Four foot X-wing (ILM tribute)

[79 Daytona]

Great update!! That looks just outstanding!!!

[427 Cobra]

Thank you guys! Once again,your adulation is appreciated.

This isn't an update,but an opinion poll. Do these look proportionate to the original? There's a little work to do on the top of heart shaped piece,but this is otherwise done. There's a little flat bar that goes there. The other top part is from a model car,but I have no idea which,as I made this from scratch to look like the part on the back in the top left hand corner of the ILM model. For some reason it looks like these are too small. I guess that this is because the suspension part between the two has yet to be made,and put in its' place.

I welcome all comments,and questions,as I'm still undecided whether to use the smaller heart shaped piece,or start over. I think it's maybe just the middle insert (of the heart shaped piece) is too small by just a hair.

Please,compare photos.




This is the original rough draft I made for scale.

[79 Daytona]

Well to be honest and from what i can tell from the pic's i think you have nailed it, I know it's hard to try and guess the size from the ref. pic's but again i think your right on track.

[JAWS]

Looks good to me. Great details your scratching Cris. Its amazing to see these come together.

[Coffee Addict]

Awesome job Chris!! This is coming together very nicely.

Roy

[Wombat]

Like the others,i think they look great there CC!
It's very hard to get these things correct when you don't have everything else to lay out also and make sure it all fit's properly but from your placement on your drawing it looks good to me.Thats some nice scratchin of those two part's,they look damn good bud!!

[427 Cobra]

OK - now I think I have it. After FOUR tries,this is the one that looks right. This was so hard,as the angles,and shapes are so difficult to determine in their relationship in size,and space to each other. I kept thinking that this was more heart shaped. This is more elongated,but smashed together with the other end where it looks like eyes. This also has a bend from the top down to the side that looks like a speaker cone. This reminds me of an A arm support for a car,or truck suspension. What the disc behind it is,well that's anyones' guess.




This is the second attempt that I made wednesday. This is after I did the styrene,and acetone trick. I filled this in with styrene melted with acetone after drilling it once,and gluing styrene sticks that I shaved down from styrene pieces laying on the table that I glued together. I decided that I didn't want this to come out the same way the first one did. I just wasn't right,and I knew it. Sadly,this came wrong anyway!






Here,you can see the chronology of the transitional stages to get where I am today. Starting from left to right - the first,second,third,and final attempt at getting this right.





This is to show that looks can be decieving,but when you're looking for perfection,close enough just won't do! The correct version on the disc,and the second attempt beside it. Please compare to the photo of the original ILM model below.





The green arrows show where that there are fins on the sides,and the red arrow shows an edge where the fin stops. The blue arrows show where there is a small tab. The dark blue dots denote a slight convex curvature to it.





A close up shot of these two parts. Here you can clearly see that the final version actually fills the area,and it covers the disc more evenly,as does the original ILM X-wing model. The first three attempts did not.






This is after I made the center rod for the middle. This is the way the old model masters made pieces for models that required difficult,or multiple angles,and surfaces.








Here are the angles of declination from the top by the "eyes" of the turnbuckle,which is what this part is called. The blue and yellow arrows show the dropoff this has towards the lenticular shaped "speaker cone" that makes the other side of the turnbuckle. The red and blue arrows are to accentuate this angle. I didn't take any photos of the piece I made,but I did include this shape on my part.

The green arrow shows that there is a deeper end to this lenticular shaped area.






This photo shows the angular shape,or declination from the top to the lenticular shaped side of the turnbuckle.

[79 Daytona]

Cobra i thought the first one looked pretty damn close but from looking at the pic's and your drawings i think you really nailed it with the second one.

Great work my friend!!!!!!

[JAWS]

Yeah thats it mate. I wanted to say I thought you were a bit small on the first run & shouldhave spoken up then. From now on I'll trust my eye cause that looks spot on Cris. You may want to check out Greeble Gremlins new build at the RPF. If you can't let me know.

[427 Cobra]

(02-14-2010, 12:18 PM)79 Daytona Wrote: Cobra i thought the first one looked pretty damn close but from looking at the pic's and your drawings i think you really nailed it with the second one.

Great work my friend!!!!!!

Do you mean the FOURTH one? Just look at the second photo from the top - this is how many tries it took me to get this right.

(02-14-2010, 02:38 PM)jasonwright.1972 Wrote: Yeah thats it mate. I wanted to say I thought you were a bit small on the first run & shouldhave spoken up then. From now on I'll trust my eye cause that looks spot on Cris. You may want to check out Greeble Gremlins new build at the RPF. If you can't let me know.

Like I said in the first post with this turnbuckle turd - all questions,and comments were more than welcomed. This is because I knew I was on the right track,but it just didn't have the right appearance no matter what I did. I drilled the holes on the first one twice,after filling them with styrene rods I made. It still had the wrong look because,this is short,and wide - not long,and thin. Finding the correct angles,and proportion between the lenticular shaped part,and the "eyes" was the worst part of it all. I didn't see the fins on the sides until after I made the third attempt at making this piece. There are so many reticulating angles,and surfaces that making this was a logistical nightmare!

I worked on this model long enough! I need to finish it,so I can produce other products that I have promised to other people. I need to get on the ball,as making these last peices took me four days,and many hours of scrutinizing Ira keelers' work,as well as that of my own. I know that Ira Keeler,and Mike fulmar are the two who made this model,but I don't know what was going through their minds when they decided on the kits they used for this part of the build. ????

[JAWS]

I worked on this model long enough! I need to finish it,so I can produce other products that I have promised to other people. I need to get on the ball,as making these last peices took me four days,and many hours of scrutinizing Ira keelers' work,as well as that of my own. I know that Ira Keeler,and Mike fulmar are the two who made this model,but I don't know what was going through their minds when they decided on the kits they used for this part of the build. ????
[/quote]
I agree. Cause Im really hung on this showing how well I could make a kit All large pieces would have to be fit with at least allumminnium bracing or support. im so ready for this, despit all the other things on my benches............

[79 Daytona]

OMan i must have missed that second pic. sorry so i guess its fourth times was the charm.

[Wombat]

OK,i see what you are talking about with the redo's there CC.Damn,i thought the first one you asked about looked pretty good,but the one which you have settled on does look even betta again.The perseverance has paid off dude,thats some incredible work for such a small piece!

[427 Cobra]

(02-14-2010, 09:19 PM)79 Daytona Wrote: OMan i must have missed that second pic. sorry so i guess its fourth times was the charm.

It's OK. Sometimes,even I will overlook a photo,or two on someone elses' build,than wonder how I missed it! Yes,the FOURTH time was the charm,I'm glad it was only a small part.

(02-14-2010, 10:02 PM)Wombat Wrote: OK,i see what you are talking about with the redo's there CC.Damn,i thought the first one you asked about looked pretty good,but the one which you have settled on does look even betta again.The perseverance has paid off dude,thats some incredible work for such a small piece!

That's what's sad about this,is that it so tiny,and hard to hold in my hand while working with it. The first ones were hard enough by themselves,let alone the detail that was neccessary to accomplish without gluing extra pieces of styrene to it. Right now,this is only four pieces - three layers of styrene glued,and shaped,and the centre rod made from three layers of styrene scraps also glued to each other,then shaped by hand.

Mystery of this turnbuckle is now solved:

I found this on ebay,but only thinking about this a long,and hard time last night. I figured that this was a crane part,and I was right,only this is part of an HO scale train kit. I knew that I had seen this same part somewhere,but I couldn't remember until it hit me. I just put "crane" in the search,and found the kit below.

Each of these colours shows the exact same shape,and similarities between the two parts. The red arrow is where this splits away at the top,just like the one on the ILM model. The pink arrow shows where the pullys are side by side,and the dark blue dots are where the convex edge tapers away from the top. This was modified by Mike Fulmar to look like this with the rest of the crane hook cut away.

[JAWS]

Good work Cris. the way you can replicate parts with your hands & no machinery is amazing. You are very talented. Get back to work.

[dbhs]

Stunning work on this, man.

[427 Cobra]

Thank you guys! Your words are very encouraging,as I've hit a few brick walls during the last month.



This is the backside of this piece. I forgot to snap a photo of it until today.




This is all the latest progress. The worst is still yet to come. I have to make the rest of the J shaped pieces,and all these tiny parts,and greeblies that make up the bottom of the hyperdrive vault. There's a lot of intricate parts that I didn't even know existed on this model until last week! I need to hurry this up,so I can finish a canopy for a friend on another forum,and a couple of other projects I have in the works. I hope this will satisfy everyone for a few days until I can get back on this,then follow up all the parts I started earlier,but stopped to make the smaller parts you see in these pictures.

[





There're a lot of rod shapes to make on this. I don't think I have the ability to do this anymore,I'll have to call on some friends to help me out. If I can get the correct sizes from them,I can do it. Otherwise,I'll be here forever cutting styrene!!

"Plastruct don't fail me now!"





A look at some of the other parts. Notice that there are TWO identical crankshaft arms here in this photo.



A closer look at these pieces. I turned all the circle shapes on a drill,as they were to small for a lathe. There are some parts that aren't shown in any of these photos,but I yet to make them. They're too small to be seen straight on,but they are visible from side views.





A look at the bottom right side. I hope to finish this today,and the canopy that I promised to make for a friend.

[scratchy]

Since taking this hobby up last year, I have seen a lot, and I mean a LOT of impressive models by numerous talented people..... but what I just witnessed here, and I went from the beginning, to the last page of this thread, just blew my mind away.

I can literaly take the photos that you posted and try and replicate what you did so far, but something tells me that I would fail.

I can't find the words, This four foot x-wing is going to be unbelievable!......

.... I bestow upon you "Demi-god" status

[427 Cobra]

Thank you,sir! You have certainly made my day! I'm only trying to imitate what the masters before me have done,with what I've taught myself over the years from trial,and error. Don't fool yourself,Scratchy - what I'm doing amazes even me,which is hard to do since I'm used to seeing my own work! This is why I have to start over on some pieces,as I know that this will make the ultimate kit,as soon as I can finish it,and have Jason cast this for me. Then he,and I can offer this for the other members too! This entire build has tested ALL my skills as model maker,fabricator,and an artist. Only having to copy what other people have done in the exact scale,and proportion is the hardest part so far. The worst still has yet to come!

[427 Cobra]

This is another small sample of what I've done up to last friday,but I have other parts I'm making for another member of this forum right now,so until that's finished - I won't have anything else to show.



This is how I make my round parts true until I can get another lathe. These are small,so I can get away with doing it like this. I start by using a drill bit guide. I decide what size I need from that,then I draw a hole,and cut out a circular blank from it. Then,I sand with an emery board until it's about to the line,then I mount it to the drill once a hole is made in the center.

Then I use a machinehead screw from a guitar (that was an extra),then I tighten the disc against it,and while I turn the drill,I hold the emery board against the disc until is the correct diameter. I follow this up with 320 grit,and 600 grit wet-or-dry sandpaper to smooth it out. This completes the process,which takes about twenty minutes depending on disc size.









This is how my table normally looks when I'm making stuff.



The J shaped parts are supposed to be radiator,or airfilter lines. I can't decide which,as I've never seen these reinforcement lines on any real vehicle parts in the size that these are. I had an AMT '57 Chevy in 1/25th scale that had lines like this coming from the radiator - I think this is just an example of bad workmanship. Another inaccuracy that this company is nortorious for!



Speaking of bad workmanship - these J shaped parts don't have the reinforcement lines placed evenly on them! I was half way drunk that night (it was my cousins' birthday),and about three o' clock in the morning,so I didn't really notice,until it was too late. I didn't draw the lines on these evenly WHILE I WAS SOBER! Hmmph! So much for sobriety! I'll just sand these off,and start over,so that they'll be even,and professional looking. I'd hate to because,these lines are made from stretched sprue,and I don't have a lot of it left in this diameter. Stretching sprue is like building a house in a hurricane! Any way, you guys get the picture.






The rest of these parts are in the works still. This is as far as I got before taking these pictures. The bar in the centre of this picture is too thick,so I'll just start over with all new materials rather than take it apart,and tear things from each other with glue seams,and parts being destroyed anyway!






This small circle was the beginning,and it was supposed to be the center of the bar in the photo above,but I figured out how to make it the way it should have been originally. This was what held me up most of friday.









The clear tube parts in this photo are the end of an oral syringe I got from the vets' office. This fit the size perfectly. It also fit the other part in this photo,and the body of the syringe that I cut these from has a diameter that this flares to a perfect diameter for some of the parts on the hyperdrive motivator as well. I can't wait to get to that. This is why I need to hurry this along as fast as I can without missing a beat (or making any more mistakes),so the fuselage can appear,but before that I need to go back and finish the other parts that were slowing me down.







A closer look at the machinehead screw,and a failure to the right of it. This was too thick,and I didn't feel like sanding it back down to 0.40" inch thickness.

[JAWS]

You really do have a way with plastic Cris. I can't get over it. PM me your address mate the parts you want are getting shipped. Im not sending you castings Im giving you the actual parts. I need to conserve my rubber for a large project so I have mad a scarifice to the styrene gods for us.

[jockdeboer]

Looking good!

[427 Cobra]

(02-23-2010, 12:20 PM)jasonwright.1972 Wrote: You really do have a way with plastic Cris. I can't get over it. PM me your address mate the parts you want are getting shipped. Im not sending you castings Im giving you the actual parts. I need to conserve my rubber for a large project so I have mad a scarifice to the styrene gods for us.

OK,Jase - let's do it this way: You send me the parts,and I'll recast them in polyester resin,and automotive RTV,as I know both of these materials,and I have used them before. This should only cost me about $25.00 at the most. I can do small parts without the worry of casting bubbles,or pressurising the silicone to keep these from warping. I can use these about ten times before I have to make new moulds,so it shouldn't take more than a couple of days to copy most of these.

I'm ready for the fuselage in my mind,but I NEED to finish all the other parts first! I've started the Saturn V housings,but the internal structures (tubing) were slowing me down. The outsides of these will be fairly easy. The Phantom engine was slowing me down too! These will have to be done soon. I need to finish the wings,which will be very difficult,as these will be multiple parts that will be hollow with various details,and surfaces. Therefore,special care will be needed to make them correctly. I now have the acrylic needed to finish the wings,so once I have the hyperdrive vault finished - there'll be no excuse not to finish them!

[JAWS]

No use the actual parts. In the kit is quadruples of nearly everything except the gun etc. I will mold up the Morser karl parts you need multiples of.

[79 Daytona]

WOW!!! Cris it's really a joy to watch your work!!!

[MonsieurTox]

Hey Chris,

Good news, I found the right parts :



I bet this kit has more parts for the 4 footer, Ill check the other sprues !

It's from the Z1300 Kawasaki, Tamiya 1/6.

[JAWS]

Hey nice work Julien! Very kool find. I will add to the Parts Map.

[kbilly]

Another nice find MT!

[427 Cobra]

I know that it's late to say this now,but I've already said it before - I figured that this was a transfer casing from a motorcycle,but why would they also used this on a crane model? (I said this is a couple pages back.) Thanks for wasting your time looking this up, Julien. I have the correct shape and definition,but those tiny bolts are impossible to see, so your efforts aren't totally in vain! I'll add these to this part as soon as I start working on the four footer today. You didn't have to look for this part,but I'm glad you did. Thanks again, Julien - you're my parts ID hero!

[MonsieurTox]

You're welcome Chris, don't worry I didnt waste my time, I love looking for parts !

[427 Cobra]

I'm not really ready to post these,but here they are. I was hoping to have more to show,but other projects are needed to help with the cash flow for this one. I'll be back on this tonight,or tomorrow. I'll finish up the Arnold, so that I'll have a little more time in between to devote to this until the other projects I need to get done are finished. After that, it's full steam ahead on the wings, and all their related parts.

[Wombat]

Hey Chris,some of them parts you've scratched up there look bloody fantastic dude.It sucks that you've been robbed of some build time on this one but ya gotta do what ya gotta do some times the same as we all do aye.It's cming along nicely dude and it'll be an amazing thing when you finally get her done.Keep at it my friend!!

[JAWS]

Would be interesting for Julien to measure those parts he found to see how close you were in measurements. The pieces you scratched look so close in shape.

[427 Cobra]

I already thought about that a long time ago, Jase. Do you want me to ask him to measure the Kawasaki parts?

[79 Daytona]

Your work is just outstanding!! You my friend are an artist and its a real joy to watch your work.

[MonsieurTox]

Great progress Chris !

Just let me know if you want some measurements of the Kawa parts.

[427 Cobra]

Sure, Julien. Just out of curiosity, see what this measures in CMs. I know that a lot of the measurements of this are in exact English units, but the kitbashed parts are an exception - no one knows what they all measured since these were made by model makers.

[JAWS]

Cris. Parts are in the post. Will get the Morser karl parts out soon also. Sorry for the delay. Are you back at this yet?

[MonsieurTox]

(03-22-2010, 05:36 PM)427 Cobra Wrote: Sure, Julien. Just out of curiosity, see what this measures in CMs. I know that a lot of the measurements of this are in exact English units, but the kitbashed parts are an exception - no one knows what they all measured since these were made by model makers.

Chris, sorry I forgot to measure the parts, will do tomorrow !

[JAWS]

Cris give us an update please!!!! I knoe Julians been ill lately but if your around Julian could you measure those parts please?

[427 Cobra]

Update arriving tomorrow. I have a lot of acrylic to cut first. The wings are all acrylic, so this will take a lot of time, as I need to sand these parts smooth before I can fit them together.

[79 Daytona]

That sounds GREAT!! can't wait .

[JAWS]

Its the day after tomorrow! Got an update???

[427 Cobra]

Sorry - no update. I've been sick all day, and I broke some of my acrylic that I wanted to use, so this took up most of the day yesterday. Needless to say, it rained almost all night, and most of today was to wet to work. I'll stay on the hyperdrive vault, and finish it tonight, so I can show it off tomorrow - as long as the old lady doesn't get any ideas about me doing other things. I'll get back on the wings as soon as I can get a dry day to use my Moto-tool outside, as I don't have a garage to work in.

[JAWS]

Cris give us an update on this project please. i have the parts you want for the Hyperdrive Motivator also from the Leopold 7 morser kits.

[427 Cobra]

I'll have to wait for the glue to dry on the wings. These will be scribed before being glued together. I need to put a couple parts into rubber this weekend for the wing details. Pics will be forthcoming. I still have one sideline deal that I want to finish - this will help with the cash flow for the X project.

~ Cobra Chris

[JAWS]

How many of those caps do you need for that motivator?

[427 Cobra]

Six. Four for behind R2-D2, and two on the sides that stand alone.

[JAWS]

Picture please? Im meaning the ones that go around that curved thingy. I thought it was like 20 or something?

[427 Cobra]

If you're referring to the Morser Karl parts, yes 20 (the red arrow). The circular parts these surround are made up of several air intakes for the 1/24th scale Harrier (green and blue arrows). The Morser Karl parts are the tiny pieces (in the red circle) around it. Ignore the purple arrow - this picture is reused from another thread.

~ Cobra Chris