directorcass

Thanks! Were getting close to the end!

Paint is done. Need to do a medium grey wash this afternoon. Detail pieces added (canons, crane, antenna, etc.). Engines look good. I'll do a little detail painting in the garbage chute as well.

Final color coats applied. After priming in grey (seen above) I had masked off various panels. The model was shot with Duplicolor Universal White and the masks removed. This revealed grey primer panels. Obviously these are too dark as is, so another few light coats of white were applied to almost cover the grey panels. This is the same technique I used on my Revell snap kit. Closely monitoring the coverage I stopped just before the grey panels disappeared. This gave a nice and evenly controlled panel effect without a lot of masking and painting or the need for airbrushing. Once I clip the fibers, I'll post better shots of the paneling effect.

It was a good weekend! I finished the fiber optics for the underside hangars. I got all three hull sub assemblies glued (nerve wracking as heck!), got black primer laid down, followed that with grey primer for paneling, masked my panels off, and got the first coat of white on!

Just replied to your thread. I have an Ani that is half built. After working on this I doubt I'll finish it now. Have you lit a model before? Its really is pretty straight forward with ships like this, unlike a Star Trek ship with all the blinking, strobbing, flashing and spinning lights!

I'm almost tempted to get a RC. He is currently remastering the entire kit for easier assembly and fewer parts. Looking forward to your builds. I currently have the Zvezda on my bench.

Engine lighting test. No bells yet. Video under the picture. View My Video

This is the Russian kit by Zvezda. It's 1/2700 scale and is 23.6 inches long, or 60cm for those across the pond.

When did Kermit the Frog say that??? Anything new can be daunting. But that's how we grow as modelers, experimenting and trying something new. It's a learning curve. Pick a simple model to add a few fibers to. If you like the Zvezda, I'd grab the Revell lights and sound snap kit and give it a go on that first.

Absolutely Madhatter. I'll probably order my set tomorrow. Tony has done a lot of parts for other scifi kits. I have several parts on my 1/2 studio scale Galactica. His work has always been top notch.

Had to order more fiber and it finally came in. I wanted to share this, a new set of shield generators from Shapeways from my good friend Tony. I'll be adding these to either this build or my next one in May. https://www.shapeways.com/product/N2WHGUDYS/star-destroyer-zvesda-1-2700-shield-generator

Testing the remote control lighting. Pay no mind to the dog barking in the background!

Thanks guys. More updates coming in the next few days.

Thanks! It will all run on just 9v. I'll use a wall plug to deliver the power. Side cutters or cuticle trimmers work well to get into tight spots.

Thanks MD, its really fairly easy. The LEDs came soldered with wire and resistor already. Just solder all your + and - together and then solder those to a 9v power supply.

Update time! Finished running all the fiber optics. And yes, I used all 160 feet of fiber with just trimmings left over. I got all my LEDs wired up and fiber cups installed. Below are some progress pictures. Pre wired LEDs ready to install. And a quick lighting test.

You just use tiny clippers Maddux! More updates coming this weekend!

Thanks guys. In answer to your question Maddux71, leave your fibers sticking out some, an inch or so. Build and paint your model. When done, just trim the fibers flush to the hull with side cutters or small scissors. Gimme Shelter, the Zvezda is 23.6 inches long. I can take a picture tonight for you. In the meantime here is shot from the Zvezda office of an employee holding the finished kit.

Vanoyen, I try to pick landmarks on a kit when I drill holes. If there are little squares I'll drill in the center, or at the corner of a part. Thankfully the SD has a lot of that in the trenches and super structures. It just takes practice. I'm not perfect either... Started running fibers last night. So many fibers!

I've had doubts about the "beetle" finish being a screen seen paint job. The car that toured after the movie with the Autorama car show exhibited some funky clear red, blue and greens along the fender tops and wings, etc. That did not show at all in the movie. I think when they describe the beetle finish, I think they are referring to the paintjob given to the car that toured the Autorama circuit immediately after the movie. I saw it back in the day and was flabbergasted at how ugly the paint was.

Still waiting on fiber from the Fiber Optic Store.... Took care of the hull seam, top and bottom. I used Tulip brand fabric paint. Its basically thick acrylic paint (great for light blocking small areas too!) and dries super fast. I taped so just the seam was visible. I laid down a bead of Tulip and let it set for a minute. Then I just took my finger and wiped off the excess. Doing this also ensures the paint is down in the joint. I then removed the mask and let it sit for a few more minutes. Next I took a pointed cotton swab and cleaned up the smeared excess. Until I get primer on it its hard to tell if there is any seam left, if there is its shallower than the surrounding panel lines, plus, no lost detail from putty and sanding!

I think either a very light concrete grey or an off white depending on the size of the model. For the Zvezda I have not completely decided.

No fibers yet, just held it up to my desk lamp. Hopefully they come in today. At a bit of standstill until they arrive!

I got my Mini Bandai Falcon today! Going to light the engines and call it done.

Got a lot done on the kit this weekend. I cut out the back of the spine and built a full garbage chute complete with space junk and a Slave 1. I also drilled out all the windows for the fiber optics. Started mods to the engines as well for lighting. Very productive weekend! Space junk the Slave 1 will sit with. Lots and lots of holes... Looking pretty jimongous compared to the Revell snapper!