Building the model for a Star Wars Deathstar Trench Run Game

[anton ryzbak]

Daeothar,  X-Wing for the larger combat, special rules for the trench run. The larger game is the Rebel "fleet" fighting the Imperials above the Death Star, once certain conditions are met they can send ships to attempt the trench run. The trench run will occur between turns so it has to be resolved very quickly, thus the special rules. In playtesting the results are pretty even, including one spectacular game that played out just like the movie! The models are all from the Star Wars X-Wing range.

[anton ryzbak]

Having watched the "Trench Run" about a dozen times now it really struck me how very dark the interior of the trench is. With that in mind I tried test-painting a couple of sections of trench black. Now that I have it strikes me as too dark. Thoughts ideas etc are all welcome

[Daeothar]

The darkness of the trench in the movie is mainly due to its depth and the stark top-down lighting; the actual colour of the trench, just like the rest of the Deathstar surface is a neutral light grey.

Your trench is understandably wider than it is deep because of playability (hands need to be able to reach in after all).

So one thing you could do to simulate the stark lighting as done by ILM is to do some zenithal highlighting. You've already painted the trench a very dark grey. So what I would do at this stage is to spray it from below with black to create the deepest shadows. And I mean from directly below the wall pieces.

Then do a light spray of white or very light grey from the top, creating the highlights. Don't overdo either, but bear in mind that the average participant and bystander will mostly view the trench from the top, or from a high angle.

I think this would help you give the trench some dark shadows, while at the same time lightening up your work from where the actual viewing will take place.

Also; when using aerosol cans, make sure to not spray too close to the polystyrene, or the propellant will melt the foam!

[anton ryzbak]

Daeothar, I took your advice and painted it all dark again and started building up a white azimuthal spray, shooting downward from above. I'm much happier with this result.

[Daeothar]

Awesome! 

[Ray Rivers]

You are on a roll. 

Keep it up.

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

Excellent work.   

[anton ryzbak]

A break in the weather this morning and I got a couple of extra coats of white paint on the model (see above) it helps that I also got the rest of the baseboard painted. Then I couldn't resisting a little phot-editing magic

[tomrommel1]

outstanding

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Excellent.

[anton ryzbak]

Last night we did a play-test of the scenario for the convention; it turned out very well. Now all we have to do is crate the trench and paint the "surface of the Death Star" sheet to well, look like the Death Star https://antonswargame.blogspot.com/2023/09/test-run-of-trench-run.html