WIP- 1/2 Studio Scale TOS Battlestar Galactica

[aussiedave]

Love seeing your WIPs. Thanks for sharing all the pics, etc.

Does a kit like this come with instructions?

Does it come with the lighting kit? And instructions? How do you know where all the lights are to be placed? I'm not a big Battlestar Galactica fan. Nothing against it, but you can't watch everything on TV

Or is this meant for fans of the show who know every square inch of what that ship looks like? I'd love to tackle something like this one day, but at the moment, I just watch in awe!

[DNA]

Thanks everyone for the comments. This kit does not come with instructions and lighting is the builders option so no lighting kit. You can look at pics of the studio scale model on the internet and see where 95% of all the parts go. Mike Salzo, the creator of this kit is doing a build thread on therpf.com site and I will go there if I have any questions on the last 5%. Robiwon started his build here and I've picked his brain on some details. He gave me this link http://www.smallartworks.ca/Battlebuck/ ... /BigG.html to help me with where the fiber optics go. This kit is for any fan of the Galactica and you don't have to know every detail of the ship to build it because I don't know that much about it. Thanks again!

Love seeing your WIPs. Thanks for sharing all the pics, etc.

Does a kit like this come with instructions?

Does it come with the lighting kit? And instructions? How do you know where all the lights are to be placed? I'm not a big Battlestar Galactica fan. Nothing against it, but you can't watch everything on TV

Or is this meant for fans of the show who know every square inch of what that ship looks like? I'd love to tackle something like this one day, but at the moment, I just watch in awe!

[aussiedave]

Thanks DNA! I really appreciate the lengthy reply. Look forward to seeing some more progress. Good luck with the remainder.

[DNA]

Small update:

This 1/4 tubing slips over the 5mm LEDs pretty snug, but I added heat shrink tubing to make sure it doesn't slip off.



And here's the LED test. The fiber optic bundle just slips into the other end of the styrene tube and pushed all the way in until it touches the LED (did not use heat shrink tubing on the fiber optic side as the heat may melt the fibers).

[DNA]

So I've got one bundle of fibers for the Blue LED chaser and I divide it in half with 16 strands going to both hanger bays.



I just used a small LED flashlight so I can sort out which fibers are going to the right and left hanger bays and I tagged one side with red tape.



Using the styrene tubing again this time for the 8 Blue LEDs. The chaser has 10 LEDs so I taped off the two that I will not be using.



Now I grabbed two fibers from the left and two from the right and encased it in a smaller styrene tubing with aves apoxie sculpt. In the end, there will be 8 smaller styrene tubes with 4 fibers in each.



I trimmed off the excess fibers and slipped them onto the styrene tubing holding the LEDs after the apoxie sculpt had hardened. That's all for now and thanks for looking!

[DNA]

Finishing up the interior of the hanger before I can close up the two halves.

Here are the top of the interior hanger from Randy Cooper's kit. Using a LED strip, marked, and drilled holes for the lights to shine through.


Testing the LEDs with a 9v battery.


The interior is painted, false walls are up, and floor decals applied.


And now onto the tiny vipers. Primed, painted, and weathered...


Here the FO for the landing lights are in place. Remember there were 4 fiber optic strands (2 from the right and 2 from the left hangers) encased in epoxie sculpt going into each blue LED chaser. I start the chaser and slowed down the sequence to help me find which two fiber optic strands light up first and put it the holes closest to the entrance. Continue until I have all 8 pairs in order and then glued down with 5 min epoxie.


Testing the landing lights before I glue the two landing bay halves together. Thanks for looking and will update soon!

[robiwon]

DNA your'e moving along at speed on this! Great work. You've surpassed me in my build. I took a break before beginning the electronics to work on a few other models. The roles have been reversed and I think I will now be picking your brain. I like the blue runway lights. Mine will be red. I'll be getting back to my build real soon. Any chance we will see you at Wonderfest in KY next year with this?

[DNA]

DNA your'e moving along at speed on this! Great work. You've surpassed me in my build. I took a break before beginning the electronics to work on a few other models. The roles have been reversed and I think I will now be picking your brain. I like the blue runway lights. Mine will be red. I'll be getting back to my build real soon. Any chance we will see you at Wonderfest in KY next year with this?

I also took a short break from this build. It's good to take a step back to do other things and come back recharged. Your red LEDs will be cool. I wish there was a chaser that could change colors with a switch. Wonderfest is a pipe dream right now, but I would love to go one day. I plan to take my kids with me but not until they get a little bit older. Got a chance to close up the hangers and will post pics soon. Thanks!

[DarthVader]

Hello DNA,I was told to check out your build by robiwon and so here I am, I am very impressed by your build as I am also going to be building the Mike Salzo TOS Galactica..

This will be my second kit from Mike which is a amazing kit,I also have all the add on I got from Randy Cooper,I also have Randy Cooper Star Wars Star Destroyer Avenger kit I be building also..

My first kit was not built by me as I am a totally newbie when it comes to work with resin kits or any models.so I am here to learn all I can on modeling..

I am also a member over at RPF and SFMA..

I have been following Mike build and also Robiwon build and been keeping all there pictures for reference so when I start on my build I will have something to go by.

I am going to build mine with LED's Strips and LED's vs Fiber Optics..

I do have a question for you DNA.before you started on you kit what method did you use to wash your kit? also did you do any light blocking before you started doing any assembly if so what did you use?

I am looking forward to more of your updates on your BSG along with Mike and robiwon build..

Clarence

[DNA]

Clarence,

Hi and welcome to the Clubhouse! I usually build resin figure models and they are small enough where I plug up my kitchen sink to wash all the parts there. I had to go to Home Depot and buy a bucket large enough for the largest part of the Galactica to fit into. In any case, I first do all the cleanup needed on the parts mainly removing pour stubs or sanding down mold lines. I then wash all my resin parts with warm water, some dish washing detergent, and an old tooth brush. Rinse, let air dry, and then prime 24 hrs later. I did not do any light blocking before the assembly. I thought there might be some LED light loss in the strands that were in the head so I sprayed them black to minimize any loss (see pic below). I will put foil in the engine block to increase the light intensity of the engine LED lights, but that's it as far as light blocking goes. Good luck with your build and post pics when you get started. Thanks!

[robiwon]

DNA, have you decided what color your going to use? Off the shelf color or custom mixed/airbrush?

[DarthVader]

Clarence,

Hi and welcome to the Clubhouse! I usually build resin figure models and they are small enough where I plug up my kitchen sink to wash all the parts there. I had to go to Home Depot and buy a bucket large enough for the largest part of the Galactica to fit into. In any case, I first do all the cleanup needed on the parts mainly removing pour stubs or sanding down mold lines. I then wash all my resin parts with warm water, some dish washing detergent, and an old tooth brush. Rinse, let air dry, and then prime 24 hrs later. I did not do any light blocking before the assembly. I thought there might be some LED light loss in the strands that were in the head so I sprayed them black to minimize any loss (see pic below). I will put foil in the engine block to increase the light intensity of the engine LED lights, but that's it as far as light blocking goes. Good luck with your build and post pics when you get started. Thanks!

Thanks DNA,it should not be much longer before I start as you know this back issue I have is just taking longer to heal up,hopefully soon I be able to start on at least one of my kits..

I think I going to completely light block mine as I am pretty sure I be using LED's vs FO on my build..I just need to order my LED's..

Clarence

[DNA]

DNA, have you decided what color your going to use? Off the shelf color or custom mixed/airbrush?

I started with a gray automotive primer that was kinda dark. I then mist it with tamiya gray fine surface primer which lightened the color drastically. The gray primer looks good but I'm planning on dry brushing white to lighten it up more. I can always come back with a dark wash and pastels to tone everything down.

[DNA]

So here I am closing up the hanger. Randy Cooper's hanger is upside down at this point. Just remember the Galactica is upside down so the entire assembly will need to be flipped over before you close it up.


And now the two halves glued down with 5 min epoxie glue. The entrance cap is not glued down yet. It's just there to make sure Randy Cooper's hanger is the right distance.


Now I can glue on the two front hanger caps.


And finally closing up the hanger entrance


And a shot of the bay lit up! Thanks for looking!

[DarthVader]

Awesome job DNA,can you tell me what is the size of pipe you used for the stand?

Clarence

[robiwon]

DNA, I just have to let you know I hate you. You have now convinced me I need to spend even more on this beast and get all of RC's upgrade parts. Thanks a lot buddy, appreciate it, yeah, thanks!!!!!






Seriously though, that looks freakin fantastic!
Vader, he used a 1 inch pipe. I'm using a 3/4 pipe and flange I got at Lowes.

[tay666]

Can't believe how much progress you have made so fast.
And the work looks stunning.

[DarthVader]

DNA, I just have to let you know I hate you. You have now convinced me I need to spend even more on this beast and get all of RC's upgrade parts. Thanks a lot buddy, appreciate it, yeah, thanks!!!!!






Seriously though, that looks freakin fantastic!
Vader, he used a 1 inch pipe. I'm using a 3/4 pipe and flange I got at Lowes.

Thanks robiwon for letting me know, now I need to get this pipe do you know what the length of the pipe that is being used?I would presume the flange is used inside the BSG so you can adjust the up and down of the pipe correct just want to make sure..

By the way the Randy Cooper B.S.G. LANDING BAYS, DECALS,PLAQUES AND 8 VIPERS! is well worth having that much I am sure off..

http://randycoopermodels.com/content/bs ... d-8-vipers

Clarence

[DNA]

Thanks for the comments Trevor.

Clarence, Robiwon is correct in that I am using a one inch gas pipe. The Flange is screwed into a scrap board for the build. I had two 1 inch gas pipe on hand (one was 12 inches and the other 8 inches). Inside the Galactica is an Iron Coupling which is glued to the ship that looks like this http://www.jmesales.com/catalog/product ... 7AodigwAOg For this build, I am using both pipes one going thru the top and one coming out the bottom. I disconnect the pipe from the Flange to rotate the Galactia when I need to work on the other side. The two gas pipe stays connected to the Iron Coupling for the entire build. I will remove the pipe on the top when the build is finished and cover the hole with the round detail piece. Hope this helps, thanks!

[DarthVader]

Thanks for the comments Trevor.

Clarence, Robiwon is correct in that I am using a one inch gas pipe. The Flange is screwed into a scrap board for the build. I had two 1 inch gas pipe on hand (one was 12 inches and the other 8 inches). Inside the Galactica is an Iron Coupling which is glued to the ship that looks like this http://www.jmesales.com/catalog/product ... 7AodigwAOg For this build, I am using both pipes one going thru the top and one coming out the bottom. I disconnect the pipe from the Flange to rotate the Galactia when I need to work on the other side. The two gas pipe stays connected to the Iron Coupling for the entire build. I will remove the pipe on the top when the build is finished and cover the hole with the round detail piece. Hope this helps, thanks!

Thanks DNA,it looks like I will need to make a trip to Lowes or Ace Hardware to see if they have these pieces,I pretty much need all the bolts,nuts and screws to build mine similar to your build,I just need to figure what bolts sizes I will need to connect everything,I have some scrap wood but I have no hardware..

Clarence