If it was Canadian would it be an Eh-Wing?

[Cybergrinder]

I've put my revisit to HMS Victory on hold (still need to get some bits and pieces) and embarked upon building my favourite Star Wars fighter.

Not the X-Wing, although it's right up there, it's the fighter that took down the Executor in Return of the Jedi....

Yes, the RZ-1A A-Wing Interceptor! It's the upgraded SF paper gallery version and I'm intending to try a few new things.

Firstly I have built this one before and was seriously unhappy with the cockpit canopy. This time I've made a mould to get the curve right, and here it is! I'm planning to apply some heat via a hair dryer to shape the clear plastic into the correct curvature.

 

[zathros]

Is that 2 part epoxy? Looks like Play-Doh? In any event, a great way to make a cockpit!

 

[Cybergrinder]

So the canopy is on hold as I try various ideas, in the mean time here's the cockpit parts.



And yes, where you see holes, it means lighting ....

 

[Cybergrinder]

And cockpit almost complete

 

[Rhaven Blaack]

This is going to be interesting to see.

 

[Cybergrinder]

And now with the cover, central control pod attached



And encased in the chassis

 

[bigpetr]

Looking forward to the next steps. Ligting is the area I did not try yet.

 

[Cybergrinder]

And now the upper hull, greebled up




I'm not going to the level of greebling that bigpetr has though....

 

[Cybergrinder]

And here we go, top of the hull attached to the core

 

[mijob]

Looking verry good.

 

[Cybergrinder]

So one of the things I wanted to try was the torpedo/missile launchers. I was unhappy with them just being black lines on the hull, so....

I cut them out and took some black paper and rolled it into the approximate diameter. I don't think it came out too bad




And a front view



Interestingly according to the technical manuals, the missile launcher tubes run parallel to the outer hull, not in a straight line as you would think

 

[Cybergrinder]

Now we have the gun mountings

 

[Cybergrinder]

Next, the rear assembly

 

[Cybergrinder]

And attached

 

[zathros]

What do you cut with? I would suggest getting some very sharp scissors, I also have a curved scissor set, and either cut on or behind the line, I try to remove the part edge liness, so but cutting on them, they tend to disappear. Ex-acto Blades make for brutish edges which can be cleaned up using some fine sand paper. I rarely use them. The exhaust port pieces aren't mirror imaged. It looks like an "A" wing bumped into the rear of this one. Your thumb makes a great radius tool for rounding out and matches pieces like this. If you look at Bigpeter's builds, you will see the care he takes one these kinds of details. Your technique has so vastly increased, you've entered the realm where you have to really pay attention to the finer detail to make yourself reach your personal best. All lit up, this will be an awesome model.

 

[Cybergrinder]

And now the engines



And attached

 

[Rhaven Blaack]

This is coming together beautifully!!!

 

[Cybergrinder]

I decided to build the stand at this point to prevent the wings resting on a surface and deforming. And now the rear section of the cockpit and fins attached



And the manoeuvring rings



Just the guns and cockpit to go!

 

[Cybergrinder]

here we go with the first stage of the guns....

 

[mijob]

Nice cybergrinder can't wait to see the next update...