Detailing the AMT Darth Vader TIE Fighter

[adphill]

This is my first time posting here, but I've been spending more and more time lurking on the forums so I thought I should contribute. 

 

My current project is a build of AMT's ancient Darth Vader TIE Fighter kit, with as much scratch built detail as I can manage. This build will be my first attempt at scoring panel lines, lighting a kit, and making my own photo etch, so it should be a learning experience at least.

The first step was to add the missing panel lines. Recessed panel lines are present on most parts of the ship, but for some reason absent from the cockpit bubble. I screwed this up pretty much immediately, and ended up ordering a replacement kit for a second try. The hardest part was getting the scribe guides to sit properly on the compound curves. Ultimately, I found that lightly gluing styrene strips down as guides worked pretty well, and just removing them after. The panel lines aren't absolutely perfect, but I'm not going to buy a third kit.

 

 

 

 

Next, the cockpit. After much fiddling, I decided to abandon the terrible kit cockpit entirely and build my own. I am modeling my cockpit build from the filming set, rather than the studio model. This will also involve quite a bit of imaginary work, as the filming set doesn't have much detail on the bottom half. I picked up the cockpit sprue from Tamiya's 1/32 F-16 for some donor parts. The sprue didn't come with a seat, however, so I built one from bits of styrene.

 

 

 

 

 

In my opinion, one of the best aspects of going with the filming set is the absence of the half-wall that obscures so much of the cockpit. With that gone, there is a much better view inside. 

 

 

 

 

Simultaneously, I have been working on the photo etch for the cockpit triangle panels. I will also be using photo etch for various exterior bits. Happily, it turns out that photo etch isn't all that hard, and there are some great tutorials online. For this test panel, I designed a template in Vectr (a free vector graphics program), printed it on transfer paper with a laser printer, ironed it onto a brass sheet with a household iron, and soaked it for a few hours in a 1 to 1 mix of muriatic acid from Home Depot and hydrogen peroxide from the drug store. 

 

 

Edited December 7, 2018 by adphill
Formatted images wrong

[Rumblestripe]

My word that looks a right old dog of a thing! Good luck (I think you're going to need it!)

[Caerbannog]

Still a nice kit - even if it is trickier to build than the parts count suggest. I build this in the eighties and restored it not too long ago (recribing, some small details and a new paint job with Tamiya Haze grey):

The Hobby Boss 1:48 Sherman was used for the detail part aft of the cockpit.

 

Will folow with interest.

 

Rene

 

 

Edit: Just found the thread on what I did. Hpe it is of some help:

 

[adphill]

Thanks, that is very helpful! I may keep my eyes out for a Sherman. 

 

Did you ever find your window for the front? Because I bought a second kit, I have an extra. I'd be happy to mail it to you if you are still interested!

[Toadwbg]

Just found your thread, I’m also working on this kit,   Link here to my RPF thread:

https://www.therpf.com/forums/threads/vaders-tie-from-old-mpc-kit.297732/

 

Really impressed with your cockpit work.  I decided not to tackle  much inside the kit and am focusing on the exterior and lighting.

 

 

 

 

[Toadwbg]

On 12/13/2018 at 4:13 AM, Caerbannog said:

Still a nice kit - even if it is trickier to build than the parts count suggest. I build this in the eighties and restored it not too long ago (recribing, some small details and a new paint job with Tamiya Haze grey):

The Hobby Boss 1:48 Sherman was used for the detail part aft of the cockpit.

 

Will folow with interest.

 

Rene

 

 

Edit: Just found the thread on what I did. Hpe it is of some help:

 

That’s awesome.  Funny I also independently found that rear hatch greeble from the  Hobbyboss Sherman kit!

[Caerbannog]

On 14/12/2018 at 16:07, adphill said:

Thanks, that is very helpful! I may keep my eyes out for a Sherman. 

 

Did you ever find your window for the front? Because I bought a second kit, I have an extra. I'd be happy to mail it to you if you are still interested!

Sorry for the late reply and thanks for the kind offer. I found it but decided to leave it off. After all the time with clear view I decided to keeo it this wayfor now :-)

[Toadwbg]

On 12/14/2018 at 9:07 AM, adphill said:

Thanks, that is very helpful! I may keep my eyes out for a Sherman. 

 

Did you ever find your window for the front? Because I bought a second kit, I have an extra. I'd be happy to mail it to you if you are still interested!

I got a spare of that Sherman piece I can give you, shoot me a message.