PB: Nice work on the TIE and that SS looks really good, nice detail there. 

Bruce: Lol, that's why I don't use much PE, I aways end up knocking off two or three pieces when I add a new one whenever I pass a certain amount of it. 

Nice TIE tie. And I've seen maybe about a third of those. Some are really cool and some kinda silly. Those remind me of old ST fan art where fans just tack a couple extra nacelles on a regular design and call it a battlecruiser or some such. 

Thanks, guys! And, yeah, this FM TIE is 1/72. Which means I might actually finish it before the end of the year. :-)

Lol, nice "TIE" wearable and that's a really cool collection of TIE variants. Agree that couple of them border on silly but....I have the Interdictor--it's actually a playing piece that a friend gave me for the X-Wing game.

My first coat of celluclay finally dried, and so I added a fallen log and branches, and found some Testors dirt effects spraypaint, so I got the base -well- based....and got to painting the bike and trooper.

I primed the trooper and sprayed him white, but then destroyed that pristine white enamel trying to do a sludge wash, so I am in the process of hand painting him.

As for the bike, I started with a base of rattle can oil rubbed bronze because my flat black has seemed to vanish....

Return of the Jedi Speeder Bike build...painting and base construction by Justin Ryan, on Flickr

Return of the Jedi Speeder Bike build...painting and base construction by Justin Ryan, on Flickr

Return of the Jedi Speeder Bike build...painting and base construction by Justin Ryan, on Flickr

Coming on nicely Justin, i do like the effect of the turned head. Nice idea for the base as well.

Looking good Justin.

Did you use a gloss white under the sludge wash? It shouldn't have stained a gloss finish.

That was my thought exactly!  Especially since it was a fully dried enamel, and I used a very thin acrylic. ...but, wash under the bridge. ...he's all correctly painted now, although, I had to brush paint, and the spray just looks n8cer....and two coats of lacquer gloss have been applied.  I will try the wash again later...I have plenty to work on while that clear dries...

Awesome speeder bike. Posing the head definitely makes a difference.

Hope we get to see pics of it mounted on the base. 

Nice speeder bike and the ties are moving right along. I have a little work done on the TIE  Defender, I primed the parts using rustoleum spray can primer. I got the wings together and started painting the pilot.

Man, that is not a good picture. Will get a better one when I finish him. I plan on getting the cockpit and ball together this week.

Rob Gronovius

I also stumbled across an old MPC A-wing fighter kit. If I finish the Vader TIE, I may slap this old thing together too.

I found the Revell Rogue One U-Wing fighter (is it really a fighter or a troop drop ship?) on clearance at my local Target. I thought it was an interesting kit and decided to build it as well.

It is molded in off white and gray with two clear canopy parts; one for the upper cockpit and one for a lower set of windows. It makes some sounds too, but I haven't pulled out the battery tab yet. Some parts are pre-painted with blue markings and some with gray.

Looks to be a nicely engineered kit with landing gear and swing wings. The side troop doors are separate so that if you decided to not install the sound box, you might be able to find some tiny figures to mount as door gunners as seen in the final battle of the movie.

Nice start Rob. I would not have classed it as a fighter myself.

Stephen: Looks good so far. Gee I remember flying these in the old 'TIE Fighter' computer game way back when. 

Rob: Looks like a decent kit, I was kinda turned off by the toylike features. Personally I think I'd call it an assault craft maybe? 

@Justin,

I really like how your speeder bike is building up. And the base is perfect for this diorama!

@NucMedTech,

You are making great progress on the TIE Defender. I'm looking forward to seeing the cockpit complete.

@Rob,

That U-wing looks like neat kit. I'm guessing it's 1/72 scale? And I have to agree, it really not a fighter. It's use is more like a Huey in Vietnam.

Coming along nicely, NMT!

And definitely like that U-Wing, Rob, looking forward to your build. I didn't like the U when I first saw it, but it's grown on me. I just wish Bandai would do a 1/72 or 1/48 version. 1/144 is too small. :-( 

Have made more progress on my old school TIE. Started painting:

Nicework on the TIE PB. I had not realised the solar panels went together like that, the TIE In was differant. I like how that works.

Looking good PB, seems like you're ready to make a big double-decker TIE sandwich. 

Aha, thanks Gamera. I am about to make just that. TIE Oreo? :-) 

Bish - Thanks! Yeah, the panel assembly is pretty nifty. I also love it when parts are engineered so that sink marks are hidden during assembly. That's value-add. 

Next up, a light panel line wash then painting and glueing a few more tiny bits.

It's the march of the TIE fighters! Looking good PB. I loved that kit when I built it, with the way finemolds engineered it. No masking the solar panels, what!? You gotta love that.

The defender is coming along. I have the cockpit ball pretty much closed up. Sorry PB, as you know there is not much to see when that is done.

However, I did try and get a shot from the egress hatch into the cockpit.

Now, it is opinion time. I am trying to figure out a good color for the solar panels as I do not want to do black or dark grey. The household is mixed so I need some input from all of you. Take a look at the four colors and let me know what you think. The solar panels are quadranium steel and I have no idea what that is supposed to look like. Luckily since there is little to none actual images I have a little wiggle room.

Looking nice there Nuc. I would go for the top one in the first pic.

NucMedTec, I love that TIE Defender! Who does that kit? Looking nice!

Now that my personal chaos in the model ina month group build is over I can start in on my T-70. On a more leisurely pace, of course. Anyway, here's the box (though you've probably all seen it before):

And here are the parts.

The detail isn't too bad. I'm thinking I'll just build it straight out of box, but I'll be repainting it.

Badlanguage, it is a Bluemoon kit. I got mine from starship models for about $60 US. you have to be patient and keep an eye out, but it is better than paying ebay prices ($150+).

Looking forward to your build, I have the same kit sitting on the shelf. I finished the force awakens TIE from Revell for the same group build.

Thanks, NMT! And your TIE is coming along nicely. As for panel color, I agree with Bish--top one or maybe the second.

BL, looking forward to your T-70 build, too. I need a T-70 in my stash at some point.

Stephen: She's coming right along. No idea on what colour to paint the solar panels. Maybe go with one of the those with a black sludge wash to settle down into the recesses? 

BL: Very cool. I've seen some not that good reviews of those kits and am looking forward to seeing how you build and paint her up. 

BL, nice to see it underway. Re painting those does seem to be the way to go.

Guys, those TIE fighters are looking freat, I may just have to build one of those later this year!  I can't wait to see them finished!  ....and that U Wing...that's cool!

I've been busy with the cub scouts, as we have the pinewood derby coming up, and I've been building a car, helping my son with his, and offering my bandsaw and skills to the Pack, to help those kids that don't have access to a bandsaw ....but, I finally got some time, and started focusing on the base, and weathering the scout trooper.

Return of the Jedi Speeder Bike build by Justin Ryan, on Flickr

Return of the Jedi Speeder Bike build by Justin Ryan, on Flickr

I'm going to be adding some muddy puddles, and I want to make some ferns to give it that "edge of the forest look.  I played with the idea of adding a "redwood " tree, but overall, I wasnt pleased with how it came out...so any ideas would be entertained!

Justin

Looks good Justin!

Not sure how you could work a tree in the base but maybe some twigs, a log, or a bunch of fallen leaves?

Guess it's too late for it now but I'd be tempted to add an AT-ST footprint with a roadkill Ewok in the bottom of it...

The problem with adding an AT-ST footprint would be scale.  It would probably take up most of the base.  There is a log and "branches" in there from my peach tree in my backyard.  It's funny, because in order to make my real log look real, I had to paint it....

Yeah, I know what you mean, it would be huge.

Frankly what you've already got there looks really good.

Here is a mock up...all that is left is to finish the detail painting of the bike, and to make some ferns for the base...

Here are some shots...

Return of the Jedi Speeder Bike build by Justin Ryan, on Flickr

Return of the Jedi Speeder Bike build by Justin Ryan, on Flickr

Return of the Jedi Speeder Bike build by Justin Ryan, on Flickr