After being given a load of 6mm think A5 sized MDF sheets I decided to cut the hex and squares to build a "fuel pod" at studio scale from the Valley Forge, Silent Running.

The cut edges are chamfered to a close edge and glued. On the inside I have taped and epoxied the joins, a strong basic geodesic box.

The raised edges are 1.5mm thick spruce, wood glued in place. The corners will need filler since I couldn't get another width to keep the same edge width on two sides. The square edges other hang to be sanded back and become a little thinner - I think this is as per the studio model but that is difficult to tell. The best referance comes from Lunadude and only a single referance dimension is shown.

I will skin with glass fibre tissue and epoxy, that will hide all sins, bits of filler and make a strong box that should resist delaminating or exposure to moisture / movement.

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

A simple CNC program fairly quickly produced 3 sets of 44" Eagle Transporter landing pod feet from an A3 sized sheet of Perspex.

The sizes were spot on to the plans and the chamfered corners just marked out and cut with a file / sanding paper on a block. 

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.

For a mate of mine over in Canada; some simple styrene panels CNC cut so that he can build an interior for the Round2 22" Eagle Transporter Passenger Pod.

The parts made out of some scrap from the offcuts bin simply double sided taped over a test cut.

The finished parts below and the screen grab from the Catacombs showing what he is trying to make.

http://catacombs.space1999.net/main/cguide/umeagle.html

Machined jigs from 6mm thick aluminium plate.
The guides locate the cross tubes in position and at the correct height. Although the plate is a big heat sink the soldering is fine with a small butane torch.
The single jig is one to go along with my others; the combination jig is made to include the spine and cage location holes and made to order.

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.

The same jigs are used to manufacture the frames that hold the engine assembly and the command module assembly.

These frames will have rods fitted inside the short tubes (that need to be shorter and flush with the
tubes). The rods will slide inside the matching tubes of the frames. The alignment is important and things are looking promising for later on.

I was nervous about the soldering. I purchased some good quality flux and a good brand soldering torch.
So far so good; a ton of work but very enjoyable. Not the chore I thought it might be.

Mocking up brass frames in CAD to get a set of lengths required for more CNC fish mouth cutting. Found a supplier of thicker walled material in smaller quantities. The cost is a little more than the manufacturer but the ability to buy a little at a time is helpful; to spread the cost.

Good for UK builders. Noggin End Metals

For the underside frame of the Passenger Pod of the Eagle Transporter

The distraction of the 3d printer and the holidays found me taking a break from the Eagle.

The walkway bodies have been cut on the CNC router, they are glued together and ready to take the kit parts; the silicone tools have been made to replicate these kit parts if I need them. A couple of parts are required several times for this part of the build, I will cast those in resin.

These walkways are produced from 2mm thick styrene sheet and layered to 4mm, I have produced a lip to slot these together. This has worked out well, a nice snug fit without any finishing required. What didn't work out so well was the need to remake the CNC parts after gluing the first boxes together incorrectly!

Some more effort on the Eagle this weekend.
Got some resins out of the tools put down a few months ago and they came out really good. So good I used resin rather than the kit parts, save them for another day, I don't know why?
I am happy with the walkways, and will get some paint on soon.

Julian

Managed to get some work done on the Eagle. 44" studio scale replica.

Base White is done, some touching up to do and then some black. Need to decide on weathering (or not).