X-Wing Cast from Original Parts
- Thread starter DaveG
- Start date
The mounting points for the laser cannons on the wing tips were all in pretty bad shape, big bubbles in the castings.
I milled the casting down creating a flat pad.
Then new standoff were made from EMA T channel as had been used on the original patterns.
The the new support epoxied in place on the wing tip.
I milled the casting down creating a flat pad.
Then new standoff were made from EMA T channel as had been used on the original patterns.
The the new support epoxied in place on the wing tip.
ProfKSergeev
Sr Member
You're making magic out of a super rough casting. Can't wait to see more.
Back to work on the X-Wing! I have set a goal to get my current Star Wars builds done before Episode 7 opens since i'm sure there's going to be new things from that movie that I'm going to want to build (a studio scale model of the new X-Wing perhaps?) 
Putting together the laser canons.
Can anyone identify this piece for me? Or better yet, does anyone have a casting(s) they would be willing to share or sell? Thanks!
Putting together the laser canons.
Can anyone identify this piece for me? Or better yet, does anyone have a casting(s) they would be willing to share or sell? Thanks!
Sorry I can't help with spares but that part is from the BanDai 1/15 Hummel.
Ouch! That's an expensive kit!
Or is anyone can provide me with an accurate diameter of the part I can machine a reproduction and cast it.
For that matter, I'm thinking I may have used too large a diameter tube for the half moon pieces. I used 7/8" EMA/Plastruct tubing but on closer analysis of photos of the hero model am now thinking it might need to be smaller? Does anyone know the correct size?
For that matter, I'm thinking I may have used too large a diameter tube for the half moon pieces. I used 7/8" EMA/Plastruct tubing but on closer analysis of photos of the hero model am now thinking it might need to be smaller? Does anyone know the correct size?
Back to work on the X-Wing! I have set a goal to get my current Star Wars builds done before Episode 7 opens since i'm sure there's going to be new things from that movie that I'm going to want to build (a studio scale model of the new X-Wing perhaps?)
Well unfortunately there won't be any studio scale models from Episode 7, all the ships are digital. :angry
Just because there aren't any models in the movie doesn't mean I can't make a "studio scale" model from the movie. If you know what I mean. :lol
I've made two new sets of the half moon pieces for the tips of the laser canons from two smaller sizes of EMA tubing to see which looks the most like the shooting model. The white piece is from 5/8" OD tubing, the grey from 3/4". One of our members here at the RPF, Talkierg, has very generously offered to send me four of the wheel parts from the Hummel kit (and quite some distance too!). Thanks Don! Once the parts get here I will finalize which size of half-moons I will use.
Vacformedhero
Sr Member
To my eye they look too thick, I'll check my references to be sure, is there no brass tubing you could use ?
Yes, they look a little too thick to my eye too. But based on a scaled overlay drawing (assuming the tubing sizes are 7/32 and 1/32) the half ring works out to 5/8" diameter with a wall approximately 1/16" thick. The model makers would have in all likelihood been using EMA, now Plastruct, tubing for these parts and that is a standard size. You can see in the second photo one of the rings has been split and reglued, so it wasn't a brass metal tubing. when I get the Hummel wheels I will check the scale against those as well.
I've been a bit concerned about the lack of adequate gluing area for attaching the laser canons. Especially with the added mass of all the brass tubing. It's obvious when you look at the photos of the shooting model from the archives that the laser canons broke off many times and were reglued.
So I've made a new set of the Tees that attach to casting to the wings. the first set were made from 1/4" Plastruct Tee, as was used on the shooting model. The new parts were milled from 1/4 x 1/2 Plastruct I channel so they would be taller, and then I milled slots in the castings for the support to be epoxied into. The end result looks almost exactly as the shooting model was done but will be much stronger.
Here are the four new supports with one of the older shorter ones:
And the milled slots in the castings:
So I've made a new set of the Tees that attach to casting to the wings. the first set were made from 1/4" Plastruct Tee, as was used on the shooting model. The new parts were milled from 1/4 x 1/2 Plastruct I channel so they would be taller, and then I milled slots in the castings for the support to be epoxied into. The end result looks almost exactly as the shooting model was done but will be much stronger.
Here are the four new supports with one of the older shorter ones:
And the milled slots in the castings:
