SS TIE Fighter Scratchbuild

[Mensaboy]

and so it begins....

:)

[bg_451]

Jeez Mensaboy, you're a machine! :notworthy: If this turns out anything like your X-Wing (I'm sure it will) it's going to be sweet :D :D
Cheers, JT

[Kuhn Global]

:cool::cool::cool::cool:

[Scott Graham]

Man, you can make anything. I'm way too intimidated by starting something from scratch - just can't do it. I already know this is going to be AWESOME!!!! :notworthy:

[NAZGÛL]

Nice! Im looking forward to follow your build and to see this finished!


Cheers

[Mensaboy]

here is attempt 3 of the strut detail, i have no pictures of attempt 1 and 2, i deleted them and burned the plastic...dancing around them in a grass skirt and throwing chicken bones :mad:

this one looks fairly close tho, im also spending a considerable amount of time simply smoothing and finishing this for use as a master, im doing so because the empire ships are virtually brand new any time we see them, so there will be little weathering to cover up any flaws in construction

[Kuhn Global]

Cory.... duuuuuuude... you are like a Terminator..... no stopping you! :D

Excellent work my friend! :notworthy::notworthy::notworthy::notworthy:

[NAZGÛL]

Looking good!

I have been thinking about starting something like this some day.

Your work is coming along nicely. What "ball" are you using? Why did you decide to detail it before drilling holes?


Cheers

[Mensaboy]

Looking good!

I have been thinking about starting something like this some day.

Your work is coming along nicely. What "ball" are you using? Why did you decide to detail it before drilling holes?


Cheers

its a gerbil ball from Petco, i cut it in half off axis about 15 degrees to avoid the seam on the quarter i need

it was made of a plastic that worked with pro-weld/tenax (just lucky), and i filled half of the breathing holes with styrene strips

i left it full for the start so it maintained its shape and strength well - i also built a balsa jig to hold the aluminum tube and the hemisphere in place, with markers for center and square

i didnt drill the holes, i scribed circles with my calipers and then cut it out with a dremel, i also filled in the backside/inside with a layer of aves to give it some thickness

i will be using this master and casting 4 pieces, so i didnt put on any greeblies or scribe and lines that werent duplicated on all quarters, the silicone is setting now so i will have a rough completed cockpit section posted tonight

i have no idea how big the SS tie actually was but i think this 5" ball is close, or maybe a hair small - but if i wasted time with completely inconsequential minutiae like that id still be refining the wings on my X-Wing :eek:

[INCOM]

Fantastic job!!! If I remember correctly 5" is the right size for the SS cockpit ball.

[79 daytona]

WOW!!! You are the man!!!:notworthy: I can't wait to see how this turns out.

[Mensaboy]

no time for chit chat, running off to work...

[beeblebrox666]

...burned the plastic...dancing around them in a grass skirt and throwing chicken bones


:lol: :lol: :lol:

Beautifull work.

[NAZGÛL]

Wow man. Awesome! Looks really nice.

[elgato]

DAMN!!! That's killer Cory!

[robn1]

Awesome work!

[Mensaboy]

thank you for your input, dont geek out too much else i may get a swelled head :)

the wing struts done, now some greebs on the main struts and ill move on to the canopy details

[Kuhn Global]

dont geek out too much else i may get a swelled head :)



LOLOLOLOL.....

[79 daytona]

Outstanding work!!!!:D

[Mensaboy]

so here we are with the main strut greebs all done, and about half of the cockpit bits patterned, also the window frame

i made 1/8 of the window (you can actually see the master just behind the sharpie in the middle photo), and then cast it 8 times so i could be sure of symmetry, i think it came out pretty good - the radial bits are a tad too straight, but thats due to some tension during assembly, i will heat the whole thing and smooth it down to a round form at some point - most of the plastic isnt even cured fully yet - and i havent cleaned up the flash or anything either

im thinking ill get it really good, then recast it as a whole unit

see yall tomorrow, same bat time...

[NAZGÛL]

That is looking really great!:notworthy:

When looking at the pics I noticed 2 things. First the small pieces in the middle of the windows (small rectangular ones) might be a tad big. The other thing is that there should be a bigger diference in height between the biceps/triceps compaired to the arm. Yours look quite straight from the ball to the wing. Perhaps its the pictures that are fooling me.

Sorry that I cant explain this better in english! Heres a pic that might help.



Im greatly impressed with your skills!:notworthy:

[NAZGÛL]

I had to go back and look again, because your work is looking so nice. Very inspiring to follow this.

Are you scratching all the details? They look very correct!

[Mensaboy]

I had to go back and look again, because your work is looking so nice. Very inspiring to follow this.

Are you scratching all the details? They look very correct!

everything is scratchbuilt with evergreen, ill post a photo of the masters later

i marked a few lines in this pic, is this the step you are talking about that looks incorrect? if it is, then you are definately correct, i have been thinking about fixing that

[NAZGÛL]

Yeah thats what I ment.

How can you make such perfect details? Damn I also want to be this gifted LOL!

How does one make this pattern?

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/4317/mensa2.jpg

[Mensaboy]

Yeah thats what I ment.

How can you make such perfect details? Damn I also want to be this gifted LOL!

How does one make this pattern?


LOL...

you make that pattern with 13 little pieces of styrene :)

[Mensaboy]

heres the master for some bits

[79 daytona]

That looks GREAT!!!:D Its a real joy to watch your work.

[Mensaboy]

cockpit frame V2, and i fixed the step Nazgul was talkin about - thanks :)

[Hackcore]

Wow!! What a clean work. Always cool to watch your stuff Cory.

[NAZGÛL]

cockpit frame V2, and i fixed the step Nazgul was talkin about - thanks :)

Looks perfect now!:notworthy:

I cant believe how fast and nice this build is going... Impressive stuff! Are you planning on offer kits from this?

How do you plan on making the cool shade area on the wings?

[Sean C]

This is AWESOME! It's incredible to see the progress!!

[Mensaboy]

Are you planning on offer kits from this?

How do you plan on making the cool shade area on the wings?

i am actually considering offering kits, but i have no desire to get a vacuum or pressure cast rig going

so these would be high skill level, builders kits, essentially all the resin i cast for myself (many little bits, similar to the FM Falcon)- so whoever wanted one would have to do a fair amount of fitting and greeblies themselves - the upside is it would be fairly inexpensive

regarding the koolshade i have a plan, though i want to create a panel and submit a photo to you guys for your thoughts - before i reveal how i make the master

however, if someone has some scrap koolshade they want to donate for added accuracy - i wouldnt turn them down :)

[NAZGÛL]

Sounds cool. Sorry, if I had any Id be happy to help out.

[Mensaboy]

sorry for the lack of udates, i had a brutal week at work :mad:

heres a few sneaks at my initial mockup of the wing with all the major players in place

[The Cat]

That isn't a model - that is ART.

[79 daytona]

WOW!!! That looks outstanding.

[Mensaboy]

i think ill do one side and one arm a night, that should be an attainable goal

:)

[ModelMan]

Droooool!

If as a kit this is well below Nice'N's base price, you got a ravenous customer! I don't care how I gotta get the cash! (Just hope I can get it when you are ready to deliver!)

[Mensaboy]

Droooool!

If as a kit this is well below Nice'N's base price, you got a ravenous customer! I don't care how I gotta get the cash! (Just hope I can get it when you are ready to deliver!)


if i do offer a kit, it will have many differences from Steve's

it will obviously not be accurate because im scratch building all the kitbashed parts
it will very likely not be accurate to size, as i have made everything "look" right to me, anyone concerned with holding a ruler up to it would not be interested
i am trying to capture every detail, including the tiny bolt heads and such, but they only look perfect with normal vision, a pass with a magnifying lens will certainly reveal the "handmade" in it
it will require much work, although all the cast pieces will be exactly what i use - there is a significant amount of fitting and sanding, scribing lines, placing parts, virtually every piece will require attention

i intend to make it as different an offering as possible, including a significant one to be revealed at a later time ;)

for now though, i wish to concentrate on the build so that is all i have to say regarding a kit until it is a reality :cool:

[sciford]

Droooool!

If as a kit this is well below Nice'N's base price, you got a ravenous customer! I don't care how I gotta get the cash! (Just hope I can get it when you are ready to deliver!)

Make that 2 ravenous customers. Fantastic work you got going on there.:notworthy:

if i do offer a kit, it will have many differences from Steve's

it will obviously not be accurate because im scratch building all the kitbashed parts
it will very likely not be accurate to size, as i have made everything "look" right to me, anyone concerned with holding a ruler up to it would not be interested
i am trying to capture every detail, including the tiny bolt heads and such, but they only look perfect with normal vision, a pass with a magnifying lens will certainly reveal the "handmade" in it
it will require much work, although all the cast pieces will be exactly what i use - there is a significant amount of fitting and sanding, scribing lines, placing parts, virtually every piece will require attention

i intend to make it as different an offering as possible, including a significant one to be revealed at a later time ;)

for now though, i wish to concentrate on the build so that is all i have to say regarding a kit until it is a reality :cool:


All scratchbuilt?? All the more genuine. I wanna light one up and photograph it!

[Mensaboy]

im getting a bit ahead of myself here, i may need to take some time off

;)

seriously though i am feeling this irresistible urge to finish this part and get it buried in silicone, i wonder what the psychological term for this is...

[79 daytona]

Looking GOOD!!!!:D

[Mensaboy]

ya cant stop me :p

[NAZGÛL]

That is looking awesome!

I think a kit would be very interesting. And I dont see a problem that people would need to build and work on it. Actually that would be more fun IMO.

Impressive stuff!

[Mensaboy]

definitely some sort of mental illness....

[79 daytona]

You are doing some outstanding work!!!:D

Say what are you going to use for the panels.

[Mensaboy]

thx for the comments peeps

if you look previously youll see pics with my panels in, i will go into detail later when i refine them a bit more

[NAZGÛL]

Thats magic, man! how do you plan to make the hatches? Bigger ball?

[Mensaboy]

i havent thought about the hatches yet, saving that for last :)

i have come close to finalizing the wing panel design, i am looking to make it as strong, and as inexpensive as possible

for now it stands as a hand laid fiberglass (with my own secret twist), 4 layers of cloth and 3 layers of mat - just enough resin to fill the glass on each layer

what i end up with is a .12 inch sheet thats uber strong - for about $50 a pair for materials

[Mensaboy]

:-)

[79 daytona]

WOW!! Great idea with the fiberglass that looks GREAT!!

[Mensaboy]

made a master for the wing edge strips, basically a long strip that needs to be cut and fit in place

it takes a bit of work on the build end, but is simple and easy for casting purposes

[79 daytona]

Looking GOOD!!!!:D

[NAZGÛL]

Oh that looks dead on. Very good indeed! :)

I compaired your wings with reference pics and Id say you nailed the look!

[Mensaboy]

wing caps done, heres a strange oddity - every time i do a mold with moldmax 40 the first few pulls have this slimy sticky tacky surface, then it goes away, anyone know what thats all about?

[modelnutz]

wing caps done, heres a strange oddity - every time i do a mold with moldmax 40 the first few pulls have this slimy sticky tacky surface, then it goes away, anyone know what thats all about?

That is the result of the alcohol leaching from the silicone.
That's the reason I bake ( post cure ) my molds in an oven set at 180 degrees for a half hour.

Try it...you'll never have that issue again.

[ModelMan]

Beautiful work! If casting it in a million little parts keeps the cost down, I'm up for the challenge!

[Star Wars Scratchbuilder]

Lovely thread -great work there! Seems like you got some momentum the way you produce parts.:o

[Hackcore]

Beautiful work Cory! Beautiful!!

[Mensaboy]

thx for the comments guys

i have been a bit busy lately so not to big an update

i have aquired a real cheap (freeish) vacuum pump, and for about $40 in stuff i have a working degasser, so now i can redo some of the molds and hopefully get more than 2 pulls before they get shittted up with 100 tiny air bubble BBs i have to pick off, the wing struts were just a nightmare...

for now heres the rear bit

so all thats left now for mastering is the top and bottom hatch, guns, and the thingy at the top of this rear bit, one thing is certain i will have one finished by June 3, it is going to be a gift for my best friends birthday - i do believe he is going to shit himself :)

[NAZGÛL]

You mean this tank suspension thingie?

http://bitmeister.com/beaz/tie/tamiya-m10-bogie.jpg
(borrowed the pic from http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=59998&highlight=building+hero+tie&page=3)

Your TIE looks awesome!:notworthy:


Cheers

[Mensaboy]

yep, thats the part thanx for the photo, it will make it easier to scratch it
:)

[Kuhn Global]

Cory! This is coming along BEAUTIFULLY! :cool::cool::cool::cool:

[3D-builder]

This is a fantastic thread, I am really not looking forward to it finishing up!!!!:D

[Mensaboy]

greeblies upon ya!

so most of the stuff is off the checklist now, only hatches and interior left :)

This is a fantastic thread, I am really not looking forward to it finishing up!!!!:D
dont fret none 3D, my next project promises to be something quite unique and ambitious (and likely impossible without the help of the people on this forum)

[79 daytona]

WOW!! That looks GREAT!!:D Man i wish i had your skill.

[NAZGÛL]

That is looking really good! Did you decide not to use a LED holder for the guns? Or maybe the camera angle is fooling me?

[Mensaboy]

That is looking really good! Did you decide not to use a LED holder for the guns? Or maybe the camera angle is fooling me?

lol, i didnt know that it was one - it would be easy enough to cut off what i did and replace it though

[NAZGÛL]

Its just a diod holder turned backwards glued to a rod. Heres a pic on a ANH TIE that shows it pretty clearly:

http://www.resinilluminati.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=13203&d=1214687048

And heres a fan made:

http://www.imaginager.com/nicentie/const/finshrouds.jpg

I think the ESB and ROTJ dont have the diod inserted (if it is a diod, thats up for debate). I might be wrong on that though and its onle the Intercepter that have them missing. Maybe someone else knows more?

[Mensaboy]

a few more bits done, coming down the home stretch now :-)

[LastBattlestar]

That is freakin' amazing man! I can build square greeblied boxes but something as cool as this, no way! Great job.

Mike, Oz

[79 daytona]

That looks just outstanding!!!:D

[mar10]

WOW!

What else is there to say to something like that?

[Mensaboy]

That is freakin' amazing man! I can build square greeblied boxes but something as cool as this, no way! Great job.

Mike, Oz

lol, id give a testicle for your crow :notworthy:

so here we are at the end of mastering....

i plan on doing little to nothing for interior, maybe some very simple planks for a base and sides that can be dressed to taste

i just dont have the time, i have to get the 2nd wing completed and the thing painted for my friends B-day

with regards to a kit, i have a few things to work out production wise and they will be ready to go

i will be doing a very limited run myself, perhaps 10, and go from there if the demand exists - it will certainly depend on what peoples reviews are....

[Kuhn Global]

This is just BEAUTIFUL work Cory! :notworthy::notworthy::notworthy::notworthy:

This would be a great tutorial for the Gallery. We already Have one from Lasse on how to do the Y-Wing. Maybe we should get one from you on this? ;) :D

[ModelMan]

I'd certainly like (want!) one.
It will come down to cost and release date.
Let us know when. I'm sure you will get good demand.

[NAZGÛL]

Wow! You are very good and fast! The TIE turned out awesome!:notworthy::notworthy:

Your friend is a lucky man!

[Mensaboy]

the TIE should be done tonight, and ill post in the finished section when i have some hero shots

[REL]

What incredible skill, keep it up, it looks amazing.

[Kuhn Global]

AGREED! This sooooooo Rocks! :notworthy::notworthy::notworthy::notworthy:

Cory... send me the finished Hi res shots please? :D

[79 daytona]

WOW!! That looks GREAT!!!:D

[Mensaboy]

link to my "finished" thread:
http://resinilluminati.com/showthread.php?t=6718

kit thread:
http://resinilluminati.com/showthread.php?t=6717

[JAWS MODELS]

Awsome, thats just totally kool. Wish I had dem skills.