The Starfleet Museum group build

I have a slightly dark picture of my Torsk progress up at:
http://groups.msn.com/ModelersAndHobbyForum/starfleetmuseumrevisited.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=772
It's coming together fairly well. I moved the gun pylons back a little bit to allow for masking the dog-nose radome when it comes time to paint. Impulse vents are cut down from K&S aluminum airfoil tubing, the same method I used on a Conqueror I finished about a year ago.
Andrew

Looking good! Thanks for sharing the "how-you-did-it". That ready helps others in the build and those who pop in to have a look.

Yes... we need more of the "How you did it..." stuff. That helps the rest of us that are not as creative (i'm talking of myself...) to build these on our own if these wonderful ships never get kitted...

I like seeing the "How I Did It" in-progress shots too. Hrere's a link to the previously completed Conqueror, with shots from basic parts on:
http://groups.msn.com/ModelersAndHobbyForum/starfleetmuseumship.msnw
I usually just look for parts that are close to what I want, and start sticking them together. In a lot of ways a real toatal scratchbuild would be easier, but the found shapes can get you started quicker. Here's the parts breakdown for the Torsk:
Hull- a somewhat egg-shaped pencil sharpener from the dollar store, stretched about 1/4", a section of plastic tubing, and a wooden craft store egg.
Warp pods are a couple of small, brittle plastic pill vials, with panel light lenses at the front to round them off. I drilled a hole in the end of the lenses to make the hollow for the inner domes, which are parts of a dollar store top. Tapers at the end came from some toy lava light keychains, backed with Evergreen tubing. The end caps are the end of a helicopter rocket pod and more evergreen tubing. These would have definitely been easier to turn on a lathe, bt I was traveling when I made them and did not have the Unimat with me. ! Hope this helps,
Andrew

That Torks looks likes it's coming along fine, Andrew.

If any of you guys need graphics, such as ship emblems for bases or insignia, please ask. I can output anything I've done at a larger resolution.

That would be helpful, thanks Masao. I actually started the basic hull shape of the Kestrel last night. Hopefully won't burn out before I finish.

Here's a pic of progress of the Kestrel hull. I'll use Woody's styrene goop concoction to fill between the tiers. I'm on my way!

Looking good!
A couple points I'd like to pass on about the "goop" method.
1) Make sure the putty consistancy isn't too thick. No thicker than smooth peanut butter.
2) Allow at least 24 hours between layers.
3)Make sure the layers aren't too thick. I use small slivers of plastic or thick CA kicked with accelerator to fill in big voids.
4)After all the putty has been applied, place it in a warm spot to cure for at least 48 hours.

I picked up my $12.00 Klingon battlecruiser from Polar Lights today. I feel a bit silly building this crude snap-together kit when I consider all the scratchbuilds going in here, but I will press forward for the Empire! I'm going to try to make it look as much like the ones on the Museum as I can.

Can anyone tell me the rationale for the very dark protrayal of the Klingon ships in the Museum? I'm not complaining -- I love the schemes, as opposed to the pallid grey of the ship on TOS -- but I'm just curious.

Also, the ships appear to have rust on them in the painting. I like that too -- like photos of a warship! -- but how is it possible for a ship to rust in space?

Thanks.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Larry_Dunn I picked up my $12.00 Klingon battlecruiser from Polar Lights today. I feel a bit silly building this crude snap-together kit when I consider all the scratchbuilds going in here, but I will press forward for the Empire!

Dont feel silly I have that kit and it was quite a bit of work to make it look good. Looking forward to seeing your progress.

Hey Steven nice start there. You look to have gotten the hull shape worked out nicely. How many layers did it take?

Matt

StevenQ: Good start on that Kestrel!

Larry Dunn: Don't worry about trying to match the color scheme to my schematics. If I were you I'd paint your D7 to resemble the actual studio model rather than my museum schematics. I didn't have such good references when I drew them, so I just made them overall untinted grey, but a bit darker than Enterprise.

Ketr: Welcome! Your pic's not showing up (at least for me).

Thanks guys. It took 8 layers on each side( top and bottom). Thanks for the tips Woody, I'll remember those, should be doing that this weekend. Need to do it when weather is good and it won't stop rainging here.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Masao StevenQ: Good start on that Kestrel! Larry Dunn: Don't worry about trying to match the color scheme to my schematics.

I prefer your schematics!

No way the Klingon ship colors was uniform throughout hundreds of years of history. They had to have been that color at one point! Anyway, this is the Museum build, so my model will resembe the museum display.

Hi,
This is my first post, hope you like it

Same ship, diferent angle

Great pictures of the Amarillo class!
Let me also welcome you to the forum.

Thanks, is one of my first 3d models, I will be working on another ship from the Museum very soon

Hi ketr, and welcome to the forum. Nice job on the 3D model. Do you have plans to build one up in plastic? That would be a cool subject for sure.

Matt

Hey there group....my name's Mark. If it's not to late I'd like to try and build the Avenger from the Starfleet Museum. It's a pretty cool looking ship and I think I might be able to pull it off. So if it's not too late, could ya guys count me in. Talk to you all later when I have something to show.

Hey StevenQ..That Arcadia looks really cool. You don't live in Arcadia CA by any chance do you?

The Syko Ward

Hello Mark, Welcome to the forum. I have added you to the build roster. Excellent choice in subjects, your a man of great taste in starship designs.

I worked for about a half-hour on my Polar Lights D-7 last night, and got most of the sub-assemblies constructed. I want to get them all built so I can start filling all the obvious gaps in the kit. I just cut off the snap together pegs because they usually make for a horrible fit, and glued the pieces together.

It's a cute little kit, but the fit is pretty awful, as one can generally expect from an injection molded Trek kit. I guess it's the unusual shapes. Maybe Tamiya will eventually do one!

Not at this time, (plastic model) but it's an interesting idea, I really like the design of the ship

Hey, Ketr! Can you send me larger versions of those pics for posting in the museum?

QUOTE: Originally posted by The Syko Ward Hey there group....my name's Mark. If it's not to late I'd like to try and build the Avenger from the Starfleet Museum. It's a pretty cool looking ship and I think I might be able to pull it off. So if it's not too late, could ya guys count me in. Talk to you all later when I have something to show. Hey StevenQ..That Arcadia looks really cool. You don't live in Arcadia CA by any chance do you? The Syko Ward

Hey Mark, welcome. Yes Arcadia, CA. Your handle sounds familiar. Did I direct you to Paragon Plastics in El Monte while over at Starship Modeler? I could be wrong. Nice to see ya over here.

SteveQ, I love that someone is doing the Kestral... Great job so far!

Ketr... way to go on the texturing of your 3D ship. May I ask what program you're using? I've done several of Masao's ships in 3ds Max, but never bothered posting them. I am impressed with your texturing, though. What program did you make the textures in?

Thanks Captain. I actually "gooped" the top half this morning. Had to work fast as the stuff was starting to dry out quick. Hopefully I can do the other side tomorrow.

Hey there StevenQ. Yup, that's me. Great to see your here too. And yes it was Paragon Plastics. The stuff I bought there is what I'll be using for this build. I'm currently working on a card stock prototype of the ship to get all my measurements rights. then I'll use those as a pattern for the plasticard pieces for the actual build. This should be real fun.

The Syko Ward

Oh...I have a question. What's the Goop method? I was going to use Magicsculp and some bondo for my masters. Still working on building a vacuum frame too.

The Syko Ward

The "goop" in question is a mixture that Woody was kind enough to pass along. It starts with bits of styrene in a glass jar, add MEK(find at Home Despot) and let sit for a while until it turns into a, well, goop. Mine had just reached its "smooth peanut butter" consistancy needed as Woody mentioned. I was able to coat the bottom half this afternoon.
The bonus to this mix is, as using it for a putty of sorts, it dries as styrene that can be scribed. Scribing putty doesn't really work. Don't know about Bondo or epoxy putty. This is the first build where I'm using this. More pics to come. Mark if you need any help, let me know.

Sorry Masao, I was away for a couple of days but sure just tell me what size do you need them, i'll be happy to sende them to you.