1/72 TIE Defender buildup

After too long a delay, much spent accumulating parts and then even redoing one false start because I didn't like my own layout, I have started the board for the electronic components which control the various functions.

DOH!

Darkwolf! I think I finally realized what your referring to! I set the base upon SANDPAPER to take the picture and you're looking through the area where the rear flat panel will occupy!

That will become a backlit transparency of the ship schematic later on! I'm so very sorry for stumbling through this explanation so long now. 

darkwolf29a wrote:

It looks like the tape above to me, on the inside of your base. If it isn't that type of tape, how did you create that effect? It's coming right along, and looking great.

Oh. No, just "paint"? It's a 50/50 gloss/flat black, or "satin black" of course. Then there's a topcoat of a House of Kolor 'Phase Shift' paint that turns Green/Blue/Gold depending on light angles which probably gives it the shimmer you thought of with that nonslip kind of tape. And thank you very much!

Here's the base colors applied with a quick mockup and then a light test.

It looks like the tape above to me, on the inside of your base. If it isn't that type of tape, how did you create that effect?

It's coming right along, and looking great.

Wolfie,

 Sorry for the delay. I'm not sure where you mean? But I can say that tape won't be part of the finished product.  Thanks.

The location of the guns out on the wingtips originally caused me to go with fiber optics but after breaking one here and there during handling I rethought that decision.

Rebuilt every gun so that an LED would become part of the gun itself. 


With wiring being bulkier than fiber I also had to reroute connectivity. 


But eventually even without light block applied it far outshines what fiber could transfer.

And there are four in blue and four in green.

CPD, Batman,

 Thanks for the kind words. They're much appreciated. 

The base has it's basic colors on now and after this come the topcoats.

DarkWolf,

 You've flattered me but don't ever limit yourself. It's usually just a matter of sticking to it until it starts to look like what you envisioned.

Griff,

 Well, since you are often a judge yourself- I hoped to offer something that would somehow "add" to the model ? Maybe help it sit upon a display table just a bit better than otherwise? And of course it should be fun to play with too.

And thank you kindly gents for the generous words.

Lookin' awesome!  Love how that base looks, as well, Don.

Looking very good, Squid-man!!!!

 I must admit, I'm a bit envious, at the moment. The base itself looks fantastic. I can only imagine what the overall look will be, once you're done. And...I can only wish to reach half of your skills, sir.

Wanted a base that would pull styling cues from the subject so chose an octagon (like the cockpit glass) with panels that have framing like the wings and then atop a lil spoked hub like a pylon to wing mount.

And left two panels to be hinged which will open to expose the actual controls.

"Hollowed out" the solid clear cast canaopy and it looks like with a coat of Future it should work out.

Worked on the top hatch that I had freed from the "ball" to fabricate a 'lip and seal' which should look better and also help to 'light block' since the interior will be lit. Fashioned everything up with styrene strip and some half round then worked it down to the final sizes I wanted. In the end it sits just about no more "above" the surface than originally but should be nicer than just plopping the cut apart pieces back together with a hinge.

TD4438 wrote:

Here ya go. /forums/1054473/ShowPost.aspx

I posted on that thread asking if I could join this late?

Thanks again!

Here ya go.

/forums/1054473/ShowPost.aspx

TD4438 wrote:

Personally,I can't wait to see this one finished.Are you gonna include it in the Star Wars group build?

Um, I guess I wasn't aware of a GB for SW?

That might be fun though so thanks I'll look into it.

Decided to go ahead and give it a working hatch as well as the lil windows within it.

The only thing/s glued to stage this shot was the wing/s to pylon/s. The FiberOptic from each was routed down through the tube to an eventual stand for the controls. But otherwise all the components were 'pressed' into place as described earlier. But I couldn't resist putting this into place to get an idea of what it will look like and IMHO this one sharp, sleek and menacing lil ship!

 I can't wait to move forward to see it get into paint!

 With the "ball" mounting sorted out it was time to address what goes on the other side of the "pylon hub", call it the backplate if you will, with those three thrusters.
 Since I have an unfounded phobia about buttoning up electronics and not being able to reach them later I wanted something to simplify getting to those three LEDs I'd already sunk into place. Putting the common ground electrodes arranged to the 'outside' just happened to match up near the diameter of where it needs to mount to the pylon. So, using an old trick that I like, I simply put two "slip fit" pieces of brass tubing, cut with lil clearance grooves that when snapped together trap those electrodes. The two sandwhiched rings are now held in place by the electrodes themselves (which will only take one common ground wire soldered to the brass ring) and this in turn slips within another aluminum tube ring that is within the pylon hub. In this way wiring is simplified, mounting is accomplished and access is assured if needed.

A couple of things presented themselves after maikng my two halves whole.

One is the natural tendency of something pliable to resist maintaining it's shape when holes are cut into either end, like the ball does have. The other was how to mount my two pieces onto the engine pylon while still allowing easy disassembly?

 One answer, was to fabricate a "collar" that fit into the sphere halves and then the pylon mount. Did so with alumium and styrene (again!) and now it not only holds it's shape but will go in, or come apart as needed.