Hamiltonian Posted June 7, 2020 Share Posted June 7, 2020 (edited) This is a model of the classic "Space Station V" from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey: The kit is the resin and photoetch steel kit from Fantastic Plastic: "Variable scale" means that three different sizes of Orion space clipper are provided. Of these, only the smallest seems to be a reasonable match for the movie's docking sequence: I decided early on that I wanted to include the Orion spacecraft, but didn't like the idea of having it attached by its nose to a long stick connected to the station. Eventually I used some transparent rod and modelled the Orion departing from the station, in the manner of Bob McCall's movie poster, which at least provides some sort of visual explanation for why there might be a mysterious trail linking the spacecraft to the station. Apart from that, very minimal scratch building was involved. There are rectangular plates on the outer rim (visible in the movie still above) which aren't included in the kit. I added these using sheet styrene--as well as being "realistic", they neatly cover the joins in the resin rim parts, which featured some rather ugly pour stubs (especially in the partial ring). I removed and discarded some poorly moulded and damaged "outrigger" strips on the kit spokes, and replaced them with brass strip. I printed my own decal sheet to detail the blank interiors of the docking ports, as well as to produce a selection of greeblies to add a few features in emulation of the movie model. The kit required a lot of work to adjust the shape of the resin rim parts, to fill small holes, and to fix poorly moulded detail (some very unsightly grooves) on the partial ring sections. I could have spent three times longer on that, but eventually got to the "good enough" point at which I just wanted to get on with the build. It was a pretty demanding build--certainly the hardest I've attempted. The build log is here: Paint is Tamiya. I mixed up my own shades of pale grey and red-brown to try to get something close to the movie appearance. (I really don't like Fantastic Plastic's garish red-and-white box art.) I used LifeColor Liquid Pigment washes, and sealed it all with Humbrol acrylic varnish. I also attempted some images on a black "space" background, with variable success: Finally, here it is poised on Marco Scheloske's lovely stand, which really makes all the difference to displaying this model: Belatedly, some composite pictures with Earth in the background: Edited February 8, 2023 by Hamiltonian New images appended 58 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted June 7, 2020 Share Posted June 7, 2020 Excellent finish with this one. ... It was a great build to follow and well worth it. It would be a great photo if you know how to use photo-shop. I wonder if you could take a photo of the finished build and superimpose it over stars or the earth in the background. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Ranger Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 Love it! 2001: ASO is the Official Favorite Film of the Corps of Space Rangers. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeddahbill Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 Well done! Following your WIP, this is clearly a challenging kit to obtain such splendid results! It looks very detailed in the photos and shows very well on the stand. Respect! Bill 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomjw Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 Fantastic build. Looks highly complex, judging by your build log. Cheers, Tom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestar12chris Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 Cracking job, a first class build, well done, absolutely love it. All the best Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Baker Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 I really love the way that turned out!- looks like a much larger model with the subtle paint job you gave it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamiltonian Posted June 8, 2020 Author Share Posted June 8, 2020 23 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: Excellent finish with this one. ... It was a great build to follow and well worth it. It would be a great photo if you know how to use photo-shop. I wonder if you could take a photo of the finished build and superimpose it over stars or the earth in the background. Thanks. I've been toying around with superimposing the station on a starfield with the Earth off to one side. But it's such a complicated object, full of holes, that it's tricky to extract from its orginal background. If I come up with anything I'll post it here. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamiltonian Posted June 8, 2020 Author Share Posted June 8, 2020 3 hours ago, Richard Baker said: I really love the way that turned out!- looks like a much larger model with the subtle paint job you gave it. Thanks. That was really what turned me off the red-and-white scheme on the box art. I've seen a couple of these kits finished in that sort of bright scheme, and it makes them look unconvincing and small, to my eye at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Baker Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 (edited) A lot of people do not understand the relationship of color saturation and scale, it is wonderful to see it done well. Edited June 9, 2020 by Richard Baker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dubz Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 What a great build! Dirk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aigore Posted June 10, 2020 Share Posted June 10, 2020 Great build and paintjob! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelc Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 I'll add to the congratulations. The only problem for me is that I start to think about a couple of the old Airfix Orions in the stash and what I would have to do to make a diorama with a suitably sized space station. Hmmm. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kallisti Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 How about this 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelc Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 nice! But I was thinking about making the station to match the scale of the Orions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 3 hours ago, Kallisti said: How about this That looks good. In the film, we only ever see the Orion approach the space station. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelc Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 8 hours ago, Eric Mc said: That looks good. In the film, we only ever see the Orion approach the space station. ah, but a close approach, I seem to remember. I suppose one of the things that modellers keep in mind initially is where the model / diorama would be displayed and for me, as I am thinking about this, it does fit into an educational and public outreach observatory. The completed diorama could be placed on the grounds with other astronomical images and artefacts. (Obviously protection for the models is going to be the topic of a future thread. ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted June 16, 2020 Share Posted June 16, 2020 Yes - you see it as it moves in towards the space station although we never see an actual docking. The only image of it departing the station is from the promotional art work (by Robert McCall). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelc Posted June 16, 2020 Share Posted June 16, 2020 agreed, not like SW.or similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamiltonian Posted June 16, 2020 Author Share Posted June 16, 2020 22 hours ago, Kallisti said: How about this 🙂 That's nice. I've been trying to generate one in low Earth orbit, with the Earth gleaming through the open girderwork. Possibly beyond my Photoshop-fu. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kallisti Posted June 16, 2020 Share Posted June 16, 2020 The open framework is the most difficult hence why I positioned it on the black sky bit and the original pic wasn't very large either. I blurred the acylic rod for the Orion so disappears a bit more.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Womby Posted June 16, 2020 Share Posted June 16, 2020 That's amazing. It looks way bigger than 8.6". Most impressive. David 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roberto Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 Lovely! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carts Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 Quality build and presentation,Lovely. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glueman Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 Wow, that is such a fantastic build and presentation. Well done Sir!!!! I may get round to finishing mine off one day. Hope it turns out as good as yours!! Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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