I took a small detour these past few days to ID a couple of parts that I spotted in the shadows of the reference images.
I only had two photos of the mystery part, each only showing a (slightly different) partial view.
I had no clue what the parts could be, but this is where having a photo matched 3D model comes into its own.
Modelling over the reference images, I created a part with the exact size and shape of the unknown piece.
Armed with this info, I then went trawling through my kit scans and lo and behold, I found the part - an exact match!.
With those parts now completing the underside of the ship, I finally got to put the primer on
I will post a comparison with the original model tomorrow.
As promised, here is the comparison photo with the original model (at the same stage of construction).
I'm pretty happy with the match.
I continue to make minor tweaks as I go, but I think this will only end when the model is finally finished - which I hope is not too far away! 😁
The clamp assembly covering the top armature opening doesn't appear to match well, but this is because it was later shortened to fit into the release arm that Martin Bower built for it.
Templates are my secret weapon for kit part location accuracy...
While I am working my way across, detailing the front of the ship, I though I'd make a post on the methodology I use for positioning the kit parts.
The goal (obviously) is accuracy.
With that in mind, I had full size layouts printed of all the kit parts on the ship.
As they are taken directly from the 3D model (which is photomatched to the screen used ship) it means that these positions are as accurate as I can get them.
To transfer this to the physical build, I use the templates as (destructive) guides.
I simply cut out the part that I want to position, fit the template and glue the part inside the hole.
It's then just a matter of "rinse and repeat"! (lots and lots of times!)
The photos illustrate the sequence of how the parts in this section where placed.
It takes a little time, but the results speak for themselves.
I have also been looking ahead and have started laying out the artwork required for the decals.
I will take the same appoach as with the kit parts, and as they are drawn (in vector format) I will overlay them onto the reference photos to ensure that I get both an accurate representation of each decal and an exact location.
Again, this will take time, but I only plan on doing this once!
Work on the top front of the ship is now done.
I love how the detailing is restrained and focused in specific areas - wonderful design work from the original modelmakers (none of which is visible on screen as the model was only shot from the underside!)
I'll move to the rear of the ship and detail the area around the airlock next...
The styrene tubing has now been added to the rear panels.
Pretty happy with the fit and match.
I did notice on review against the reference pictures that a couple of the styrene plating parts were a little undersized (0.5mm - 1mm), so I have removed them and replaced them with more accurate ones.
Will move onto fitting the last of the kit parts now.
630 kit parts have now been added to the ship (and most of the tiniest ones were in this section!).
...and with that, the rear panels are done, which concludes the construction portion of the build!
Apart from some minor tweaks along the way, everything fitted pretty much as it should.
The comparisons with the reference photos show that it is a close match to the work done on the original
I will add some primer to the top of the ship over the next few days to finish it off, and take some final comparison shots against the original (in primer).
I've been keeping up but haven't been able to comment. All your updates til now have been amazing!!!! From 3D to physical, this build has been inspiring! Thanks again for sharing!
Without the countless people before me working on this model, it would not have been possible for me to have gotten this far with mine.
To all those people - you know who you are - thank you!
Having been asked about the parts used on the ship and In the spriit of giving something back, here is my complete list of all the kits used on the exterior of the Narcissus model:
1. Airfix 1/35 Bedford QL Gun Portee
2. Airfix 1/35 15 CWT Truck
3. Airfix 1/72 Apollo Lunar Module
4. Airfix 1/72 German E/S Boat
5. Airfix 1/72 Hovercraft SR-N1
6. Airfix 1/72 Refuelling Set
7. Airfix 1/72 Sam 2 Missile
8. Airfix 1/72 Vosper
9. Airfix 1/76 Scammell Tank Transporter
10. Airfix 1/144 Space Shuttle
11. Airfix OO Cattle Wagon
12. Airfix OO Esso Tank Wagon
13. Airfix OO Evening Star
14. ERTL 1/25 Dump Gravel Trailer
15. ERTL 1/25 International Pay-hauler 350
16. ERTL 1/25 International Paystar 5000
17. ERTL 1/25 International Transtar II Eagle
18. Italeri 1/35 M7 Priest / Kangaroo
19. Monogram 1/617 Bismarck/Tirpitz
20. MPC 1/6 R2D2
21. MPC 1/36 Vader Tie Fighter
22. Tamiya 1/12 Tyrell P34
23. Tamiya 1/25 Centurion Mk III
24. Tamiya 1/35 8Rad SDKFz 232
25. Tamiya 1/35 German 88mm Gun FlaK 36/37
26. Tamiya 1/35 Leichter SDKFz 223
27. Tamiya 1/35 LRDG Chevrolet Truck
28. Tamiya 1/35 M16
29. Tamiya 1/35 Matilda mkII
30. Tamiya 1/35 T34-76
* Multiple copies of the above kits were used across the ship. By my last tally, the total kit count was at 67.
Between work and organising for Xmas, I haven't had much time to spend on the ship, unfortunately.
I have made a *little* progress, and have managed to give it the once over with some "wet and dry" in preparation for its final coat of paint.
I'm hoping to have that done in the next few days.
From there it will be another light sanding, and on to the weathering.
I will also be adding the "E1" markings, which were simply masked off with tape and sprayed on.
I just need to confirm their exact location and size using the 3D model overlay.
Work is also continuing in the background on the decal artwork, which will be added last.
And we have a white ship!
Painted with auto primer - as per the original (according to Phil Rae).
She looks just as she would if she'd just rolled off the production line - not a scratch or mark on her.
That will all change shortly...
I have mapped the "E1" markings to the 3D model and will be adding them shortly.
On the original model, they were masked off with tape to create stencils.
You can see them on both the front and back of the ship in Martin Bowers BTS photos below.
I believe they were then painted with grey auto primer.
I have also added minor damage to the front "E1" to replicate the marks seen on the original.
Next up will be the weathering, which will probably take some time, but I hope to work on it over the festive break...
I took a step back from the ship over the break and spent some quality time with my family.
Sometimes it's more beneficial to do that rather than force yourself to keep pushing on and make a mistake.
I'm now back and refreshed and ready to take on the last steps to finally finish the ship off (just in time for the 40th anniversay!)
I've gone over the model with some wet and dry and brought it all back to smooth, ready for weathering - a blank canvas.
I will be using only graphite powder, brushes and an eraser for the majority of the weathering (in keeping with the how the studio model was done). I will also add the pencil and drafting pen markings used on the original and some black acrylic for the inside of the engines and some of the deeper crevices.
I've started with the removable top section of the ship.
Still a WIP, but it's starting to take shape.
The graphite powder is easy enough to work with although it is quite harsh on the brushes.
My current brush bristles are down to half its original height!
In terms of technique, I am simply going in and adding shade to the crevices and to the inside areas of the raised panels (using the reference photos as a guide of course).
I then go back and clean up the "over brushing" on the adjacent panels with an eraser and add back highlights to selected kit parts and panel areas.
You can see from the original photos that this is exactly how it was done - and I'm getting identical results.
It is time consuming (this represents two days work so far), but as I suspected, it's quite fun!
I have bin following your build with great interest!!!
The execution is just superb!!!
The granite gives the panels so much depth!
Just fantastic!
Thank you for sharing.
I would be highly interested in the process you use when applying the gravite!
Thanks very much Flixen - that's very kind.
Using the graphite is very straight forward - dip a brush in the powder and apply.
Go back and remove the shading from the surface of the raised panels and selected kit parts with an eraser.
I'll see if I can take some photos of the process next time I work on it (real life is interrupting progress at the moment!).
I've managed to get a bit more work done on the weathering and as promised, here are a some pictures illustrating my process.
This is the portside top of the nose prior to any wearthering:
I'm using hardware bought (Bunnings) graphite powder. It is quite course and granaular and requires a fair amount of pressure to get the weathering dark.
That also means that I don't suffer any issue with smudging or fingerprints though.
I do find that it weares the brush bristles down quite easily, but using a short bristle brush allows for more pressure and control.
The graphite is applied to the inside edges and corners of the lower panels (and between adjacent panels):
After the initial pass:
I take an eraser and clean the area in the centre of the panle to bring the shading closer to the edges:
I then go back and clean off the graphite that has spilled on to the raised sections.
I make sure to keep the eraser clean by rubbing it on paper before applying it to the ship - this prevents any smudging:
The result after adding weathering to the raised section of the panel:
I used the eraser to clean between the two adjacent panels and to add highlights to the kit part at the top, leaving the final result:
I like using the graphite. The effect is quite subtle and can always be redone if you don't like the result.
Now it's just a matter of rinse and repeat!...
Still cool to watch every new step.
I will be really sad if that thing is finished cause nothing more to look and enjoy.
Great work on the weathering as well.
Looks spot on.
Thanks Turrican - much apprecaited mate!
I can't say I share your sentiments regarding getting it finished though! lol
Thank you to you (and everyone else) who is following along.
As I've said before, it wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable a build without being able to share it with you guys.
The weathering for the top of the ship is done - half way there!
I have taken my time to try and get it as close to the original as I can. Unfortunately, there is very little in the way of reference for the completed top rear section of the ship (most of the photos show the rear being clean, but I believe they were taken before the weathering was completed).
Taking cues from the front half, I continued working over the back, making sure to keep it relatively subtle.
I'm pretty happy with the result so far.
There are still lots of pencil and pen marks to add as well as the decals, but they still need to be fully mapped to my 3D model first.
I will work on completing the underside weathering in the meantime...
Thanks to a kind follower of the build, I now have some screenshots of the Narcissus from the new UHD 4K release of Alien!
Unfortunately, although they look great, they don't offer any additional detail on the ship that I had hoped they might (including on the decals).
So with that, I will be moving forward with what I currently have.
Here are a couple of the screenshots.
I recovered some of the shadow detail in one of them in an attempt to bring out as much detail as possible.
Enjoy!
My pleasure Turrican - I appreciate you taking the time to post a comment.
I had planned to try and have the ship done by "Alien" day (April 26), but I have been occupied with other endeavours lately, but fear not - I will be back onto it shortly
Thanks very much Craig.
I managed to get some time in on the ship over the weekend and I'm hoping post an update later in the week.
Thanks for following along!
Thanks for the tip about the graphite weathering. Looks great, as subtle as you want it , or not... Just a query though, does the addition of a sealer clear coat have any detrimental effect on the density of colour/shade?
The weathering is now complete on the underside of the ship.
I really like using the graphite. It allows for incredibly subtle results, is easy to apply and forgiving if you make a mistake.
It's only drawback is that you can't achieve a deep dark application.
For this reaon I have added an acrylic "wash" just to the darkest areas.
It's quite striking what a difference it makes too.
Rather than liberally brush over the model as you normally would, I restrained the application to individual kit parts - doing them one at a time.
Although time consuming (it took a couple of days to do the underside), I think the results are much more realistic and it doesn't look like...well - a wash!.
The top has yet to have the acrylic treatment, but I will do that next.
The majority of the work is on the underside, so it shouldn't take too long to finish that off.
In the meantime, enjoy these few shots of the ship as it current stands.
More updates soon..
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