Shaw
Well-Known Member
This is a small project inspired by a model by one of my favorite artists. This is a low pressure build based on an idea I'd been kicking around for quite some time.
The design is a modified TOS era Starfleet scout. I've included sensor masts with sensor assembly pods which (when done) should feel a bit like the sensor pod on the tail fin of the space shuttle Columbia.
The model will be totally scratch... no third party or kit parts will be harmed in the making of this model. It is at 1/500th scale, the same scale as my Phase II Enterprise study model.
Here are some of the parts I've gotten together so far (with foam core board stand-ins for the dorsal and upper sensor mast)...
Anyways, nothing is glued together yet, everything is basically set (or taped) in place. Mostly I wanted to see how the mast idea would work and play with some ideas before starting in on the construction of the actual parts.
While the pod assembly was inspired by the space shuttle, the mast itself was inspired by one of the early Voyager concept designs. I liked the idea, but being a TOS era ship it won't be as busy as the Sternbach version.
I got together a few more parts and worked a bit on the fit of the primary hull pieces. Because the top piece isn't perfectly even on the inner surface, it is easier to use a series of spacers to close the gap between the upper and lower pieces. Oddly, it wasn't nearly as uneven as I was expecting it to be.
More pics...
I also need to build an internal structure to support the nacelle (which is bending a bit with the large hole for the channel being wide open). I'm still working out how to build that structure as it will support both the nacelle, the primary hull and dorsal and the display mounting point.
I glued the top and bottom halves of the primary hull together and started in on sanding out the seam. I haven't done any puttying yet, just hit it with a quick primer coat to see where I'm at.
And this is a sketch of the approximate configuration of the Columbia that I'm aiming for...
Even with the drawings missing a bunch of the details, I think it gives a good feel for how it'll look in the end.
This is meant mainly as a fun build that should move along pretty quickly. And unlike my 33 inch Enterprise replica, this should show some nice progress (I've made a lot of progress on the Enterprise, but not much that is very visually interesting at this point).
The design is a modified TOS era Starfleet scout. I've included sensor masts with sensor assembly pods which (when done) should feel a bit like the sensor pod on the tail fin of the space shuttle Columbia.
The model will be totally scratch... no third party or kit parts will be harmed in the making of this model. It is at 1/500th scale, the same scale as my Phase II Enterprise study model.
Here are some of the parts I've gotten together so far (with foam core board stand-ins for the dorsal and upper sensor mast)...
Anyways, nothing is glued together yet, everything is basically set (or taped) in place. Mostly I wanted to see how the mast idea would work and play with some ideas before starting in on the construction of the actual parts.
While the pod assembly was inspired by the space shuttle, the mast itself was inspired by one of the early Voyager concept designs. I liked the idea, but being a TOS era ship it won't be as busy as the Sternbach version.
I got together a few more parts and worked a bit on the fit of the primary hull pieces. Because the top piece isn't perfectly even on the inner surface, it is easier to use a series of spacers to close the gap between the upper and lower pieces. Oddly, it wasn't nearly as uneven as I was expecting it to be.
More pics...
I also need to build an internal structure to support the nacelle (which is bending a bit with the large hole for the channel being wide open). I'm still working out how to build that structure as it will support both the nacelle, the primary hull and dorsal and the display mounting point.
I glued the top and bottom halves of the primary hull together and started in on sanding out the seam. I haven't done any puttying yet, just hit it with a quick primer coat to see where I'm at.
And this is a sketch of the approximate configuration of the Columbia that I'm aiming for...
Even with the drawings missing a bunch of the details, I think it gives a good feel for how it'll look in the end.
This is meant mainly as a fun build that should move along pretty quickly. And unlike my 33 inch Enterprise replica, this should show some nice progress (I've made a lot of progress on the Enterprise, but not much that is very visually interesting at this point).