Zvezda Avenger-Class ISD-II - WIP

[INVAR]

You know, when you look at high-res photos of the actual ILM 8 foot model:



- and see the amounts of detail in them, and you are looking at the Zvezda out of the box - you come away with the feeling that the model is horribly lacking in detail and inaccurate. This is a tad unfair because the base shape, angles and overall integrity of the Zvezda is a hell of a lot better than the old AMT/MPC kit we had since '80 as the only model available. I have seen incredible work done on this model by masters who did very little greeblie additions and only added lighting effects and paint.

Adding greeb's to approximate the detail has been both an arduous effort - but also one that has earned some satisfaction when I look at the dry-fitted assemblies:

As a base to work from in order to add your own special touches - I think the Zvezda kit shines like no other. Now, that said - I cannot compare working on this to a Randy Cooper - because I have never worked in resin and glancing from photo references it does appear that the amount of detail in those 38" kits are much more prevalent than the Zvezda, though in some cases - the detail does not match the ILM Avenger model at all. So - while I am not a rivet counter - I am hung up on approximating this look ever since I saw the ILM promo shot of it back in 1980, and I think I have come close.

 

[Attirex]

I'm with you--even 40+ years later, that promo shot still grips my imagination something fierce, just like it did when I was a kid. Need a print of that.

Anyway, I was also initially disappointed with the Zvezda kit and got hung up on it not looking like much the filming model but....I finally took it back out of the stash and built it (no lighting or mods aside from replacement towers and vanes from shapeways--didn't have the fortitude/skill to do what you're doing) and bought one of those acrylic stands from eBay. And, you know, it's grown on me a lot. No, it's not overly detailed and isn't completely accurate, but step back, squint one eye and stand on your head, and it looks like a SD. Makes a fine addition to my home office.

Sadly, no mass-produced kit will live up to the studio original (which was built by an entire highly-skilled team of wizards with a movie budget). I don't think even Bandai could make a PG SD with the level of ridiculous detail that the big studio model has. Just not practical and would be the price of a small car. Ah, well.

 

[INVAR]

Onto the Bridge Face.

When looking at the Actual ILM model - although Zvezda came close - it was light on or missing a few areas I have always noted in the face.



First and foremost to me is that the 6 box 'widows' did not have the depth that the model shows in every reference I saw. So I decided to make them deeper.



Then of course I went crazy and tried to approximate and add all the tiny greeblies that the reference showcased - even though the face, like the rest of the kit - is not a totally accurate base on which to build in spots, and I did not want to get into complete cut outs of areas in order to remake some of the tank and battleship parts shown on the 8 footer. The other major thing that I personally wanted to add - was the bridge itself - which the actual model does not have on it at all. I did craft one and placed it where it is shown on Incredible Cross Sections and the Rebels cartoon.



The 2 sides back and bottom of the bridge tower will have need of additional greeblies, but not as extensive as these. The neck below the face tower is another story. Will make my next post when I finish the two sides, top and bottom. The back neck with the garbage chute will be an extensive work, and I decided against a Shapeways upgrade for the neck detail and opted to do it myself so I can use the money for more LEDs and better primer.

 

[edge10]

Beautiful work as always.

 

[gt350pony66]

by now we all know what to expect on the rare occasion Invar posts some new pics for us, so one would think you'd be prepared? Not even, every time I see new shots it's a HO-LY $#!+ moment

 

[Analyzer]

Definitely looks more like the studio model. Also those added details near the bridge help define the "SF" better

 

[gedmac66]

You’ve always said that the SD was your “Grail” project , and this build thread certainly shows and proves that sentiment beautifully .

 

[Toadmeister]

You’ve always said that the SD was your “Grail” project , and this build thread certainly shows and proves that sentiment beautifully .

 

[INVAR]

View attachment 978619

I can sympathize, as I long thought to wait for the Grail to come to me by way of Bandai Japan some time ago.

Turns out it was vodka, NOT saki that I needed to be acquainted with.

 

[Guns Akimbo]

^^^LOL.

First and foremost to me is that the 6 box 'widows' did not have the depth that the model shows in every reference I saw. So I decided to make them deeper.

Then of course I went crazy and tried to approximate and add all the tiny greeblies that the reference showcased - even though the face, like the rest of the kit - is not a totally accurate base on which to build in spots, and I did not want to get into complete cut outs of areas in order to remake some of the tank and battleship parts shown on the 8 footer. The other major thing that I personally wanted to add - was the bridge itself - which the actual model does not have on it at all. I did craft one and placed it where it is shown on Incredible Cross Sections and the Rebels cartoon.

I always stand in awe of your work! Are you planning to mix and match the Avenger bridge with the rest of your Devastator build?

 

[robn1]

Devastator build

Devastator build? Did I miss a thread somewhere?

 

[INVAR]

Are you planning to mix and match the Avenger bridge with the rest of your Devastator build?

No. I never intended to make a Devastator. This was and is an ISD II Avenger-Class Star Destroyer, with a few minor differences in greeblie tweaks such as the bridge addition.

I was musing possibly taking the Revell toy/model and cutting up the array to make a Devastator sometime in the future, but for now, all my time and effort is in the Zvezda ISD-II build, with some time off to work on other Bandai kits on and off (such as the B-wing/A-wing, 1/48 moving X-wing and 1/144 Falcon).

 

[INVAR]

Soooo.... I had erroneously thought that with the Bridge face greeblied and done - that the only real challenge left to detail was going to be the back neck and the very top with the array.

WRONG. Turns out that while the Zvezda's Starboard side of the conning tower panel is pretty close to the ILM model on that side:



Unfortunately they mirrored that part for both sides and when looking at the ILM reference - the PORT side was a far more complicated and different story:



So I began the arduous task of greebling up the hunk of plastic to better approximate the ILM reference.

The first notable portion is the recessed groove near the top, which had to be created from scratch.



Then I went berserk as I am wont to do and carved up enough tiny styrene bits to build a retirement community for ants.



Now onto the top portion for the domes and array. I should buy stock in head magnifiers and Evergreen scale model parts.

 

[Guns Akimbo]

There you go again!

I wonder if you share my concern that, after all of the fine greeblie details, it may be lost beneath the first coat of primer no matter how thoroughly it's mixed. That's my greatest fear.

 

[gt350pony66]

Soooo.... I had erroneously thought that with the Bridge face greeblied and done - that the only real challenge left to detail was going to be the back neck and the very top with the array.

WRONG. Turns out that while the Zvezda's Starboard side of the conning tower panel is pretty close to the ILM model on that side:

View attachment 979688

Unfortunately they mirrored that part for both sides and when looking at the ILM reference - the PORT side was a far more complicated and different story:

View attachment 979689

So I began the arduous task of greebling up the hunk of plastic to better approximate the ILM reference.

The first notable portion is the recessed groove near the top, which had to be created from scratch.

View attachment 979690

Then I went berserk as I am wont to do and carved up enough tiny styrene bits to build a retirement community for ants.

View attachment 979691 View attachment 979692 View attachment 979694

Now onto the top portion for the domes and array. I should buy stock in head magnifiers and Evergreen scale model parts.

Speechless...

 

[Analyzer]

nice crisp and clean detailing despite the small size

 

[INVAR]

I wonder if you share my concern that, after all of the fine greeblie details, it may be lost beneath the first coat of primer no matter how thoroughly it's mixed. That's my greatest fear.

Well thanks for scaring the crap out of me on a Monday morning! Yes, I am imminently concerned about the paint phase of this build. One one hand, I want the primer to cover up some of the tiny scratches and minuscule gaps in some areas, but on the other I do not want the detail globbed up. Priming/main coat is always my most agonizing phase of a build as I have had quite a few disasters in the past with a few Galactica Moebius kits.

I've been researching primers and am thinking along the lines of using either the Tamiya fine surface primer, Citadel's Chaos Black or Corax White or trying something totally new, and using my airbrush with an acrylic primer such as Stynlrez Gray rather than using a rattle can. I saw a video with one fella using the Stynlrez and he swears by it - and given my love of the Bandai kits - I may definitely switch to using Stynlrez on those builds.

Even on this one - I am thinking maybe I might want to use the Stylrez - mainly because I have read enough warnings from those lighting kits that primer has a tendency to cause fiber to go brittle and break. Most builds have the lighting and fiber work done before the priming - and after reading about the solvents in the primer causing fiber damage, I was going to prime the model before inserting the fiber in the 10,000 holes I think I drilled. If I use the acrylic primer - then I would imagine that danger is eliminated and I can move right from the actual build to fiber work before priming.

I am open to all suggestions from the Masters here.

 

[Analyzer]

I have never had any issues regarding fibers using Army Painter primer and Tamiya Paints thinned with Tamiya Thinner

Army Painter primers are comparable to the GW primers, but tend to be a bit cheaper

Although I do keep meaning to give the Stynylrez primer for a bit more control

 

[gt350pony66]

If I might...my hobby shop guy suggested the Citadel stuff to me way back when and I go through lots of it, the Chaos and the Corax. When properly applied it goes on like air brush and dries just as fast. I've lost none of the super fine detail on any of my Bandai stuff. The black of course as a primer and the Corax as the top. I get the gray hue I like for space vehicles and can always adjust it with light applications of acrylics via the air brush...and the clean up is a snap...water. Sure it's like 17 bucks a can but it goes a long way and the results are top shelf for rattle cans, which is great for a simpleton like myself

 

[Guns Akimbo]

I'm going to go with the Stylrez. Picked up a three-pack from Amazon (white, gray and black). Odds are that the exterior will be shot with Stylrez black primer and then a couple of thin coats of light gray enamel for external panel details. I've used Tamiya white primer in the past and that stuff is awesome for something out of a spray can. I also considered Mr. Surfacer but decided on the Stylrez after reading rave reviews.The interior will just get shot with plain flat black enamel paint for light blocking purposes.

I've also read that with a properly prepared (i.e. cleaned) surface, you may not even need primer and can get away with a light mist coat of paint itself.

INVAR, if you're concerned about primer affecting the FO, perhaps you can test it on a couple of scrap pieces of fiber first?