"Good Basis For 15mm Freetrader Transport Spaceship?" Topic

Guys,

Ever used hard High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) boxes as the starting point for a ship project?

Well, I've never EVER done anything like this before. And I have never really been successful in making those packaged plastic ship and car models. But, if I have the time and the guidance, I may do just that with these boxes here (the round end is the bridge, while the big box in the middle is the cargo bay):

Main photo set link:

link

The four areas with 15mm figures (three boxes and the "monkey clothes" corridor) would be accessible sections, with removable tops. The other two bottom boxes and the rear one will be closed off to movement and gaming. So far, the overall length of the assembled ship compartments is 14" and maximum height is 2.5".

The tiles are 1" tall tiles from this set here. The small square ones are 1" square, and the rectangular ones are 1" by 1 and 5/8":

And I may end up using figure bases too, for either the inside or the outside hull, depending on how this little beast of a project develops:

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As for landing gears, I have no clue at this point. A bit early so far.

PLEASE let me know if this is folly and the beginning to a road to madness, or if you think this could actually work. If folly, then please talk me out of it!!!

Thanks,

Dan
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That looks to be a workable design. I've never done that before, but I have used that type of plastic. I recommend Krylon Fusion paint as a primer. Otherwise, you may have problems with making the paint stick.

Besides, it has monkey in it … what could go wrong?

Doors are the hardest part. Well unless you just glue something on the side. Our flat pack doors might work on the curved surface. Might look weird.

I agree, looks cool. And you can work on each compartment individual, then join them at the end.

Great idea! Looking good already…

My recommendation for the outside would be lots of plasticard panels to give it "texture".

Masterbuilder* Mr. Harold: "My recommendation for the outside would be lots of plasticard panels to give it "texture"."

I've been accumulating lots of styrene strips, bits and punch outs for just such a purpose!!! For both inside and outside:

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And I hope I can learn something from this awesome tutorial:

PDF link

And I've also bought a half dozen different hole punches for the task:

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Thanks.

Dan
* Guys, if you haven't already done so, check out Mr. Harold's inspiring work here:
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Seems like you're right on track sir! Those will make great windows!

Try guitar wire if you want different types of cabling.

You could even use masking tape in areas to make clear windows, since the walls are clear.

Jpattern2: "And you can work on each compartment individual, then join them at the end."

You, sir, are a genius!

Dan

Looks good to me so far.

You can use those rectangular tiles for the landing feet of the ship, if desired.

The good thing about using those boxes is you can have clear windows in your vessel, without the need to cut them out. I suspect if you do a paper, mat board, or styrene overlay for the skin of the vessel, you can avoid having to punch out viewing ports, unless you really want to.

How are you going to hold the whole thing together, or are you going to keep it modular, for easier transport?

Nice concept, good job of pulling it all together, the sections of boxes you can't use for gaming that are closed off could be your fuel tanks? or avionic packs? landing gear bays? engine sections? that can only be reached from the outside so IMO they are not a waste from my view point

War Monkey: "could be your fuel tanks? or avionic packs? landing gear bays? engine sections? that can only be reached from the outside"

You got it bro! That's the plan.

Dan

Good idea CC. Just check that you've got a glue that Works On that plastic though!

very cool ideas

Good idea CC. Just check that you've got a glue that Works On that plastic though!

I use Ambroid Pro-Weld, though it's identical to Plastruct Plastic Weld. 90% Methylene Chloride and 10% Methyl Ethyl Ketone (so use in a well-ventilated area, wear nitrile gloves and respirator, and wash up immediately if you spill any on your skin).

Awesome suggestion!

Also, I think I have already bought the perfect bits to add more contours to the outer hull, and thus reduce the appearance of so many 90 degree angles …

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Then I can work on adding an outer skin with styrene sheets and then greeblies on top of that.

Thoughts?

Dan

Jpattern2: "And you can work on each compartment individual, then join them at the end."

Well, following that fantastic advice, I've decided to start work on the bridge and front third of the craft. Here's what I have done so far, using a slightly smaller box at the bottom, along with a few of the Lego window frames and small sloped tiles I bought on eBay a while back and a couple of plastic figure bases. Those yellow window frames are going to become the supports for exterior panels (styrene sheets).

Please let me know what you think so far. The section is currently 6.5 inches in length and 3.75 inches in height. And apologies for all that excess Super Glue. I think I got carried away a bit:

Main folder:

link

Thoughts? I appreciate any pointers or criticism, as this is obviously my very first attempt at a spaceship of any kind.

Thanks,

Dan
PS. I may have to put this project on temporary hold. I just got word that I may need to travel to Illinois on business for a few weeks, flying out tomorrow.

Its looking cool. Makes me want to design a few spaceship sections myself :)

Jonathan,

Please do!! I'm sure whatever you come up with will be way better than my haphazard proof-of-concept attempt.

Dan

That is looking very good, can't wait to see the rest of it when your done, Drive On!

Okay I hope this will help with the interior details or even the outer hull as far as ideas

link
never mind the 40k stuff it's the other details that will work for the walls with out looseing playing space.

saved the pictures for myself when I came across them some time ago, took me awhile to find the site, so I could get it up on here

Awesome!

I was saving these for use with my colony buildings, but they might as well be used sooner rather than later …

GZG fittings:
link

The Scene UK fittings:
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Khurasan interiors:
link

And there were more on my list too:
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Dan

That's looking great! I can really see the start of a very cool looking spaceship.

And that link with the plasticard walls is a great inspiration too!

That is very cool looking!

Just that front third looks a lot like a troop lander. Nice!

Guys,

How about a low dome like this over the top of the bridge?

link

Too trekkie?

Thanks,

Dan

Not too Trekkie to me, but I don't know if it fits the rest of the build.

Maybe a turreted weapon, or some kind of communications array or dish – which then runs the risk of being too Millennium Falcon-y.

CorSecEng: "Our flat pack doors might work on the curved surface. Might look weird."

I wonder if that could be remedied by making the interior walls of the bridge section as a hexagon instead of a circle.

Thoughts?

Dan

Nice work, Dan! And madness is what it's all about!

Looks good so far CC.

I think the half yo-yo piece will look fine on the top of the ship's bridge.

I'd leave it unpainted as well, for a bit of contrast with the rest of the vessel.

Wish this would have make it to production

contacted him to see what happen he sold them to Moonfleet, contacted them and got no reply, so I sure hope someone out there can come up with something similair

"I wonder if that could be remedied by making the interior walls of the bridge section as a hexagon instead of a circle."

Maybe just hex the rear half and leave the forward bulkhead curved……a bit less work maybe?

That should work!

Thanks,

Dan

Or, just section a part of the circle, put a flat sheet at that point, followed by the doors or other 'stuff'. Allows flexibility if you want escape pods, gunnery booths, ready room…

Oops, getting trekkie again.

Doug

Edit: And this topic, with the large images, is getting really challenging for my browser to open, fyi.

Yea, locks up my PC as well.

It's the really large images, and the site they're on, I suspect.

Oops. Didn't know.

Will post a single small image next time, with links to the others.

Thanks for telling me!

Dan

No problemo; really having fun brainstorming, even if my ideas don't work. Anyway, seemed to get worse after more images added.

My browser seems to really thrash opening images, then resizing each to fit the screen.

Time to start another thread, mayhaps?

Doug

Beast: "Time to start another thread, mayhaps?"

You might be right. Now, with me in the Chicago area, and the project is back home in the Houston area, it will need to be on hold for a few weeks.

I'll do a "Part 2" thread when I get back.

By the way, what do you think of those yellow Lego angular pieces?

Dan

I like the Lego parts works for me.

Lego is a great resource to tap into for bits and pieces……works for me!