Restoring Brad Gaffy's Galactica....

[Brisfx]

You've done a great job mate thanks

[Richard_2001]

Jason,

Excellent Damage control team you got there

Richard

[JAWS]

Yeah me, myself & I did a great team effort on this one!
Just happy the first faze of operation fixerupper is done.
Now onto covering up the evidence so this baby can go home.

[LastBattlestar]

That's pretty fast work Jade, nice going. I've seen Brad's model a couple of times and was always terrified when he wheeled it around the garage on its stand, worrying it would fall over.

One thing I've noticed is the shape of the head top. Can you reduce the height above the eyes to a gentler curve? Might be easier while things are in construction mode.

Mike

[Brisfx]

Hey Mike

Yes the head is the part I am least happy with, I don't expect Jase to do it though. I am thinking I may try and rebuild more accurately when I get it back

[JAWS]

EEEEEK!

[LastBattlestar]

Now I'm putting ideas into his head. Better him than you, Jase...

Like most Battlestars, it's a collaborative effort when building your own. One fact which is relatively unknown is that Brad was building one way before Jim Creveling's first. I found pics of it when first on dial up internet waaaay back in the 90s. It got me inspired to start asking around and becoming friends with Brad, Charles and Jim. I actually found a print out of an email from Charles the other day. He said he was heading to a show that weekend where some guy was displaying a studio scale Galactica....

Mike

[Brisfx]

I have never really been happy with the shape of the head, the Galactica not my head

[LastBattlestar]

Both of them need some tweaking, but it's all good.

Mike

[JAWS]

LOL!!
Yes there is some long history behind this model.
Brad actually built 2 Galacticas before even Jim had started.
Brad had also been privileged to see the Galactica when it was first brought out for restoration by Mark Bradley & had also visited Gary as well I believe. Brad should chime in with some history as my memory is blurred on the storues. True stories though. I have pics somewhere of both Brad's G's. I think Charles original patterns were based off Brad's work & refined, again & again until it turned into the Custom Replicas beast that is still offered today.

So this is why I wanted & want to help Brad have an up to date G.

[star-art]

Not to hijack this thread, but wait just a minute! My work was NOT based on Brad's in any way, shape or form (not that I wasn't in awe to see his builds ).

Jim Creveling helped me get my start. After spending literally hundreds of hours working from photos, I had a decent base but a lot of things just did not work (because photos can and do LIE). After more than a year, I finally got some measurements from the actual studio miniature. I then threw out most of what I had done and started over from scratch.

Fast forward about 10 years, the Custom Replicas project came around. I had learned 3D modeling by then. So, I started over FROM SCRATCH again, and this time I used all the tools in my arsenal to get as close a match to the original model as I possibly could. CR made me adjust a few things for the sake of symmetry. But I am satisfied that the patterns I am using today are more than close enough to the real thing for me. After all these years and thousands of hours of effort, I do want to get this one right.

[JAWS]

Charles sorry for the mistake. Like I said, my memory a little blurred. Thanks for the clarification. I & we are more than grateful & appreciative of your work & efforts.

[Brisfx]

I am sure that's an honest mistake Jase. Charles and mine were completely seperate, and I admit I was equally impressed with Charles and Jim's work. I honestly cannot remember when i statred my Mark 1 Galactica, way back in the mists of time. I do remember tracking down Mark Bradley through Universal Studios Florida, all via the phone in those days after seeing the article in Starlog and Mark being extremely helpful.

I then became aquainted with Chris Papas who was also very helpful, then started trying to identify kits way back. Nothing like the work that has been done to date though.

When i visited Boston in about 2003 (I think), Chris arranged for me to meet Gary Canavo and was actually able to look at the old girl in the fles, so to speak. Wish i could have taken some photos.

My Mark 1 was eventually scrapped and i then started my second version and thought why not build 2 at once (I know what was I thinking)

Well one of mine eventually got shipped to the US in a trade with a well know SFX guy in LA, Greg Nicotero.

Now mine is sitting with Jase who has been kind enough to store it for me, but I must admit I am really getting the itch to get into it again. I can't believe how much kit prices have gone up though. Damm those Rocos are expensive.

[star-art]

Sorry, I didn't mean to be harsh -- honest! Brad is truly a pioneer in this hobby. I know of only one full size model that may have been built before his first one, and that was more of a caricature really. He was probably the first person to attempt a serious recreation of the original.

The main reason I think a lot of people consider Jim Creveling to be the "Father" of SS G models is the fact his was the most widely publicized. But Brad's work was an inspiration to be sure.

I lived in Orlando when the original studio model was on display at Universal Studios Florida. Unfortunately, I had no idea at the time because I didn't visit the park until 1994. Years later I, too, saw the Starlog article and I was so disappointed the model had been right there but I never got to see it.

Back then, I used to buy old SF mags at a Sci-Fi bookstore in town. The day I discovered the Starlog article, I walked up to the counter to buy that issue. I thought to ask the clerk if he happened to know who this Mark Bradley fellow was. He said (and I am not making this up!) "Sure, he's standing right over there." Mark and I were in the store at the same time! I walked up and introduced myself and we've been friends ever since.

It was probably around the same time that I saw Jim's first replica at a convention and I was hooked. I started down the road toward making a Galactica recreation of my own.

The last 16 years in this hobby have been an amazing journey for me. I've met some really great people along the way (many of you are right here on this site and in this thread). I do think it's pretty ironic though that neither Brad nor I have a completed model for ourselves yet. I hope to remedy that one day soon. In the meantime, Brad, you're still way ahead of me! LOL

[Brisfx]

Not sure about way ahead buddy . I just started scouring the net for model kits again

[JAWS]

I'm good Charles. We're friends! Thanks for the clarification & insights. Both of you are responsible for our miseries & empty pickets. That's what I was trying to get to. So many stories get muddled up. This is great stuff!

[star-art]

No worries, mate.

Brad, you'd better get crackin' as we say here in the US (or insert charming Aussie phrase LOL). I just found out Galacticon 4 is right up the road from me in the summer of 2015. I'll be pouring on the steam to get my model done as fast as I can. He he. . .

[Brisfx]

I just want to get trhe head section reworked (I think) and then its will be on

[JAWS]

I'll be in Hawaii....

[LastBattlestar]

I find its easier to start with new styrene panels than trying to clean up old ones. Just saying. I should know.

Mike

[darkimmitator]

(05-14-2014, 07:02 PM)LastBattlestar Wrote: I find its easier to start with new styrene panels than trying to clean up old ones. Just saying. I should know.

Mike

LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Wombat]

Yeps you should!! Think you are right though and replacing the skins would be the best option. The ones on it now would need to come off the top and sides so the bulkheads can be reworked to get a more desired look to it.
What material are your bulkheads made from, Brad? It's good to see things going back together so well and great to hear there some motivation in the belly for it again.

[darkimmitator]

Loving this resurgence of Battlestar activity ,along with a bonus history lesson . Best of all , nobody got shot !!! lol

[Wombat]

Yet anyway!!

Ken, get on bookface, lots happening there and answer me friend request ya bastard!

[Brisfx]

The bulkheads are wood. And quite thick. I need some accurate measurements/tracings of the 2 side walls and the flat head piece.

[Mr. Wabac]

Great work at rebuilding the "G" and thanks to Charles, Jim and Brad for the inspiration to try my hand at this goofy hobby myself (I hate you all)

I was thinking, with the shots of the landing bay repairs that the damage looks somewhat like the restoration required on the original miniature - is this really a clever attempt at authenticity ?

[darkimmitator]

(05-14-2014, 10:57 PM)Wombat Wrote: Yet anyway!!

Ken, get on bookface, lots happening there and answer me friend request ya bastard!

lol . Sorry bout not answering ya friend request there Phil . Don,t go on facebook often , but will check things out for sure !!

[JAWS]

Fixing the back end.
   

[Wombat]

Things are looking like they are almost back to where they were at before the lil accident... Nice work!

[Cylon-Knight]

Okay, so I'm a Cylon, and I am hijacking this thread... well more of a derail question vs a full on hijack

In these three photos (if the "quote-a-post" works) there are the wooden cross members... As I am starting to ponder my own build's "guts" (literally my battlestar is all over my living room floor RIGHT NOW)...

My question is why all the circle holes in the wooden cross members?
Are they to run wires/fiber optics? Less weight? Cooling? ... or all of the above??? Are the holes on both sides for weight balance - why not just put everything on one side (electronic's wise)?

I think that'll do - evil Cylon hijacking done.

Thanks for any feedback - and thanks for sharing this wonderful thread! Of course, I wish the damage never happened, but I am very glad to see and learn from it/you all.

Edit - the quote didn't work - I am talking about post #29 in this thread: http://www.studioscalemodelers.com/forum...9#pid21209

[JAWS]

Ok it does 2 things. Reduces weight & yes allows for wiring etc to be run.

[JAWS]

Getting there.
               

[darkimmitator]

oh wow looking great Jase. Can,t tell she an incident at all !!

[Wombat]

Some really good work to get it back to this point again, Jase. Looking at the pic's now you'd never know there was a bucket of shattered bit's not that long ago. I wasn't sure you'd be able to do it actually but i'm happy to see it did go back together ok. Well done! Now just keep it away from the shed door till you give it back to Brad.

[JAWS]

Just gotta fill a few more cracks & she's good to go. Yay!!!!

[JAWS]

           

[Brisfx]

Looking at the first pic just above, I think the head issue is just from the front edge of the 8 Rad chassis to about halfway to the front of the head, seems to be a hump that shouldnt be there From the front it looks ok

[Cylon-Knight]

She is a masterpiece!
Well, well done!!!

[Brisfx]

Well Jase dropped the old girl back home today, thanks mate. I sat and looked at her for a while and couldn't help myself

Started a teardown

   

   

[Brisfx]

Damm I had oriented them properly

[JAWS]

If you send from phone or ipad it tends to flip them horizontally.

Well straight into it ay mate.
Stripping the whole thing back is what I originally had planned.
If your going to spend x amount of time & the money to accurately detail it you want a nice straight frame for it.
Will be much happier in the end.

[Brisfx]

Thanks buddy, looking forward to Sunday week and really getting into it

[Brisfx]

Can anyone help out with measurements of the eye section? I am trying to re-do the side of the head for a more accurate look

Any help appreciated.

regards

Brad

[LastBattlestar]

I'd set up the 8rad chassis in position and work out the eye position and size from there. But since you are reworking the head height, you might want to get that set first. It's probably going to be easier to make new side skins for the head too rather than repositioning the eye cut outs. I know, believe me...

Mike

[Brisfx]

I agree Mike i was planning on new skins for the sides