USS Centaur project

QUOTE: Originally posted by Woody I don't know much but I know what I like. It looks great so far.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Griffworks Looks good! Did you use an ERTL Excelsior kit's primary hull as the base for yours?

QUOTE: Originally posted by maxx1969 QUOTE: Originally posted by Griffworks Looks good! Did you use an ERTL Excelsior kit's primary hull as the base for yours? No its all scratch. The taper on the saucer edge was fun. But I worked out a way to do it on two other in-progress builds so it wasn't to bad on this one. Matt

QUOTE: Originally posted by Woody How did you do it?

Step 1: From scale drawings I took the widest diameter first, in this case the bottom of the saucer(5 7/16")

Step2: Again from the drawings find the height of the saucers edge(1/4").

Step3: I set a compass to the widest measurement 5 7/16 the bottom of the saucer and drew a half circle on the sheet stock. The second line inside the first is the top of the saucer at a width of 1/4".


Step4: Using a set of circle cutters makes this alot easier, for thicker stock I have a compass cutter(bottom) and for thinner stock a rotary circle cutter(top) both from OLFA.

Here you can see one of the saucer edges for an extended saucer on another build.

Step 5: Attatch the two ends together and you have your outer tapered edge. The top and bottom can then be cut out with the cutters.
One other advantage to the compass type cutter is that you can drag the back side of the blade in circles around the saucer to scribe in the panel lines. Hope this helps.

Matt

QUOTE: Originally posted by maxx1969 QUOTE: Originally posted by Woody How did you do it? Not as hard as I thought it would be at one time. Step 1: From scale drawings I took the widest diameter first, in this case the bottom of the saucer(5 7/16") Step2: Again from the drawings find the height of the saucers edge(1/4"). Step3: I set a compass to the widest measurement 5 7/16 the bottom of the saucer and drew a half circle on the sheet stock. The second line inside the first is the top of the saucer at a width of 1/4". Step4: Using a set of circle cutters makes this alot easier, for thicker stock I have a compass cutter(bottom) and for thinner stock a rotary circle cutter(top) both from OLFA. Here you can see one of the saucer edges for an extended saucer on another build. Step 5: Attatch the two ends together and you have your outer tapered edge. The top and bottom can then be cut out with the cutters. One other advantage to the compass type cutter is that you can drag the back side of the blade in circles around the saucer to scribe in the panel lines. Hope this helps. Matt