Now that looks nice PB. Great idea for the seatbelts.

Thanks, guys!

Although I have to admit the seatbelt idea wasn't mine, borrowed it from a speeder build I saw online.

PB

Well, I got some work done on the defender. It is pretty much together just a couple parts some finishing and weathering.

PB, that snowspeeder is looking nice. So I am guessing that bandai ' s license has changed. I found their kits at, of all places, Barnes and Nobles. I picked up the a-wing for $30. I am also finding them in on-line shops.

Now i like that Stephan, really nice work. I normally try and stick to 72nd but i might have to grab one of these next time i see one.

I have seen the bandai kits on Star ship. But i haven't seen them in any stores over here.

That Defender is sweet, NMT. Really like the blue accents.  I didn't realize how crazy the solar/ion panel arrangement is. So is this a ship from the SW lore, or just a "what-if?" (within the larger "what-if?" of SW itself)

And, thanks, re: speeder. Yeah, people have been posting on other forums the past week or so about Bandai kits showing up in hobby shops all over (and B and N, even!), both online and brick-and-mortar.

PB

Porkbits

That Defender is sweet, NMT. Really like the blue accents.  I didn't realize how crazy the solar/ion panel arrangement is. So is this a ship from the SW lore, or just a "what-if?" (within the larger "what-if?" of SW itself)

And, thanks, re: speeder. Yeah, people have been posting on other forums the past week or so about Bandai kits showing up in hobby shops all over (and B and N, even!), both online and brick-and-mortar.

PB

 

 

 

PB, the TIE/D comes from the expanded universe, with prototypes being tested during the Battle of Hoth and a small number of operational craft being deployed at Endor.

Ah, cool. Thanks for the info.

Yeah, that TIE Defender does look awesome!

I remember it being the last fighter you get to fly in the TIE Fighter computer game from twenty years ago (pre-Windows, it ran in DOS). In it the Defender was an experimental super fighter Admiral Zaron's tech branch had developed. He trusted entirely in technology and felt the whole 'Force' thing was a bunch of bunk and ended up launching a coup to take out Palpatine and his bunch of mystic crackpots. You had to fly the Defender with Vader as your wingman to rescue the shuttle Palpatine was on though wave after wave of Zaron's advanced TIE concepts.

https://www.gog.com/game/star_wars_tie_fighter_special_edition

Thanks guys. It is a pretty solid build and goes together easy enough. I do have a few finishing touches before I call it done. At 1/48 scale it is a good size when I am done I will post pics of it with a FM 1/72 tie and Revell ' s 1/50 force awakens tie for reference.

More recently the tie defender was in Star Wars Rebels as a concept design. Hera and her crew came across the schematics for the ship and had a holoprojection in the show. She said if the Empire builds this the rebellion would be in alot of trouble.

That will be nice to see it with those other kits. I can see its a god size from the paint bottles on your bench.

NucMedTech

Thanks guys. It is a pretty solid build and goes together easy enough. I do have a few finishing touches before I call it done. At 1/48 scale it is a good size when I am done I will post pics of it with a FM 1/72 tie and Revell ' s 1/50 force awakens tie for reference.

More recently the tie defender was in Star Wars Rebels as a concept design. Hera and her crew came across the schematics for the ship and had a holoprojection in the show. She said if the Empire builds this the rebellion would be in alot of trouble.

 

Oh cool, nice to see it used further in the Expanded Universe. I wasn't sure it popped up beyond the game.

That cockpit for the snowspeeder looks awesome!  Love the seat belt idea!  I am really enjoying the builds!  I may have to check out my local Barnes and Noble for some of those kits!

That defender looks cool as well!  I'm not well versed in the expanded universe, so I can only offer oohs and aaaahhhhs on that build. 

As for the pinewood derby tips,  all I can really offer you is the same stuff you can find on the web...try to keep the most weight right in front of the rear axle, use the graphite on the wheels and axles, don't forget to chuck the axle nail into a drill or a Dremel and smooth them with sandpaper,  and our rules state that four wheels must be on the vehicle,  but only three must be touching the track at all times.

I'll post a picture of mine and my son's cars in a bit....

Here is a shot of my pinewood derby car,  and one of mine and my sons....

Pinewood derby 2017 by Justin Ryan, on Flickr

Pinewood derby 2017 by Justin Ryan, on Flickr

...on top of the instruction sheet of my next build project....lol

YES! Woody with a pair of single-fins and Steve! Those are awe. some. Will have to show my son the one your kid did (he is obsessed with Minecraft even though we won't let him play it yet). +10 for creativity. :-) 

And thanks for the tips. I think the problem I/we had was weight placement and getting the nails (ahem, I mean "axels") into the car straight. Kept splitting the wood. Grrrr.

Also, looking forward to that Shuttle build. ;-) 

I don't mind my thread going off topic, but i at least like to have some idea what people are talking about. I was curious before about this Derby discussion, but now after seeing those pics, i just have to ask.

Porkbits

YES! Woody with a pair of single-fins and Steve! Those are awe. some. Will have to show my son the one your kid did (he is obsessed with Minecraft even though we won't let him play it yet). +10 for creativity. :-) 

And thanks for the tips. I think the problem I/we had was weight placement and getting the nails (ahem, I mean "axels") into the car straight. Kept splitting the wood. Grrrr.

Also, looking forward to that Shuttle build. ;-) 

 

When I added the axles, I would push them in as far as I could with my thumb before using a hammer, and after they were fully seated, I used an old butter knife to tap the shafts of the axles flat against the axle groove.

Don't forget to smooth the axles first!

Bish

I don't mind my thread going off topic, but i at least like to have some idea what people are talking about. I was curious before about this Derby discussion, but now after seeing those pics, i just have to ask.

 

Not so much "off topic" as more of a sub thread...lol...basically, we have a youth group here in the states, the boy scouts of America , that starts in elementary school, a group called the cub scouts, and every year they have what's called "the pinewood derby " ,where the kids...with the help from their adults...build a car out of a block of wood.  In our pack, the adults and families can build a car as well.  They are built following a set of rules, governing height, weight, length and other criteria.   It is quite a fun time!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC5qRw7QhLA

Now, back to the star wars builds!

Now i get it. Yes, i have heard of the boy scouts of America, over here we have the Scout Association.

Now thats clear, we can move on.

Justin: Those are really cool, like the Minecraft one but the Woodie is awesome! 

Thanks for all the tips, Justin, and sorry about the digression, Bish!

Unfortunately, I have family matters to take care of this week, but hope to return to the workbench (and speeder) next week (even went to my LHS today get some supplies).

Looking forward to any build pics that you guys post in the meantime.

PB

To: Commander

       TIE Research and Development 

From: Major Cheyzel  

            Program Coordinator, TIE-D

Subject: First Operational Report

Admiral,

     The 5672nd fighter squad using operational prototype TIE-D's, engaged a sizable rebel fleet in the Felucia  system. The prototypes were successful in destroying 6 x-wing fighters a CR-70 Corvette and severely damaging a Nebulon frigate. Our support ships are in pursuit of the frigate now, we do not want news of our new fighter reaching the rebellion, yet. If I may sir, several of the pilots have come to call the TIE-D the defender. If it suits the Emperor I would like to make that official.

Maj. Cheyzel out.

That is real nice Stephan. I really like the colours, are those offical or your own rendition. I love it, going to have to grab one.

Always a pleasure to have you on board. Thank you.

Thanks guys, the colors are unofficial. I do not know of any official squadron markings. It was a nice kit, alittle difficult keeping the wings straight while the epoxy set and mine are still a little wonky (and that is a technical term). I left the cockpit glass out as it was pretty thick and did not let the frame sit right. I have comparison pics and I will post those shortly.

Looks awesome Stephan, I too love the colours you used. Great job!

I had not noticed the clear part was missing. I like the choice of colour, works really well.

Okay, here are the size comparison shots. First I the 1/72 Finemolds kit.

Then this next one is with Revell ' s Force Awakens kit. This is not the kit with lights and sounds but the next level up. They say this kit is 1/50, but it seems bigger, somewhere between 1/48 and 1/35 it looks like. Eh, Revell was never big on scale for the Sci-fi kits.

Bish, would you mind if I kept going with this?

Would be my first Bandai Star Wars vehicle, so something new in a way.

can really see the size of that. And ye, that Revell kit is definetly bigger than 1/50. The cockpit is a huge give away.

And no, not at all. I am still to decide what second kit i want to do later in the year. I'll be watching that, i have it saved on my e-bay along with the snowspeeder, so keen to see how it goes together.

Have you ever built the old AMT kit.