Starfighters (aka X-Wing) Project : 4/2 asteroids finished

[OSHIROmodels]

I spent some time today looking at scratchbuilds and there's great and realistic work out there: I was particularly taken with LEDs illuminating motors and a ship's bridge you could see into with crew inside.

Welcome to the proper Dark Side 

cheers

James

[Silent Invader]

 

I'm really - and I mean REALLY! - looking forward to getting on with some scratchbuilds with a view to being able to play the game (as in my rules, not X-Wing) in semi darkness  

Today - in between painting my GOT terrain - I'm making asteroids. Starting small!

Btw, i have some itty-bitty people for little scenarios:



EDIT: My Kihraxz and Z95HH arrived today, the latter looks fine but the cockpit of the Kihraxz would be very tight.

[Silent Invader]

Chicken nuggets in space!



Just the usual foam on an EM4 base (tho I doubled the height) with added sand

I kind of want to paint them brown but expect I'll go a mid grey.



BTW: I'm toying with changes to the 'flying angle arms' as I've now magnetised the fighters, which works rather well.

[pocoloco]

Now I'm hungry 

Those look good

[OSHIROmodels]

Very promising 

cheers

James

[rumacara]

Following with interest.

[Silent Invader]

Thanks! 

Btw I've binned the Lego arms for the jaunty angle connection as I've found a not quite so simple but much sleeker way to do it. More tomorrow. 

[Elbows]

Doesn't have anything to do with that spindle-arm on the X-wing does it?  I know I'd seen stuff like this on Wings of War planes. 

[Silent Invader]

Doesn't have anything to do with that spindle-arm on the X-wing does it?  I know I'd seen stuff like this on Wings of War planes. 

Erm, not sure what you mean by the spindle arm....

Basically, what Ive done is a relatively simple substitute for cup and ball magnet connectors. It looks much nicer than the Lego parts as it's less clunky. It'll make more sense with pictures but in essence the top of the stand is fitted with a stack of two tiny magnets with a nut that sits around them to create a chalice effect, which is the socket. A stack of two magnets is then fitted to the nub of the fighter, creating a plug that will hold inside the socket between angles of 0 (vertical) to 45 degrees, or attach to the exterior of the nut at 90 degrees. It'll make more sense with pictures! 

[Commander Roj]

Chicken nuggets in space!



Just the usual foam on an EM4 base (tho I doubled the height) with added sand

I kind of want to paint them brown but expect I'll go a mid grey.



BTW: I'm toying with changes to the 'flying angle arms' as I've now magnetised the fighters, which works rather well.

So the asteroids are just sprayed chunks of that foam? More effective than I would have thought, and practical too.

[Silent Invader]

So the asteroids are just sprayed chunks of that foam? More effective than I would have thought, and practical too.

There's also the added sand that you can see, they're not painted in either of those photos

Basically
- stuck two sponges together with UHU
- pinched to shape
- punch hole and insert hot glue for stand (previously modded to desired height)
- paint with dilute exterior grade EvoStik wood glue
- sprinkle on sand
- when dry, repeat glue and sand
- when dry, paint with acrylics

NB: spraying sponge can also firm it up but for health reasons I don't

[OSHIROmodels]

NB: spraying sponge can also firm it up but for health reasons I don't

I nearly spat out my fish and chips reading that 

cheers

James

[Silent Invader]

 

Basically, what Ive done is a relatively simple substitute for cup and ball magnet connectors. It looks much nicer than the Lego parts as it's less clunky. It'll make more sense with pictures but in essence the top of the stand is fitted with a stack of two tiny magnets with a nut that sits around them to create a chalice effect, which is the socket. A stack of two magnets is then fitted to the nub of the fighter, creating a plug that will hold inside the socket between angles of 0 (vertical) to 45 degrees, or attach to the exterior of the nut at 90 degrees. It'll make more sense with pictures!  

Anyone want to buy some black Lego arms and hands, now surplus?  

I've finally settled on a method that is more expensive and a lot more fiddly but which gives I think a tidier approach.

As outlined in the quote, it uses 4 of 2mm dia by 1mm depth rare earth magnets and a small nut, who's dimensions I don't know (might be a 3mm thread?).

Btw, I painted the stands black using Vallejo Undercoat, which gives a nice finish. As I won't be using the cards, I etched the firing lines then painted them in with VMC Bloody Red (which matches my Cogotwo template set ......  )

So at the standard gaming angle:



At various jaunty angles:

NB: of this sample, only the Kihraxz won't stay aligned at 90 degrees: the wings are too heavy and it flips in towards the stalk)



A close up showing a connection pre-paint:



The parts disconnected: on the fighter's nubbin, 1 magnet sits inside the stalk then the other on top of it; on the stand's stalk, there's also one inside and one on top with the nut then sitting around the higher of these two



Ps:
As I'm not actually going to play X-Wing with my fighters, I don't need the pack of cards, dials, etc: where's the best place to sell them on? Ideas, anyone? Thanks

[OSHIROmodels]

Very clever 

cheers

James

[Silent Invader]

I thank thee  

Asteroids completed:



So to recap I now have finished

5 asteroids
6 fighters
- A Wing
- E Wing
- TIE Advanced
- Kihraxz
- Z-95 Headhunter
- M3A Interceptor

Which seems like enough for a 3 on 3 test game.

Slowly building in the background is the basics of an asteroid base to accompany the asteroid belt, though I have yet to decide how it will be fitted out



It'll probably have a landing pad for fighters, docking boom for a shuttle, maintence building, control tower, generator, habitation block, comms unit, laser cannon emplacements, probably some sort of torpedo weapon unit .....,