directorcass Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Started on the Big Z Sunday. Quality, fit, and finish are top notch. The sides of the super structures are separate detail panels applied to the hull. The edges are beveled resulting in excellent fit. The side trenches assemble the same way. They are also keyed so you can't put them in the wrong place or position. For me, I'll be building the major sub assemblies then drilling and running fiber. I'll then assemble the sub assemblies. My impression so far is excellent. I originally thought the Anigrand was better detailed, but with this being a plastic kit, the details are so much sharper. Given a choice between the two, I'd opt for the Zvezda. Assembly starts with adding the detail panels to the lower super structures. Then on to the trenches. Comparison of the lower hull with the new lights/sound Revell snap together. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caerbannog Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Excellent! Will follow with interest of course Interesting to see the two kits next to each other and the difference in the back end angles. René Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
directorcass Posted January 2, 2017 Author Share Posted January 2, 2017 Your right, I hadn't noticed that! Compared to my Anigrand, the Ani seems short and stubby now. I like this one much better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thom216 Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Great start. Can't wait to see more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
directorcass Posted January 3, 2017 Author Share Posted January 3, 2017 Got all the trench pieces installed. There are some "bare" spots that will need some greeblies added to them. Again, love the way this kit is going together. I need to order .5mm fiber optic this week. I'll start on the other super structure assemblies today and then start drilling holes. Engines will need to be drilled out as well. Here are some new pics and where she sits now. Port side trench detail. The inside edges of the starboard side trench. You'll have to drill thru both to run fiber. Bare spots needing details. And the upper and lower hulls resting together. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Rose Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 What a beast! Good start, following with interest 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
directorcass Posted January 3, 2017 Author Share Posted January 3, 2017 Thanks, yes, she's a big'n! Going to build the rest of the super structures tonight and work on the engine block. Getting those ready for lighting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madhatter Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 so can't wait for mine to turn up. Thanks for the up close shots too. I agree with you about the bare spots - I foresee the use of a fair bit of plastic strip in my future Looking at your parts, do you think .75 (FO) be too big and over scaled? Also, I've seen a few images of the main hangar deck below and can see it appears to be molded to the actual hull plate. How are you going to light that (if indeed you are going to go down that route) I am looking forward to seeing more progress as it comes Si Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
directorcass Posted January 4, 2017 Author Share Posted January 4, 2017 Thanks Madhatter. I used .5mm on my Salzo Galactica which is a 3 foot model, for me, that's what I'll use on this. I think .75mm would be a bit too big. The hangars are molded to the lower hull. I think I'll just open up enough of a hole and install a few 3mm LEDs directly behind them. Maybe build a light box around the hangar on the inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmonk Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 I'm tempted to go down to 0.25mm with the fibre guide, think 0.75mm will be too big Si. There are some good pictures of the original ILM Avenger in the book Sculpting a Universe which shows both warm white and red used for the lighting. Promotional shot of the Avenger from ILM The lighting in the trench appears to use single light sources as well as fibres! Cheers, Warren 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madhatter Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Glad I didn't order anymore .75 then! I was thinking .025 as well, but I don't have the kit in my hands yet to gauge what would be most appropriate size I like the idea of the light box around the hangar walls on the outside of it. I just don't know how you would drill in underneath those ledges - the space there seems very limited. Would it be easier to scrape out the spaces between the ribs and replace the horizontal ledges with some shaped styrene to obtain said space? Keep the pictures coming though! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmonk Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 At 1:2700 a 0.75mm fibre gives a 2m window, 0.25mm makes it about 700mm, 0.5mm is about 1.4m. I'm not sure now so may have to experiment when I get time. Great watching this come together, how are you going to tackle the inner lip on the trench on the upper section to get the fibres through? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
directorcass Posted January 4, 2017 Author Share Posted January 4, 2017 The Hangar I'm not to concerned about as far as screen accuracy. It's going to be on the bottom of course and will rarely be seen by even myself. For the upper hull "back wall" in the trench area, I will remove the majority of said wall except near the nose to ensure proper alignment of the nose. I will also leave a few "teeth" of the inner wall to align the rest of the upper to lower hull. These teeth will slide in between any fiber in the area. I've been switching back and forth between Tamiya Extra Thin and Model Master liquid (with the metal tube) on this build. The plastic Zvezda uses likes both glues. Since the MM is a bit thicker I'll use it on the teeth on the upper hull to glue them as it takes a little longer to evaporate. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koshey Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 I, too, hastened collecting the instructions, and now it is problematic to drill holes in the superstructure. and yet - very keen on working with cutting. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koshey Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 On 04.01.2017 at 4:08 PM, Madmonk said: I think everyone would be grateful if You would add your existing photos and other information Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
directorcass Posted January 9, 2017 Author Share Posted January 9, 2017 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! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caerbannog Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Nice work withthe fibre optics and the garbage chute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Rose Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 So now it even has junk in the trunk! So cool! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
directorcass Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share Posted January 10, 2017 No fibers yet, just held it up to my desk lamp. Hopefully they come in today. At a bit of standstill until they arrive! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koshey Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 good progress!!!! I have a question regarding the color - many believe that it is a light gray. but I think it is off white Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
directorcass Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share Posted January 10, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koshey Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 I think so too - but not light grey. light concrete is very close, I agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
directorcass Posted January 11, 2017 Author Share Posted January 11, 2017 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! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanoyen Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 (edited) Looks awesome! Any tips on drilling small holes in a straight line? Every time I try that, there's always a couple of holes that look just a little bit off.. drives the OCD part of me insane! Edited January 16, 2017 by Vanoyen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
directorcass Posted January 16, 2017 Author Share Posted January 16, 2017 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! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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