So, I went to Telford IPMS Scale Model World a couple of weeks ago......wow, quite an eye opener. A few Eagles (Round 2, small ones 1/48 scale). Quite an inspiration as well. I ended up buying a couple of kits. Some of my favourite, shiny silver coloured jets that fought based old fashioned dog fighting tactics with unguided weapons.
I purchased some Vallejo gloss black primer and their Silver Darts paint kit.
I am revisiting my own design of 1/72 Star Wars models, the Tie Scimitar and Crawler Tank.
All small enough to work on in the house during the colder winter months.
​I am even talking to someone about kiting my Star Wars models, that will be interesting to follow up

I haven't been around for a while. I have been doing some bits and pieces of modelling but an unintended break seemed to happen for no apparent reason.

I have a massive collection of data for war gaming and sci-fi modelling and have been wondering what to do with it.

I have signed up to Patron, a great place where creative types can get a bit of support and where collectively this can be meaningful. For me it will be a way of sharing data at very little cost to individuals but might make something to cover my efforts.

Have a look, I am offering two levels of support, one at $2 and the other at $5. At the $5 level, I will offer CAD data at my Battletech Longbow and Star Wars Tie Scimitar level. I will get on and finish my Star Wars Tie Tank and offer that.

Feel free to let me know what you think.

Thanks

I purchased a few books of interest, sacred geometry, golden section, and one on compass and ruler exercises.

I really love the sacred geometry styled Gothic church windows. I have designed some in CAD and shall print some off with the hope that they make nice details for MDF type laser cut buildings for war gaming.

Also available on my Shapeways shop.

Here's one to look at; set of 4 windows works out as a good price.
​

I model most of my work in CAD before I build it.
With a little work the CAD model of the 44" Eagle Transporter has been scaled to make an 11" Model. This might be a very nice thing to produce; as long as my CAD is good (I think it is; the 44" frame is built from it) the 11" model will be very interesting / accurate.

I have added this in the Shapeways WSF plastic material; much better price. We will see how expensive the spine works out to be in stainless steel! 

I have been designing a range of Hover Tanks; these are styled on old world war one tanks as a sci-fi hover tanks.
The design is my own; and produced with Autodesk Fusion.
They can be found on Shapeways; buying a set of 4 works out pretty good on price.

Designed some ruins / scatter terrain in 28mm scale. A ruin of an old Star Gate and a Column Base; no real purpose but should look good to dress the table.

A drawing of the Tie Scimitar Assault Bomber. Free Download, enjoy.

The Crawler Tie Tank has progressed in CAD; all of these have been printed on the B9Creator.

Lifting some blue prints / plans from Wookieepedia again. Another unusual Tie variant from the wider Star Wars universe; the Tie Crawler or, The Century Tank.

The weather is getting better; soon I will be back on the big Eagle (it needs paint) but this Star Wars stuff has been a nice distraction this spring. Good fun; it is also helping me to learn Autodesk Fusion 360, also good fun and a change from my usual industry software Solidworks.

My finished CAD file as a short animation. Really happy with the way this worked out and it looks ok with an initial coat of primer. I haven't taken any wet or dry to it yet; just a wash in soapy water.

3d Print Project in between the larger projects.
Star Wars Tie Scimitar Assault Bomber.
CAD and 3d printing is WIP for sure; still a little bit to do.
Can not make my mind up; to tool the wings or not.
I like the idea of the ship landing on its wings (with the body at an angle) I might look at inventing a landing skid to fit to the underside of the front body section (hex cone shape). I think that would be quite smart and look neat.
​The model is 1/72 scale

To help me get this project moving I am offering the STL files for personal use through Kickstarter. If you are interested please check the Kickstarter page out. Funding closes on the 1st Feb 2017.

If you want any extra info or details; give me a shout here or there.

Thanks
Julian

Additional tiles for the Death Star 3d wall art. The Primary Weapon, is a 3x3 / 9 tile layout and I will need to make some resin copies of those to make the full set.

The full set built so far is about 35 individual tiles. I will aim to design and build a few more just to cut down on the repetition with the finish piece. I can now start to see how the tiles can be group in sets of 4 (where I have built mirrored tiles) and I can see how the curved tiles can be arranged in a range of layouts for interest.

The shadows from the sunlight today are great and hopefully, the layout when finished in the correct lighting will have the give the same effect.

Next up for design and print is the trench. This I have decided will be inline with the edge of the tile (as per studio). I quite fancied the idea that the tile would be angled on the wall earmarked for the art but it just doesn't look right. 

About half of the required master tiles are assembled. Styrene and ABS 50mm squares and 3d Printed Greeblies.

Spot Alpha in there?

The exhaust port is printed but I need to think about the trench; I want this at 45 degrees to the main layout of the tiles - that will be a pain. I will also have a circular edge to the piece, that will also be a pain but all can be achieved.

So.................
I have at art project on the go; after thinking about it for an age I am going to make a huge section of the Death Star on a wall under the stairs in our living room.

I have a good collection of greeblies produced on my B9Creator and some base panels 50mm by 50mm at a range of thicknesses on My CNC router. A collection of shaped panels and edging panels have been cut from styrene ready to build up.

I will need a whole load of tiles; the area to cover is quite large and I have gone for fairly small tiles; hope fully this will make the work look nice and busy.  I will need to make rubber tools for production in resin. These small tiles allow me to make fairly flat tiles with out too many "sticky out" bits and shouldn't be overly intrusive in the room; my clothes shouldn't get snagged when walking past etc.

Because I have chosen a small size of tile; I have needed to produce bespoke greeblies. I have tried to replicate the correct feel of the Death Star but have introduced some of my own ideas. have even managed to get a small nod to Moon Base Alpha in there.

The casting of the Hawk engine bell cleaned up really quite well; the main bell was made round / circular; the inside hollowed out previously but the "fuel" inlet ribbed section was difficult to work with; some of the ribs were missing in places, had air bubbles trapped in them but generally the ribbed section was not circular.
A replacement part was turned from model board; the ribs made a bit thicker and rounded off (to cast more easily later). The original casting had the ribbed section cut off with the new part fixed in place with some cyanoacrylate.

Three tools (in some old pots); 1 is the Hawk Main Engine Bell and the other 2 are for the 44" Eagle Transporter, the 3d printed masters for the passenger pod and walkway VTOLS.

The CAD model progressing just ahead of my physical model; a reality check to give me peace of mind before hacking away at the next stack of brass. The cages are now finished awaiting a spine to assemble to.