Modifying Moebius Battlestar Galactica

Thank You for the links WarMuncher. ill definitely be checking them out.

Thanks Terry!!

The final model is here: http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/6/t/144704.aspx

There is a link there to my first build as well.

I am familiar with ModelTrainSoftware.  All of the lights in this build are from them.  That's how I know about the 9V battery drain.  I used blue lights for the engines.  They went dead within 4 hours and the rest of the lights went offline after 6.  You have enough room in that pipe of yours for a plug and some extra cabling.  Anyway, just sharing my expereince. 

I did my ship in a light blue grey that I mixed with a combination of blue ink and grey paint.  The darker color on the engines is a dark grey.  The wash I used created a few more, uneven, shades.  Other than that I wanted the model to cast its own natural shadows like you see in the TV show. 

Anyway, that's my interpretation. 

For ribbin lighting you can look here: http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Flight_bars-flexible.html

Or here: http://www.culttvmanshop.com/EasyLED--12-LED-strip-18-white-LEDs-from-Paragrafix_p_1628.html

These have two way tape so you can stick them anywhere.  Though, if you use these guys I recommend and external power source. 

Anyway, that is my 2 cents for what it's worth.  I look forward to seeing more work in progress photos and the final model when you are done.  Don't forget to snap some photos of those landing bays before you fully assemble them.  I'm interested in where you chose to place your lights.

Good tip on the white paint.  I'll check that out when I do my first lighted Enterprise model.  Thank you.

Thank you, your work here is truly inspiring.

Terry

Hi

     Thanks for all your advice WarMuncher.  I alraedy have worked out 2 leds to light up each landing bay. I havent really used Led's a lot, this will be my first kit to finish with leds.

I painted a few shades to keep the light from spilling out, base cote of flat black, chrome silver then flat white, I walked out side and held it up to the sun, No light comming through. I used to paint Chrome Silver and I did for a couple of old bulb kits I have.  I read in an old FineScale Modeler that he painted a flat white insted of silver. with silver you would  think youll get a mirror effect, but It dosent work that way.

With a Flat White you get a soft white glow that ends up making more of the are lighted

I useing different color leds, Im useing a Warm White for all of the windows, Cool White for the Engines and Red to light up the Landing Bay Dock's, Total of 15.  I would hard wire it, except I plan to put in some connectors so I could remove my Galactica from the base http://flic.kr/p/9TUpdr to keep from dingng any of my details.  I dont know if you know about the site I got my leds from? www.modeltrainsoftware.com  

Ah' no I'm not going the same way most people are going to finish my Galactica, I have figured out 7 different hull shades, I plan to hand paint it.

Sure I wouldent mind seing the way your finishing your Galactica.

Thank You for Looking! B)

I took a look at your photos and your YouTube videos.  From all the builds I've seen thus far you are taking a pretty unique approach detailing wise.  I like what you did with the rear engines and the unique approach you are taking to the guarages.  I am also interested in how you are going to pull off the hull lighting.  I wanted to do that myself however I felt that the pieces were so scruntched together that lighting wouldn't be practicle.  So I am very interested in how this build turns out. 

I have built and lighted two of these kits myself and applying that knowledge to an old 1980's BSG kit I had sitting in a box for quite a number of years.  I have a build thread one these forums that may offer you some insight.  You can find it here: http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/6/t/143776.aspx

Also, Quarellane has some YouTube videos about his build that you may find usefull as well.  You can also find a complete breakdown of the model Bruce's Domain: http://bruce-domain.blogspot.com/2011/02/admg-part-1-intro-to-accurizing-and.html. Pages 5 and 6 are broken so you may need to googl search them just to bring them up.  They are there. 

Finally, I don't know what you are planning to use for lights however for the landing bays I would recommend LED strips over regular LED bulbs.  The bulbs taking up a huge a mount of space and get in the way of all the detail you've created in the landing bay.  Also, I found that adding Aluminum tape to the inside hull I get better light distribution.  I'll pose a photo of my landing pods later if you are interested.

Finally, I would avoid the battery route if you can.  I know that some places claim that they keep 100 LEDs going on a 9v for 24 to 48 hours.  Well, that may be true but I've found mixing different LEDs have different power requirements and will dim and go out when the voltage on the battery drops below a certain level.  Get yourself a 9w wall wart and hard wire this sucker.  :)

Are you planning on doing the super detail decals?  I hope not.  I my opinion those things have ruined some great builds.  I can't wait to see your next update.

Modifyed Moebius Battlestar Galactica Update

Dang I havent added any new updates in along time.

I have made a cople of YouTube videos up to the list picture here and a heck of a lot more.

Hope this works for everybody!   www.youtube.com/playlist

Thank You for Looking

I havent made any updates for my kit In awile! 

I am still planing to light this kit up, so I started working out how I was going light it up and hide the wires. I started by making a larger hole around the basic kit stand.           

I added some extra support to the inside,

If wondering why the center is a little thicker than the rest?  Im planing to use this brass tube

to run the power hook up through it.  I planed it to twist and lock on to the inner body surpport I added. Heres a quick base test fit.

Started work on adding the Landing Bay Docking lights.

Finished cutting out the Bay lights,  

Inside the same part,

I ended up removing a litte from the back of the center pin to make the center windows match the rest. I ended up removing a little from all the pins to make a smother match to the main hull parts,

closer shot of one of the slot and pins, I also removed alittle all around the landing bay docks.

Upper and lower main hull and the starboard landing bay dock, its alot cleaner fit  

just going to need a litle putty to clean it up. While waiting to get my lighting kit I started looking at what other details I could add, here's the kit's lower hull armor, before. 

Port side finished.  Before I started under cutting the lower hull armor I thought I would fill add some support to the inside, with some epoxy puddy. 

Last two shots for now.  Here's another look at the Lower Hull Armor, Before.

And after.

Thank You for Looking

Here is my latest shots. Finished removing the excess from under the Upper Armor, Here's a shot of the finished 3/4 Port test fit with the Main Hull.

Almost heads on view of the complete three part bow. Nice view looking along the Upper Armor and rounded off areas of the Port Bow.

Starboard,Bow. Out of the box before removing the excess plastic beneth the Upper Armor.

 Port,Bow. Finished Upper Armor detail, Hardest part about adding this detail was when I got to the horizontal rib, you can see a little mistake, I removed a little to much with the first indent in the Armor, just adds to the battle damged look of my finished kit.  

A fellow modeler asked if I did remove molded plastic from my kit. The next 5 shots I remove molded Rib Armor.          Picture 1, Started by cutting between the ribbs.   

2 of 5. Armor half way removed.

3 of 5. Molded Armor removed, Just needs some sanding.

4 of 5. Armor removed and sanded flush to match the rest of the hull.

5 of 5. Excess molded plastic removed from around the Anti Aircraft Guns

, Below the removed Armor. 

Last shot for now. Complete Port, Bow. FInished upper armor casting shadows on the inner hull 8) .

Thank You for Looking!

Thank You Ron!

    Ive been working on my Galactica around 25 to 30 + hour's so far.  And im still far from done

   I need to remove the same armor on the other side of the Bow and than make the replacement armor, 

   Im  thinking of adding some details to inside of the hanger bays. 

 Not all of it of corse, the parts are kinda small.  And im still hopeing to light it up.

So it might be awile before im done.                      

nice work enjoued the pics hoow much time do you have in it so far thinking of getting one of these.

Ron

I started modifing the kits molded Bow armor, Here's the out of the box part before.

And after, The white square? I added some epoxy puddy to fill a molded hole  

on the back of the kit part, Witch I should have tooken a picture of brfore I filled it.

I started adding some details to the front "Bow" after modifing the main hull I thought I would do the same to the Bow,

It still need's to de cleaned up a bit but I think its turing out well.

I was going to build Moebius Modeles Mk 2 Viper kit before the Galactica, But I wanted to go see the life size Mk 2 Viper prop. Here's a link to my pictures, some are out of focus   But I plan to go back and take more pictures and replace the ones that are out of focus. http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c92/T-REX07/New%20Battlestar%20Galactica/Battlestar%20Galactica%20The%20Exhibiton/?albumview=slideshow   Here the link to the Experiece Music Project / Sci Fi Musium where the Battlestar Galactica Exhibiton is. http://www.empsfm.org/index.asp

Thank You for Looking!  

Here's the side by side as promised.  The finished details added, 3/4 Bow.

Port "left" picture.

And right out of the box 3/4 Starboard

and strate Starboard side

I started doing this detail that is a little trickey to do after seeing a fellow modeler do it, And carefully going over pictures like these.  

Thank You for Looking!

Here's is the complete Bow sectiion  

I ended up removing more than I thought I would, But it works.  

There is a small gap between the Bow "front" and the Main Hull I ended useing some sheet strine to fill it in.

Here's my strine fix I made on the main hull

You can also see some detail fixes I have made on the main hull, heres one of the picture i'm useing for my detail work.

Here's the last couple of shots for now.

Ive done some more work on the spine detail on the main hull scense I took these shots. I plan to take a side by side shot of the finished detail and the untouched side.

Well thats it for now.

Thank You for Looking!  

Thank You!

I havent drilled any holes for the windows yet, I have drill bit set I got from Micro Mark sizes form 80 to 61. I think ill be able to find the size that will work in my set. 

Thank you for telling me about that cool idea useing magents, Ive thought about useing magnets on a kit of a cut away of the Space Battleship Yamoto, So I could be able to easily pull the cut away part to see the inner workings of the Yamoto.

Nice work modifying the Galactica

Recently checked out a build done by a 'professional' science fiction builder. He does not fuss with the extra details or kit corrections yet he had a cool idea for accessing the batteries for the lit up effect:

He used magnets to access the batteries and internal lighting using a kit seam that never needed filling. I thought it was a clever idea and may use it myself one day for animated lighting or powered propellers.

Now did you drill out the tiny windows? Must be a #80 bit, I refuse to buy that size anymore and make do with #78 or larger.