Gemini Freighter Build

[t2sides]

Hey Guys,
Started on another Studio Scale project. Figured I'd try to tackle this little beauty.

All 16 containers are being built from scratch, using the same kits the studio did (Reefer, Moving Van, Container, Post Van). I've even been matching them up on the sides to the rivets. It's been a lot of fun, can't wait to get them painted and weathered.

Started on the head section as well. Most everything is fitting exactly as it should to the studio miniature. I'm still adding some greeblies here and there, so these are not the complete parts yet. All in all, it's coming together pretty well. Substituting some greeblies where I can't ID the parts where needed, just to speed this thing along.

The last pic is of the studio miniature as a comparison.

More to come...

-Sean

[JAWS]

Very nice Sean.
Will be another impressive build for your collection.

[Wombat]

Off to a fantastic looking start there!

Well it's more than a start but just the same it's looking as i said.

Nice clean work that we have come to expect from you and already i have a good feeling this will be another stunning build when ya are all done with it. The paint and weathering on this will be right up your alley without question. We've seen what you can do there already and i look forward to seeing what you do with this one.

[darkimmitator]

Damn good start there Sean ! Man you make it appear so easy , yet also look so complicated ! Like everyone else , lookin forward to the paint and weathering !

[steve36uk]

Awesome!! Best looking of all the fleet ships.

[t2sides]

Hey Thanks Fellas!! Always appreciate the encouragement!!

Here's a nice shot to show what the original filming miniature looked like, and all the fun greeblieage on the head. I love the colors on the containers too. Way more subtle than that awful color scheme on the new show GF.

-Sean

[dbhs]

It will be cool seeing this one come together . I really like the weathering on the original. That will be tough to duplicate.
How long is this one? About 3 feet or so?

[steve36uk]

Funny I never twigged the containers were the AMT vans again-off to ebay again..........

[t2sides]

Hey Doug, I'll give it the same lovingly weathering I gave my Colonial Movers... (See attached) I love not only making it dirty, but matching almost speck for speck the dirt, spatters, grime, etc.... That's the most fun part of these ragtags for me.

Yeah, I need to look at my specs, but it's around 34-36" in length.

[Wombat]

That sure is gonna be some fun for you trying to replicate that weathered look that is on the original GF. That is seriously an old worn looking craft when you see a picture such as that one you posted. Looks pretty challenging actually but going on your other builds you'll do a fine job of it. I always pictured this ship being smaller for some stupid reason but at the size you mentioned it's pretty impressive really!

Have fun there!

[t2sides]

Thanks Phil, yeah, it's gonna be a ride!

Anyone recognize this part by chance?

[dbhs]

Sean,

The weathering on your CM is amazing. I'm tackling that build myself right now but have a long way to go before getting around to weathering. I agree on the challenge of "smudge for smudge" weathering duplication. I did my best to do so on the BSG shuttle and Raider. It's very tough to get right...and those were simple in comparison to these guys.

-Doug

[Apophis]

Awesome Sean! Yeah, I too, like to weather and beat up my ships LOL!

[t2sides]

Thanks guys!

Small progress update. Finished all but one of the containers. I'll plan to paint them all individually, then assemble them. Getting ready to tackle the engine section, that should be fun!

-Sean

[steve36uk]

Are these 1/25 or 1/43 containers?

[t2sides]

(08-28-2012, 02:19 AM)steve36uk Wrote: Are these 1/25 or 1/43 containers?

All 1/25 kits. Basically need 1 kit for each container, except the reefers. You can get by with 6 kits for the 7 containers.

So yeah, had to buy quite a few 1/25 kits!
AMT: Fruehauf 40’ Reefer w/ Beaded Siding (6 kits)
AMT: Fruehauf 40’ Exterior post van. (2 kits)
AMT: Fruehauf 40’ Moving van. (5 kits)
AMT: Fruehauf 25’ Post container (2 kits) (27' Double Header is an alternative for exterior, but you won't get the inverse ribs used on the top/bottom).

[Apophis]

Also on my to do list, at least its a tad cheaper now with some of the rereleases.

[steve36uk]

Lets be fair with with these "to do" lists-the RAG TAG fleet and the Galactica,RAG TAG fleet and the Galactica,Rag ........lol

Certainly more of the 1/25 vans around than 1/43-def a more long term aim for me.

[Wombat]

They look great, Sean!

Theres most of the GF's shape there already, you are way along with it all now.
Like your planning of painting em of the build. It's always nice when you can work it like that.

Keep up the fantastic work there!

[LastBattlestar]

I'm keen to see the armature and how the containers connect. Magnets would work well.

Mike

[darkimmitator]

Man that is a crapload of containers !!! It's like a colonial truckstop !!!

[Wombat]

While looking through kit scans for things for the G i noticed this part from the Airfix 1/600 Scharnhorst.

   
Can't tell if it's like one of the part's you are looking for or not though.

[t2sides]

Hey Guys,
Thanks Phil for that reference, looks pretty darn close, I'll look into that more!

Here's another update. Making progress on the engine section. I had to use a couple sub's for original parts, but most of them are correct to the filming miniature. I'm not planning to light the engines, will use a reflective tape similar to what they did. I still have to add the styrene strips on the inner engines that cover the seam from the railgun parts, and have a few more parts (like radiators) to add to the engine section.

The last two pics show the updated head section with the crane parts installed, and the part of the harrier that was cut out to make the main head body.

Cheers!
-Sean

[steve36uk]

Great update!! Head's really coming along!

[darkimmitator]

Wow ! That is lookin awesome !!!

[Wombat]

Looking really sharp there, Sean!

Damn that head section is almost there not to mention just how far along you are with the engine section also. Nice damn progress with it all! So the head skin was a kit part, Harrier. Thought it was a kit part from one of the pictures you posted but wasn't 100% sure there. Thanks for showing just what and where the kit donates it from.

Keep up the great work there!

[t2sides]

Here's a brief update. Most of the engine section is now done, and got started on the starboard side containers. Still have some more weathering/filtering to do then clear coats, but it's starting to take shape.

-Sean

[Wombat]

Engine section looks real sharp there, nice work!!

So that fun has begun on them containers and they are starting to look the part with where you are at with em already. Love the old used and abused worn look on these ships which you are replicating there. How did you do that first container effect, was it a case of liquid mask or something similar?

This piece is gonna be another gem, Sean. Fantastic work there!!

[LastBattlestar]

Yeah, looks great Sean! When you have time, tell us how you weather like that!

Mike

[darkimmitator]

That is lookin awesome Sean ! Lovin the weathering ! Just awesome !!!

[JAWS]

Wow! Fantastic work.

[t2sides]

Thanks Guys!! Much appreciated!!

They look so much better in person, the colors are really blown out in the photos. It all looks much more subtler.

Phil, yeah, I used the liquid mask approach to that container. Based on their paint patten, I'd guess they did about the same. The effect turned out really cool.

Mike, there are a lot of different things going on, but in a nutshell, my approach on the containers is:
1. Base coat
2. Weathering with chalk pastels (softer dark spots)
3. Oil wash/dabs (darker spots or filler areas)
4. Dry brushing (highlight rivets, raised areas, etc...)
5. Blotting (adding paint chips, scratching)
6. Filters, very thinned colors and airbrush mist over certain areas more than others.
7. Some more pastels
8. Clear coats

I'll try to get some new pics outside shortly, hopefully it'll show the colors/weathering more true.

Thanks you guys, this is such a fun ship! I am making it match the 'intent' of the original filming miniature, so I don't drive myself nuts trying to make an 'exact' replica. It's made it much more fun.

-Sean

[Apophis]

Looking great Sean! another masterpiece for sure!
Im sure Sean would agree, that the key to great weathering is Layers, or multiple steps, which you are building up to a certain degree of aging of the part.
I use pastels, oils, sand paper, erasers, liquid mask, scraping with a no.11 blade, steel wool, 3m scotchbrite pads, and the trusty dremel.

[t2sides]

Hey fellas, small update...
Got the containers mostly completed. Still have some detail painting and weathering to add, as well as the detail decals. After that, I'll be putting each 'row' together, and adding the C-Channel and painting that the base color. Last pic are the Roco tanks that still need to be painted and applied to the containers. But, it's coming along.

This has been one of the most enjoyable BSG replicas's I've had a chance to build so far. I love all the different containers.

Thanks for looking!
-Sean

[darkimmitator]

Stunning work Sean . Lots of weathering combined with lots of color . Love it !! Looks like a keeper !! lol

[Wombat]

Brings back a lot of memories of the Movers except this one is multiplied..lol

Damn they look really great what you've done with em. Even before the final touches they look really impressive. The two comparison shot are close enough to someone like myself that they more than capture the original's look with what you achieved.

Outstanding work there Sean this is gonna all tie together real nicely indeed!!

[LastBattlestar]

That looks sweet Sean, really nicely done. You're a powerhouses builder when you get on a roll! Do you stay up until 4am like the rest of us Galacticabuilders?

When you're done, get the model scanned and send me the files. Then I can build one and just glue all the coloured panels on.

Mike

[t2sides]

Thanks guys!

Mike, you crack me up!! But, if that'll help make a Gemini build take 15 years instead of 20, I'll set you up! haha!

No 4am's for me. In fact, I rarely stay up late building. My wife usually gives me a full weekend day here and there to goof around, so that's when I get cracking. She also often gets home about 2 hours after me from work, so I usually squeeze in a quick hour every few days. However, this really is quite a simple build as compared to some of the other rag tags (like the Livery Ship).

The biggest bummer I hate is I cannot seem to get the colors in the photos to match the actual model. They really look a lot more subtle and accurate in person.

-Sean

[peza]

eh up buddy,truely amazin work there mym8,lovin ya containers also,really lookin forward to ya next update....cheers peza

(10-04-2012, 02:54 AM)t2sides Wrote: Thanks guys!

Mike, you crack me up!! But, if that'll help make a Gemini build take 15 years instead of 20, I'll set you up! haha!

No 4am's for me. In fact, I rarely stay up late building. My wife usually gives me a full weekend day here and there to goof around, so that's when I get cracking. She also often gets home about 2 hours after me from work, so I usually squeeze in a quick hour every few days. However, this really is quite a simple build as compared to some of the other rag tags (like the Livery Ship).

The biggest bummer I hate is I cannot seem to get the colors in the photos to match the actual model. They really look a lot more subtle and accurate in person.

-Sean

[JAWS]

Damn I love your work Mr Sides.
Thanks for the updates.