Here's the next update: making good progress here!
I got an idea from another builder on Facebook who is in a group of Space 1999 fans, and so I followed his lead and decided to accurize the command module's mode of attachment. One of the worst things about this kit is the way that the CM attaches to a blank wall, basically. Here's my first Eagle build; look at the way the command module sits against that wall?
First, cut off the command module.
Next, trim off the plastic rim so you can use the glued frame for a template.
I divided the frame into lengths, which were then cut from .80 styrene rod and glued them together into a frame. This was a tedious, time-consuming chore.
This is how the pod will eventually look mounted--much more accurate!
That done, I turned my attention yet again to the cages. I have been hesitating cutting out the tops, as to do so would necessitate the "walkways" inside the cages. I decided that I just couldn't live with the terribly-inaccurate rendering of the top of the cage, so I went about removing the top one only. (I'n keeping the bottom "floor" for strength and rigidity; you won't really even notice it when I'm done.) So, I cut the top sides (left) and then used the Dremel cutter head to score across the side (middle), and then proceeded to add the framing tubes from .80 rod.
The frames basically finished exteriors---before I realized that I had to fit the ends, and the end-tubes needed to be added later...
So, on to adding the walkways and inner cage detail:
I had to add "shelves" on the sides of the cages. I did all the following calculating and fitting trial-n-error by using an index card first, cutting it and taping it together and making adjustments. Here are the final ballpark measurements that I came up with:
All of these were then fashioned from .20 plastic sheet.
Here is a look at two of the shelves, ready to be fit around the mounting boxes for the leg pods...
Here you can see that I made the inner walkway corridors, and have ground off the door detail with the Dremel and then added the ParaGraphix PE doors. Note they come in two pieces.
The two of them finished: these will look nice when they're visible behind the nuke pod legs.
And here is the other sides. One will go toward the engines (that's the engine end framing kit part hollowed out), the other will host the command module.
Note that the walkways aren't glued in yet; now I have to go about detailing the inner shelves and the sides of the walkway rectangles with small kit parts to give the impression of the myriad of odd details on the real Eagle ships, which were actually just odd kit parts from things like the Saturn 5 rocket and even Airfix 1/72 Panther tank decks and T34 wheels!
Well, that's it for today, and probably nothing more until Monday at least. Got plans tomorrow, and who knows what Sunday will bring--the weather is supposd to be nice, and I'll probably spend it with the wife and my lil bud Gerhardt...thanks for looking in, and taking the time to comment it you do! 