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1/72 TIE Defender buildup

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  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
1/72 TIE Defender buildup
Posted by MrSquid2U on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 11:39 PM

Got ahold of the new TIE Defender from Sovereign Repicas and this is one sweet lil kit. It's packed with details and while 'everything' is nice the wings are particularly impressive for the crisp details of the panel material, guns with nice lil wiring conduits and mostly, for how thin they are to have been rendered in resin.

This thing will practically build itself so that will leave me to focus on adding some "goodies" of my own.Dinner [dinner]

       

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 11:46 PM

Started "attacking" the resin with some of my favorite "weapons", a quick bore drill bit and then the ever trusty Dremel!

Hollowed out the ball until it is fairly uniform with less than an 1/8" thickness left to make room for some goodies.

Heres a shot showing that I went in from the backside and kept grinding until the "open" area of the cockpit was wafer thin and eventually popped out.

And so it goes.

 

       

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Thursday, August 20, 2009 9:27 PM

To ready it for further goodies I drilled through each engine/wing pylon and then bored out the hub itself-

       

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Friday, August 21, 2009 2:55 PM

Here's a shot of the new rebuilt wingtip gun with FO run through the pylon and hub to a remote light source just for this test.

       

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Saturday, August 22, 2009 1:41 PM

Making six new gun barels isn't hard but if you're like me you have your good days and your not so good days for putting things on straight. If you ever struggle to get a band wrapped around a barrel, just cut a sleeve to but your styrene up against as you lay/wrap it into place.

       

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Sunday, August 23, 2009 1:55 AM

With the gun barrels made went ahead and made the fiber optic pathways for each wing. Some are shown with wire used as 'place holders' till everything is fitted together.

Then went ahead and made more room within the "ball" since I'll be fitting a full cockpit.

       

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Sunday, August 23, 2009 8:58 PM

Using those lil photoetched "razor saws" really didn't do much damage or remove much material when I cut apart the wings. A lil bit of Milliput and some sanding smoothed over the "wounds" pretty well. Then I masked the 'wing panels' to save their fine pattern/details and shot em with some "thick primer". A lil block sanding, detail attention , maybe a repeat, and they'll be back to fine form I hope.Whistling [:-^]


       

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 10:04 PM

It was time for a really quick and easy effort at lighting up the three "thruster engines" upon the rear plate.

First drilled out the resin openings and then came in from behind with a larger bit until nearly reaching the opening. This gave enough room for some slightly modified 'micro-surface mount LEDS' which are merely pressed into the new receptacles. A lil bit of tempy wire and power and we have a light test.


And, that's a "regular" LED (the green one) along with a penny to guage the size of these parts.

       

 

  • Member since
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  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 8:24 PM
Getting back to the rebuilt wingtip guns I thought they could stand a lil more 'dressing up'. So first I inserted a smaller barrel tip within the existing ones and also whittled up lil 'muzzle bands' to place upon them. There's the everpresent "Gag Shop Novelty Penny" to mislead you into thinking this stuff might be small.Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

And Lincoln is wearing a Monacle and preparing to shoot a monkey out of a tree with his 'blowgun' equipped with poison tipped darts??

       

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 11:08 PM

Rounded out the arsenal by adding the chin guns in similar fashion from aluminum and brass.

       

 

  • Member since
    August 2009
Posted by darkwolf29a on Thursday, August 27, 2009 11:16 AM
Very nice build, man. :) Being a Star Wars Fan, I can't wait to see htis one finished. :)
  • Member since
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  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Friday, August 28, 2009 1:24 AM

 darkwolf29a wrote:
Very nice build, man. :) Being a Star Wars Fan, I can't wait to see htis one finished. :)

 

And it's been a very fun build on a subject that holds alot of possibilities for "making it your own".

Thanks for the kind words.Smile [:)]

       

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Saturday, August 29, 2009 6:39 PM
Looking forward to the time of assembling this kit I realized that my "cockpit/ball" is sitting in two pieces? Hmmm, that won't do? I like to leave things "serviceable" when electronics are involved so I first made sure that the adjoining edges of each half sphere were uniform to less than .015" and then made up a lip on one and a receiving 'groove/trench' on the other, out of .015 styrene.



       

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Saturday, August 29, 2009 10:53 PM

A couple of things presented themselves after maikng my two halves whole.

One is the natural tendency of something pliable to resist maintaining it's shape when holes are cut into either end, like the ball does have. The other was how to mount my two pieces onto the engine pylon while still allowing easy disassembly?

 One answer, was to fabricate a "collar" that fit into the sphere halves and then the pylon mount. Did so with alumium and styrene (again!) and now it not only holds it's shape but will go in, or come apart as needed.


       

 

  • Member since
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  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Sunday, August 30, 2009 4:21 AM

 With the "ball" mounting sorted out it was time to address what goes on the other side of the "pylon hub", call it the backplate if you will, with those three thrusters.
 Since I have an unfounded phobia about buttoning up electronics and not being able to reach them later I wanted something to simplify getting to those three LEDs I'd already sunk into place. Putting the common ground electrodes arranged to the 'outside' just happened to match up near the diameter of where it needs to mount to the pylon. So, using an old trick that I like, I simply put two "slip fit" pieces of brass tubing, cut with lil clearance grooves that when snapped together trap those electrodes. The two sandwhiched rings are now held in place by the electrodes themselves (which will only take one common ground wire soldered to the brass ring) and this in turn slips within another aluminum tube ring that is within the pylon hub. In this way wiring is simplified, mounting is accomplished and access is assured if needed.



       

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Sunday, August 30, 2009 7:17 AM

The only thing/s glued to stage this shot was the wing/s to pylon/s. The FiberOptic from each was routed down through the tube to an eventual stand for the controls. But otherwise all the components were 'pressed' into place as described earlier. But I couldn't resist putting this into place to get an idea of what it will look like and IMHO this one sharp, sleek and menacing lil ship!



 I can't wait to move forward to see it get into paint!

       

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Monday, August 31, 2009 1:33 AM

Decided to go ahead and give it a working hatch as well as the lil windows within it.

       

 

  • Member since
    March 2006
Posted by TD4438 on Monday, August 31, 2009 1:52 AM
Personally,I can't wait to see this one finished.Are you gonna include it in the Star Wars group build?

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Monday, August 31, 2009 2:19 AM

 TD4438 wrote:
Personally,I can't wait to see this one finished.Are you gonna include it in the Star Wars group build?

 

Um, I guess I wasn't aware of a GB for SW?

That might be fun though so thanks I'll look into it.Thumbs Up [tup]

       

 

  • Member since
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Posted by TD4438 on Monday, August 31, 2009 2:28 AM

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Monday, August 31, 2009 3:20 PM
 TD4438 wrote:

Here ya go.

/forums/1054473/ShowPost.aspx

 

 

I posted on that thread asking if I could join this late?

Thanks again!

       

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Monday, August 31, 2009 6:47 PM

Worked on the top hatch that I had freed from the "ball" to fabricate a 'lip and seal' which should look better and also help to 'light block' since the interior will be lit. Fashioned everything up with styrene strip and some half round then worked it down to the final sizes I wanted. In the end it sits just about no more "above" the surface than originally but should be nicer than just plopping the cut apart pieces back together with a hinge.

       

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 8:46 PM
Before moving ahead I went back to readress the wing to pylon mounts. When I drilled them out to run the FO I lost alot of what was meant to be the contact area for glueing them together and now since I do have FO inside the last thing I want is a wing to snap off later on and take out the rather delicate Fiber.
 So I fashioned up collar and sleeves which are each well affixed in place and then these will be much sturdier together than what I had.

       

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Thursday, September 3, 2009 6:31 PM

"Hollowed out" the solid clear cast canaopy and it looks like with a coat of Future it should work out.

       

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Friday, September 4, 2009 6:35 AM
Jumping back to the hatch started to rough up a hinge mechanism. Chose square brass stock with requisite holes drilled in (78 drill bit) which was bent and filed down to shape and thickness to mimic some molded in details of the kit which were removed. Went with all brass components because while styrene definately works and is easier it can also fail at some point down the road and just cause you to regret the choice!;)


       

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Monday, September 7, 2009 11:59 PM

Wanted a base that would pull styling cues from the subject so chose an octagon (like the cockpit glass) with panels that have framing like the wings and then atop a lil spoked hub like a pylon to wing mount.

And left two panels to be hinged which will open to expose the actual controls.

       

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 4:39 AM
And this will be the area for control switches to the eight guns, cockpit lighting, thruster engines and also the base will house a light shone up towards the model itself.

       

 

  • Member since
    August 2009
Posted by darkwolf29a on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 10:39 AM

Looking very good, Squid-man!!!!

 I must admit, I'm a bit envious, at the moment. The base itself looks fantastic. I can only imagine what the overall look will be, once you're done. And...I can only wish to reach half of your skills, sir.

  • Member since
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  • From: The House of Blues Clues
Posted by Griffworks on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 12:56 PM

Lookin' awesome!  Love how that base looks, as well, Don.

 

The greatest measure of a man is his children and what kind of people they are.

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Ga.
Posted by MrSquid2U on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 1:39 PM

DarkWolf,

 You've flattered me but don't ever limit yourself. It's usually just a matter of sticking to it until it starts to look like what you envisioned.Wink [;)]

Griff,

 Well, since you are often a judge yourself- I hoped to offer something that would somehow "add" to the model ? Maybe help it sit upon a display table just a bit better than otherwise? And of course it should be fun to play with too.Tongue [:P]

 

And thank you kindly gents for the generous words.Cool [8D]

       

 

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