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Other Stuff => Workbench => "Build Something" Archiv => Topic started by: Supercollider on January 03, 2017, 09:26:56 PM

Title: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: Supercollider on January 03, 2017, 09:26:56 PM
I'm going to make a low flying cargo skiff of some sort that fits in with the terrain I made for sci-fi gaming. http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=86856.0

I've had a riffle through the bits box and have come up with a promising piece to base it all on.  My plan is to make it up as I go along! :D
Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: OSHIROmodels on January 03, 2017, 10:09:27 PM
My plan is to make it up as I go along! :D

Sometimes this is the best way  :)

cheers

James
Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: Wirelizard on January 03, 2017, 10:44:43 PM
My plan is to make it up as I go along! :D

Wait, there's other ways to manage scenery projects aside from MSU Mode[1]?  :o Are you sure?

[1]Make S**t Up Mode, of course...
Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: Supercollider on January 05, 2017, 01:05:42 AM
Wait, there's other ways to manage scenery projects aside from MSU Mode[1]?  :o Are you sure?

[1]Make S**t Up Mode, of course...

There's also [2] Cut twice, measure once. Which I am a master of! :D
Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: FramFramson on January 05, 2017, 01:34:18 AM
Fire! Aim! Ready!
Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: Bergil on January 05, 2017, 02:39:49 PM
My plan is to make it up as I go along! :D

...../ )
.....' /
---' (_____
......... ((__)
..... _ ((___)
....... -'((__)
--.___((_)
Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: Supercollider on January 11, 2017, 08:00:24 AM
Made a bit of progress on this today.

I used the hull from a toddler's jet-ski toy for the main hull, a crows nest and a cargo door from an old pirate ship toy, and some plastic card and styrene ladders to make the basic shape.

I stuck the crow's nest on the back of the ship (I am using the blunt as the front, like Rey's speeder), and had to make a paper template to create a deck plate to cover it (as I'd already put the rails on - using the ladders, so it ws ticky to measure - textbook 'planning').

(https://c8.staticflickr.com/1/706/31432776023_c9c17b851e_c.jpg)

(https://c4.staticflickr.com/1/378/31432768243_c58ec5f42d.jpg)

I drilled a hole in the bottom of the hull, and made a flight stand out of a 70s coaster and a thick cocktail stirrer.

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/1/375/32242893825_aec0fb7dd9.jpg)

The cocktail stirrer is held in place by a cunning bit of engineering ;)

(https://c8.staticflickr.com/1/538/32242901815_97f47757a1_c.jpg)

Realising this looked terrible. I decided to smooth off the interior of the cargo bay using a combination of plastic card and foam board.

(https://c6.staticflickr.com/1/649/31432773133_eae68b428e_b.jpg)

When I installed the cargo bay, I decided to expose the hex like angles that sat under the deck of the pirate ship it originally belonged to.  But because it stuck up so much, I've used some more styrene to smooth out the height difference a little.  I also trimmed the nubs that create the hinge of the cargo door, so it can be easily removed and installed,  if desired.

So this is what I ended up with (on and off stand). Blunt is the front!  I intend to add some engines to the sides, similar to Luke's speeder in the original Star Wars, which should make it more obvious which is the business end - I'm imagining this is an industrial sized speeder :)

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/1/456/32242896945_9e68e665a5.jpg)

Finally, I finessed the ends of the ladders I'm using as rails, so they don't look so chunky.  The rails will still need a lot more work, I think.

(https://c8.staticflickr.com/1/481/31432769823_5596a28a8d.jpg)


Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: beefcake on January 11, 2017, 08:27:00 AM
That's coming along very nicely.
Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: Vanvlak on January 11, 2017, 09:26:44 AM
Looking good - and fast too  8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: Mason on January 11, 2017, 11:06:37 AM
That looks great already.
 8) 8)

Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: AKULA on January 11, 2017, 03:09:17 PM
Wow, looks like you got loads done, great job

 :)
Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: tomrommel1 on January 12, 2017, 07:16:33 AM
nice
Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: Andym on January 12, 2017, 09:42:40 AM
Fantastic!  8) I can't wait to see this with one of your paint jobs on it! Have you thought of colours yet? Maybe the same as Luke's speeder or the same colours as Jabbas sail barge?
Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: Supercollider on January 13, 2017, 03:29:37 AM
Cheers all!

Yeah Andym - definitely something grungy and worn I think, can't have it looking pristine, it's a working vehicle! ;)

On that same subject, the front of the barge/speeder was bugging me. It needed something to aid the loading and unloading of cargo.  So after a bit of trial and error, I came up with this:

Using a piece of hexagonal granny grating and some plastic tubing, for hinges, a few cuts later, and I ended up with this.

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/555/32157223601_e81e21150d_b.jpg)

It fixes to the front by slotting the tabs I left on one edge into a longer plastic tube glued to the front - this is what it looks like stowed.

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/265/31435170694_60b90da091_z.jpg)

Possibly slightly impractical looking maybe?  The pointy bit is a brace to keep it stiff when the ramp is deployed:

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/370/32276647655_a896180846_z.jpg)

It needs a couple of plates and a couple more hinges, but I like that it's hexagonal, like the floor plates of the barge, I'm going to try and make it work better visually with the rest of the vehicle as I make more progress.  Still filling in the 'broad strokes' ;)

I also started on some engines, but I think they need a lot more work, but the size/general direction is ok :)

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/303/31435367364_054a0f494c_z.jpg)

Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: Sinewgrab on January 13, 2017, 05:12:33 AM
Oh, I like where this is headed!

 :-*
Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: MagpieJono on January 13, 2017, 05:22:10 AM
This looks ace.
Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: AKULA on January 13, 2017, 07:43:18 AM
Possibly slightly impractical looking maybe? 

Possibly, but it looks cool. Generally speaking I like models to look practical, but if everything was purely functional it would be a dull world.

 :)
Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: Elk101 on January 13, 2017, 08:00:56 AM
Wow, very quick work and well thought out too. I agree with AKULA on these things, it's nice to throw in a bit of the impractical or preposterous.
Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: beefcake on January 13, 2017, 09:51:59 AM
That's great.
Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: Wirelizard on January 13, 2017, 05:51:51 PM
That hexagonal granny grating seems perfect for all sorts of sci-fi terrain purposes! Heck, just spraypaint it grey/silver/grimy and lay it down on the table for instant sci-fi flavour. (or flavor, if you're a Yank...)

Going to have to keep an eye out for that stuff at the local craft stores!

The loading ramp looks good, and especially nice that it actually folds the way it should.
Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: Captain Darling on February 11, 2017, 02:29:32 PM
Good work, nice use of materials!
Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: Supercollider on February 17, 2017, 02:39:53 AM
I haven't been able to spend as much time as I would've liked on this, but I'm determined to finish it! :)

Manage to undercoat it today, and had begun dry-brushing the ramp before I realised I should post a pic first.

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/754/32563504950_ec39d9fdca_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/RBwtww) (https://flic.kr/p/RBwtww)  (https://www.flickr.com/photos/15220207@N06/)

Now it's time to get the paint out.

Hoping the deadline applies to PST, and not GMT!  ;D
Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: Dr Mathias on February 17, 2017, 02:50:52 AM
Excellent, I love the cargo hold idea.
Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: Vongoosewink on February 17, 2017, 03:32:00 AM
This is really coming together, I can't wait to see it painted!
Title: Re: Cheap and cheerful Sci-Fi Skiff
Post by: beefcake on February 17, 2017, 03:34:16 AM
Very nice. I could imagine Jabba's minions scooting around on this.