Salzo 37 1/2 inch (1/2 studio scale) TOS Battlestar Galactica - with a twist!

[warfare]

Ran the 0.25 fiber to the bridge. 38 strands equaling over 130ft of fiber. Just for the bridge. Took me 2hrs just to string and organize. Wow, I am crossed eyed now.

 

[warfare]

More piping cut off and new Styrene rod added. Also worked on a replacment for the Apogee Neck Top structure. Not sure if it's suppose to be a dish or guns on top. Found images for both. Anyone have suggestions?

 

[warfare]

Please let me know if any of you guys have a suggestion on this part. From looking at close up images it looks like a 4 barreled cannon mount with a radar type dish on top. These images show it square but I believe the original may have been a round dish?

 

[warfare]

Also, did a light test for the bridge. All fiber, 38 x 3.5ft ran in two bundles to the back engine section where they will be lit by two LED's which will be dimmed to show a slight offset in brightness from light to light. 0.25 Fiber looks pretty scale correct. It looks good so far and the yellow natural light is bang on.

 

[warfare]

Short Update. Finished building the navigation light surrounds. Using brass tube with 1.0 Fiber to simulate bulbs.

 

[warfare]

Ok, did another test. The Fibers light up way better without mushrooming the ends and fitting them flush with the ends of the brass tubing. This is what they look like installed. Cleanest way I can find to simulate incandescent bulbs, on and off.

 

[Analyzer]

Lighting looks great!

I tried mushroomed fibers on a few places and found it does really cut down on the viewing angle and brightness. Definitely looks better without it

 

[tdb68]

WOW Awesome build!! the internal frame you made is amazing!

 

[edge10]

Beautiful work so far.

So jealous. When this kit was available 5 years ago(!), I had recently been urged to find employment somewhere else.

 

[warfare]

Ya, I was surprised how much the mushrooming cut down on the angle of the light. I was under a different impression. Go figure.

I was lucky to get the kit from Mike a few years ago. Took allot of pestering him. lol. Finally getting to do some serious work to it. Been saving up for all the goodies for it and trying to think of ways to skin the cat differently.

Glad you guys are enjoying the build. Thank you for your comments. If you have any suggestions please let me know. More opinions are welcome.

 

[warfare]

Created the lights for the engine sides. Look Pretty decent.

 

[warfare]

Screwed down main body section under the coffin and attached the landing bay bottoms. Screws only. No Glue on most of the main sections. Also thinking about using a hanger type system to attached the head bottom. One screw in front and one to the rear. Any thoughts?

 

[warfare]

Finished the main gun turret on hull neck. Guns may be a bit heavy but my eyes were going crossed. Best I can do. Also fit 0.25 fiber holes for back and front. 4 in total.

 

[warfare]

Just primed the Marder and neck gun turret. I like the Vallejo Acryclic Primer Grey as a base color for the entire ship. Slightly lighter than the Tamiya primer.

 

[warfare]

Well, my thoughts on creating a tab and hanger for the lower head section seams to have worked quite well. Kinda a pressure fit in the front and held in with a screw at the rear. Edges look tight enough without glue and should be no light bleed.

 

[warfare]

Completed the last major assembly component. Attached the coffin section via screws and an aluminum mount to the main hull. The main screw is directly in line with the arms and through the thickest part of the coffin body. The idea is to extend the coffin arms with brass tubing into the landing bays. This will give added support to the landing bays and less strain on the body to bay arms. Still give room to run fiber and electronics.

 

[warfare]

Couple of more images. Created one large component. Screws into the main hull as one piece.

 

[Duncanator]

You're taking a great kit of a great model and making it even great-er!
Love the lighting and additional details.

 

[warfare]

Thanks Duncanator, I am trying my best. Its been years since I modeled.

The build is going fairly quickly now. Almost time to take her apart again. Clean again and run the rest of the fiber. And then start the more labour intensive detailing.

I am sure glad I went with the screw/bolt option and reinforcing with a frame rather than gluing. The kit is really starting to get heavy!!

 

[warfare]

Small update. Not sure what this thing is called but I made it from some pics of the original filming model. Not 100% but close enough. Will cast the rest.