AMT Romulan BOP - Printable Version

AMT Romulan BOP - Printable Version

+- Forums (https://www.studioscalemodelers.com/forums)
+-- Forum: Index (https://www.studioscalemodelers.com/forums/forum-623.html)
+--- Forum: General Modelling (https://www.studioscalemodelers.com/forums/forum-680.html)
+--- Thread: AMT Romulan BOP (/thread-300.html)

Pages: 1 2 3

AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 12-21-2009

Decided to pull one out of the stash and get to it.

Started on some nacelle mods first by replacing the rear portion with brass tube to improve the uniformity which will look better after lighting. Sank the bologna cut sleeve into the trimmed nacelle which will not only look a lil better at that joint but also help with light leakage more than if I had just glued it to the end cap.

[Image: 100_1262.jpg]

Started to search for a replacement "dome" on the front end and when I first looked at some references I thought the dome was almost an entire sphere perched atop the end. SO, I actually cut apart an automotive bulb (seen in background) and was pretty happy with the effect. Then the majority of references I eventually looked at went contrary to my perception and it appears a 'half sphere/dome cap' is closer. No need to seperate the lightbulb assembly and dress it with diamond bits that way so I'll forego the work.

Opened up the kit's molded in portholes while leaving the lil surrounds (frames?) of each just because I like that look.
[Image: 100_1264.jpg]

And I'm now scratching my head on how much further I wanna go to accurize the various missing portholes/windows and sensor openings? That includes pondering wether or not to rebild all the sidewalls to include the missing angle and step from the surround into the plane of the top surface?
This will be lit for the "interior", nacelles, weapon, and thrusters.

If anyone is interested in stepping in now and getting it built to your own specs please PM me while changes can be accomodated.

Thanks for looking in.

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 12-21-2009

Up front on the nacelle I used a kit supplied piece to replace the evetual dome location. Recontoured it's taper, drilled it out and sleeved it in brass. This will give a nice receiver for the blue lens to be sunk into and with a green LED behind will shine nicely through the clear dome- a cutdown piece from a PL Enterprise.

[Image: 100_1267.jpg]

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - Damien9479 - 12-21-2009

Damn Don you are on a roll man!!
Send some of your motivation my way!!....I have been soo flat lately Huh

I think there is an inch of dust on my bench because I haven't been there for so long Rolleyes

Looks good and I see this one is getting the full on Duck treatment also!!
Keep it going buddy!!

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 12-21-2009

(12-21-2009, 04:07 PM)Damien9479 Wrote: Damn Don you are on a roll man!!
Send some of your motivation my way!!....I have been soo flat lately
I think there is an inch of dust on my bench because I haven't been there for so long
Looks good and I see this one is getting the full on Duck treatment also!!
Keep it going buddy!!

Hey buddy,
Actually, saving the "full on" treatment for the 1/350th SR BOP coming up but having fun with this one in the meantime. Wink

But, the dust of inactivity gets replaced with the clutter and chaos of successive builds so who knows what's better anyway? All I know is I can't even step around here, again! Undecided

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - Damien9479 - 12-21-2009

Huh....got the SR BOP coming up??
This should be cool as hell...we all know how much stuff you can do to small models Cool

1/350 should give you plenty of room Big Grin

Stash taking over again???.....I thought you had that under control!! LOL
As far as my inactivity....I think I just need to pull my finger out and grab something from my stash and start building Big Grin

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 12-22-2009

(12-21-2009, 07:21 PM)Damien9479 Wrote: Huh....got the SR BOP coming up??
This should be cool as hell...we all know how much stuff you can do to small models
1/350 should give you plenty of room
Stash taking over again???.....I thought you had that under control!! LOL
As far as my inactivity....I think I just need to pull my finger out and grab something from my stash and start building

Dude!

Don't you ever walk up to me and do that ,"Here, smell my finger" routine!

I now know better. Dodgy

But I hear Ya on the activity level and we both know that those things ebb and flow?

But my stash taking over I DO NOT understand? I DID reorganize awhile ago and I didn't think I was rabbidly collecting new subjects? But a quick look around proves me wrong? Rolleyes

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - JAWS - 12-22-2009

Another interesting production Mr Duck. Thanks for you consistant attack on the kits youve aquired!

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 12-22-2009

(12-22-2009, 09:50 AM)jasonwright.1972 Wrote: Another interesting production Mr Duck. Thanks for you consistant attack on the kits youve aquired!

Well as soon as I heard that this site pays 19.95 per page on a WIP and 50.00 flatrate for a finished piece I decided to put some work together! Cool

That kind of motivation is quite timely for the holidays......

What? Confused

AW FUCK

Never trust a Wombat! Dodgy

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - Damien9479 - 12-22-2009

(12-22-2009, 06:05 AM)DarthDuck Wrote:
(12-21-2009, 07:21 PM)Damien9479 Wrote: Huh....got the SR BOP coming up??
This should be cool as hell...we all know how much stuff you can do to small models
1/350 should give you plenty of room
Stash taking over again???.....I thought you had that under control!! LOL
As far as my inactivity....I think I just need to pull my finger out and grab something from my stash and start building

Dude!
Don't you ever walk up to me and do that ,"Here, smell my finger" routine!

I now know better.

But I hear Ya on the activity level and we both know that those things ebb and flow?

But my stash taking over I DO NOT understand? I DID reorganize awhile ago and I didn't think I was rabbidly collecting new subjects? But a quick look around proves me wrong?

Ahh the witty Duck humor!!....I missed it Tongue

Yeah as far as motivation....I am just waiting for that spark of something to get me going.........So far....Nothing,zero,zilch....NADA!!!!
And it is pissing me off to no end
Yeah dude the last time we talked I thought you had your stash situation under control?? Tongue

But as far as this build goes you are doing it justice...I always thought this kit was lacking in some areas
Keep it going dude!! Big Grin

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 12-23-2009

(12-22-2009, 10:44 PM)Damien9479 Wrote:
(12-22-2009, 06:05 AM)DarthDuck Wrote:
(12-21-2009, 07:21 PM)Damien9479 Wrote: Huh....got the SR BOP coming up??
This should be cool as hell...we all know how much stuff you can do to small models
1/350 should give you plenty of room
Stash taking over again???.....I thought you had that under control!! LOL
As far as my inactivity....I think I just need to pull my finger out and grab something from my stash and start building

Dude!
Don't you ever walk up to me and do that ,"Here, smell my finger" routine!

I now know better.

But I hear Ya on the activity level and we both know that those things ebb and flow?

But my stash taking over I DO NOT understand? I DID reorganize awhile ago and I didn't think I was rabbidly collecting new subjects? But a quick look around proves me wrong?

Ahh the witty Duck humor!!....I missed it
Yeah as far as motivation....I am just waiting for that spark of something to get me going.........So far....Nothing,zero,zilch....NADA!!!!
And it is pissing me off to no end
Yeah dude the last time we talked I thought you had your stash situation under control??
But as far as this build goes you are doing it justice...I always thought this kit was lacking in some areas
Keep it going dude!!

Hey dude- give a call whenever you get a chance? Cool

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - Damien9479 - 12-24-2009

Yeah man I will......this week is totally fucked though with work and the holiday.......Damn Wal-Mart!! Confused

My next 2 days off are next Tuesday and Wednesday....I'll give ya a ring on one of those 2 days Big Grin

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 12-28-2009

Decided to go ahead with the kit mods to "bring it up to date" working off of the blueprints and also using the 1/350th AW (EX SR) piece as a references.

[Image: 100_1270.jpg]

That "step" around the circumference of the upper saucer after it was cut down in diameter was added in styrene and will eventually join to new "angled" sidewalls. The upper hull itself was cut apart to account for the concave rear section.

Meanwhile the electronics have been made for the Photon Torpedo effect as well which will be added to the lit nacelle effects

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - Wombat - 12-28-2009

I should have known!
Don's working on a kit and he's at his incredible best again.
I see the compulsory brass again in the first post and i can see already that you've taking this thing further than it's original intention's.Looking good as always dude,and you seem to be enjoying doing what you are doing there.The bigger scale one will be something considering what you are doing with it's lil cousin here.
Again,very nice work there Duckster!! Cool

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 12-29-2009

Thankee Wombie- you know me too well! Angel

The sidewalls were rebuilt with a taper allowing the top half of the saucer with it's newly beveled edges to sit into that with an interference fit which will aid final finishing after all interior work is done. There's also a comparison of a stock BOP and you'll see the overall thickness has also been adjusted.

[Image: 100_1277.jpg]

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 12-30-2009

Due to the sidewalls being tapered now had to refit the wings to the body and they are now ready to mount after being beveled, if you wanna call it that. Also separated the bridge to allow some reshaping, further drilling and so I could button up the hull and retain access to the interior to the very end.

[Image: 100_1283.jpg]

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - scratchy - 12-30-2009

Besides the Star Trek movies that I own, and watching the odd television show, I don't consider myself a die hard fan of this genre. However, I really do like what your building Duck!

Was this the model from the airing of the first appearance of the Romulans in the sixties series?

I can only guess that you'll light this one up and I can't wait to see more WIP pics.

Looking great!

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 12-30-2009

(12-30-2009, 07:41 AM)scratchy Wrote: Besides the Star Trek movies that I own, and watching the odd television show, I don't consider myself a die hard fan of this genre. However, I really do like what your building Duck!

Was this the model from the airing of the first appearance of the Romulans in the sixties series?

I can only guess that you'll light this one up and I can't wait to see more WIP pics.

Looking great!

Yup- this was made by AMT waaaay back when to represent one of the original TOS "bad guys"! While no afficionado myself, many folks (websites) refer to the episode 'Balance of Terror' as being when this first appeared. I've also read that AMT had access to the original prop/info and many have speculated why it's not at least a lil more accurate from the box? I wouldn't know but to me it is just as iconic as the TOS Enterprise and while I wrestled with what to do I eventually decided it simply deserved a lil help which is what I'm now undertaking.
Yes, it will have interior lighting, nacelles and a "torpedo" (glow/flash) effect from it's weapon along with the rear thrusters.

BTW: I've admired a lot of your recent work as well. Wink

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 12-30-2009

Since many windows need adding and others are now being relocated I fashioned up lil "frames" for them. That's part of the charm for me of the BOP- all the frames.

[Image: 100_1284.jpg]

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - Wombat - 12-30-2009

Thats such an improvement on seeing your Jenny Craig build up to the original kit part there.It does look much betta like that,even though i'm not sure how it was meant to look in the first place.But i know you like making things as accurate as can be so i know that is the way it should look.
I got to your last post and even though i know you well,i still dropped that F word.
Only you DD i can see doing this sorta stuff to a kit like this.F'ing incredbile mate!! Cool

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 12-31-2009

(12-30-2009, 08:04 PM)Wombat Wrote: Thats such an improvement on seeing your Jenny Craig build up to the original kit part there.It does look much betta like that,even though i'm not sure how it was meant to look in the first place.But i know you like making things as accurate as can be so i know that is the way it should look.
I got to your last post and even though i know you well,i still dropped that F word.
Only you DD i can see doing this sorta stuff to a kit like this.F'ing incredbile mate!!

I'm laughing out loud at the thought of some lil kid walking through the woods only to hear the F-Bomb come booming out of a Wombat's Den! Big Grin

You're too kind me friend. Big Grin

[/quote]

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 12-31-2009

Added the engine vents to the rear panel-
[Image: 100_1286.jpg]

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - JAWS - 12-31-2009

Nice. Wish I was talented like Darth Duck... Saw your back on RI. Good its not the same without you.

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 12-31-2009

(12-31-2009, 06:49 PM)jasonwright.1972 Wrote: Nice. Wish I was talented like Darth Duck... Saw your back on RI. Good its not the same without you.

Aw now Jason, ya know I'm the first to say I don't do nothing special. But of course when I find something that interests me I do like to have fun with it and that's all you're seeing. It's such an iconic ship and so funky cool that I can't resist trying to bring it closer to the filming miniature. Why AMT missed it by so much I'll never know? But that's what leaves a fiddler like myself (and many others) so much room to work with and that's what I sometimes call fun.

But thanks for your too kind words dude. Big Grin

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - Wombat - 12-31-2009

(12-31-2009, 04:22 AM)DarthDuck Wrote: I'm laughing out loud at the thought of some lil kid walking through the woods only to hear the F-Bomb come booming out of a Wombat's Den!

You're too kind me friend.

Well,lil kiddies shouldn't be walking through the scrub out here,you'd be shocked at the colourful language them bloody Roo's use down the track! Smile

But seriously Don,that one blew me away again mate.It's just Fucking incredible what you come up all the time!! Cool

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 01-01-2010

To keep the Wombat cursing and the Roos, um, doing what they do:

Did the rough in for reshaping the bridge.
[Image: 100_1288.jpg]

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 01-01-2010

I've wanted to leave the bridge removable. At least for myself up through the very last of assembly to ease the joining of the hull halves and such. Not sure if I'm so worried about it remaining that way but just in case, I fashioned up a receiver within the hull that accepts the bridge with a VERY tight fit and now due to the channel effect it will also block light so I do have that option.

[Image: 100_1290.jpg]

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 01-02-2010

Here's the top hull with it's window inserts.
[Image: 100_1294.jpg]

And the lower hull awaiting it's turn now.

[Image: 100_1296.jpg]

I for one love the lil "bumps" and character that these will add and they were present on the filming mini afterall.

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 01-03-2010

And here's the lower hull with its frames in place.
[Image: 100_1299.jpg]

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - JAWS - 01-04-2010

Tight Don. How did you make the frames?

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 01-04-2010

(01-04-2010, 06:59 AM)jasonwright.1972 Wrote: Tight Don. How did you make the frames?

With the appropriate size tubing which was easy for the round frames but when you try to purchase and cut square tubing, one, it's not too square and then it's usually way too thick in wall dimension. So, I took round tubing and hammer formed it over square stock. Each lil fucking one. Dodgy

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - JAWS - 01-04-2010

Hhahah thats funny Duck but very nice work & thanks for another lesson.

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 01-04-2010

Thanks Jason.

Added framework to the rear thrusters which will attach inside to a light source/s.

[Image: 100_1301.jpg]

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 01-04-2010

For the thrusters light source I fashioned a light box which slips into place over the thruster frames and against the rear panel. It has three LEDs housed within a scavenged piece from a LED Flashlight cutdown and framed in with plastic coated with shiny foil. This will then shine through diffuser clear acetate and brass wire mesh at the end of the frames themselves. It'll also have a "flicker" effect which I thought might be appropriate in this case.
[Image: 100_1305.jpg]

The housing is flexible enough that when sandwiched between the hull halves the bowing goes away and it all fits.

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - Wombat - 01-04-2010

I wouldn't be surprised if you bought that flashlight just for the part! Dodgy

But i must say thats some good good thinking and tinkering to come up with that lil bugger there.Ya really using the old nogging like always there mate.That brass again,damn you really do it well there,very impressive as always Don! Cool

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 01-04-2010

(01-04-2010, 10:40 PM)Wombat Wrote: I wouldn't be surprised if you bought that flashlight just for the part!
But i must say thats some good good thinking and tinkering to come up with that lil bugger there.Ya really using the old nogging like always there mate.That brass again,damn you really do it well there,very impressive as always Don!

Flashlight purchase just to cannibalize it? Angel

Um,,,,,,,thanks Phil! Cool

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 01-05-2010

Starting prepping for the interior lights.
[Image: 100_1309.jpg]

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 01-06-2010

"Grating" was added. Rather than the various (and nice) specialty brass shapes by K&N for instance, I wanted something that wasn't as symetrical as a square or diamond grid. An N-Scale model railroad roofwalk had a nice pattern so it was put in place on the back of each frame.
[Image: 100_1316.jpg]

And a quick light test to check the effect.
[Image: 100_1318-1.jpg]

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 01-06-2010

After adding in layered slips of smoke and red acetate it diffuses light better and effects a vision block so the LEDs within the reflector can not be seen from behind.

[Image: 100_1325.jpg]

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - Damien9479 - 01-06-2010

Damn Don looking sweet!!

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - JAWS - 01-06-2010

Yep this is looking good. I finally found where to buy this small diameter Brass & alluminniun tubing etc today. Its been right under my nose all the time in my favourite model/toy shop...

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 01-06-2010

Thanks Mike and Jason.

And yes Jason- sometimes you can get lucky in a LHS that stocks K&S brass tubing (usually, that's the brand). It seems that you're more apt to find it in a model railroad shop since those shops cater to scratchbuilding within that genre better than most "model" shops do? Then too there's always the online sources. I'm lucky to have a few different shops within range to get my basic supplies but still end up tweaking (cutting, reforming, splicing and soldering) fairly often?

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 01-09-2010

The Plasma Weapon as portrayed on the blueprints was replicated.

[Image: 100_1327.jpg]

With the LEDs in place. The flush or sunken depth of them was chosen for effect.

[Image: 100_1329.jpg]

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - Richard_2001 - 01-09-2010

(01-09-2010, 03:41 AM)DarthDuck Wrote: The Plasma Weapon as portrayed on the blueprints was replicated.

Ducky,

That is looking fantastic!!!!!!

You are really bringing some needed pizzaz to that old kit Big Grin

Richard

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - JAWS - 01-09-2010

Sweet Duck. That looks tight. i got some 5mm alluminnium tubing that the LED's Im using fit into real snug. So much better than the 100mm tubing I got from the hardware... I got all bases covered now.

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 01-11-2010

Thank you Richard and Jase. Cool

Here she is with the "lid" not only in place but glued and blended. Since I was rather careful during the fabrication it was really no more than allowing the AC to ooze out of the seam and then sanding that flat. Of course a prime and sand then capped it off.

[Image: 100_1333.jpg]

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - Wombat - 01-11-2010

As always,your added detailing is just fuckin phenomenal there mate!
If i wasn't seeing it with my own eyes i wouldn't believe it,but you just do thing's to these build's that i'm not use ta seeing done.
Bloody outstanding mate!! Cool

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 01-12-2010

HiYa Phil,
Well, you of all people know me. I don't really do nuthin but look at what might be improved and set about to do so? Of course in this case that did leave a few areas of easy choice.
I'm happy with it so far since I do love the craft and IMHO it is moving towards looking more like we'd expect it to?

Thanks for your kind words buddy. Cool

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - scratchy - 01-12-2010

Very Nice!

I really like how you approached those windows DarthDuck, I'll have to remember that if I ever have to face that hurdle

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - Wombat - 01-12-2010

(01-12-2010, 09:37 AM)DarthDuck Wrote: HiYa Phil,
Well, you of all people know me. I don't really do nuthin but look at what might be improved and set about to do so? Of course in this case that did leave a few areas of easy choice.
I'm happy with it so far since I do love the craft and IMHO it is moving towards looking more like we'd expect it to?

Thanks for your kind words buddy.

Well you might call it "really doin nuthin",but you've got an eye and a mind that let's you see the possibilities that can be had with a bit of ingenuity.Your enhancments really add something to every build you tackle.But again,it's just the thing's you even think up in the first place that make's you so incredible!
I'm glad you are liking th eprogress on this one mate,andi think it's come a mile sit's it's early OOB birthing day's!!

Keep the fun a happening there my good friend!! Cool

RE: AMT Romulan BOP - DarthDuck - 01-15-2010

Scratchy,
If windows are supposed to be flush then it's just a simpole drilled hole but when the opportunity presents itself this is the easiest way to add frames. I have done them before in styrene which can be worked at until you get nice "thin" frames but of course it's even more labor intensive. Luckily this project was suited to brass tubing and the existing wall thickness. Wink

Wombie,
You know how it goes. Sit around on your tailfeathers (or fur with a lil stubby remnant of a tail in your case) and ideas just come to mind? Then it's just a matter of making them happen. Big Grin

For me that's most of the fun in a project- figuring out what can be added for more interest and then tackling how to do it. But you and I have talked about this before- I never go for the 'exotic', just simple solutions using common supplies. Hell, that's all I can handle or afford anyways! Tongue

The front nacelle lights pass through shaved down "lenses" shown earlier which then sit behind clear domes. Now the rear lights shine through cut down domes which are multifaceted and create a very nice scattered light effect. I like the visual interest as compared to "bare LEDs" and also this way not only does the light get further "effects" but you never see the LEDs themselves.

[Image: 100_1336.jpg]

The model will sit upon a stereo plug which will allow more than just a straight power feed. This way I can hide a micro switch upon the model itslef to control the plasma weapon and the base will hold switches for interior lighting and nacelles as well as making the thrusters controllable.

[Image: 100_1337.jpg]

The tubing has hole cut in it to peg the stereo plug to help it from ever pulling out of the tubing which can happen even when epoxied in place. The outer styrene was chosen since paint adheres better though there will be a metal tube within that for further strength.

[Image: 100_1339.jpg]

The plugin will sit angled within the hull so that the display will allow viewing of the prominent bird on the bottom while it can also swivel or just be popped off the stand/pole so that you can still fly it about the room when the mood strikes! And with me, that's quite often.[ Tongue

]