Man Battlestations Forum
Modeling => Modeling Q&A => Topic started by: Andrewchristlieb on April 17, 2012, 04:05:02 pm
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A couple of you have inquired about my scratch CVE here (http://www.manbattlestations.com/forum/index.php?topic=8.0) so I put together another one (and took notes :P) as requested :D. I have placed links in places where I wasnt sure if everyone would understand exactly what I'm talking about as I'm sure a lot of us use different terms for these.
The Basis
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oMYRJVIqBQY/T42dMZB6bYI/AAAAAAAAAa4/6buCF6XAGqw/s912/IMG_0007.jpg)
The basis for this build lays in a pile of these little things that got mixed in with some escorts I was painting for BFG. Shown in the picture are a Coaxial F connector (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F_connector) and screw anchor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screw_anchor) both readily available cheaply from hardware stores, walmart, radio shack, etc... The ones I have used are for RG-6 cable and the screw anchor is about 5-6mm in width, I sourced mine of course from my work tote :D.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dXNI2_A9NgU/T42dLsmjy7I/AAAAAAAAAaw/xcinwFY-Xv4/s912/IMG_0008.jpg)
As you can see here I have pushed the anchor into the base of the connector to form the main engine, this is where the size of your connector matters as an RG-59 connector accepts a slightly smaller cable which makes fitting the anchor in a bit of a pain. I place a small bit of superglue on the anchor before placing it in, its a tight fit and probably is not needed but why skimp!
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-GPpXL33Hq5Y/T42dob6-SLI/AAAAAAAAAbE/W_66x8SV-H0/s912/IMG_0009.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QbxQQ60v3dI/T42do5WkHJI/AAAAAAAAAbM/ikw4U_7eK0c/s912/IMG_0012.jpg)
In these pictures you can see I cut some auxiliary engines out of dowel, not pictured is a third piece that was placed inside the hole for a screw in the anchor. Once this was completed I drilled the hole for the base about midway up the connector.
The Bits
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GoEEEuv1elQ/T42eaakIj-I/AAAAAAAAAbk/o6DtwJe0lHk/s912/IMG_0015.jpg)
Here you can see I clipped a piece of sprue for the bridge.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0mu3LPrNdUI/T42ezA2uZtI/AAAAAAAAAcA/gpIvaRIRrWQ/s912/IMG_0017.jpg)
The bridge attached, along with a small antenna from the Imperial cruiser sprue, a small hole was drilled to the size of the antenna but I couldn't get a good shot of it due to the small size.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QSIPAlKLnPw/T42exx_SidI/AAAAAAAAAb4/qRpsb7w-RXk/s912/IMG_0019.jpg)
Here you can see the gun mounted to the prow, I wanted a very small gun for these as is on the GW transport model (http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2010/5/3/102231-Battlefleet%20Gothic,%20Imperial%20Navy,%20Transport%20Ship.jpg) and after several failed attempts at creating one I decided to cut one off of the weapon battery of a Chaos cruiser.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r3fOZxXzdsE/T42fKewgbNI/AAAAAAAAAds/L5w9wX1Yu3c/s912/IMG_0022.jpg)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-lXsvrQWJO28/T42fauNYtYI/AAAAAAAAAco/Imd8s71HrdI/s912/IMG_0023.jpg)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Gs4ErBKaX1g/T42fga1NM6I/AAAAAAAAAc4/o120s0g98Zo/s912/IMG_0026.jpg)
The launch bays are from the Imperial cruiser sprue, but have been shortened by removing a section from the center and then shaved by first removing about 2mm (to the first line as you look at the inside of the piece) then carefully carving a curve into the front and back pieces
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8qyLk7Fuxa8/T42fGWCmmiI/AAAAAAAAAcI/3WWD0Bfjq1A/s912/IMG_0020.jpg)
The lower ?fin? (because everyone knows spaceships need fins!) for the bottom of the ship was cut from a piece of box and then shaped to fit the contour of the engines and hull.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--zKFWw4eqhQ/T42fHvd713I/AAAAAAAAAdw/uoQfE9G1nO0/s912/IMG_0021.jpg)
Lastly the cargo door at the front is a trimmed down bit of zip tie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_tie).
Everything was assembled and the gaps were filled using Milliput.
The finished product
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Ba3lNatVK34/T43KnMTuyHI/AAAAAAAAAdY/O4UbQJ38NTU/s912/IMG_0030.jpg)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JUOijaydzH8/T43KnJc9zTI/AAAAAAAAAdo/Y6JWzk7Uhj0/s912/IMG_0031.jpg)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ApBdr9g33Ds/T42fyZzB8MI/AAAAAAAAAdI/OCd36X3ipvw/s912/IMG_0028.jpg)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7T23eZKodHU/T42fzCa1nzI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/gNGiPbCrrKY/s912/IMG_0029.jpg)
Other than a little bit of cleanup on the putty were ready for paint on this one!
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Very clever use of materials! Using that coax connector was brilliant; I bet it gives your CVEs some much-needed weight to prevent them from being nudged too easily on the gaming table. Thanks for posting this guide!
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Great tutorial with valuable pictures. I'm inspired to raid my tool box for wire caps and drywall anchors....
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Thanks, the metal connector does lend itself well weight wise being about the same as a metal frigate. After making a few of these it's really opened my eyes to the little "junk" we all have laying around. Really any small object with a shape you like can be used to acheive the same effect just by tacking on a few bits/ odds and ends. Additionally since it doesn't resemble any one game it can be used in all of them.