ERTL 1/48 Naboo N-1 Starfighter - Suggestions??

Actually, I'm leaving the chrome on, no matter what else I do. It wouldn't be an N-1 without it. However, it is purley decorative:

"The sleek N-1 exemplifies the best elements of Naboo design. The craft is aesthetically sound, adhering to the Naboo's love of curves and aerodynamic shapes. A chromium finish on the front end of the vehicle gleams in the sunlight during parades and celebratory fly-bys. The chromium is purely decorative and reserved for starships assigned to the Royal House." - - Galactic Voyage

Without scratch building an entire undercarriage, though, I don't think the N-1 will make much of a shelf sitter. In all the pictures of them in the Theed hangar, the tip of their "rat tail" is plugged in to a power/data interface unit in the hangar wall; the ship itself hangs in wall mounted racks.

Here is a view of the coupling/interface unit:

And a view of the hangar space, with N-1's along the walls in alcoves:

It is also highly unlikely that the N-1 would be found, "recycled," on other worlds, making the whole notion of re-paint schemes pretty much out:

"The small, sleek, fast and agile N-1 is only found on Naboo and is rarely seen even there. The fighter's compact hyperdrive allows it to serve as the Queen's Honour Guard on visits to other planets, but..., it is fragile and there is little it can do compared to purely combat craft which are dedicated for warfare."

I did find reference to a plot wherein some N-1's were to be stolen from the Theed Palace Spaceworks and sold, on the black market - but the plot was foiled and the conspirators killed. The consensus is that nowhere are they considered something to be seen except on Naboo, as part of the Queens Royal guard Regiments. The yellow paint scheme is primary to this role. So, yellow it will be.

P.S The blue N-1 mentioned above was actually an atmospheric police cruiser, the X-1. It is the primary training vehicle for pilots destined to serve the Queen as Royal Guard. The X-1 lacked the hyperdrive systems and some of the more advanced features of the N-1, but most significantly, it also was configured with a third subspace drive engine. Without some serious scratch building, it is pretty much out as a candidate.

I like to take the "backstory" thing into account as well, along with the "form follows function" theory of designing even imaginary SF craft as used by the designers of most of the Trek ships.  While doing something "just for fun" has it's place for me ( like the VF-25 variant I'm about to dig into or the Trek-style "USS Ronco I saw at a convention ), a backstory helps give motive for added details and can add something to an established mythology.

Kugai

Sorry, the blue NSF was on a PS2 game and I don't have means to get a pic on here.  The only difference was a deep blue in place of the yellow we see in the movies.

I'm not that big on Star Wars trivia, but I seem to remember something in the background stories mentioning the fighters were a combat-capable ceremonial guard more than an actual defense force.  Like Alderaan, it seems Naboo was a "peaceful planet" and nothing in the way of an effective army or aerospace force, which probably had something to do with it being targeted by the Trade Federation to begin with.  The Republic being one big, happy family that made do with several thousand Jedi instead of a real army, I doubt there'd be much demand for fighter exports.

That said, a gray NSF would be interesting.  Drop the chrome, add some weathering, and it could have a story behind it of being crashed after an attempt on the queen while she was visiting somewhere, then someone salvaged it?

See, that is the sort of thing I'm interested in pursuing. I'm at ease, generally, with the "Do what you want, it's all fun," notion. If that makes you happy, then it makes me happy for you. But, I like to have a plausible back story, one that makes sense based on facts.

In this case, it is all fantasy, with no true facts behind anything. But the Star Wars pantheon of interwoven stories is so well ensconced in the popular eye, that it makes sense to follow some sort of logic that fits in. Call it a "WHIF, with a purpose," if you please.

I like the idea of a one-off, salvaged N-1, reconditioned and being sold by Watto, for example. The N-1 used common parts and assemblies, which the Naboo incorporated into an elegant, hand-built craft. So, here is a formerly disabled one, repaired and repainted like an old VW, being sold in a backwater "used space ship" lot somewhere. No one really inquires too closely how it came to be there, it is only left to haggle over price. I like it.

Another idea that plucked at me was different squadrons of the Royal Naboo Guard, each having a different color. Squadron 1 might be yellow, while Squadron 2 might be blue, and so on. This is common with military forces the world over, and the Star Wars stories, if anything, reflects that sort of universal commonality. All that might be needed was the Naboo crest to be borne on the different colored craft. Here is one view of such a crest:

And a rather lenghty discussion of the crest design, itself:

http://www.padawansguide.com/symbol.shtml

Sorry, the blue NSF was on a PS2 game and I don't have means to get a pic on here.  The only difference was a deep blue in place of the yellow we see in the movies.

I'm not that big on Star Wars trivia, but I seem to remember something in the background stories mentioning the fighters were a combat-capable ceremonial guard more than an actual defense force.  Like Alderaan, it seems Naboo was a "peaceful planet" and nothing in the way of an effective army or aerospace force, which probably had something to do with it being targeted by the Trade Federation to begin with.  The Republic being one big, happy family that made do with several thousand Jedi instead of a real army, I doubt there's be much demand for fighter exports.

That said, a gray NSF would be interesting.  Drop the chrome, add some weathering, and it could have a story behind it of being crashed after an attempt on the queen while she was visiting somewhere, then someone salvaged it?

sure there is no reason for a color scheme, just as there is no reason for nose art, except that the pilots and crewmembers like it.  so do one in all metallics, before the yellow goes on, or do whatever you like, maybe one of the royals has one all gussied up. the point is its supposed to be fun.

I was thinking something like a simple light grey, with a few color panels here and there - something like one of the Jedi ships. The whole notion of a color scheme actually strikes me as pointless, when you consider the intended environment for any space vessel.

Maybe a metallic color of some sort would suit as well, particularly for an "export" version. The fact that the N-1 was supposedly handmade and served only the royalty on the home world sort of precludes an export market, but I suppose anything could happen.

Perhaps the Naboo were known to colonize or expand beyond their home planet? Did they have interstellar vessels that might use an N-1 as a shipboard fighter?

Ive never seen the blue one you're talking about. Any pics of that?

Kugai

The only varation I know of is in the Starfighter game with a "Blue NSF", but there's no story as to why.

Isn't the blue for the security forces?

The only varation I know of is in the Starfighter game with a "Blue NSF", but there's no story as to why.

dont know for sure but why not make up your own export version color scheme?

and POST PICS!!!!!