Y-Wing 30”, scratch build, steel and copper (WIP)

[Jason Hurst]

Hello everyone,
I finally managed to rebuild my art studio after years of being without and I’m happy to report that I’m back and doing what I enjoy.
A little background about me is that I have a passion for metal sculpture specifically hard edged modeling. My previous work is a 30” millennium falcon, a studio scale slave I and several other ships and craft from the Star Wars universe.
My plan this time to to share the build of a 30” long Y-wing. The reason for this particular length is because it makes the engine pods exactly 3” diameter so sourcing thin wall stainless for that part is easy. Also this size falls right in the sweet spot of my materials and current skill set where I can capture the most detail from the original.

The goals for this build are to closely capture the spirit of the screen used models and be a blend of the different versions, not one specificity.
Secondly I will fully light this sculpture and install a full soundboard. I might make this all battery powered so that it can be mounted wireless and only charged every so often.
This sculpture will be painted ( I usually get a lot of flack for covering the metal) I plan on keeping the paint very thin and weathered to reveal the metal underneath.
I plan on an acrylic glass windows with a full cockpit interior.
I started a week ago with planning and basic shapes. I sourced materials yesterday.
The processed involved will be paper templates then stepping up to cardboard and finally steel. Then mig welding, tig welding, possibly some soldering and brazing of small details. Polishing with scotchbright wheel and finally paint, patina and weathering.

I have started with the main fuselage and cockpit at the moment




View attachment 1845009
This is just a rough start and I am refining shapes. More to come.
Thanks for watching and any help/ feedback is appreciated

 

[Jason Hurst]

Today’s update
Basically material selection time
And yes I’m making two 30” y- wings and two 20” versions as well

 

[joberg]

Wow...I've seen your wonderful work before, gracing this forum, and it's always cool looking
I'm sure this one will be as cool as the others

 

[Jason Hurst]

Wow...I've seen your wonderful work before, gracing this forum, and it's always cool looking
I'm sure this one will be as cool as the others

Thank you very much. I’ve taken several years off so there is so much rust to knock off my work that it’s taking me some time to get back into the swing. I am very happy to be creating again. Thanks for the warm welcome

 

[Jason Hurst]

Hello everyone,
Today was a good one in the studio. I managed to rough out the second canopy for the 30” and I decided that I want a full interior . I decided that the best way to address the interior is to make a channel that the interior sits in. This metal channel will support the outer skin and the front gun assembly. I have not decided if the canopy will be removable or not. I’m thinking of using fiber optics to give the cockpit some life. Here sre 2 videos discussing my progress and plans.

 

[jake88]

Looks beautiful so far!

 

[Jason Hurst]

Thank you. It looks rough in the early stages. Things will get better the further I go

 

[Jason Hurst]

Welp I got only 4 hours in the studio in the past 3 days. I managed to get the cockpits cutout and shaped up for the two 20 incl y-wing sculptures

 

[joberg]

Looking very good already...love the way you're going about it

 

[Jason Hurst]

Thank you. I got some more accomplished today on the 30” version.

I’m trying to make sure I don’t paint myself in a corner with the assembly. I’ve drilling wiring holes in all body panels and have run welding wire through the holes to fish wires for lights and sound. The canopy is one area that I’m leaving alone for the moment, my reference photos show it flowing into the main fuselage like it’s all one part. Almost like the pilot would enter from the back. I will need to rewatch the movie to see if there is a scene with a Y-wing canopy open.