Outland Shuttle Build

[Hot4Darmat]

Thanks Boba Frett, and welcome to the forum jeff161.

Thanks for taking an interest in this build. It will be free for download, likely from this site, or perhaps another, but it will be clearly marked from where. The problems is that it just isn't ready yet. I need to finish the test build (what you've been seeing pictures of), then tweak the parts and layout, number everything, and make up some assembly instructions with pictures. Unfortunately that can be one of the most time consuming phases, but I'll try not to let it drag on too long. I've gotten insanely busy in my real life career lately, and seeing as I'm my own business....I can't really put stuff off if its what pays my bills. I will get back to this soon though. Promise.

 

[DaDragon]

Long time no posts!

Hi guys,

Its really quiet here!

(Tumbleweeds drifting past!)

Ehm, anyone out there?



Graham. :killer:

 

[Hot4Darmat]

Hi Graham, and thanks for the interest.

Yes, its gotten quiet dry and dusty in this thread hasn't it. The truth is this project hasn't advanced much for about four months. I got too busy in RL with work, we (the wife, kids and I) moved last month, and the kids keep me busy when they're awake, and exhausted and drained of hobby-motivation when they're not.

This will change soon for a couple of reasons. One reason is I'm feeling the itch to build and finish this bad boy asap. I'm tired of looking at it in its ALMOST completed state. I want it done and ready for dl. The other reason is related to the original creator of the studio model. I've been fortunate enough to be corresponding more with Mr. Bower. He really suffered a nasty health setback and his recovery has been slow and painful. I offered to let him have the test build when its done, and he was delighted at this prospect. So now I REALLY have to finish it or look like a lame ass to one of the greats. Talk about giving oneself some serious pressure!!!

Still it is my pleasure to do this, I just needed that little fire under my butt to get going again on it. Stay tuned.

 

[DaDragon]

Hi Hot4Darmat; good to hear from you again. :thumb:

. . .the kids keep me busy when they're awake, and exhausted and drained of hobby-motivation when they're not.

My 'kids' are the same, even though both are in their 20s and my daughter moved out last year to live with her boyfriend!! :wave7:

I've been fortunate enough to be corresponding more with Mr. Bower. He really suffered a nasty health setback and his recovery has been slow and painful.

I'm sorry to hear about MBower's slow and painful recovery. He obviously had some complications on top of the fracture. Reading back I said it was no joke and then recounted an incident from my past that was slightly inapropriate as it sounded like I was making a joke!!

I apologise for that, though I swear the incident is true!! ops:

I offered to let him have the test build when its done, and he was delighted at this prospect. So now I REALLY have to finish it or look like a lame ass to one of the greats. Talk about giving oneself some serious pressure!!!

Awesome, though I agree about the serious pressure! Sooner you than me: I'm not that brave!!! :cry:

Still it is my pleasure to do this, I just needed that little fire under my butt to get going again on it. Stay tuned.

I must confess that the only fire under my butt is probably due to the curry I had last night(!), sign1 but I know what you mean and have faith that the results will be very special. :thumb:

And I am still in awe of those with talent who find pleasure in using their skills for the benefit of others.

Staying tuned.

Graham. :killer:

 

[Hot4Darmat]

Here is one of the many reasons I haven't made progress on this model lately. Halloween means 'Daddy' has to sink about three weeks into the latest scratchbuilt cardboard costume effort. Here's a link to a few shots of the latest "HALO-ween" costumes.

http://www.ebblesminiatures.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=1568

Now, I promise will return my focus onto the shuttle project.

 

[Kjev]

OT, but that DEFINITELY ranks you in the "WAY COOL DAD" category!

Did you design the armor yourself?

 

[Millenniumfalsehood]

I'm taking notes for when I have kids eventually. You've got to be a cool dad! :thumb:

 

[DaDragon]

I agree.

You've got to be a cool dad! :thumb:

I second that and wish I'd done something along the same lines for my kids now aged 27 and 22! At least I got to give them a good grounding in reality so they keep their heads when all around them are loosing theirs!

To Hot4Darmat and all who read this: have a great holiday and the best of good wishes for 2009.

Graham. :killer:

 

[Hot4Darmat]

Things got real busy in RL, and I got a little discouraged after a child-related destruction incident. Fortunately the damage wasn't too bad, and most of the ripped off pieces were relatively intact or easily re-buildable. I guess its my own danged fault for leaving it to sit for so long, and it was stored below the 7 ft high level. Here's the damage that had this project on hold for awhile.

 

[Hot4Darmat]

I finally made some progress on paneling and details that were missing, mostly on the ends and upper surface. This process of adding details could go on and on, but at this point I'm going to call the Shuttle "almost done". It needs 2 more antenna arrays, both on the upper surface then it truly is done. I've already started cleaning up the parts pages, and hopefully will have some rudimentary instructions ready. Hopefully this project will be ready for download and release before another year elapses. Here are some shots of the Outland Shuttle in its "almost done" form.

 

[ltla9000311]

Hot4Darmat, I am truly impressed with your work and dedication!:thumb: I've been following your thread since I became a member and have waited in anticipation for the finale! Very nicely done!

 

[Hot4Darmat]

Thanks very much for the kind words and encouragement. It really means alot. Just so you all know how FAR from accurate this model is (I keep saying its "an interpretation" of the original, because I lack the skills, artistry and patience to make it more canon), here are a few of the shots I used for reference, from Mr. Bowers' site.

Like I said, the studio model was INSANELY detailed with greeblies, and one could spend many many hours adding all the layers of detailing if motivated.

 

[Gixergs]

I think Mr Bower will be very honoured by your " Interpretation " A stunning piece of artistic engineering.

 

[dhanners]

I think Mr Bower will be very honoured by your " Interpretation " A stunning piece of artistic engineering.

I concur. Plus, keep in mind that this model (when it is finally available) will be the first-ever model of this vehicle. So the fact that you've tackled something that nobody else has tried -- and in card, no less -- says something about your skill and determination. And the end result is pretty darn impressive.

 

[Hot4Darmat]

lol.

After this I have about 5 design projects in varying states of incompletion that need to be finished, plus a dozen nice already-started models in my building cue (mostly sci-fi, armour and kitbash projects). I'd also love to build the big 3' Galactica, or Rukr's Sulaco, or uhu's Discovery, or build myself a rag tag fleet, or Gearz Nostromo, or.....

The Cygnus, while very cool, will, most assuredly, not be one of these projects.:mrgreen:

I'll leave that to some toothpick modeler with obsessive and perseverative tendencies and lots of time on their hands.

 

[Marco Scheloske]

or Gearz Nostromo,

WHAT?!?

A Nostromo from Gearz?

I know nothing about it. Is it available online somewhere?!?

This would be a must-have, definitely.

 

[Hot4Darmat]

Sorry. Didn't mean to send you into palpitations. Gearz' Nostromo is another project "in development" like his Betty that may be some time yet. I just check in on its progress, like I do those other ones, wishing and hoping.....

The thread where it got discussed is here:

http://www.zealot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=156812

Gearz? Where are you buddy? Chime in here and give us some happy news!

 

[DaDragon]

Hi Hot4Darmat,

Sorry, but lost the plot (and the thread) a little for the past couple of months; s#!t happens . . .and it certainly did!!! Things are better now, in fact the little lady (she's 5 feet and I'm 6 feet 1 sign1) and I have come out slightly ahead . . .for the moment anyway!

Sorry to hear about your "child-related destruction incident"! Been there, done that far too many times :cry: and can assure you that 7' would not have been high enough by a long shot!!! The recovery however has been nothing short of magnificent :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: and the shuttle is looking just awesome!

Just so you all know how FAR from accurate this model is (I keep saying its "an interpretation" of the original, because I lack the skills, artistry and patience to make it more canon)

Sorry to be blunt, but that's just plain (and smelly) BS:

1. It doesn't matter as long as looks the part and you've no worries whatsoever there!
2. The studio model was built like a tank and used a ton of plastic models for detailing: card wouldn't take the weight! If people want to superdetail, let them. I don't feel the need from what I've seen, neither will the vast majority of builders 'cos its bl**$y marvelous as is!
3. You're too close to be objective. I didn't build anything for over 10 years because I thought I "lacked the skills, artistry and patience" to meet my own overinflated standards wall1 (and they were vastly overinflated . . .a little like me)!! I ran out of room as well, but that's beside the point!!!

Your skills, artistry and patience are evidenced in your work and as you've obviously impressed modelmaking legend Martin Bower no less, all three traits are clearly present in spades!!!
Now get back to work so we can all enjoy sign1 !!!

By the way, thanks for the heads-up on Gearz' Nostromo thread: very interesting!

As always, best wishes,

Graham.:killer:

 

[dhanners]

DaDragon makes some very good points. Oftentimes, modeling is about capturing the look and/or the feel of a vehicle, and you have done that -- and more --with this design and build. Only the most anal of rivet-counters will get on your case about the alleged "discrepancies." To my eye, there are none. You've designed and built a model of the shuttle from Outland. Simple as that....

And yes, you're too close to the thing to judge the quality of the work you've done. That's not a dis. We're all too close to our models. I can pull out any model I've ever built and point out some flaw or imperfection. They may be things that are small or insignificant when someone else views it, but to the person who built it, they are bigdamndeals, as we used to say in Texas. Sometimes it's just good to see our models the way others see them.

Rest comfortably in the knowledge that despite what you think about the model, the rest of us are very impressed with what you've done.

 

[Hot4Darmat]

Thanks Graham and dhanners for the comments. Yes, I see all the flaws, and this model isn't what I'd hoped it would be. But in the end its all good, and I learned a ton doing it, and yes, even had fun. It is a unique subject, and maybe I did bite off abit more than I could chew with this one, but I still like the end result just fine. I have to remind myself that this is the test build. I appreciate you calling BS on my self-deprecating wallow. I'll keep cleaning the layout, and page setups, and tweak those instructions.

Thanks again for seeing the good in her, for ugly tho' she be, she's not a bad vessel after all.