The First 24" Commission
Someone who had happened upon my site and asked to quote him on a 24” version of the Star Destroyer contacted me. Having never done a commission before, or for that matter completing a scratch built model at all, I was a bit apprehensive about taking this on.
This project was started on March 19, 2005
The keel and basic shape in place. I've made several proportional corrections from the larger model, most notably bringing the port and starboard cut-outs forward. March 22, 2005
Framing the bottom up. 162 fiber optic strands in place and awaiting a light source. March 24, 2005
Staring to detail the Main Hangar.
Surface work. May 9, 2005
The Main Hangar. The "kit bashed" parts have not been glued down, just checking for placement. (This version of the crane "claw" has since been scrubbed.) May 15, 2005
Brim Trenches in place. I've started installing the electrical system. The upper hull is built, but only set in place until the trench has been lit
A look at the underside
Brim trench lighting
Roughing in the engine compartment and doing a light test. The main engines still need to be aligned and glued, but only after all the detail has been added.
The super structure roughed in. It has been constructed in modules and will not be glued down until after the detail is added and fiber optics are in place.
A higher view. The bridge appears to be too long, but the super structure should end up being a good two centimeters wider once the detail has been added.
For the super structure detail, I decided to do the "shelving" first, then go in and run the lights and the rest of the detail.
Adding the detail became rather tedious, but it was fun to see it start to flesh out. I purchased an assortment of 1/1000 scale battleship models and a handful of 1/72 tank kits to kit bash. I molded 50 or so select parts, then duplicated them in resin.
The engine area is one of the more intimidating sections, there's just so much going on back there. I found myself going back to it several time to add "just one more layer" of detail.
The engine area is one of the more intimidating sections, there's just so much going on back there. I found myself going back to it several time to add "just one more layer" of detail.
Dang, still hadn't got to the back detail.
I kept catching myself trying to apply the detail symmetrically.
Getting closer
Having all the major components finally in place really help getting the detailing done
A peek at the trash dump. The internal fiber optics have yet to clipped flush. And yes, those are McDonald's drinking straws.
Just a wider view. I'm still running her off shore power, but the 9v battery compartment is ready to go. The door slips into a right sided slot, then a magnet holds the left side down.
The detail make all the difference.
No Star ESB Destroyer would be complete without one of these hitching along. I search high and low for a tiny Falcon that was close to scale, but ended up building her from scratch. She's composed of a few layers of Styrene, a little tubing and a couple of drilled holes. A lot of squinting went into it as well.
Still shy some surface detail and the dome antennas.
Thanks for following the progress.
The following pictures were taken by the owner and used here with his permission:
Completed in the Fall of 2005