Wanted: help with Snowspeeder blueprints

[cayman shen]

I would really, really like to embark on my first serious scratchbuild, but I'm so frustrated by trying to extrapolate information based on foreshortened images, etc etc. The math involved is really annoying the bejeezus out of me. I tried a few cardstock run throughs of the upper hull last night, and they were a bit wonky. Now, obviously a real scratchbuilder would keep tweaking and tweaking, and obviously I have to learn to do this if I really want to actually build, but I was wondering if for this first attempt I could stand on the shoulders of giants and use somebody's existing templates for the main hull. I'd not redistribute/share them, if that's a concern. My email is cayman_shen@hotmail.com if you want to throw me a hand.

 

[Guy Cowen]

I'm with you mate, I've been trying to start my first scratch for weeks now & I'm banging my head against a brick wall. I to want to do a snowspeeder but a Ralph McQuarrie concept speeder. I cant seem to get past the first hurdle even when I change the hurdle?????

 

[IEDBOUNTYHUNTER]

heres what you do, buy a cheapo snow speeder kit and scale it up. lay the parts out, trace them on some paper and increase the size on a copy machine. easy way to get started. just remember at what percent you scale things up to and multiple all the parts at that number. i think thats a easy way to get started. but thats me. sure there will be other ways.


Al

 

[Dyonisis]

Bounty hunter is right. You should try to scale it up from an existing model. If you'd rather have a plan,and scale it up to the two foot(I think)wide version - maybe this will help you along the way.

 

[cayman shen]

Thanks, that should be easier than trying to use photos. Now, is my logic correct here? I'm thinking of starting with the side panels. If I get the overall width from the front picture (which I can't get accurately from the top, as they're angled) and the length from the top picture, and measure the location of the angles, etc from the top, that should come out correct? Not trying to be helpless, just trying to confirm with somebody who has more experience before I waste a lot of time!

The side-top hull peice seems to be tapered and rounded on the edge. Do you just sand it until it looks right, or is there a "technique?"

 

[3d-builder]

:thumbsup I am pretty sure fine molds is doing one in a small scale,
I would suggest snatching one up when it is available.They do make very accurate kits, check starshipmodeler those guys are always up to speed
on the new releases!!!:thumbsup

I was just talking to a friend the other day about the speeder,
it's a bit of a geometric nightmare but you can do it. I used the old
kit from the 80's, and just paid attention to areas I knew were not right
on the kit.To keep it a little more accurate in theses areas I just used
reference to sharpen it up.:thumbsup

 

[3d-builder]

Yes starting with the sides is a good idea get them cut out,
then make the front assembly that holds the sides together.
Draw this out as one piece as your template scaled up from
your kit.

Now you can transfer the template over to plastic and cut it out.

Next draw the angles that "WILL" make up the correct shape for this
assembly on the "BACK SIDE" of the plastic.

When your done with that,take your eacto-knife an "score"
your reference lines on the back, BUT DON"T CUT THROUGH.
This is going to allow you to bend the right triangles forward
to the correct angle.When you have achieved the correct angles,
lay some thick super glue into the score lines you cut in the back
to lock it down.

Now you are ready to glue your sides to this asembly,
I would suggest taping this assembly down while adding the sides.
You have to check the height of things constantly with building this subject
everything has a correct angle.....there seems to be a angle for a angle!!:lol
This is why having a 3 dimensional reference for this subject is key, just keep watching what your doing against the kit.

Everything I said above will look pretty much like this when finished,
hope it helps ya a bit.

 

[3d-builder]

:$ Sorry I forgot I have my current orange version build here!!:$

Use it all you want if it will help along the way!!!:lol

http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=56102

 

[cayman shen]

Wow, that's a clever idea about just bending the front--thanks!

 

[3d-builder]

Wow, that's a clever idea about just bending the front--thanks!

Yes it leaves you 100% seamless because the cut is on the back side.:thumbsup

 

[Weezer]

Quick question for 3d-builder.

I have an ertl/mpc snow speeder kit kicking around. Is this kit okay to scale it's measurements up to a studio scale build... and can I use the same kit as a 3D reference?

 

[3d-builder]

Quick question for 3d-builder.

I have an ertl/mpc snow speeder kit kicking around. Is this kit okay to scale it's measurements up to a studio scale build... and can I use the same kit as a 3D reference?

Thats what I did, and then just check it against reference. Gort did a beautiful job on his speeder master, I would check his thread as reference
against the kit aas well!!:thumbsup

 

[3d-builder]

I am not sure how much the fine molds speeder is but I am
sure it's more accurate than the old offering. You would probably
have to do less cross checking with that kit.

 

[cayman shen]

I think it's like 30 bucks.

 

[Weezer]

I thought that was the "80's model kit" you were referring to in your earlier post.

I have a copy of "Star Wars Chronicles" and a copy of "From Star Wars to Indiana Jone". I'll try to get some references from those books.

Thanks for the advice.