The Cylon Battlestar: Annihilation

[Cylon-Knight]

His eminence, our Imperious Leader, has tasked his newly operational Centurion, Cylon-Knight, to once and for all end the human threat. As such, I am to reverse engineer a Battlestar.

Once we fully understand alien human technology, we will devastate the last Battlestar of Man, the Galactica, with a facsimile built in its own image…

Soon the Cylon Battlestar, Annihilation, will blow the Galactica out of the stars - once and for all…
By Your Command

And so here is my build concept:

• Low/no budget build
  
• Studio Scale to overall 1978 Galactica published sizes: 76" long, 30 3/4" wide, 11 1/2" tall
  
• 99% based on a WONDERFUL drawing done by Jim Stevenson – a.k.a. “137th Gebirg” (with his permission) that is perfectly to scale with the published sizes (SWEET!).
  Advanced Cylon technology allows his low resolution image to be measured to studio scale. (I am using some build photos on this site as reference also for parts that are obscured in Jim’s drawing - but that’s a secret we won’t tell the Imperious Leader about, K? Super.)
  
• NOT 1:1 accurate in surface details.
  I will detail my ship the same as the guys at Apogee did… “Oh this looks cool here.” No plan, just random found parts and bits. After spending *ahem* “this much“ money on my Cylon Centurion costume build for the last 4 years… this Battlestar rule #1 is that I can not succumb to the 1:1 bug again. It’s a fun fan project NOT intended to rival the super Battlestar builds on this forum of MUCH precision and perfection. (Remember - I’m just a clunky 1978 Cylon with big hockey glove hands!)
  
• Phase 1: Typing Paper study. Cheap, no mess. Rough in the shapes and sizes of various parts. Get an idea of the SCALE of the ship.
  
• Phase 2: Cardboard shakedown. Streamline paper parts to a sturdy prototype and finalize panel shapes and sizes.
  
• Phase 3: Plastic. Cardboard shakedown translated to sheet plastic with a 2” PVC back bone (in place of a metal one). Details added, paint, name… Cylon Perfection.
  
• Phase 4: The Annihilation annihilates the Galactica (of course)
  

So, Phase 1 is winding down... I have gotten to the engine section and found the LARGE parts are too weak. And the small parts are too hard to get to fit with all the flex going on. So I thought now would be a good time to share my build....

... please don't laugh at the poor Cylon Centurion!
*runs and hides*


THE start.


2 hours to build the front of the flight pod. I know the bottom should not be flat... but after a few 4 letter words, I picked FLAT.
I plan on adding the angle bits later.


Rest of the pod. And I realized the back was totally dumb.
Measure twice, cut once - not the other way... oops.


Fixed. (Trenches to be added later)


Progress. Cylons are gonna get you Galactica!


Dang. The arms. That was a mind trip to get them right.
(Or as close as I wanted to bother with.)


Hey! LEFTY!
My arms were altered to fit the angle of the top of the flight pod. A Cylon improvment over lowly Human design (that's my story).


Dramatic angle. *oooohhhh*


Paper phase winding down, having too many issues at this point working with just typing paper and masking tape (plus a few cardboard ribs inside the bigger boxes)


That's it for now... next update when I have enough to report.

By Your Command.

[3phase]

Cool idea. Will be watching. Also can this method (when the sheet plastic stage is reached) be accurate if real kit parts were used.

[JAWS]

Nice start.
We can help refine those patterns.

[Wombat]

Now thats a lite weight Battlestar!!

I think what you are doing is a great way to go about building this badass and it should be just that when done. More badass than anything you tin heads have come up with before anyway! LOL
As you are not gonna get bent out shape about the detailing this build should be a lot of fun doing your own thing. I think the signature parts may be a good idea but after that you can really throw what ya like at it. The only concern i have is how a PVC pipe is going to go trying to support this monster. You've got an idea there already how big it's gonna be..

[Wombat]

(10-20-2013, 05:21 PM)3phase Wrote: Cool idea. Will be watching. Also can this method (when the sheet plastic stage is reached) be accurate if real kit parts were used.

It should if you go to the trouble of checking the different panels with the kit parts used on each panel. It's really the only way to get things right with your measurements when working from scratch.

[Cylon-Knight]

Thanks 2phase, JAWS and Wombat! Glad you like it. I am certainly minor league – thanks for letting me play along.

I hope to have a *few* 1:1 kit parts, 3phase... but I can't break the bank on a second massive project.

Awesome, Jase. I am trying to work from photos and the drawing, but might bug some for photos of areas that don't get much photo attention. Some of the underside seems to be hard to track down reference that's not at some crazy angle/wide type photo.

Yes Wombat - a nice breeze could ruin my Battlestar. *blush* lol
I know one of my Cylon pals thinks I'm crazy for doing a Battlestar over a Basestar, but the massive re-use of most every part (like up to 20 times?) on a Basestar... I am going to leave for later when I am brave (time, space and money) enough to try and cast stuff myself. A Battlestar I think I can get away with 2 or 4 of most parts (left & right) for my "want-to-be" build concept... I know the "real" Galactica has a lot of re-use here and there, but the Annihilation is being built by "Cylon bean counters."

I too have thought of some signature parts - like the bridge area. But I no idea on how to go about them yet. I could babble about a Centurion, but Battlestars are still a bit daunting.

Hummm... I didn't ponder PVC not supporting the ship. I'm a Cylon and will have to consult the manual before the ground comes up and hits my Raider lol

I started the cardboard phase. The center area is redone. Much stronger and I hope will be a solid foundation for the rest of my evil Cylon machine!

[Cylon-Knight]

P.S. The Colonies have been pwnd

[LastBattlestar]

That Photoshop looks fantastic John! I'd really like to see one with blue stripes and AUSTRALIS on the name plate.

Mike

[Cylon-Knight]

By your command, Mike!
The AUSTRALIS

[dbhs]

Hey John,
That's looking great. Makign a study model in paper to flush out the dimensions is a smart idea. Plus after it's usefullness is over you can fill it up with candy and make a pinata out of it. Win-win. (don't forget to invite your friends over for that) he he.

[Cylon-Knight]

Now there is a photo op!
Me in full Centurion dress - smacking a Galactica-pinata with a Cylon stick POW! POW! POW!
I love it. *evil grin*

Here are some of photos of the center body being done in cardboard so you can get an idea of the process I am doing. I won't post up photos of every part being made... they will all be just like this one.


Cardboard... cardboard... cardboard!!!


A panel built up and the cardboard folds reinforced so they DON'T fold.


Phase 2 has begun, Imperious Leader. By your command.


Side going up.


Interior supports to make sure everything stays where I put it.


Closing up the section.
As one of my friends pointed out to me... "Battlestars are GRRRRRRRRRRRRRREAT!" (Tony the Tiger)

[JAWS]

Yummy too!!!

[Red III]

Love It!

[Wombat]

Seems to be going to plan so far there, good work! Won't be long and you'll be onto the next stage.

[Cylon-Knight]

Thanks guys! I keep on plugging away - I know I said I'd not show much more photos of the cardboard stuff... however I am a Cylon and I lied. My moto is... "Photos or it didn't happen." I take A LOT of photos of every project in process to share over at BYC and now here.

I did more work today on the project - got a lot done on the new flight pod design.


Here we go.....
I've improved it, adding the "V" on the bottom and the trenches on each side. (UGH more work )


Better. Stronger!
More internal ribs and stronger skin. Sweet.


One side done. 6 more panels to do on the other side, then the middle will be done.

Thanks for looking.

[Wombat]

Yep plan on making them bays strong. The whole bay is only supported by the cross arm so that is the only point supporting the whole structure. You'll need to think first what you'll make inside the bay to fit onto the armature and then how you can make it support the bays entire length. Mike used some aloooonimum channel for his bay trenches and this would be a good thing to look at for your build also. It'll sort of be like a backbone only it's on the side.

[JAWS]

Updates?

[Cylon-Knight]

Nothing new yet after the pod work...

Mrs. Cylon-Knight had a birthday this weekend and my job has been pushing my poor 1978 Cylon circuits to the limits lately. I can’t shoot the broad side of a Battlestar and they want me to do 6 things at once for 8+ hours! eeeeeek

I have been pondering the interior structure more with your advice Wombat. I honestly didn’t give any consideration to that. I’m used to “not” studio scale models that just part A to part B = done. This scratch Studio Scale is a new world for my advanced (but dated) Cylon processing abilities. * eye roll *

Does anyone have a link to a good photo of the pod pick point(s) with the caps removed? I am not quite sure how they should be designed yet either. (Oh look at me using fancy pick point model terms!).

[Cylon-Knight]

I have a small update for now:

New front, improved! I still need to figure out the insides for supports and such. They are half @$$ed for now. I was getting tired.


New back. I need to work on all the insides and openings on this... I WAS tried at this point. *ha*


Phase 2 next to Phase 1. Not too bad for a 1978 Cylon.

[Wombat]

OK for a tin head i guess???

Going to be a fun build for sure. Already it's tuffer than anything your side has to offer!!

Now back to it

[Cylon-Knight]

Here is another small update:

Redid the outside arms in cardboard now and they improved over my paper ones... more screen accurate where they end.
(Talking about the edge near the 26 on the ruler is "better." For some reason on my paper arms that edge was VERY stubby.)
The center arm (in the center of the photo) is still in the works. Right now I have an angle that is crazy wrong, once I get the other arms and the flight pod together I can figure out the center arm.


The bit that starts the connection to the engines, redone in cardboard. Nice and strong.


And here is my mess, and the section neck is on the right. New and improved in cardboard as well.
The white areas are still cardboard, not typing paper. Just had some white cardboard from various boxes everyone is saving up for me. Big shout out to Brother Cylon-Knight for restocking me I was about on a produciton freeze for lack of cardboard! But it is all cool now - will work on it more tonight.

[Cylon-Knight]

And tonight's work as I said....
Brother Cylon-Knight brought me MORE cardboard and his Miller Lite box helped out! (My Pepsi 2 liters are not much help to a Battlestar)


Here is my "Master" engine section cross member all drawn up. Ugh ... MATH


Here is the engine section reborn in cardboard. To the left you can see the paper one.
The Bottom and four basic walls all ready to close up.


I added this support to one of the corners. For a bit more strength where it counts.
I will also add many cross member supports inside too. As Mrs. Cylon-Knight pointed out, cardboard will still just sink in over time, just like the paper one did.


Here are the walls folded up
(Nothing taped closed yet... I'm about out of tape - FRACK!)


And here it is with the top just sitting in place as best as I could with nothing taped and one hand. lol

The Annihilation is moving right along. Beware Colonials!

[Cylon-Knight]

Here is another update:

This was a few weeks ago, jumping around on when I have time for the build (work, Holidays, etc. - where is the hobby love? lol).
Here you can see the engine section about done in cardboard. I was puzzled at this point but finally I figured out one small item that was tripping me up.


Top: Phase 1 engines out of paper, that I gave up on.
Bottom: Phase 2 engines out of cardboard. Rock n roll.


The last major section is the front/head part. I have a working version ready for some photos.
Above is the underside of the front/head.

I never did a paper study on this. It's just too big and paper would be a headache, flex too much.
So, I'll be working all the bugs out in cardboard. So far I have a good start (I think).
Staring on the right side, then I'll just copy it to the left.

Remember, I am just working off the one drawing and various photos from the web from time-to-time. I am just a poor Cylon in a Colonial world.


And here is the top side of the head. The "curve" and side edge are just rough. I have measurements in place for the trenches on the sides, but need to get the main panels in order yet. Then I can go and put in the trenches. For me, they are rather easy to add later vs. the overall shape.


BY YOUR COMMAND! Here is the Annihilation as of now, I JUST took these photos tonight while geeking out with a Battlestar in my living room! I placed a BSG Saga Of Star World DVD case by the ship for scale.

Yes, if you are paying attention there is only one flight pod still... missing some skin, and the center arm is only 1/2 done... Hey, I'm a bit lazy. Really I've not done the skin so I can ponder the cross brace to the other flight pod. Once the head is done then I'll make the other pod and go to work on the last bits under the main body. And the center arm is just a "B" until the pod / other arms are in place so I know what angle to make the sucker.

I also have an idea to make the Annihilation a bit more Cylon... I am pondering the use of the Cylon "vent" design element. (Centurion mouth, chest, and Raider canopy.) Where the bridge of the Battlestar goes, I want to try to include some Cylon-ish vents. But they'd have to be in scale to the size of the ship, etc. But wouldn't that be Cylon-ly COOL?! HA

Thanks for looking.

[LastBattlestar]

Moving along nicely there!

Don't forget that the top of the head curves down toward the nose, not flat on top. When you are ready to commit to styrene, a few of us might be able to supply some ballpark basic dimensions of the major sections to help out. Hopefully without stepping on any toes.

Mike

[Wombat]

You've made some good progress there with this side of things. It sure has that Battlestar shape about it and in the huge SS size at that. Gives you a great idea what you'll end up with doing all this and something to work from in the way of adjusting things here and there if you choose. Just depends how accurate you want make things really.

[Cylon-Knight]

Glad you all like!

Here is the latest:

Here is the front inset.


And the back inset. CYLONS DO NOT LIKE INSETS! lol


Another angle.


So here is the front as it stands now. The two insets are planned out.
The shapes have paper sections/add ons to help figure out the shapes needed.
I realized the head has a slightly different angle at the top, but I'm happy with it for now.
Unless I bother to address this when going to plastic - I am calling it a Cylon improvement!


My work area... what a nightmare, huh?! HA
You can see the total mistake of a coffin to the left of my computer screen... I worked and
worked and worked on it. Then I put it on the bottom of the main hull section and DANG
it was toooooooo wide. Plus it was about 3 times to tall I think. Lowly humans and their ships...
why can't they use circles like us Cylons?!


Here is the start of my improved coffin. Never mind the right side... *scribble* *scribble*
The dotted lines are the 2" pipe backbone that will be the ship's skeleton. And the cardboard
circle is the spot there the bottom pick point belongs.

To the left is the start of the other bit that goes right infront of the coffin a little tower that wraps
around the pipe.

So far, so good.
...OH... I *officially* spent money on my build too while I was working on the engine sections awhile back... I had to buy a new role of masking tape.

[Wombat]

Perhaps you should start measuring before cutting that tape, we don't want you blowing the budget too early..

Things are progressing pretty well there by the looks of things but you gotta do something about that angle on the head. It's a bit too how should i say this, rampy looking at present.

[Mr. Wabac]

I know cylons don't like insets, but it looks like you are going to have to modify the eyes.
The back wall leans inwards quite a bit, it isn't 90 degrees at the base - unless the cylons have made improvements to the basic design.

PS: Beware of a Colonial sneak attack while under construction - I heard they have been sharing tactics with the leaders of a rebellion against some other empire.

[Cylon-Knight]

@Wombat - lol - yes, my poor budget! HA, now that is funny.
And I do know exactly what you are talking about. I noticed that same "rampy" issue. The sides with the eyes have a flaw in the shape at the top. I'll give it another try. Thanks for the tip!

@Mr. Wabac - I THOUGHT I saw on a few photos the inner wall wasn't 90 degrees... We Cylons are trying to improve the design, yes, but we are all (hockey glove) thumbs (and a bit lazy) Thanks for the info – good to know for certain how to proceed. Very much appreciated!

Hummm… no worries. I personally dealt with “that other empire” at Galacticon 3 / Comicpalooza 2013 this past May. Photo Link: http://www.byyourcommand.net/cylongaller...play_media *pew* *pew* Iz blowed up yer banner, I said. (Then ran for the hills)

[Wombat]

I know you are not getting fussed about dimensions and you are doing your own thing but it'd be good to see that head look a bit more like it just the same. The rest is scrubbing up ok for what you want but a bit more tweaking with things at the front will be worth the trouble. The eye backwall isn't really an issue for you as you'll be detailing it with your own cylon touch anyway.

   

[Cylon-Knight]

Great photo, Wombat. Thank you. I can see I have a few issues to iron out on my head build.
- The "ramp" issue
- The eye is too narrow + the back wall needs to slant
- The top edge (above the trench) should be wider on the neck side and smaller on the nose side - mine is the same size on both sides
- I thought the head was flat on the bottom. I can see it has an upward slant on the bottom too... adds to the "ramp" issue. DANG! lol

Thanks for all the feedback everyone - Version 2.0 will be better with all your help

[Cylon-Knight]

Annihilation UPDATE!


Second flight pod has been started.


Here is the "coffin" - Mark II. :oops: This is one tricky party (for me anyways - working off of photos and guessing at every measurement).


Secret weapon... shhhhh don't tell anyone!


Coffin roughly in place.


Here is a photo to get a rough idea of the 2" "pipe" (cardboard tube as of now) and how it will look. I still need to cut the holes in the coffin so it can all actually be assembled. I am still figuring out everything and how / where the pipe will enter the flight pods.


And again, the how the pipe will look going from the coffin out to the front of the ship.


Now for my new toy...
This is a little tool box Brother Cylon-Knight got me for Christmas with the express intent of using on my Battlestar build. It has MANY little storage bins.


Inside the top level are the smaller bins... I've filled them up with random model treasures. Nothing 1:1 for an authentic Battlestar in there. Remember my build is 1:1 in size and basic shape, the details will all be custom (i.e. CHEAP )


The tool box opens up and in the lower level are larger bins. I've go them filled up too!


And here is a second tool box I've had for a long time. Some of the parts I have gotten are too large for my red tool box (like plane wings and trees that I have not taken all the parts off of yet go in here).


Parts... parts... parts...


And here is a part test! They are just sitting on the ship. Just day dreaming about how AWESOME the Annihilation will be one day. Colonials BEWARE!!!!

[Red III]

This is really cool watching your ship come together. The detailing is going to be interesting!

[Wombat]

For a cardboard Battlestar things are shaping up pretty good there. Working out dimensions is pretty hard especially if you don't have part's to measure from. I know it's too late now but a set of plans like what Charles Adams did would have made things a lot easier for you and been a good starting point. His plans are half scale but they included templates for a lot if not all areas from memory. It may have been some good money invested but then you're having fun and things don't look to bad as i said. Because your detailing will be it's own thing it's not like things need to be right on the money anyway.

Keep at there and yeah, bring it on if you dare!

[Cylon-Knight]

@Red III, thanks! Glad to have a fan.
I've been collecting bits, and pondering some "Cylon twists." Indeed, it'll be fun to get to the detailing point - once all this silly building is done! lol (If anyone has model bits they don't want you can send it to me - I'm asking everyone so I have to ask here too )

@Wombat, thank you! Yes, the dimensions are "close" and that'll do for me at this point. I was not sure how much plans cost and I have to mind my shoe-string budget after my Centurion costume cost me *ahem* *ahem* *ahem* *ahem* dollars. *blush* Having plans for some of the areas would be DREAM, that is for certain. This may seem like a "small update" but redoing the front and back of the "head" section literally took me all day to find reference images and scale them, ponder them and draw them out. I think (HOPE) you'll be pleased with the new direction of my second attempt at the head section is going - much less "rampy," I think.

Thanks again for looking, and feedback. It is such fun to share and learn from all you master builders - Galacticas and beyond!


Started the cross member items... still need to work on them more after reworking the "head" section.


Here is the ship as it stands... just a review photo.


Okay, so the "head" section was all sorts of wrong as I realized and discussed with others, it really needed an overhaul.
So - back to the drawing board.
Here is the new back being ironed out... I reverse engineered all new measurements for it.


And the front needed redone also.
I worked from past photos of the Original Galactica without the front cap on... VERY HANDY!


Fresh from the factory!


I flipped the part over and got quite a surprise!
Tony the Tiger being there was NOT planned... what a hoot. Cylon Battlestars are GRRRRREAT!


The old and the new side by side. The new one will have the trenches down the sides as it should.
(I skipped over them on version 1 trying to figure out the larger overall shape.)


The new bottom angled trenches going together. I reinforced these to be two layers of cardboard really.
I wanted to ensure that any flex is not going to put a wrench in the works.


And here is how they will fit.
Now, I did put them on and two more panels on each side... then I realized an error.
These parts angle from the large back to the small front (skip down two photos and you'll see the red lines & ruler and see what I mean).
SO - since these parts should angle I've cut each end square, they are perfect rectangles. OOPS!
I've slit the tape as needed and as I get the bigger sections in place I can go back and add the slight angles as needed so they have the correct look/fit.


TONY! Still makes me laugh.


So here is a good before and after.
Version 2 on the left. Version 1 on the right.
You can see how version 2 has the correct slight upward slope going on (about 10 degrees, I figure).
Version 1 had a totally flat bottom, and the top is way too "rampy," indeed!


It was getting LATE on me and I was tired. I decided that I needed to put in a mock skeleton to keep the head in shape.
I've roughly started that, then stopped.
If you look REALLY close you can see a white line at the front (where Tony the Tiger is). That's actually a model tree spru (spelling?).
I needed something STURDY to keep that Tony the Tiger front from bending and distorting the build. I Macgyver'd a bit off of the model
parts that I've been collecting to embellish the ship with. I was a Cylon without Popsicle sticks so I had to rig something up.


Oh look... my Battlestar has a new little friend thanks to my Cylon brother, Groupleader Zeta! My own Remote control Land Ram. AWESOME (and with BRIGHT lights).

...oh, I used Scotch tape for the first time now too... it's just as good or maybe a bit better for some things than masking tape.
This clunky 1978 Cylon has put 2 and 2 together... and I got 22

[LastBattlestar]

Hey, you've seen the pics at modelermagic.com?

Pics like this will help you nail down the basic dimensions like bay/body widths, spacing from each other etc. Print out the pics that look closest to orthographic and scale them up. I guarantee that once you begin building one of these, you'll want to go accurate. Ask Ken...

http://www.modelermagic.com/wordpress/wp...ce-123.jpg

Mike

[Cylon-Knight]

Thanks for the link, LastBattlestar. Great stuff.

I was moving stuff around today and found a Battlestar - lol. I pondered the center support that runs from the underside up into the "head" section.
And thought I'd do a test...


Here you can see the mock up support tube - highlighted in yellow. So far so good, everything aligns correctly.
(I am just using a hollow wrapping paper tube for now with four pieces of tape to get an idea).

And just a little to the right of my Battlestar...