No problem! It's really cool.

Gamera, was at Dinseyworld in Florida. :-) 

I think the First Order ride opens in early December. Sounds like it'll be epic. 

PB, that place looks amazing. Thank you for posting those.

Sorry guys, been on holiday/vacation and haven't been online much.

Ted: Awesome job there on K2SO! I think you nailed the finish, great work!!!

PB: Very cool, is that Disneyworld or Disneyland? In any case looks really neat!

Joe: Sorry missed your post too, welcome!

Iguana Joe

Bish,

I'm new to Fine Scale Modelers. Our local club, GJFSM, just had a build day on Moab where the host told me about FSM and the group builds that are sponsored here. I wish I would have know about this beforehand, because I have a completed small scale Millennium Falcon and an assembled Star Destroyer (unpainted) and now a finished Advance TIE Fighter I built yesterday at our build day yesterday. I did not take any progress photos of these, but I would like to submit them as entries, with further builds showing progress photos. I can show progress photos on the Star Destroyer, and future builds.

Thank you for your consideration..

Iguana Joe

 

Joe, very sorry not to have replied. I missed your post completly having been distracted by K2.

I think we can cut a new member some slack, please show what ever pics you have includeing the completed ones and i will get them on the roster.

Welcome aboard.

Here you go: 

Thanks for the kind words guys.  I had a great time. 

And yes, galaxy's edge pictures would be interesting.  The family and I were down at Mickey's over the summer just before galaxy's edge opened for business.  Our bathroom at the hotel was jacked up and they gave us a voucher for lodging so well be going back.  

T e d

Thanks PB, and yes, of course we want to see pics.

Ted, your K2 is awesome. Agree with Bish that you nailed the colors, especialy because black is so tricky to work with. You tamed the beast! Would love to have that on my shelf.

Bish, definitely a big THANK YOU for running the Star Wars GBs. They've been really fun, pushed everyone to build more and better, and featured some really nice SW kits. I appreciate your leadership. :-) 

Finally, just returned from a trip to Galaxy's Edge with the family at Disney. Let me know if you guys want to see any pics. 

Ted, that looks really nice, the colours look spot on. Thats really come out well, great job. Thank you for shareing him and i will update the front page tonight. If you want to build another, don't worry about being done by the deadline, you can keep posting even after the GB is closed.

I will do another SW GB but not for a few years, this is the 3rd one i have rund since 2015 and i think the novelty may be wearing off a bit, so i think it could do wth a break.

K2so is complete.  Earlier I mentioned also building 0-0-0 but I just won't have the time between now and the deadline to finish.  

The k2 kit comes with a stand that I used to hold him upright while adding clear before and after decals.  I had thoughts about panting and adding scenery to the stand but it never came about.  Maybe next time.  Considering how much fun this kit was to build (mixing paint colors, ease/speed of construction, subject) there will be a next time.  Since starting this build I've invested in 4 more SW bandai kits.  

Before applying decals I sprayed with tamiya clear thinned with their lacquer thinner.  After decals I sprayed clear again but to the mix I added flat base to taste.  Flat was the ultimate goal but after reading internet stories of people ruining models, I was sure to use it sparingly.  I think another few drops would have been ok.  Maybe next time.  

There were 2 decals that gave me a hard time and they were ultimately destroyed.  This was no fault of bandai-  I started applying micro set (or sol?) too early then wanted to make an adjustment.  I applied lots of set or sol (whichever one is in the blue bottle and smells like vinegar) but it wouldn't budge and I destroyed it.  The kit comes with stickers but those were a non starter in my opinion. 

Another thing about this kit I really like is the ability to pose k2.  The fingers are not posable but instead are interchangeable between fists and open hands.  I started taking pictures with him in the stand then got him to stand in his own two feet.  Many implications/possibilities for a diorama there. 

Bish, thanks for running the show.  I hope there's another SW group build soon.  

T e d 

Bish,

I'm new to Fine Scale Modelers. Our local club, GJFSM, just had a build day on Moab where the host told me about FSM and the group builds that are sponsored here. I wish I would have know about this beforehand, because I have a completed small scale Millennium Falcon and an assembled Star Destroyer (unpainted) and now a finished Advance TIE Fighter I built yesterday at our build day yesterday. I did not take any progress photos of these, but I would like to submit them as entries, with further builds showing progress photos. I can show progress photos on the Star Destroyer, and future builds.

Thank you for your consideration..

Iguana Joe

I think you give it to much credit guys

Ye, i have seen that. Not usually into horror movies but i did like that one. Have not seen it for a long time.

I hope so PB!!! 

BTW: A little off subject but I pulled out 'Dog Soldiers' for Halloween. It's a film about a squad of British soldiers who are sent into the woods of Scotland for a wargaming assignment and end up being stalked by a pack of werewolves. I was thinking about you while watching it Bish. Just wondering if you've seen it? It's probably my second favorite werewolf movie after 'The Howling'.   

Lol! I hope not! I see Bish more of a Gen. Dodonna than Vader. Although it's possible Bish has force-choked a few ppl in his day.

Thanks PB, I'm afraid if I keep disappointing Bish I'll end up with a real headache...

Thanks guys.

PB, its simply a picture i printed out and then stuck on with Mod Plodge, i believe its known as decoupage.

Wow, nice build of the Striker, Bish. Love it!! How did you create the stenciling on the base? That's a really great touch. Will look awesome on the shelf. 

Sorry to hear about the headache, Gamera. Take painkillers and get back to building!

Bish: That looks cool! Love the Striker and the base looks great!!!

Sorry, still not much done on Han, I got some paint laid down on the leather parts of his costume Sat. but had a splitting headache Sunday and got nothing done...

I have been working on the Striker here and there over the last few weeks. And while i have taken pics, i neglected to post them. So, heres my progress along with the end result.

The pod section went together well.

I had painted the solar panels and had planned to paint the frame before putting it together. But dry fitting showed that wouldn't work, so i assemebled it before painting.

Then masked the panels off, fitted thye wings and painted. I used tamiya making a mix for the grey based on the bandai guide. I did a light wash and oil dry brushing.

And wrapped it up by fitting it to a base. I had planned on making my own anyway, i wasn't to keen on the one supplied. I did use it as a paint stand and it snapped while i was moving the model around, so sort of forced my hand. I have been wanting to add an image to a base for ages, finally got around to it. I added the pic with Mod Plodge. Not perfect but i am pleased for a first attempt.

I did enjoy this my first Bandai kit. But i have to say i do prefer Fine Molds kits. If FM were still allowed to make them and were doing the same subjects, i would get there. But i will deffinetly get more bandai if the subjects are right.

All those builds are looking great. Can't wait to see the finished products. 

Ted: Great job there on K2SO, looking forward to seeing how he looks with the decals on. 

Lew: Very cool, good to see the missile launchers coming along so well. 

Thanks Bish, Gamera, and Ted.

Ted,

Your K2SO is coming along nicely.

Did some really basic CAD (cardboard aided design) today. The launcher looks a little short when compared with the concept art, but you'll get the gist.

As you can see from the second photo, I've upgraded the solar panels on both wings and have installed the engine pod. I was wondering how I was going to attach the rocket pods, but then I realized that the kit has two pieces (one per wing) that lock it in place if you build as a snap kit. The hole they fit into is the right size for the plastic tubing I bought for mounting if I leave them off. I'll have to visit the local hobby shop tomorrow for a tubing cutter as I can't get a square cut with my miter box (too shallow).

Lew, that red paint scheme is going to be sweet. 

I made some progress. Feet, arms, and hands.  Clear and decals next.  

T e d

Coming on nicely there lewbud. Your right, the pilot is hard to see once the pit is closed up.

Lew: Ohhhhhh that looks cool! Looks like just the two long seams on the bow and two more on the stern. 

Thanks Gamera. I've seen some finished builds and he isn't real noticeable. Got a little bit of work done. Installed the glass that's above the pilot's head (nothing pic worthy). It actually traps the hinge for the working hatch that is one of the kit's features. The only problem is said hatch is actually the engine compartment, and I doubt Seinar Fleet Systems designed it to lift out of the way for pilot entry.  I do have the TIEball almost assembled. 

The view from the rear.

Going to need to be careful with the putty because some of the seams are character lines that form the doublebubble shape of the hull.

View from the front.

A little seamwork to deal with, but not that bad. The fit of this kit isn't too bad. Of course,I've put it together and taken it apart half a dozen times so that may be part of it. Hope to have the engine pod (for lack of a better term) glued in place tomorrow.  Until next time.

That looks good! Think you made the right call, not sure I'd do much more work on the pilot either.

Thanks Gamera! Your Han Solo figure is coming along nicely.

Woke up yesterday afternoon and lollygagged a bit before hitting the workbench. I pulled the masking tape off and this was the result. I also added the pilot figure. I realize he should be multiple shades of black, but he won't be that visible.

The view through the forward bulkhead.

Installed in the TIEball.

I just noticed a little flash on the forward bulkhead. I was going to just let it go because no one will see, but I'll probably scrape it off when I get home. No updates until the weekend because as soon as I wake up this afternoon, I have to go back in to work. Will probably glue the TIEball together and start on the solar cells for the right wing after I get back home tonight.  For those that are still building, keep at it and post pics.

PFJN: Haha, didn't know Han(d) Solo had two artifical hands too? Take that Luke! Actually they molded the hands separate from the arms. Not complaining- it makes it much easier to paint.  

Lew: That looks cool! Love the updated solar wings! 

Started work on the Warhead yesterday. It turns out that some Bothan spies took the plans to my Interceptor and left plans for an A-wing in their place, so I went to the interwebz to see what color to paint the cockpit, I found that it was Neutral Gray. Shot some primer and semi-gloss black for the displays and switches on the seat, then masked them for the neutral gray.  I used some Tamiya AS Neutral Gray from the rattle can. It should be dry by the time I get home from work.

One of the things that definitely stand out on the First Order TIE Fighter is the solar panels. Rather than being mesh like, they more resemble actual panels so I had to figure out how to replicate that. I was thinking I would have to scribe the panels by hand, but while I was getting some sheet plastic and tubing at the local HobbyTown, they had some v-groove sheet stock for the railroad guys. They had several widths between the grooves and I picked one that looked appropriate.  Now to fabricate the panels.

Step one, use Tamiya tape to create a template.

Step two. Apply template to plastic and cut out.

Step three. Glue in place.  I left the tape in place in case I got some glue on my fingers. Figured it would be better to get glue on the tape rather than have to try and clean up the plastic.

And the left wing is done.

If everything goes as planned, I should have the TIEball assembled and the right wing done after I wake up tomorrow (later today whatever. these overnights throw my schedule off).  After that, CAD (cardboard aided design) work on the rocket pods will begin on Monday most likely.  In doing research on the TIE series and looking for alternate schemes, I ran across the Barons from one of the animated series. They painted their ships red with black solar panels.  Since I really have a dislike for things that are gray, I'll be going with this scheme.