Started a side project that I've been meaning to build for a while, the docks on an operational orbital station. And the adjacent spaces, and...well it may eventually turn into a whole space station. No rusted out, space hulk here...although it could be used for it. Inspired from many sci-fi books, many by CJ Cherryh, the station docks will be able to represent many different stations from Gateway station (Aliens), to Meetpoint (Chanur saga), Pell station (Downbelow saga), to the Cairo MAC platform (Halo), and beyond.
Some project objectives:Modular,easy assembly, different feel (gritty, brand new, derelict),can be built in small steps (i.e. when I feel like it I can add a module)
Going to get some Pig Iron System troopers to run a boarding action vs station troops.
Here's the start of the project. After careful deliberation, I decided on a 9 inch square as the basic template size so that the project will easily stay modular. All modules will fit within that size template or be a multiple of that size. Entry points will be centered on the 9 inch sides. The normal wall height will be 2 inches but the docks and certain modules will be taller at 3.5inches. Basic construction will be foam core (at this point) with printed textures on a hardboard base. The wall texture on the left is from Mel Ebbles' Core Module which I GIMPed/Photoshopped to the appropriate size, the center textures for the dock floor I mostly made from scratch. Finding the right design elements and the initial photoshopping is what took the longest time. At the right is one of my design books with pages and pages and pages of design ideas...I love to draw.
The main dock base section is 9x27 inches (3 9inch sections) and cut from hardboard/mdf.
Here I've got the cut foamcore walls, glued the textures on both sides to counterbalance any warping, and let dry overnight under a weighted down board. The station exterior textures are from scratch also.
Here I made templates for the standard station doors; single, double, and cargo sized. With sharp, fresh blades I cut out the the doorways. It's important to use fresh blades.
An important step, IMO, in all cardpaper and foamcore builds is to edge the paper and foam core sides to disguise the building materials. This goes a long way in bringing the build to life and make it looked finished. Here I use a neutral gray marker to edge the exposed edges of the paper. I then run and smooth out a bead of tacky glue, and apply a coloured strip of card paper cut to width.
To make the doorways stand out a little and to hide those nasty imperfections, using the door templates I cutout and painted cereal card to make frames for the doorways. The interior frames have spacers so doors can be slid into place. Because I'm using printed textures, almost all painting must be done to the pieces prior to adding to the build. I build a small sub-unit, paint it, then glue it in place.
The assembled dock. I've added ramps leading to the docking ports/umbilical corridors. It's still a WIP; need to edge the top foamcore, add warning labels, maintenance hatches, display panels, cargo loaders, design and make doors, etc.
Then I got carried away cutting out some of the other template bases (about half are in the photos), mostly for the docks level, everything from airlocks, to pod bays, to corridors, to high security labs, to habitat sections.
Enough rambling. More to come.
Cheers
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April 29, 2024, 05:08:37 AM
December 05, 2007, 01:31:01 AM
