SS Battlestar....attempt II

[star-art]

I hope you don't mind me tooting my own horn for a moment, but I feel I should say the armature for this model is the one thing that is nearly 100% mine in the CR project. I discovered the aluminum components when I was engineering my own build some years back. Like Phil, I went through major challenges having aluminum pipe welded and I was seeking a better solution. That's how I came across the system used to make this armature.

When I got the opportunity to design the CR model, Jim was intrigued by the idea of a pipe frame that required no welding whatsoever. (This was especially true after I told him the horror stories of what I'd gone through having my welded version made.) I was able to combine some off-the-shelf components with some custom made parts to create this version.

I designed this baby from the ground up, sourced every single component and piece of hardware, spec'd every custom-machined part, and even helped with ordering of the parts. Whereas much of the building of the CR Galactica was a team effort, I do get to take most of the credit for just this part. LOL

One thing Jim did though that improved the assembly involved the little brackets that go between the pipe and the plates. As they are supplied by the manufacturer, these brackets are not a perfect fit on the pipe, leaving just a bit of wiggle room. Jim had his machinist remove a sliver of material from each one (there are a couple dozen of them). It was a lot of work, but it made for a perfect custom fit.