Yes..ANOTHER Refit Thread..

[PakRatJR]

Yall's probably gittin tired of seeing these, but too bad..HEHE..:D

I am actually just taking pic's for myself but I figured I might as well post them here to. I actually started this almost a month ago already.:eek:
Again, please excuse the bad photography. I really need to get a new camera:(

I am building this off of the Christies Auction photos. I won't be doing the interior details (shuttle bay, rec, arboretum) but I will be lighting it at some point.

These are before going into primer (obviously). It's not perfect but I am happy so far. I'll have to wait to see how it looks in primer before I decide if I want to do any more bodywork.

[vaderman1701]

Looking good so far. Can't wait to see her primered.

Scott

[PakRatJR]

Thanks Scott.

I'm hoping to have it in primer by the weekend and get them up, although, it will probably be a few more weeks before I can do any more on it after that as I'm still debating on how I want to do the lighting.:)

[The TrekModeler]

Great clean work so far sir!

[PakRatJR]

Great clean work so far sir!
Thank you sir:)

[PakRatJR]

Thanks mech...will-do...

[Raist3001]

Very nice. One heck of a start.

[PakRatJR]

Thanks Raist:)

Well....I just got her into primer.
I must say, it don't look too bad:D. One or two SMALL spots witch will clean up with a bit of fine sandpaper and I think I'll leave it at that.

I don't have pics yet but I will get them up later tonight.
Until then....

[talon]

you're such a tease

[Scorpius]

The more refit threads the better, looks great!

[PakRatJR]

Thanks Scorpius
Thanks Talon...I try..lol

Well...Pictures in primer, and a attempt at getting some better pics. with allot more lighting (sadly it didn't work a whole lot better):mad::( I still had to do some balancing in photoshop. I think it's finally time to break down and buy a new camera.

[TridCloudwalker]

Looking amazing so far. What kind of primer are you using, and how are you applying it?

[PakRatJR]

Thanks mech:)


Looking amazing so far. What kind of primer are you using, and how are you applying it?
Thanks,
The primer is rattle-can DupliColor sandable "hotrod grey" I actually have 4 coats on her applied somewhat lightly..lol..

I will be doing some prelim lighting tests tonight to see how she looks. (and to see how many "leaks" I have..lol...)

[PakRatJR]

Light test.
The first one is with a flash. The rest are no flash.
I am testing with a bunch of Christmas tree lights shoved in through the hangar bay.

I didn't pull the tape off the arboretum windows (pain in the a$$ to re-tape) and no lights yet in the neck.

Their are a few obligatory light leaks, but not too bad actually, mainly coming through the panel lines. Easy fix.:D

[R L Bleecker]

^ See... that's about as bright as I think the windows should be at scale. Perfect.

[PakRatJR]

Thanks OOT.

I'm kind of thinking the same thing on the brightness. Mainly after seeing it with the test lights. I think I am going to go a tad brighter but not much.

My real lighting, as I have it planed, I now know will end up being too bright so I am already doing a little rethinking on the actual amount of lights to use.

[The TrekModeler]

Light test.
The first one is with a flash. The rest are no flash.
I am testing with a bunch of Christmas tree lights shoved in through the hangar bay.

I didn't pull the tape off the arboretum windows (pain in the a$$ to re-tape) and no lights yet in the neck.

Their are a few obligatory light leaks, but not too bad actually, mainly coming through the panel lines. Easy fix.:D

That is gonna be one beautiful refit model!

[Raist3001]

That is one mighty fine job PakRat. She already looks beautiful with just primer.

[PakRatJR]

Thanks guys:D

I think I finally have the main lighting figured out. I hoping to get them ordered up next week sometime.

I've been debating on using either Trekmodels kit or CCFLs. I think I'm going with the CCFLs to start with. I know for sure I want to use them in the nacelles, and I think they should work well for the window lighting, although I'm pretty sure I will have to defuse them a bit more. I'll start with one kit and see how she looks, then go from their.

Until then....I still have the running and nav lights to sort out, but I have a idea for them also.....I think???...and I am also working on the deflector lighting.

[Raist3001]

I've been debating on using either Trekmodels kit or CCFLs.

Trekmodelers kit is fantastic. I've got 2 for 2 more Refit builds. You also get a very professional instruction manual in full color. Trek's kit takes all the planning and mapping of wires out of a build.

Now Trek...if you could only get us the E-E lighting kit :)

[PakRatJR]

Trekmodelers kit is fantastic. I've got 2 for 2 more Refit builds. You also get a very professional instruction manual in full color. Trek's kit takes all the planning and mapping of wires out of a build.

Now Trek...if you could only get us the E-E lighting kit :)
Might as well add the E-D on to the list right away too..hehe...

[Kuhn Global]

I LOVE the amount of light you let through your windows PakRatJR!!! :D It gives the beastie better scale to me! Plus... it makes for better photos when leaving the shutter open for any longer length of time. ;)

I like what I see here! Good work sir! :D

[PakRatJR]

Thank you Kurt:D:D

Well....not much of an update really, but I am currently re-working my base for this.

I set the saucer and nacelles on her and I had ALLOT more "wiggle" than I would like :mad::(
Coinsidentley...that also means I am re-working my power supply :alright:

I do have a few more ideas, and will be working on them for a bit.

Edit: Actually more of a wobble than a wiggle...lol...

[Kuhn Global]

Well.... even re-doing a power supply is progress my friend! :D

I will be watching with wide open eyes! :D :cool::cool::cool::cool:

Most excellent sir! :cool::cool::cool:

[PakRatJR]

Well.... even re-doing a power supply is progress my friend! :D

I will be watching with wide open eyes! :D :cool::cool::cool::cool:

Most excellent sir! :cool::cool::cool:
Thank you again Kurt.

Any progress is always good....:D...LOL...even if it is a bit in the wrong direction at times.
hehe.....I think it's supposed to be going together, not coming apart :confused::D...OH WELL, just more fun:D

Good point on the photo taking also. I have a few ideas I want to try on how to want to photograph her when she's done. Shutter speeds will defanatly playing a part in it.

[PakRatJR]

Small update:D

I finally had some time tonight to get my new power supply put together.
It is 110AC input with 12V and 5V output.
5V will be running the flasher and LEDs, and 12V will be running CCFLs for the interior and nacelle lighting.

And just to prove it works...
The red LEDs are running off of 5V and the blue is off of 12V.

I am hoping to have the flasher put together, and have the works set up in the base by the weekend.

[PakRatJR]

Hey all:D:D

Yes, I know it's been a WHILE!!!!
But I just wanted to add a small update on this project.

I FINALLY got this out of my garage AND out of the box it was packed in:w00t::w00t::). hehe

Got ahold of talon and ordered up a set of decals, AND finally got my lights ordered!

Now I just hope I will find the time to actually work on it :mad::p.

Later all

[jockdeboer]

Very cool. Who makes the kit?

[PakRatJR]

Very cool. Who makes the kit?
It's the 1:350 kit made by Polar Lights.
It's a nice big kit with alot of detailing possibilites.

[PakRatJR]

Sadly, no real major progress yet mech.

My lights showed up and I did get to play around with them a little bit.
I gotta say....I don't hate em:)

I do unfortunately need to rethink my previously rethunk power supply though:mad:

It would have worked excellent if I stuck with all LED lights, but the CCFLs draw a bit too much juice for it.
So....on to plan C.....wich conveniently is just to go back to plan A...more or less..:confused:
I will use my first idea for the power supply and possibly just modify my base for the old girl.

I'm gonna do some shopping this weekend to see what I can come up with.
:)

[PakRatJR]

Hey all.

Small update....finally:rolleyes::D

Nuttin' fancy, but this is a few quick snaps with the new hull lighting installed.

These are with my cell phone, so as usual, not the greatest pics.
The lights come out allot brighter than they actually are.

Their are two CCFLS in the main hull and one in the neck.

Hopefully, more updates SOON

Till then
Later

[Griffworks]

Lookin' awesome! :thumbsup:

[PakRatJR]

Hey waddaya know....more lights :D

And still with the light leaks :mad:. Oh well, I already have another idea for that.

As usual though, not the greatest pics. Their from my phone again.

The "hot spots" in the deflector are not actually as bad as they look, and I only have a couple of saucer window cleaned up.

I am going to borrow a camera this weekend and try to get some good pics.

Later ;)

[PakRatJR]

CAPTIN'......THEIR BE PROGRESS HERE.....

Little update...yippe...:D:D

Nacelles are wired up, sealed up, and mounted.
(side note....) No matter how hard you try....you just can't shove 6 wires through a hole made for three :mad::mad:

Upper saucer is completely wired.
Lower saucer is mounted for good. I have one more LED to glue in, and it will be completely wired. Then all I need to do is tie the halves together and the saucer will be done.

I have the four thruster LEDs left to mount up in the deflector housing, the LEDs for the docking bay doors, and two more strobes to mount above and below the docking bay.

AND THEN.....tie in all the rest of the wires in the girl and then I can close her up completely. :D:D:D (boy is their allot of wire)

I must add also, I was expecting her to be nose heavy.....but I think I SLIGHTLY under estimated the actual amount of nose.....heavy....ness :confused:....ummmm yea.....

anyway
It don't sit too bad, but I will need to reinforce the base a tad more.

Later :D

[PakRatJR]

:eek::eek::eek:
OH....MY....GOD....I AM OUT OF PARTS!!!!!!! HOLEY CRAP

Coincidentley.....that also means I am out of places to put them.
Which also means.....

I AM DONE WITH THE BUILD!!!!! WOOHOO :w00t::w00t::jive::jive::D:D:D:biggrin:

I just need to let some glue dry, then fill a few seams and it is ready for paint, and if all goes as planed, that will be later on today. And yes pics will follow. HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY :D

Later

[79 daytona]

COOL!! Can't wait to see them.:D

[jockdeboer]

My God! I cannot beleive I have one of these on order. I sure hope I can do it justice as you are...

[talon]

Mine should arrive by next weekend and I'm just going to stash it away. I got the Paragraphix photoetch too and I cant wait to build it up. Its going to be my ultimate build, lights, PE, painted pearl azteking like Disillusions's using multiple hued pearl paint. Its going to take all summer but I'm going to wait until I move into the duplex in July because I'll have the whole garage for a shop. I want to do this thing right.

[PakRatJR]

Thanks guys.

I was able to get some paint down, but I ran out before I got it completely done :mad:
I just got home from the store with a few more cans and will at least have the white finished up tonight.

I know I promised pictures....but I am waiting on my newly purchased camera (finally) :D:D I'm hoping it will be here by the weekend.

[talon]

Thanks guys.

I know I promised pictures....but I am waiting on my newly purchased camera (finally) :D:D I'm hoping it will be here by the weekend.


What did you get? Last week I bought a Canon Digital Rebel XSi with a 55-250mm macro zoom lens, a studio lighting kit with 2 12" reflectors and 1 5 inch reflector, stands, bulbs, a case, and 2 46" umbrella diffusion reflectors and a set of chroma key backgrounds. It shipped today and is supposed to get here Thursday or Friday.

[PakRatJR]

What did you get? Last week I bought a Canon Digital Rebel XSi with a 55-250mm macro zoom lens, a studio lighting kit with 2 12" reflectors and 1 5 inch reflector, stands, bulbs, a case, and 2 46" umbrella diffusion reflectors and a set of chroma key backgrounds. It shipped today and is supposed to get here Thursday or Friday.

:eek::eek::eek::notworthy:

After that list....I'm almost embarrassed to tell ya what I got. :(

I wish I could have bought a setup like that....but I just got a plain-jane 8mp Kodak.

At some point I will get a GOOD setup, but this will work for now.

[PakRatJR]

Hey....guess what.....PICTURES.....YAY :D:D

So....my new toy showed up today, so I figured I'd try it out.
I noticed that a couple of the pics are a tad blurry....but I AM still getting used to the camera, so....:tongue5:

Anyway....onwards with the progress. (sorta...)

I got the white on over Memorial weekend and started playing around with the colors I wanted to use for the rest of the bits. And as you can tell....it is STILL white :mad:
Suffice it to say, I had some paint issues. And after working on it since about Wednesday, it is back to EXACTLY where it was Memorial weekend. :wtf:
I gotta say....
Do you know how much of a pain in the arse it is to wet sand something like this???? It is not fun...and I did it 3...YES THREE times :eek: before I said screw it, and decided to move on.

The warp grills do actually have a nice purple color to them, but I wasn't able to get it to show yet.
The crystals on top of the nacelles have a nice blue glow to them, but I think they look white in the pics.
The torpedoes will "fire".....but they won't be installed until Tuesday ;)
My saucer lights didn't come out quite as bright as I was hoping, but still look ok.

My next step is getting the blue....ish?? stuff painted (again). I got a couple of color suggestions from Elkybaby and Disillusionist, thank you guys :D, so I will give them a try and see what happens. And this time I am painting a few test pieces first. :cool:

Once that is done, it is getting clear coated and then comes all the decals.
I am sorta cheating with the aztecing and using Talons decals.

Well....enjoy the pics and feel free to comment, good and bad.

Later :D

Edit to add one more pic. the docking port on the saucer. Thanks DarthDuck,(if he happens to read this anyway) That was the piece I had to re-make with the Alumilite :)

[Elkybaby]

Sweet! I love the refit:D

[PakRatJR]

Sweet! I love the refit:D
Thank you :D
I'm still not convinced that it would hold up well compairing it to some of the other builds I have seen here, including yours, but I am hopeing that it will have at least a slight chance. :rolleyes::D

[Elkybaby]

No prob, just let me know if you need any help, Im a BIG fan of the original TMP refit.

[79 daytona]

WOW!!! Looking GOOD!!:D

[PakRatJR]

Thank you 79 :D


Update of sorts.....
I think I am done with the paint part of it...at least for now. I want to wait until I start getting the decals put on before I decide if I need to do more.

Also,
How is it....that 2 big brown hand prints don't show up on your nice white paint until AFTER you get your clear put on????:mad::mad::mad::wtf:

[PakRatJR]

One more quick update, then I'm done for tonight.

Started layin' down the decals.
I tell ya.....If my understanding of the whole aztecing thing is right, and you are trying to go for subtle.....well, Talon defiantly nailed it!!! :D:D:D:notworthy:

The first couple I put on were the ones behind the impulse crystal.
I almost freaked out because I didn't actually see any difference as I was putting them on, which also made it a bit tricky to line up.:wtf::confused:

BUT....after they actually dried...WOW :eek:

So....that can be a good lesson to others that may be using these.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A GOOD WAY TO LINE THEM UP!!! you can't really see some of them all that well once they're wet.

Once you are able to really see them to know if they are right.....it's too late to do anything about it.

Oh, and...yes, I already narfed one.....or two :mad::(

later

[Raytheon]

Thank you :D
I'm still not convinced that it would hold up well compairing it to some of the other builds I have seen here, including yours, but I am hopeing that it will have at least a slight chance. :rolleyes::D

To be honest mate I don't think it matters that much. You and others know it's a hell of a lot of work just to crank one of these bad motor scooters out.
Just completing it can be a trial and getting to the end of it is no small achievement so never mind the comparison nonsense. The build is looking good and you certainly getting there, that's as good a reason as anything to draw some satisfaction outta the task at hand.

Splendid work thusfar. Keep it going!
:D

[Max Zephyr]

Always room for more Refit's. Looking great.

[Kuhn Global]

THIS is beautiful work PakRatJR! :D

Nicely done my friend! :D

[PakRatJR]

Thank you VERY VERY MUCH all :D

Small update for ya.
Top of the saucer.

I got all but the bottom of the main hull done. I am still trying to decide the best way to work around my mount.

The top of the saucer is almost done. Two more panels to go, and a wee bit more of the painting thing, and that should be that, at least for the top anyway.

I took pictures with the two panels off so you could see the difference.

Time so far??? OHHHH I'd say.....about seven...ish hours tonight. And that is the top of the dish so far, and the starboard side of the hull.

Time total???? I don't know how much I actually had the first night but I would guess abouts three or four hours. SOOO ten or eleven so far???? roughly, give or take an hour or so.

I think that I am a little less than half done?? And that don't include the kit decals either. :eek::cool:

[jockdeboer]

Looking good. I have one of these and I cannot even imagine trying to paint all of the decals...

[79 daytona]

Again looking GOOD!!! I never get tired of looking at these refit kits.:D

[talon]

I love seeing build ups of these. This is the first one I've seen (not counting Thomas Johnson's custom set) on the large PL kit. I always love seeing the difference with the partial application and it really shows what the decals do. I may need to borrow some images for my website when you're finished :D

[PakRatJR]

I love seeing build ups of these. This is the first one I've seen (not counting Thomas Johnson's custom set) on the large PL kit. I always love seeing the difference with the partial application and it really shows what the decals do. I may need to borrow some images for my website when you're finished :D
Thanks Talon :D

Feel free to use what you like. I will try to get some GOOD pics to post also at some point.

[PakRatJR]

:mad::mad::mad: AAAARRRGGGHHH!!! :mad::mad::mad:

I just spent the past few hours dong what I had hoped would finally be the last of the painting that I needed to do.

I have been trying to figure out the "right" color to use for the blue bits on the front of the nacelles and pylons down to the hull and the spots around the bridge that, as far as I can tell, should all be the same color.

I have gotten a few recommendations, but so far haven't been quite what I was going for. I still have one more to try, but haven't been able to find it yet.

I decided to try to do some custom mixing and came up with a color that I THOUGHT would be right.....and after getting everything painted....now I'm not so sure.

After a closer look, it really ain't a whole lot off from the standard Testors light blue, which is what I had originally and NOT what I wanted. :wtf::mad:

Oh well....
I give up for tonight.
I have a few places to hit tomorrow that wern't open today. I'll see what I can find and go from their.

On the plus side though...the top of the saucer is done being decaled :D
Now all that's left is the bottom of the saucer, the nacelles, pylons, and the bottom of the hull :cool:
Will probably have more pics later this week.

Later

[79 daytona]

It can be a real pain trying to find that right color i think we're all be down that road before.

[PakRatJR]

Thanks guys:D

79....I'm fairly sure you are right on that. At least, I was kinda hopeing I wasn't the only one :confused: hehehe.

On the bright side though......
After sleeping on it....I took another look last night and actually cought myself saying....that actually don't look too bad....:)

I do still need to change one or two spots....but I think I might actually leave the rest alone. :D

We'll see what happens when I get home tonight.

And I might actually get more pics up also.:D

Later

[PakRatJR]

Small update
Yes....I know it has been a while....:rolleyes:

Their really hasn't been a whole lot of "interesting" stuff going on with this lately. Basically just spending a bit of time here and their applying all the decals.

Being that I'm fairly sure most of you already know what that process looks like...:confused:;)....I didn't think that anyone would mind NOT seeing a bunch of pics on that.

But, on the plus side.....

I am now moving this to the FINISHED section....YAY!!! :D:D:D
http://www.resinilluminati.com/showthread.php?t=7239 (http://www.resinilluminati.com/showthread.php?t=7239)