8' Star Destroyer from TESB

[MonsieurTox]

I dont know if it was a kit part but I havent found it so I scratched this part and added the correct bits on it :



Then I glued little styrene chips and I added the last parts I know (thanks BlackPig who gave me a part ID yesterday while I was looking into my kit for this part !!).



Im still missing a few bits (if someone knows them... I would be happy to get those ID's ! ). I couldnt resist more so I sprayed primer on it



Different lighting :



Rear plate added and some more bits then sprayed :



I also found a few new parts on the bottom of the bridge. I'm missing 4 parts, for the bottom, I would like to find them !

[JAWS]

Oh my god Julien. This is looking fantastic. Thanks for posting this here. I know your a member on a few boards & posting does take time. Much appreciated.

[MonsieurTox]

Thanks Jason !
Before preparing the diner for tonight, I managed myself some time to add the last bits and to spray a coat of primer on the whole bridge (except bottom, I still have some work to do ).



I hope you like the result, Im very pleased with it !























Merry Christmas to you all !

[JAWS]

Oh man that is among the most awsome things I have ever seen any one build. I hope in the future I may have a crack at this once I get some more skills under my belt. Thanks so much for sharing your work Julien. The scope of your productivity is amazing & inspiring.

[Wombat]

What a project,that is just awesome.
Your detailing and cleanness are both really outstanding.
That is really clean work,it probably put's the original to shame in that regard.

[PB BB1]

If this isn't a reason to add a jaw drop icon to the forum than I don't know what will. This beast rules... and I can't wait to see it all finished and lit.

For now, lets see that light test!

[MonsieurTox]

Thank you guys !

Unfortunatly, now it's primered I cant light it anymore until I paint it and I cut the FO flush ! (light goes throught the primer thought but it's altered).

[MonsieurTox]

I spent my night re drawing all my plans for the hull and building parts, now they are done, I just have to convert each part in .dxf now.



Today I built the assembly which goes on the very front of the superstructures. I had a very good pic of the non-hero side so it was easy to ID all the parts :











I cant say the same with the hero side... the only pic I have is this one, as you can see the resolution is poor... I found (I think) the main parts, but I cant find the fine details :











If someone has a good pic of the hero side of this assembly, I would love to see it, thanks !



And the top :







Im missing a Yamato part (the vintage kit), I was wondering if someone could loan me this part that I can cast it ? (I used mine on the back of the neck, I didnt know it was used elsewhere).

[dbhs]

Outstanding work !!!

[Wombat]

Sorry can't help with either of those request's,but i hope someon out there can assist you with em both.
It's cool seeing these build's like that,before the primer.It gives a betta understanding of just how many little part's are needed for just one small area and why these thing's take a lot of time to do.

[JAWS]

Oh crap this is freakn superb. Julien could you post a kit list of kits you have used so far? I started collecting for this from the RPF thread. I suggest everyone check it out for more detail as to how Julien has been able to accomplish this beautiful monsterous replica. I am a huge fan of Juliens non stop attack on these studio model replicas. I can't thank him enough for his contribution to the art of replicating these beautiful builds.
http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=68377

[MonsieurTox]

Thank you very much guys, I appreciate your kind words !

Jay, wow a list would be very long to do and as you know I cant share some of the kits

But maybe this pic could help, thats a pic of some my stock, most of the kits in this pic are used on the ISD :



The KettenKrad, the Hummel, the B-29, the Kawasaki, the Porsche are not used on the ISD and several kits are not in the pic...


I built the smaller hangar :







Then I spray primer, I dont know if it's because of the cold weather but the gray tamiya primer is not as flat as it used to be, it looks like their white one now... I dont like the result because of the reflects it looks like the coat is heavy, fortunatly that's just an impression, should be nice once painted with the flat basecoat...













Yeah that's a nut. It is on the actual prop, actually the hangar ceiling sits on the armature tube and there is a bolt which goes through this tube. They had no other choice than drilling a hole in the ceiling.

You can see in the pic on the right the bolt (topside) which goes through the tube :

[DarthDuck]

Fucking amazing!

The dedication and execution are simply mind boggling!

Hmmm, so that's what scratchbuilding looks like? Maybe someday I'll aspire to such a task? But it's highly doubtful.

[JAWS]

I'll second that. Thanks for the pic of your kits stash Julien. thats as good as anything. The small bay looks outstanding. Your work just blows my brains to pieces.

[MonsieurTox]

Thank you DD and Jason

I decided to start working on the main hangar bay. I had to recreate the supports for the I beams. While they were all scratchbuilt on the ILM model, I just built 10 masters because I ran out of half rods to make them :











The first batch of parts (sorry for the color, I had to tweak it quite a bit because it was white resin on white plexi... not a good idea ) :







Took me 5 hours to align them and glue them all... That's not perfect but that's at least as good as the original model if not better :











Ive also built the rear bulkhead and started to detail it... Because of the lack of good ref, those are the only parts I was able to ID :







Dry fit :











The I-beam are on the way but I dont expect them before 2-3 weeks...



Thanks for looking !

[kbilly]

Damn... that looks great. Had no idea the hangar bay was that big.

[Gadzooks]

Jesus........that's about 10,000 dollars in model kits!!!!!!! And the build looks amazing!

[427 Cobra]

I know that you're used to being praised for your work,Julien - so nothing I can say will make any type of impression here,but use a hairdryer to make the primer more dull,or flat in appearance. This works for me. This looks really spot on to the original ILM model,as you already know. At least they used something to disguise the mounting nut on the it. As with anything like this,practice makes perfect. I've had to redo so many parts over by hand,be glad that you have the money to afford the original kits,so you don't drive yourself crazy making these identical to the originals by hand like me!

[JAWS]

Fantastic. Thanks for build up pics Julien. Im sure they will come to good use in the future.

[MonsieurTox]

Thank you very much guys ! I enjoy your comments.

Thanks for the advice Chris, I will give it a try !

As for making the parts by hand, well you have no choice with most of the ROTJ models !! I had to scratch most of the parts of my ROTJ AT-ST as they did, I dont know what I prefer, kitbash or scratch... probably both !
Anyway you're doing a fine job on the X-Wing, and the time you're losing when scratching the parts is the time you dont waste looking to identify the original kitparts.


Ive been working on the crane today :









It's not accurate to what it was for TESB, it was modified later. The pinches of the crane were symetrical (a bit like the ANH one) but it was modified at some point for ROTJ (I havent checked the movie yet) or, my best guess, for the reshot of the opening of ANH (IMAX version, they modified the TESB ISD to look like the ANH one, they even added some flaps on the engine bells).

[427 Cobra]

(01-16-2010, 11:30 AM)MonsieurTox Wrote: Thank you very much guys ! I enjoy your comments.

Thanks for the advice Chris, I will give it a try !

I've used this when working in humid conditions. This makes the paint dry faster without making it satin finished. That's usually what causes flat paint to reflect more than it normally would - this,and the cold air of winter.

(01-16-2010, 11:30 AM)MonsieurTox Wrote: As for making the parts by hand, well you have no choice with most of the ROTJ models !! I had to scratch most of the parts of my ROTJ AT-ST as they did, I dont know what I prefer, kitbash or scratch... probably both !
Anyway you're doing a fine job on the X-Wing, and the time you're losing when scratching the parts is the time you dont waste looking to identify the original kitparts.

That's true. I'd rather be building than ID'ing,but most of the kits that ILM used back in the day are no longer available,even on feebay! As far as kitbashing,or scratch building, I'd rather scratch build when there's just me,and no time schedule involved. Kitbashing is fun,but I think this is cheating. The original ILM guys had a time constraint to get this done,so they used kits to make it go faster. I'd rather design my own parts than use known items. But this takes forever when replicating other makers' model parts to the original specifications,and proportions! Either way,no matter what anyone else says,model building is so much fun. Kitbashing,and scratch building are what make this hobby so rewarding,as you can have the best of both worlds when making your own original creation.

I just wonder where everyone else is getting their reference photos. Most of mine are not as detailed,or they're too small to see anything! http://www.starwarsarchives.com is a great place for old photos,but no more model section. This was removed when the original site went down. These little things like this crane really make this Star destroyer even more interesting to look at!

[JAWS]

Fantastic work Julien. Its just awsome to see this stuff NAKID! I love the parts iding on these builds. Im totally crap at itat the moment but will get better with time, patience & learning from guys like yourself & Cris. This is my first year in this hobby/art & Ive just got my finger in the door(hope it never gets shut!). i can't thank you & the other modelers enough for sharing these build stages with me & everyone else. i just hope in the next few years i can achieve a fraction of what you have already nailed Julien. thanks the crane looks sweet as does the hanger the bridge......

[dbhs]

This continues to be unbelievable work. I hope you are not building it in a room that it can't come out of !!!

[427 Cobra]

(01-17-2010, 07:06 AM)dbhs Wrote: This continues to be unbelievable work. I hope you are not building it in a room that it can't come out of !!!

Unless,you're renting your house! Then,you'll definately have something that will be a true conversation piece.

[JAWS]

That is an understatement!

[MonsieurTox]

Thanks guys !

I thought a lot about the way I could get the main hull in 2 parts. I think I found something which wouldnt betrayed the original hull

Hey guys,



I finally be able to work quite a bit on it today. I did more details in the hangar.



One of the "shelf" :







A quick litghting test :







And now some views of the hangar :





























I still have the ribs to make and glue in place and some more details to add but Im waiting for kit (as always ).



Thanks for looking !

[427 Cobra]

I had to go back,and look at the crane again. I know it's kitbashed,but this looks so good,and it's so much fun! I love work in progress photos more than just looking at a finished project without having a single clue as to how it came about. This is more interesting,and it keeps people coming back for more! There's so much more involved,and it tells the entire story,not just half of it. I can't wait to see this inside the destroyer with all the fiberoptics in it.

[JAWS]

That is looking so good Julien. Its a pleasure to view your updates. Its just an amazing piece of reverse engineering.

[427 Cobra]

(01-25-2010, 11:26 AM)jasonwright.1972 Wrote: Its just an amazing piece of reverse engineering.

I too,hope to be able to show something similar,as soon as I get a camera again! By doing so,I hope to show that I am a valuable member of this forum,and that I am worthy of being here amoung all these great artists. I hope that this Star Destroyer will be at least half way finished before this summer is over. Perfection,and accuracy are a meticulous persons' never ending pursuit! Plus,these things take time. With all that you are doing,this going to be a true labour of love! I know that you'll do right by this,and by the original ILM modelers,Julien. It's expected of you - afterall,you never disappoint.

[JAWS]

Cris your XWing will also be a fantastic piece of reverse engineering & I hope to cast that sucker. Sorry for the intrusion Julien.

[scratchy]

I have to agree with the above comments, this build is truely something special, I'm fortunate to witness it as you add new posts to this thread.

[dbhs]

This is a thing of beauty and fantastic to witness it being built

I love the details in this photo.

[JAWS]

I agree again. I just love seeing these builds nakid! With all the different colored parts. It just blows me away they madse these models this way & that guys are reverse engineering them 30years later! You rock Julien.

[MonsieurTox]

Thank you all for your kind words, and dont worry Jase, you're not hijacking my post with Cris's X-Wing, you can speak freely of whatever you want here and that's even better when that's SW related stuff !

I'm working slowly... but it's almost finished (not really finished, but I cant find any more parts...) :

[427 Cobra]

Right now the X-wing thread is dead,and slowly on its' way to revival. This rocks! I love seeing all the intricate details brought out in the process of building - even when it's slow. It's better to be slow,and steady than to be fast,and burn out right away. I can't wait to see what you'll do next,Julien!


~ Cobra Chris

[kbilly]

Incredible.... I can't imagine how much work you've put into this, but I do know it's totally paid off. Amazing work MT!!

[MonsieurTox]

Thanks Chris ( ) and KB !!

KB, I gonna mold your parts tomorrow ! I hope I have enough silicon to mold all the parts, mainly the big Entex parts

Some new pics :





Ive also noticed with Rob (PHArchivist) and Bob's (Bigvade) pics that I did a mistake when gluing the forward hangar door... The kit part was actually cut in half and a strip of styrene was added in the middle to enlarge it. And it's even more clear on the pic with Mike Fulmer building the hangar since this part is unpainted, we can clearly see the styrene strip in the middle :







I'm missing some more bits because of the lack of reference of just because I cant find the right parts. I'll add them at a later stage if I ever find them, if I cant, Ill scratchbuilt them or put instead of them similar parts... From the same kits used on the hangar of course, I dont want to betray the ILM's work.



Some pics with a primer coat :















Thanks for looking !

[kbilly]

Even pointing out those 'mistakes' it's hard to see them. I wouldn't get too hung up on them, although I too like to be as accurate as possible. No hurry on those parts by the way, I can see you work pretty fast, you've already added the vader piece and what looks to be an iceblock/stirring stick? cut in half? that you didn't know yesterday.

What area do you think you'll tackle next?

[MonsieurTox]

(02-04-2010, 10:25 AM)kbilly Wrote: Even pointing out those 'mistakes' it's hard to see them. I wouldn't get too hung up on them, although I too like to be as accurate as possible. No hurry on those parts by the way, I can see you work pretty fast, you've already added the vader piece and what looks to be an iceblock/stirring stick? cut in half? that you didn't know yesterday.

What area do you think you'll tackle next?

Thanks KB

Yeah it's impossible to get something 100% perfect... I think Im pretty close to the original... And Im ok with what I get !
Im not sure what you mean by iceblock/stirring stick, but if it's what I think, I scratched them. Im not sure it wasa kitpart as most of this area were scratchbuilt to mimic the ANH Star Destroyer (the uboot railing + its injection pins, the shinano deck -that I havent scratched yet :p- etc).

I should receive my plexi parts to build the superstructures by the end of the week or next week, so the next step will be assembling all those parts ! It will take a while I guess, then the fun job will start, gluing all the greeblies on the plexi frame !! I cant wait. )

[JAWS]

Oh My Gods! This is just insane Julien.

[MonsieurTox]

It has begun !













Dont worry, only the inner faces are messy And dont worry for the sagging roof, it doesnt have it inner structure yet !

[dbhs]

This is incredible.

I can just feel the size of this thing, it looks so real. I can picture people moving around inside the openings in the side of the hanger.

[JAWS]

OH MY LORDS!

[bwayne64]

I'm green with envy of this guys talent. He's not human I tell you, he's just not human. I remember throwing together a foam core mockup of a 4 foot version of this thing as a teen. I had a plywood superstructure I was going to cover with styrene. I don't know what became of that thing. When I saw the big 8 footer, and saw all the greebliosity. I said Naw, I don't think I'll be doing this one, LOL. It would look so good next to a SS Galactica though. Great work man, I bow to your awesome workmanship. Cheers,

Joe

[kbilly]

Awesome Tox.... it keeps getting better with every update, keep them coming.

[MonsieurTox]

(02-16-2010, 07:28 PM)kbilly Wrote: Awesome Tox.... it keeps getting better with every update, keep them coming.

Thank you guys !!

Joe, I reckon I would love to build a SS Galactica, but I think I wont because of all the kits needed to detail it... Most of them are the same than the ones used on the ISD and I cant even think of buying again and again the same kits... lol

Ive been really busy at work this week so I havent done huge progress but I built the port "boxes" and Ive started to detail the hero side.

[JAWS]

That insane & we've only just scratched the surface.

[MonsieurTox]

(02-23-2010, 12:17 PM)jasonwright.1972 Wrote: That insane & we've only just scratched the surface.

Thanks Jase !

The boring thing is to cut the styrene "shelves", making a chamfrain to each of them and gluing them perfectly straight, trying to avoid any glue mark, at the right angle (yeah nothing is square on this beastie).

I'm working slowly because Im ID'ing the parts at the same time I detail the plexi parts. Unlike the bridge, I havent do a part map before the detailling process... But it's quite fun, I have hundred of kit sprues all over me and I pick up one to see what I can find, it works well !



That's where I am tonight :























Thanks for looking and for your support !

[JAWS]

WOW Julien thats incredible. Takes my breath away & just leaves this blank awe everytime I see what youve done next. Thanks for sharing this build.

[leukirix]

OUh Pinaise Julien !!! J'en ai mal aux yeux ! Vivement qu'il soit finit.
Wow Julien !!! It hurts my eyes ! I'm impatient to see him finally.