(Yet another) Moebius Galactica

[Darph Bobo]

I got this for Christmas last year, and since I got another this year I figured I should get the show on the road.

I've seen some great out of the box builds, but I've also seen some outstanding builds where just a few basic nips and tucks were done that brought the kit to a whole new level! Needless to say, I decided to do some nips and tucks!

First, the head! I used a mini chisel to dig out in between the ribs at the base of the armor plates to give the illusion that the plates are sitting on top of the ribs

I did the same for the plates on the back. Here's a good before and after shot:

...even did the plates on the underside

Since I plan to light this, I needed a plug. I wanted one that could handle more than one circuit and be able to hold the model securely. I've used multi pin DIN plugs with success in the past, so that's what I used here:

just need to make the stand hole bigger, enter the step bit!

(great buy, Canadian Tire had a set of three on sale for $14, I've seen the individual bits sell for fifty a piece!)

HOLY HOLE BATMAN!

more to come...

 

[Dart]

Looks good so far. I dig the chisel technique. Definitely makes a difference. Are you just doing a straight build (with lighting) or are you planning any other exterior details?

 

[Griffworks]

Impressive work thus far! Appreciate you sharing this.

I've got Moebius Galactica kit in the box w/some PE, decals and a set of resin replacement guns from Timeslip Creations. I've also got the nearly finished TC resin kit that's the same size/dimensions. When I get around to building the Moebius, I'll definitely be referencing your build thread for how to do the armor plates as you've done them.

 

[Darph Bobo]

I've added little bits of styrene to the hull to bulk it out some, as well as engraved ramdom panel lines:

bits and bites-

miserable, tedious randomness:

 

[Griffworks]

Tedious, but the results of this labor will pay off in the end!

Lookin' good! :thumbsup

 

[Darph Bobo]

Thanks Griff!

Here's a shot of the pod garages in place. I've drilled out the six portlights for the red lighting.

You may also notice the shims between the garage pieces, I wanted to make sure the structure was solid.

While on the subject of the garages, I picked up both Paragraphix sets for the bucket, here's a before and after of the garage brass in place.

before:

After:

primed:

glued in place then puttied to smooth out the transitions.

 

[clancampbell]

Sweet, very good work and a fantasic in depth build!

Rich

 

[Darph Bobo]

I started setting up bulkheads for the LEDs, I'm using 3mm LEDs for the engines, set up in series of two

The secondary engines will be on a separate switch, as they aren't on all the time in the show.

This is my first fiber optic (FO) build since my first try with the AMT Enterprise D back in the 90's. I was underwhelmed with that project and since then have looked at other lighting solutions. After seeing the great builds on here and SSM where FO was the lighting of choice, I decided to give it another try.

Digging up some leftover bits from that AMT kit, I used the dodgy mini drill to drill out my windows in the "brick" area under the gator head. The strands were then epoxied in place. Good thing I didn't go too overboard, it was got pretty crowded in there!

Once that was done it was time for a light test:

from the front:

up next: The flight pods!

 

[Griffworks]

Sweet! I need to see about setting some funds aside for the PGMS PE garage inserts. That really sets that area off much better than a "blank" area.

 

[Darph Bobo]

The Paragraphix sets are really nice, I'm quite happy with the results!

However, I did decide to not use the flight pod ribs in favor of adding styrene ribs to the inside of the pods, it looked closer to what's on screen IMHO... not that you'll see much of it, but anyway

Then it was a matter of rigging up the lights.

These are natural white SMT LEDs, they cast a yellowish white light that looks closer to "normal" white when compared to pure white LEDS

in place,

I'm getting better at soldering these little buggers, it only took me a half hour or so to do four sets for the flight pods (four lights per pod)

lights in place, paint applied. I was going to use a blueish gray for the armor plates, but I'm really digging the way these two colors compliment each other!

Oh and those LEDs are frigging tiny!

 

[Destructor1701]

No kidding!

Did you buy those online? I'd love to get my mitts on em for when I build up my Bucket!

This build is going beautifully! I can't wait for more!

 

[Darph Bobo]

Yep, picked up the LEDs on ebay. Took a bit of hunting to find what I wanted in the quantity I needed, but in the end I picked up 40 (20 white, 20 red) for about eight bucks, with free shipping to boot!

In the show the light from the pods definitely has a warm white/ yellowish glow, here's some light test shots:

I like this shot, you can see the ribs on the inside of the pod. The flight deck is super glossy right now, but a shot of dullcote will fix that!

Just a couple light leaks to deal with!

(kinda looks like the flight pod is on fire!)

 

[Griffworks]

"Fire in the port Flight Pod! All Port DC Teams one through eleven to Causeway A!"

Awe inspiring work, in a pretty short period of time, too. I wanna be like you when I grow up! Seriously! :cool

I'm curious to know if you plan to add any RTF ships to your collection? It would be nice to know that others are as obsessed w/a display arrangement. To know I'm not alone in my madness.

Ultimately, I'd like to work a display area like cylon75 has done, only not quite so extravagant. I was thinking of doing a black background on their current shelves to display them against, but no stars. I don't know that I can get any stars to look right, so don't even want to try. Maybe use some cardboard so its semi-portable?

Regardless, fantastic work so far! :thumbsup

 

[Darph Bobo]

I have to admit, I've been working on this thing for the past three months. My wife is working in another province so I have nothing but time on my hands!

While it would be cool to have a full RTF display, I just don't have room for that, but I do intend to make up a "Battlestar Strike Group" as time goes on, with a pair of Jupiter Class ships (Galactica and a quasi- Columbia) , a Mercury (Moebius' Pegasus) and a Valkyrie (Probably TimeSlip's)

After that I will look at what other combat vessels I can find in 1:4105. I've seen a ship called the Cygnus, I think Ravenstar makes it

By the way Griff, I've been looking at your builds for near a decade now, it's more like I want to brow up to build like you! Your work is awesome!

 

[Darph Bobo]

Now that my Cylon Raider is out of the way, it's time to get the Galactica put to bed! I took advantage of a day off to finish the wiring. kinda messy, but it all works

you can see up front my canister to direct light to the "brick". Once the body halves are glued together, the head can be slipped in place.

My "custom" distribution panel!

After some trial an error for fitting the top of the body in place, I got the main hull glued together and puttied up the seam in the flight pod garages with some Aves.

I think it's time for a light test!

Kinda grainy, but you can see the brick is nicely lit!

This shot (kinda looks like the Adama Maneuver) really shows off the garage lighting!

Now there is some detail painting to do, glue on the engine nozzles and guns!

 

[Darph Bobo]

Actually I think I may make a "how to" video since this is definitely going to need a custom base!

 

[Darph Bobo]

So I was working on the engine lighting this evening, trying to figure out the best way to cut the brightness of the LEDs. If I was a wee bit more clever, I would have made a diffuser plate to tone down the brightness and hot spots before closing the engines up!. My work around was to loosely pack some cling wrap into the engines, and voila! hot spots gone!

Here's my engine test;

main engines,

Flank speed engines,

All together now!

 

[Captain April]

Where did you get the mini chisels?

 

[morrris99]

Nice, I like the contrast of the blue-white LED's and the warm yellow white. On the aircraft carrier Enterprise at night we had low pressure sodium lights in the hangar which give off a yellow glow, and flourescent for the rest of the ship lighting. Your lighting scheme looks awesome so far.

 

[Darph Bobo]

Captain April,
The mini chisel is from Mission models, I picked it up at a little hole in the wall hobby shop in upstate NY, but I'm pretty sure you can find (or order) it just about anywhere!

Morris99,

You see a good variety of different lighting on Canadian warships too, but for this I was just trying to replicate what you see on screen. I was lucky to discover that they make 0805 LEDs in a natural white light!