Launch when ready!

The difficult part is the cockpit interior. It prevents any support structure from going straight through the build. I'm thinking about adding a simple big rectangular tube which protudes straight from the nose section behind the CI through to the engine section. So the engine section has a hole at the front, the nose a rectangular tube at the rear. That way you'll ensure a durable connection which also will guarantee that the both parts are assembled straight. Like the neck tube on Crichton. ;)
 
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Okay, the thread images are back!

In the meantime some things have happened which affected this project. First, SketchUp and Pepakura accept higher reolution images as textures. This build will benefit from it tremendously. I'm still toying around with the CG model. I have cleaned up the lines abit more to avoid edges which are smaller than 1.5 mm (in 1/18 scale, that is). I guess this is the correct approach to keep everything smooth but not too detailed so that you don't have to deal with flaps which are 1 mm or even less wide. Unfolding will be easier, too.

In addition, I found detailed kit part maps which give excellent views at the greeblies used on the original filming miniature. These have already helped me making a preliminary texture for an easy version of the Viper. Yep, there won't be only the big one. ;)

Here are a few images of my tracing efforts:

An accurate replica of the original greeblie plate between port and high engine:

t3.jpg

Port greeblie plate behind the main gun:

t4.jpg

Landing gear cover plate:

t2.jpg

The big cahoona at the back:

t1.jpg

Every line you can see was traced. I needed to take a break after 80 % of the work because I started to feel dizzy. I used stand-in colours to see if the shapes were correctly traced. I could have used green, red and yellow but chose various grey tones in order not to confuse anybody. I may use those on the final one instead. ;)

I'm tweaking the colours now to add a fake 3D effect. CU soon! :)
 
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I am very happy to hear that this project is not dead!! - These parts look fantastic!!!

Just thinking - would be nice if all these Vipers (1/18 1/32 and 1/50) could be presented on the suitable launch rail.
Do you think about doing the launch rail also in these scales?
 
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Thank you! But it is not finished yet. :)

starbuck said:
I am very happy to hear that this project is not dead!!
Click to expand...

NEVER!!! ;)


starbuck said:
Just thinking - would be nice if all these Vipers (1/18 1/32 and 1/50) could be presented on the suitable launch rail.
Do you think about doing the launch rail also in these scales?
Click to expand...
Right now the plan is this: 1/32 and 1/50 wil get a complete one,1/18 a partial one similar to what Murphy did. Everything else would be too big once the first wall is ready. That doesn't mean that you won't be able to enlarge the parts from the regular version but 1/18 would need a complete floor layout with appropriate numbering. I've gone through that once (with the New BSG hangar bay, and that was in 1/32 scale) and the amount of pages was ridiculous... Ah well, I fear guess there will be some fans (actually: ONE) who might be crazy enough to do so..! :cool: ;)

hbf-tex.jpg

This is the tile plan for the base of the 1/32 New BSG hangar bay. Each numbered rectangle equals one printed page. And this is just the floor; there are even more pages for the walls, tool shop and launch tunnels. Total display area: 1.2 sqm.

An optional sled is on my list, too. ;)
 
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Revell-Fan said:
Thank you! But it is not finished yet. :)



NEVER!!! ;)



Right now the plan is this: 1/32 and 1/50 wil get a complete one,1/18 a partial one similar to what Murphy did. Everything else would be too big once the first wall is ready. That doesn't mean that you won't be able to enlarge the parts from the regular version but 1/18 would need a complete floor layout with appropriate numbering. I've gone through that once (with the New BSG hangar bay, and that was in 1/32 scale) and the amount of pages was ridiculous... Ah well, I fear guess there will be some fans (actually: ONE) who might be crazy enough to do so..! :cool: ;)

View attachment 177421

This is the tile plan for the base of the 1/32 New BSG hangar bay. Each numbered rectangle equals one printed page. And this is just the floor; there are even more pages for the walls, tool shop and launch tunnels. Total display area: 1.2 sqm.

An optional sled is on my list, too. ;)
Click to expand...
So, this whole layout would be (approximately) 60" X 55" (using letter size cardstock). That is a HUGE layout
 
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I know. She is a hatchling and still needs a good feeding to grow. :D ;)

I thought it was time to continue the project. Work and life are still stealing my time and I had a fairly naughty rhinosinusitis twice which prevented me from doing anything. That darn stuff has literally overrun my hometown; there is no-one I know who hadn't got it. I'm still coughing a bit. So I can't make any promises on the launch date. However, I'm counting on the assistance of someone to test the parts. That person has a whip and big hands, yaknow. ;)

Ahem. SO. What I'm doing now is adding the flaps and checking the dimensions. The start of the small version was a bit bumpy because I had to redesign some parts on-the-fly to make them buildable at the smaller scale. For example, I didn't unfold the tubes but used mathematics instead. Due to some small rounding differences I noticed that some dimensions were off which required another check. The test build will show if there needs to be other changes. I'm curious to see how the texture on the parts works. To speed things up a bit I'm avoiding the weathering for the time being; it is most important to see if the parts fit. :)
 
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I am glad you are feeling better. I think that has been going around here too, my wife and I had it over December.

It would be easier to have someone test it at a more buildable scale, just sayin". :animated:

I mean, they grow up so fast...
 
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I too am glad that you are feeling better!!!
I am glad to see that you are returning to this project! Not including the weathering is really no big deal.
I am looking forward to seeing how this will turn out!!!
 
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