W.I.P. - YT-1300 Light Freighter

[Splashcoat]

To try something a little different, I wanted to see how it would look if the cargo handling mandibles were actually handling some cargo.
To that end, I fabricated a tank pod (Tibanna Gas? Fuel? Spice?) out of ping-pong balls and styrene:


Painted & weathered:

 

[Splashcoat]

The finished product.
The YT-1300, "The Kestrel":

 

[Keycube]

I think the cargo is a fantastic idea; I remember watching a program recently about how containers became standardized on ocean-going cargo ships. It only makes sense that the YT mandibles would be a standard size to accommodate certain cargo containers as well. Nicely done!!

 

[Wes R]

I like the cargo, seems so odd seeing it actually being used for the original purpose when they never even showed the mandibles being used once.

 

[Splashcoat]

I was originally going to go with something that resembled a standard shipping conatiner. The cardboard mock-up I made convinced me that the concept of cargo in the cargo area wasn't too bad:



However, in the end I decided that the ping-pong ball pod arrangement looked a bit more like something from A Galaxy Far, Far Away.

 

[Keycube]

Sorry, I hope I didn't give the impression that I thought your model would look better with OUR modern-day containers, I was just saying that it totally makes sense that cargo in general would be standardized to fit the freighters of the day. And thus, your idea seems both so ingeniously appropriate and outside-the-box (no pun intended)

 

[Splashcoat]

No apologies necessary, Keycube; I didn’t take your comment as a criticism at all. Originally my thought was to use a standardised container, probably because they’re seen everywhere and can be handled by a wide variety of equipment. I ended up going with a tank pod arrangement after thinking that external storage might be preferred for transporting something volatile or liquid. Thanks for the positve feedback.

Cheers.

 

[Master Tej]

That looks great! I really love the idea of making a different (gasp!) YT-1300 for a change, and the wings look awesome fro a color scheme!

- Master Tej -

 

[SigsegV]

I just picked up an MPC falcon in the junkyard and I was thinking of doing something much similar to this, so this thread helps a ton. I'll make a thread of my own once I have something to show for it.

 

[Splashcoat]

Go for it! This kit really lends itself to modification. There are several modelers on this forum who have done much more extensive conversion work than I have... check them out.

Star Wars YT-1000 Kestrel light freighter - January 2014 - Online Reader Gallery - FineScale Modeler - Finescale Modeler Community

 

[Archive&Future]

I just picked up an MPC falcon in the junkyard and I was thinking of doing something much similar to this, so this thread helps a ton. I'll make a thread of my own once I have something to show for it.

If you're gonna be doing an MPC then you must check out Jaitea's thread!

http://www.therpf.com/f11/another-mpc-millennium-falcon-modification-158075/

It's a goldmine of an MPC Falcon mod

Also you might want to see mine ( a link should be in my signature..?)

 

[SigsegV]

If you're gonna be doing an MPC then you must check out Jaitea's thread!

http://www.therpf.com/f11/another-mpc-millennium-falcon-modification-158075/

It's a goldmine of an MPC Falcon mod

Also you might want to see mine ( a link should be in my signature..?)

Yup, your and Jaitea's builds are what inspired me to pick one up in the first place.

 

[Archive&Future]

Yup, your and Jaitea's builds are what inspired me to pick one up in the first place.

Oh well now I feel like a bit of a fool
Good luck with your build! Can't wait to see it

 

[1 35 Soldier]

Looks great.
I just got my hands on a few kits and looking forward to doing something original myself.