AMT Romulan BOP

[DarthDuck]

Allow me to enlighten you gents:

Swans are pompous, arrogant, do nothing Primadonnas.

Ducks are elegant, noble creatures.


Yet, I do accept your intended point.

[JAWS]

Yeah I agree. A stupid swan bit my sons ass last time we went to feed the ducks!

[DarthDuck]

Did some trimming and refitting of the bird caused by the mods to the hull of course.
Now it's on and just awaits cleanup and a nice clear coat.

[JAWS]

Holy crap Don that looks sick! was that a decal? Very nice. Can you turn the lights on for us please!

[Damien9479]

Wow Don!!! no wrinkles or bubbles...I bet that took a lot of fiddling around to get it to conform to the model
Me personally....I hate big decals like that...I can get them on and get them looking good...but man it is a hassle sometimes

[erospawn]

WOW! You did a great job on that one! I mean, I'm with Jason about how ugly the thing is.. but you did it some serious justice, that and Im sort of nastalgic and remember that TOS episode where Kirk first encountered the Rolumalan BOP.

[DarthDuck]

Well,
When we last tuned in the BOP was nearing completion after receiving it's decals. Only a nice clearcoat and we'd be off to the final steps.
THEN, it happened.

The BIRD BLEW UP!

Despite JT Graphics own instructions that Testors lacquer clear was recommended- it BLEW UP!

Initially I carefully wetsanded the small "puckered" areas and even touched them up with a color match, rewetsanded and carefully cleared. It actually turned out as nearly invisible fixes to the problem. But of course, a couple of areas required more sanding than they could support and eventual cut through occurred again.

Not anxious to simply risk repeating it all over again- I broke out the frisket material and started cutting away.

Here's the new bird before it's clearcoating which shouldn't be a problem- it's all in lacquer now and I can account for that. So while not yet trimmed out- here's the current state without shine.








It's all done with pearls, shading and overlays so the hue is highly dependent upon the angle and light source and of course will improve once cleared.

[Richard_2001]

Ducky,

WOW that looks sweet!

Richard

[JAWS]

Yep wowser that looks sick. Lights on please!

[dbhs]

That's awesome, Don. I think it is even more in keeping with the metallic finish and the other details you've put into it. Very cool.

[DarthDuck]

Thank you gents, one and all.

I just gave it another clear coat after last nights first one which was wetsanded and then the "graphic" was outlined. So, let that paint setup and it'll be time to finish it up and yes, that means you'll finally see the lights Jason!

[scratchy]

Exceptional work Duck!

The bird turned out awesome, maybe it was fate that you had to paint it instead of the decal.

I'm with Jason on this one, bring on the lights!

[DarthDuck]

Thank you Scratchy! Should be lights soon and to that end:

Originally I examined the kit pieces and saw that they were trying to emulate the "bulbous" appearance at the front of the nacelles. For all I know the original studio model might have used "bulbs" up there. It's not a simple 'half-sphere'.

I did try to separate the glass bulb of an automotive lamp from the metal base and cracked a few. So, frankly I gave up on that idea. But it's always bothered me?

Well, over sixteen bulbs later I have finally done exactly that. Two, from nearly twenty attempts but I think it will look better.

[JAWS]

Ha! Now thats determination, perservearance & mad man for ya's. Good job Duck.

[DarthDuck]

(02-08-2010, 10:36 AM)jasonwright.1972 Wrote: Ha! Now thats determination, perservearance & mad man for ya's. Good job Duck.

And, didn't you ask for "lights"? Those are lamps, ya know.

[DarthDuck]

Snapped some quick "quasi finished shots":









And here's the lighting:




The engines:

And the seperate rear modes. When on the "thrusters" ,they flicker:





And the weapon although it was hard to catch as the outside LEDs fade in and then the middle bursts as they outers dim.



The decal fiasco delayed it by a week- and of course caused a lot of extra effort but I hope you like the results!

Thanks to those dropping in and especially anyone who has been following along. It's been fun and now this one is looking for a home!

[JAWS]

Nice mate. The lights look sweeet. Good job.

[DarthDuck]

(02-08-2010, 06:30 PM)jasonwright.1972 Wrote: Nice mate. The lights look sweeet. Good job.

Well thank you Jason for the kind words again and for following along on this build!

[erospawn]

Very nicely done!

[dbhs]

That's groovy, man.

[DarthDuck]

Thank you Erospawn and DBHS. I appreciate it.

[427 Cobra]

Damn it,Don! I told you to slow down,and you didn't listen! Now look what you've done - I can't see,or think straight!!!!! Is this the same bird,a newer version, of it? What happened to the decal? Did it get destroyed - I mean " a happy little accident happened to it"? This is even more beautiful than the decal if this is the same model.

I know you can see uneven lines in the paint here,and there,but that actually makes it all more appealing to me! It has that touch of "made with love"and not uber perfect,so it doesn't even >phase< you like store bought models. < --- Star Trek pun intended.

[DarthDuck]

LOL,
You're quacking me up Cobra.

Yup, same model after a decal disaster. And yes, it's obviously not uber perfect and machine nor software rendered. I didn't even strive for perfect symmetry since to me, you either accept the hand done basis with all the non-canon colors, or you don't. Once you don't, it wouldn't have mattered what I did anyway- so I did it all my way. Very old school. A duck and his airbrush, nothing more, nothing less.
Glad you could enjoy it though and while I'd like to stay and chat I've got work to do!

Bwahahahahahahahahaaha

[427 Cobra]

Thanks,Don. I love the handmade look! Somehow it's stuff like that on even studio models that gets my attention. Like I said before - if it was perfect,it wouldn't even faze you,or you'd just look,and go on without a second thought. I love the colours too! This is so much better than the original model. Maybe you ought to offer a line of these as custom orders?

[DarthDuck]

(02-10-2010, 02:14 PM)427 Cobra Wrote: Thanks,Don. I love the handmade look! Somehow it's stuff like that on even studio models that gets my attention. Like I said before - if it was perfect,it wouldn't even faze you,or you'd just look,and go on without a second thought. I love the colours too! This is so much better than the original model. Maybe you ought to offer a line of these as custom orders?

Well since you mention it, I do have another stock kit in the box that could be built to order. This duck needs to buy some crackers and sardines so step right up if interested!

Thanks again for the kind words.