Well Guys,
Here comes another Studio Scale Nova Class Carrier, the famous Battlestar Galactica. Finally building the 'ole girl, after 24 years of prepping, I just got my glue, and plexi. I'll be building this and the Cylon Tanker at the same time. Everybody should know, I'm probably the slowest builder you'll ever see, So the updates will be widely spaced. I'm also a super perfectionist, bordering on obsessive, compulsive, But there are pills for this, so I'll have to add them to my shopping list. So let the madness begin, LOL.


[attachment=4388]

A big sheet of plexi


[attachment=4389]


Had to get the .118 inch stuff, only a 64th smaller then 1/8, so should work alright.



[attachment=4390]



Here's the armature tubing, had to buy 20 ft of the stuff so I should have plenty,



[attachment=4391]



More stuff



[attachment=4392]



To be continued, and continued, and continued, Cheers,

Joe

Thanks Guys,
Just having guys like you to build with, is worth all the future pain and agony, LOL. I've been setting up the shop here for all the kicking and screaming about to ensue, Had to sell the dog, and any small children. Don't want any thing around that I might kick. No seriously, It is going to be fun. I'm starting in middle of the G, the easy part. I still have to get my connectors made for the armature. Then I'll know how to cut the openings in the center bulkheads. I need a darn milling machine and lathe. Not gonna happen, so I'll have to go old school. Still working on the 3D Cylon tanker. I need to finish that bugger, so I can use it to build the real deal. That nose section is so funky. I don't have any measurements on the original model, so I'm having to extrapolate. I'll be close, but not exact. Oh well, finally getting there, have a good one,

Joe

(05-01-2010, 12:31 PM)bwayne64 Wrote: Thanks Guys,
I need a darn milling machine and lathe. Not gonna happen, so I'll have to go old school.

Joe

(05-05-2010, 09:36 AM)427 Cobra Wrote:

(05-01-2010, 12:31 PM)bwayne64 Wrote: Thanks Guys,
I need a darn milling machine and lathe. Not gonna happen, so I'll have to go old school.

Joe

What do you need done with a lathe? If the part is small enough, you can use a drill. Milling - you can do that too, if you have routing capabilities. By the way, I have Plaskolite. This is what I use for my X-wing build, and it'll be what I use for everything from now on! Strong stuff, and very cheap too!

Hi Cobra, sorry don't know your given name, I actually need the mill and lathe for the work on my armature. I'm doing it myself, and could use the machine to speed the process. Glad to know the plaskolite is good, first time I've used it myself. I got the only kind they had at the 'ole home depot. I was gonna order it, but with shipping I could buy two pieces locally, Cheers,

(05-06-2010, 10:03 AM)bwayne64 Wrote: Hi Cobra, sorry don't know your given name, I actually need the mill and lathe for the work on my armature. I'm doing it myself, and could use the machine to speed the process. Glad to know the plaskolite is good, first time I've used it myself. I got the only kind they had at the 'ole home depot. I was gonna order it, but with shipping I could buy two pieces locally, Cheers,

Joe

Hi Guys,
Sorry I haven't had anything to post. I've been real busy with real world stuff, Still waiting for material for the armature. I did have a chance to do a few renders of my armature design. There's a render of my fancy Aluminum Formers. There will be two of these, to support the bay arms. That's if I can get them cast and machined. I have the design, I can throw them in later if I can't do them right now. I hope to have something real to show soon. Just been swamped here. Cheers,

Joe

Jase, thanks a lot man. Glad you like it, I had a lot of fun making those bulkheads in 3D. I just hope I can get them machined the way I want them. I want to be able to bolt the Bay support arms to the outside of the body. And not have to weld or connect them to the center tube. I also didn't want to have a hole though the center tube for a top mount. That's what the two threaded hole's in the center box are for. I'll be able to pop off the two dome's on the top, and attach a top mount through there. I'll be making the top mount in 3D first as well, In my over engineering fashion, LOL. When ever I can't build on the real thing, I go into Lightwave, and make something I can see. As for learning this stuff, Newtek has a great forum on Lightwave. If you ever decide to get a copy, there's a ton of info on there. And I'll be glad to share anything I know. I'm no expert, by a long stretch. But I can fake it with the best of em, Cheers,

Joe

(05-06-2010, 11:39 AM)427 Cobra Wrote: Sorry, Joe - I go by Cobra Chris. I have machining capabilities for small runs. What do you need as far as metal work?

I'll definitely keep you in mind. I have to try to do this on my own at first. At least until I pull out my hair, and run screaming from the shop, If I can't get r done, I'll be the screaming, bald guy running to ya for help, Cheers,

Joe

Hey Guys, Thanks for the kind words. The fancy formers are just an idea, not sure is I'll be putting those in. I do want the ole girl to look pretty on the inside too, when I pop the hood, As for welding, I really want to be able to take this thing apart, when and if it needs remodeling. And the aluminum tubing is a bear to weld, without warping. I'll get it done, either way. I'm not fast, but I am precise, Cheers,

Joe

So say we all,

Yea tell me about it. I've always loved that country,and now there's even more to love, What is it now 4, or is it 5, SS Battlestars over there. Thats just the ones we know about. Great time to be building a Battlestar,



Joe

Thats a good ratio. You can never have too many Battlestars. Just ask the 12 colonies,

Had a small, and I do mean small update, I found an part I built a while ago. I'll probably redo it in thicker plastic. It looks OK, but could be a little beefier. Even though they don't actually hold the bays up, they do need to resist flexing, that might pop off a kit part. Anyhoo, just so you guys don't think I might never build this thing, Cheers,

Joe

(05-27-2010, 07:43 AM)bwayne64 Wrote: Yea I hear ya. I built this after I got the first Adam's prints. I never intended it to used, just a mock up. I agree the bays need to be built first. So I can get the connection angle right. I think I'm goin to use at least 1/16 thick styrene for all the parts. I used some .030 inch stuff on that arm, and it's feels a little weak. Oh well thats what mock ups are for. Cheers,


Joe

(05-27-2010, 10:19 AM)Richard_2001 Wrote: Joe,

Your welcome! I have been trying to build my 3D mock up with as few different sizes of skin as possible to economize on material purchases.

So far I have limited it to .125 .060 and a small amount of .080 in the chin area, sticking to the 2 sizes means you can buy in bulk of those and small amounts for the odd size or two. I am not too concerned over the acrylic - styrene expansion rate differences as my replica has a pretty constant temp basement to reside in, but I have considered an all styrene skin to save on laser cutting charges.

Richard

Richard,
Yea I wish I was having my stuff laser cut, that would be sweet. Not in the budget for me, I'm pretty much putting styrene anywhere there's a lot of scribing. I hate scribing acrylic. So for the main body box, I think I can go acrylic. Except for the top, which has a lot of scribe lines. My shop gets pretty hot in the summer here, But I'm hoping to have an office area soon, that will be ac'ed. I'll display the girl there, if I ever finish it, LOL. Cheers,

Joe

(05-27-2010, 12:05 PM)Richard_2001 Wrote: Joe,

having styrene where scribing is is a great idea.

Lets see Mike N is coming up on 11 years, I have invested about 9, Charles A has in about 12, so there is no real rush to complete anything

Richard

Yea tell me about it. I actually made a cardboard mock up when I was in the military in 1986. What is that like 24 years ago, LOL. So I'm in no big rush either. Other than getting it done before I die, Cheers,

Joe

(05-27-2010, 12:05 PM)Richard_2001 Wrote: Lets see Mike N is coming up on 11 years, I have invested about 9, Charles A has in about 12, so there is no real rush to complete anything

It seems like Charles and Jim C are the ones responsible for all this madness, Grab the torches boy's, and let's go get em. I remember finding Charles site Starship Builder back in like 99. I had no idea that anyone had actually built one of these things. Then I saw Jim C's model. I still have a binder with all his pictures in it. I lost my mockup when I moved from Fort Campbell, back to the real world. Seeing what people were doing, got me going again. It's been an off and on thing for a long time. My plan was to get all the kits I needed to get started. Now with all the great casting goin on, at least I won't have to find every last kit. It's a great time to be a Galactica builder, Cheers,

Joe

(05-28-2010, 01:52 AM)LastBattlestar Wrote:

(05-27-2010, 12:05 PM)Richard_2001 Wrote: Lets see Mike N is coming up on 11 years, I have invested about 9, Charles A has in about 12, so there is no real rush to complete anything

Hey, I started building years before Charles- get it right! He'd laugh about it. I did base mine on his and Jim's blueprints to start things off. Man, we started chatting about Battlestars around 1997-98 when I was asking around for blueprints. I'd been building my Monogram-based 4 foot battlestar at that time. Then Charles informs me that he's going to a hobby show on the weekend where there was rumoured to be a 6 foot Galactica on show. A WHAT???!!! That was Jim's, still under construction. Damn, I'm an old grand daddy in this Battlestar business and still haven't lost the passion!

Mike

Looky what I just got. I feel like I'm getting some Wombat luck, And for only 37 dollars ! I almost didn't bid on it, cause the kit number was OT 5-1-1800 not 2800. It looks right part wise, and at that price I couldn't resist. I hope to get jumpin soon. My health issues just won't go away. Most days I don't feel up to doin anything. I'm still trying to get a room built in the shop. I need some AC ! It's been getting to over 100 degrees F, with 80 and 90 % humidity. I guess a lot like Australia, And feeling bad at the same time is just too much. I do as much as I'm able too right now. I really want to finish this thing, I've been working on it since 1985. I'm enjoying the builds here though. I'm living vicariously through you guys. I'll be right there with you soon I hope. Cheers,

Joe

Thanks Guys, I never thought I would get one of these babies, certainly not at this price. I actually bid 70 dollars max . I was shocked when it went through so low, I picked up a 1/12 Tamiya JPS for around the same price a few weeks ago too. Phil, I should try the lottery ticket, who knows, I might get lucky. Now if I can just find a decent doctor, cheers,

Joe