DocTor's SS ROTJ AT-ST

[DocTor]

I just got started on my Nice-N Models ROTJ SS AT-ST. While at first glance this appears to be a great casting, in truth it's turning out to be quite a challenge to build. The parts fit is excellent, but some parts have lots of bubbles, cracks and fissures while others have pieces malformed on so thin that they break from gentle handling. At first I thought some of the guns were missing from my kit. I emailed Steve but got no response. I later found that they were indeed in the kit, but broken into tiny bits at the bottom of a parts bag. The main guns looked weird after I carefully sanded the flashing off them and I wasn't satisfied with final results so I built my own out of brass and aluminum tube. I used guitar string ($10) in place of the supplied resin hoses as they were in the same rough shape as the supplied guns. I added some greeblies to spruce up the engine compartment. I'm learning a lot from this kit and it's going to built up into quite the impressive display piece. Here are some pics (sorry for the blurred ones) that show my progress including all the Bondo I used. I haven't primed and resanded yet. The legs are next.

[REL]

Very nice. This is going to be a good one, I like the fact you replaced all the guns with brass.

[777]

Excellent. Sounds like a lot of clean up work. Keep the progress shots coming!

[DocTor]

Looking better with a single coat of primer:

[777]

Looking better with a single coat of primer:
That's why I love all the progress shots you guys are doing. Puts a lot of perspective behind the amount of work done. Excellent!

[DocTor]

I just wanted to show everyone how I was securing the legs. I used brass tube of various diameters with the larger diameter protruding and a smaller one inside. It gives a nice impression of some sort of screw/fastener without having to use one. I'll post some more pictures after I prime the legs later today.

[JohnLogan]

Whoa!! Nice job
:thumbsup:
-John

[DocTor]

Here's what it will look like. This is the final pose. The red block will be a fallen tree in a diorama. It's just pieced together now and not yet glued in place. I need to find a suitable base to attach the legs to before I fix the legs, body and head in place. I still need to find the appropriate color, although the primer doesn't look too far off.

[DocTor]

OK, I finally got around to re-posing the AT-ST. The previous pose looked like an armless monkey and not a 'chicken. I chose a pose that shows each leg and joint at a different angle/configuration to make it more interesting. Should I glue or change it? Any suggestions?

[RKW]

I like the new pose much better. The left foot might be reaching out a little too far past its center of gravity. The way you currently have it the body would have to push forwards a bit before being able to lift its right leg off the ground.

[DocTor]

Here's an update that shows the (hopefully) final pose (if everyone likes it). Thanks to my wife I've discovered blogger. It's a lot easier to post updates there:

http://kenflorence.blogspot.com/

[Kuhn Global]

That is a pretty nice pose Ken! I really like it! :D