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imcold
07-12-2009, 12:56 PM
Hi all, this is the model I'm currently working on. I started over a year ago, but I had several month-long breaks.
The base for the model is the X-wing model from PaperGrade by Zen (http://www006.upp.so-net.ne.jp/zen/) , which looked to me as the best paper X-wing model I could find around that time. It's scale is 1/48.
It was clear to me from the start that I'll be doing many modifications to it: modifying or replacing certain parts, painting with synthetic colors (that I use on plastic models), carving panel lines, adding support ribs and so on. All in the name of creating the best paper X-wing ever :)

The fuselage
Modifications: custom nose, cockpit, droid plate and proton torpedo tubes; reinforcement ribs
I started with the fuselage. The overall shape is the same as in the original model. The lower part hides some 1mm cardstock plates and ribs, which give some extra strength to the forward section and serve as a floor for the cockpit. The "cage" for the wing axis in the aft is also built from 1mm cardstock.
The nose cone is completely scratch built, the original one is too edgy. The proton torpedo tube openings were moved a backwards a bit & the shape is changed, too.
Cockpit is scratch-built too, with many tiny buttons and useless stripes :D
The droidplate is built from scrap paper and a few balsa wood pieces.
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_p1010301.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/p1010301.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_p1010296.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/p1010296.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_p1010297.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/p1010297.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_P1010308.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/P1010308.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_nose_01.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/nose_01.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_nose_02.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/nose_02.jpg)

Surface:
I painted the half-finished fuselage with black paint and then sanded it in places where the joints were visible too much. Then I printed the fuselage parts again, drew the panels on them according to the Finemolds' and real filming model references. Afterwards, I "draw" over the panel lines with a needle, creating a subtle negative plating like you could see on plastic models. Sort of an experiment of mine... and it worked out quite well. The model how has 2 or even 3 layers of paper on some places, so it's pretty hard.
Another important part of the surface are "greebles": in this case, over 50 paper squares of varius thickness that I glued all around the fuselage. Some of them are roughly in places they're on the "real" X-wings, but I put most of them in places where they looked good to me.
The visual improvement of adding greebles all around is huge, I highly recommend adding some if you're going to build your own X-wing, even if you're not going to paint it. And it's loads of fun, too - the pieces are too small, so you have to work with tweezers or toothpick or something similar all the time.

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_P1010309.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/P1010309.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_fuselage.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/fuselage.jpg)

Painting:
I don't have an airbrush, and I can't paint large areas uniformly - but for a dirty X-wing it doesn't matter (that much) :D I The base fuselage color is a messy combination of lighter and darker spots, created trough mixing layers of black, white and gray (revell 76) to imitate weathering. Some panels were painted with dark gray afterwards. Masking tape helped a lot, mainly when I was painting the red stripes. Another prominent feature of x-wings are scratch marks all around, so I took a knife... and scratched the color down to previous layer or even paper. It's a bit drastic, but effective. As the last part of weathering, black watercolor was used to emphasize the panel lines.
The cockpit is painted with watercolors.

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_P1010472.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/P1010472.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_P1010473.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/P1010473.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_fuselage_01.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/fuselage_01.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_fuselage_02.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/fuselage_02.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_nose_06.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/nose_06.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_cockpit03.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/cockpit03.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_dplate1.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/dplate1.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_dplate3.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/dplate3.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_dplate2.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/dplate2.jpg)

I have one prototype wing almost finished, but I'll talk about the wings next time.

causticphlegm
07-12-2009, 01:43 PM
Incredible detail! I love it. Probably my 2nd favorite ship next to the millennium falcon.

Glad you posted this here. Tried to view your thread at the other forum, but like many others, i'm banned there. Thanks for the pics.

And welcome.

cdwheatley
07-12-2009, 02:06 PM
Superb work and attention to detail! Can't wait to see the finished model :).

ARMORMAN
07-12-2009, 03:00 PM
Sweetness! :D

Fargo
07-13-2009, 04:08 AM
Man, that's what it comes to my mind when I think about an Incom T-65C A2 X-Wing! Double thumbs up :D
I've begun a rhino file about this beautiful ship (I think it's my favourite one...) some time ago, but never got to a real project stage, only sketches... now I know I'm not alone out there trying to develope an x-wing model that has nothing less than a styrene one. if you are interested in other SW ships (even fighters), pm me :)

imcold
07-13-2009, 06:10 AM
Thanks a lot, guys!

causticphlegm: I like the Falcon's design too, but not enough to devote several years to recreate the intricate surface detailing like Rabe from kartonbau.de :) I've built the small corvette model from the same page as the xwing comes from, though.

Fargo: some new, high-res pictures of the filming models appeared on net lately, so now it's better time to build a model of X-wing than ever :) Well, I am interested, but low on time - I'm building the Ebon Hawk too, and I'm going to start working on a wooden snowspeeder, that may or may not be a base for a paper model once, who knows.



Part 2 - the wings

Here's the wing (upper left) prototype. I don't have much wip pictures, so I'll post the finished product first:
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_wing_04.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/wing_04.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_wing_05.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/wing_05.jpg)

I'm building the other 3 wings atm, with some adjustments to the construction. As a result the other three wings won't be exactly like the protowing, but the general shape and dimensions will remain the same.
The wings are completely scratch-build, with the base skeleton made from 1mm cardstock. The engine pod dimensions are the same as in original model, so I'll be able to fit them to the unmodified wing axis "cage". The wing dimensions are taken from Finemolds' 1/72 X-wing. The skeleton then gets covered by paper layer with needle-engraved panels. The aft engine tube is from the original model, except from the exhaust nozzle, which has some extra detailing inside. The original model missed the openings on the inner side of wings, through which you can see the internal structure of the wing, so I added those. I painted the internals with somewhat darker color than the fuselage (revell matt 57, used on some of the panels too) and used black watercolor to make them look dirty.
Of course, the surface is heavily detailed with many stripes and blocks again, to imitate the filming models.

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_wing_01.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/wing_01.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_wing_01a.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/wing_01a.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_wing_03.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/wing_03.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_wing_02.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/wing_02.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_wing_06.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/wing_06.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_wing_07.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/wing_07.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_wing_08.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/wing_08.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_nozzle.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/nozzle.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_nozzle_2.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/nozzle_2.jpg)

And some mockup shots at the end. The canopy and droidplate aren't glued on the fuselage yet, the wings will be mounted first. Then I'll make the backplate, the droid's head and finally the lasercannons. At least, that's the plan :D

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_mock_1.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/mock_1.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_mock_4.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/mock_4.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_mock_6.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/mock_6.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_mock_7.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/mock_7.jpg)

buffalowings
07-13-2009, 06:12 AM
this is looking pretty good, any chance you will ever build a y wing?

Fargo
07-13-2009, 06:25 AM
interested? :cool:http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/5457/ywingmedium.jpg

it needs only to be built... :D

@ imcold: take your time :) I'm even busy with my "normal" life and this is a hobby. anyway, great work, it's getting better every pic!

imcold
07-13-2009, 06:32 AM
Y-wing? Maybe a betabuild, uncolored and without too much detail... but as I know myself, I'd started detailing it and adding splashes of watercolor pretty soon :D

imcold
07-14-2009, 07:40 AM
In clockwise order, from the upper left photo:
1, 2 - two engine tubes in 1 hour, that's the easy part.
3 - 96 stripes of paper (no, it's not a stew), 60 9mm stripes for the "turkey feathers" on the nozzle, 36 5mm stripes for the "fans" in the nozzle.
4 - assembling the fans

Second picture:
5 - progressively adding more stripes
6 - the fans and inner side of the nozzle are painted with black watercolour, which has a nice matte finish
7 - detail photo of the finished nozzle
8 - T-wing?

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_nozzle3.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/nozzle3.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_nozzle4.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/nozzle4.jpg)

cdavenport
07-14-2009, 12:03 PM
It looks so organic. I can imagine Rebel engineers carefully crafting each part. Really nice job. Make sure you have some innovative photography to do justice to the finished model.

Zathros
07-14-2009, 03:43 PM
It really looks like a movie prop. You should make a short video of it parked with some dry ice adding some smoke around it, maybe sitting on sand or something. It really is incredible.

Davitch
07-14-2009, 03:56 PM
your build is quite awesome! Excuse my own noobness, but how do you apply the textures the designer made to the model? I have both the xwing file and the textures that are available, but am not sure how to get them together. If there is another thread for this I am sorry for hijacking this one!

Thanks!

Davitch
07-14-2009, 07:51 PM
nvm, I figured it out!

imcold
07-15-2009, 01:35 AM
Thanks a lot!

cdavenport, Zathros: I'm thinking of doing some short stop-motion sequences. I'm not sure I'd be able to get constant light conditions for several hours (and keep the camera steady while pressing buttons), so it might seem a bit bizzare, but I'll try :) The sand idea sounds good; X-wing flying over sand would remind me of the first Rogue Squadron mission where you were flying over Tatoine.

Davitch: Glad you figured it out. So we will see another xwing soon, right? :)

I've finally seen the new Star Trek movie, quite liked it. But more importantly, I started working on the parts that connect the wings. I shouldn't glue them now, because the painting would get painful, but you can expect some dry-fit photos with wings in correct positions in day or two.

imcold
07-15-2009, 08:50 AM
I decided not to use the original wing axis parts. I redesigned the hinge arms so they'll get glued right to the engine pod, two for each wing, forming a valve around the center axis (original model uses 3 blocks that are built separately from each the wing). I usually use my ruler and pencil for the custom parts and it's faster if I need just one or two, but using computer in this case was way faster than drawing all the pieces by hand.

1. Go my minions!
2. Glued on 1mm cardstock and connected by valves made by rolling 30cm paper stripes.
3. This should better work...
4. And it's done.
5. Lock s-foils...
6. ...in attack position! :D

The wings are fixed in position just by friction, I hope it'll be enough to keep them spread. Next step is to cover the skeleton with thin paper and glue greebles all around the wings.

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_hinge.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/hinge.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_wing09.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/wing09.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_wing10.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/wing10.jpg)

imcold
07-19-2009, 02:18 PM
The wing skelet is covered now, engine valves (the Saturn V parts) glued on and I started adding some details to the wings and in the cockpit, too. Here are the newest photos with dry-fitted wings and aft engine parts; it starts looking neat :D The angle between wings needs to be reduced though, I aim at angle of about 30 degrees. I'll be abroad for a week, so the next update won't be coming soon. Thanks for watching.
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_mock_08.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/mock_08.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_mock_09.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/mock_09.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_mock_10.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/mock_10.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_mock_11.jpg (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/mock_11.jpg)

AnyStar
11-04-2009, 02:19 PM
beautiful build!!! im so jelous, this is the direction where my old cgi x-wing was supposed to go :D

any updates?

cdavenport
11-04-2009, 02:31 PM
I am not sure of the technology involved, but a few of my students made a Star Wars episode years ago with a green screen and PC editing set up.

That might be fun to explore vis a vis your X-wing. Too bad you didn't light it up.

imcold
11-08-2009, 05:08 AM
cdavenport: that's cool! I'd like to make some fan SW movie with space fights too, but I guess I'd use computer models rather than paper ones.
Light it? If I'll do a bigger version, maybe I will :) But I intend to make another model with a couple of LED lights first to gain some experience.

AnyStar - updates? Just tiny ones :)

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_p1030424.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/?action=view&current=p1030424.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_p1030425.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/?action=view&current=p1030425.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_p1030426.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/?action=view&current=p1030426.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_p1030427.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/?action=view&current=p1030427.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_p1030428.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/?action=view&current=p1030428.jpg)

Another dry-fit - the wings aren't glued together, so I can work on them separately. What needs to be done before I start working on cannons and final details:
1. The engines need some more greebles from the inner wing side and on the "exhaust tubes" area in front of the nozzle's turkey feathers.
2. engine inlets
3. paint at least for the inner side of wings, so they can be glued together

Bad news for the model though: I'm in last grade at uni, working on my thesis, and I got a daily job, so my free time is practically non-existent. So there won't be any updates at least until Christmas.

Darth Windius
11-08-2009, 08:56 AM
This is a fantastic work!!!:):):)

And a real examples for future building of this model!!

Great Job, mate!!!!

AnyStar
11-08-2009, 10:27 AM
So there won't be any updates at least until Christmas.

such is life, but patience is a virtue! looks incredible though!!

imcold
11-08-2009, 02:41 PM
Thanks Darth Windius :)

AnyStar: Thanks again :) It doesn't bother me much, as long as I can do some progress now and then. I realized that I can't model every sci-fi vehicle (in sufficient detail) in my lifetime and I'm ok with that, so why hurry? :D

Darth Windius
11-09-2009, 06:53 AM
Thanks for the happyness you give to SW Fans!!!:):) (plus the envy to (try to;)) make the same work;).

But you are a minima pardoned, and more to say encouraged, to deal seriously with you life projects:) and duties:(.

You have already made such an awsome work that we can wait until January '10, and let you breath (and sleep sometimes, it seems that it helps:), and eventually have parties and/or vacations with friends and/or a loved half:D).

Good luck for your Uni grade, enjoy life, Christmas times with yours, and 31s December parties!!!!!:):)

Thanks for all

TheBlueRoseKnight
11-20-2009, 03:36 PM
I'm really excited for this model, great work so far!

imcold
11-22-2009, 12:04 PM
Hey Darth Windius, thanks for all the wishes! It's awesome when one's work motivates others to do their best too :) Yes, I can't wait for January to come!

And thanks Theblueroseknight too, I'll try not to dissapoint.

Darth Windius
11-22-2009, 07:32 PM
The wishes come from the heart (it's a word-to-word translation of a french sentence, maybe it doesn't mean anything in english - sorry if so).:)

imcold
01-05-2010, 11:15 AM
As promised - a little update:
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_aft1.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/aft1.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_aft2.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/aft2.jpg)

Lot of scratchbuilding to do I still have :D The fuselage is a bit taller (or narrower) than it should be according to photos of the filming miniature; I had to adjust some dimensions of the aft details, and some detailing is quite hard to reproduce, so it's not spot-on precise. But it's fun. I'll finish the bottom half and the axis hatch soon, and that means that the fuselage will be done. I haven't decided if I'll add the astromech's head on the model, but that won't be much of a work.

Rhaven Blaack
01-05-2010, 02:04 PM
Imcold,

Looks good so far. I think you are doing a good job on it.

Tirick
01-05-2010, 04:31 PM
That is some intricate detailing, mate! From that sketch I must infer you are doing that all by hand, which is amazing!

imcold
01-06-2010, 10:12 AM
Thanks Rhaven Blaack & Tirick! The detailing with tiny strips doesn't need much preparation, I just draw some base for the part, open a good photo of the original model and glue and cut and so on, until it looks ok. The aft plate is finished for now. I need to put wings and the fuselage together first, then I'll put the plate into final position. By the way - it consists of around 80 individual paper pieces, most of them are just tiny squares though (I'm moderately insane).

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_P1030562.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/P1030562.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_P1030575.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/P1030575.jpg)

Fargo
01-06-2010, 03:41 PM
eheh, it looks waaayyy better than my old plastic prop replica! full marks, no doubts :D
and tirick is right, all by hand is more complex but surely more satisfying... sorry, I don't remember: did you choose to avoid a drawing tool voluntarily?

imcold
01-06-2010, 06:40 PM
I got the feeling that I slightly overdid it this time :D I wonder how will it look after painting.
I improvise a lot. Most of the details are just basic shapes and layered paper stripes, drawing them on computer would actually slow me down. But for example for the wing axis hinges I needed 16 precisely identical parts, so I've rather drawn them in a 2D vector drawing program (Inkscape). And I plan to design a brand new fuselage in 3D someday, too.

Fargo
01-08-2010, 07:30 AM
And I plan to design a brand new fuselage in 3D someday, too.

ok, got it :) and if you should need some help, here I am... to be honest, last year I started a 3d basic structure of a x-wing, but I stopped it just after the first lines due to lack of time and other problems... it could be the right moment to pull it out of the hat again

Darth Windius
01-09-2010, 09:13 PM
ok, got it :) and if you should need some help, here I am... to be honest, last year I started a 3d basic structure of a x-wing, but I stopped it just after the first lines due to lack of time and other problems... it could be the right moment to pull it out of the hat again

Maybe you can start from one of the numerous Google Sketchup X-Wing models you can find at Google 3D:;)

x wing - Google 3D Warehouse Search (http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/search?q=x+wing&styp=m&btnG=Rechercher&start=0)

The complete version of Google SketchUp is far too costly (US$ 499 !!!), but 3D Model Converter can convert all this for lower cost.....:)

AnyStar
01-10-2010, 10:16 AM
I improvise a lot. Most of the details are just basic shapes and layered paper stripes

i just want to echo again, that however basic you are being, the level of accuracy is just amazing, you're doing an exceptional job!!!

hell, just as Fargo stated he wants to do, maybe i'll actually do some work on my 1:12 beastie too (its been on the shelf for WAY too long already).... :D

imcold
01-11-2010, 11:47 AM
I'll be most likely starting from scratch; I'd like to create a shape that would be quite accurate but simple enough to assemble from paper - as few seams as possible, too. I'll stay in touch through the forum and I plan to progressively release the patterns; though I won't start sooner than this summer.

AnyStar: thanks, but you're the master of accuracy :) Good luck!
And "way too long..." hm what does it remind me? I started assembling mine on 15-th February 2008 :D

I won't have any time for assembling for some weeks to come, so here are the last photos for this month:
- aft plate, after painting with light gray (b&w photo, it looked like blue on the colored one)
- and after I applied some watercolor dirt
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_aft3.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/aft3.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_aft4.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/aft4.jpg)

spencermitchellmusic
05-18-2010, 02:41 PM
Wow IMCOLD, I just stumbled across this build and think that you are doing a fantastical job! I really wish I had the scratch building tallent that you have. Do you have any updates? Not trying to rush, just checking. Keep up the great work! BTW, looks as good if not better than any plastic model kit that I have ever seen (probably better)!

oriod01
05-23-2010, 09:45 PM
I have to second that, this is amazing. The builders such as yourself prove that ANYTHING is possible with paper. Just when I think that I can no longer be amazed by this hobby and the people involved, someone like yourself comes along, and I still find myself saying... "That's paper, NO WAY!" Awesome work!

imcold
06-01-2010, 01:01 PM
Thank you both :) I have some small updates: I finally have some time for my models, so I resumed my work on X-wing today.
I originally intended to complete the wings first, but I found some photo collections I prepared for making the blueprint for the laser cannon, so I worked on them instead.
The blueprint is quite simple, I just can't figure out some dimensions (tube lengths mostly) exactly and it seems to me that there were differences between the individual filming miniatures again, so I started drawing individual pieces just after it looked ok to me. I'm working on pc this time, so I can share the parts if someone is interested (pdf or svg). At the moment, I need to finish some surface detail parts (no textures) on the main valve and then do a test build to make sure that everything fits nicely.
Preview:
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_parts-laser.png (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/?action=view&current=parts-laser.png)

imcold
06-02-2010, 03:34 PM
I finished preparing the parts and I've done a test-build too. It went quite good, so I'm going to actually use it on the model. Parts are (after some corrections) almost in their final shape now, I'm just making tiny adjustments here and there.
Some pics:

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_laser-1.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/?action=view&current=laser-1.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_laser-2.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/?action=view&current=laser-2.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_laser-3.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/?action=view&current=laser-3.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_laser-4.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/?action=view&current=laser-4.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_laser-5.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/?action=view&current=laser-5.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_laser-6.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/?action=view&current=laser-6.jpg)
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_laser-7.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/?action=view&current=laser-7.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_laser-parts.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/?action=view&current=laser-parts.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_laser-8.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/?action=view&current=laser-8.jpg)

3 more to go.
Edit: I found some really thin copper wire suitable for side details; new photo added.

Tirick
06-02-2010, 05:22 PM
That is some brilliant detailing, mate. This whole project has me stunned at the level of complexity and intricacy you've engineered into the build.

bagpiper
06-02-2010, 06:19 PM
Wow! Just found this thread. This is a work of art mate. You sure as heck have the patience and cutting skills needed to make such a splendid model.

Very well done.

Cheers
Jim

AnyStar
06-03-2010, 01:30 PM
absolutely incredible!
glad to see you're back at it.

imcold
06-08-2010, 11:22 AM
Thanks all :) I feel that I could do better on some parts, but I haven't had much experience with scratch-building and wasn't that ambitious when I started this project.

Tirick: How's your work on B-wing going? I'm building the AMT B-wing kit, but it's awful... I'd much rather start building a better one from paper once, and yours looks like a hot candidate for a cool B-wing so far.

AnyStar: I'm glad too, I'd like to finish the paintjob on the wings and mount them into the fuselage this month. Then some minor details next month... and I hope I'm done with it. Also, I'm going to do some schematics for new fuselage that will be used on my next X-wing. I'll PM you for review then, if I may :)


I need to build the last "inner engine insert" section:
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_201006_engine_inner.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/201006_engine_inner.jpg)

I'm using Vallejo acrylics now instead of Revell enamels for painting; they're much more comfortable to work with: no fumes, easy to do thin layers, fast drying. I also use a Dupli-color primer as a base paint under acrylics.
The pale grey-blue color I picked doesn't match the filming models, but I painted the fuselage with similar enamel color mix, so I try to use something close, otherwise it would look weird imho. I think I'm going to just use plain white next time.
I'm making the wings quite dirty. I use watercolors for the dirt effect.
Preview (you can see the engine part from upper picture on the wing in the background):

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_201006_wing_paint_01.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/201006_wing_paint_01.jpg)

Tirick
06-08-2010, 03:05 PM
Tirick: How's your work on B-wing going? I'm building the AMT B-wing kit, but it's awful... I'd much rather start building a better one from paper once, and yours looks like a hot candidate for a cool B-wing so far.

:o - It's... stalled. Really sitting as #4 on my 'current' projects list, but since #1 (R2) and #2 (Modular Terrain) are taking longer than anticipated I've really made little progress. The model is done, aside from modifications for ease of build. Its the textures (ever my bane) that are delaying it beyond scope-creep of preceding work. I've a tentative target of the fall, but my target of April for the Stormtroopers (#3) has been long missed. I will endeavor to do better however; it is likely the most anticipated of my current WIP.

imcold
06-19-2010, 04:07 PM
Tirick, that's actually good news! You can release the model as a white version and texture it later. I can imagine that texturing is tedious and time-consuming. I've never tried it, but I'm going to texture a new xwing model soon and I have some (little) experience with digital painting. Maybe I can offer you some help, if my attempts will be successful.

I've finished the basic paint layer on the wings; some dirt and chipping applied as well, but I'm not finished yet. However, as the painting on inner side of each wing is (almost) finished, I mounted the wings to the fuselage. It was a major pain: the wings on the right side were mounted quickly - the valves wrapping the rotation axis are parts of these wings, so I just had to align them correctly and put the axis through.
The wings on the left side should be glued to the axis-wrapping valves and that's it. Well, easier said than done! The connection between the wings must be quite strong - when you move one wing, the opposite wing must move by the same amount as well; the wings must be aligned correctly, there can't be too much friction or you can break some wing loose etc.
I tried gluing the wings 3 times - I was trying to glue both wings, perfectly aligned in the "locked" position, to the center valve at once. No success. Then glued them one by one in the "attack" position, using a *ton* of CA glue... and it's finally ok. But I'm still afraid that the joints will broke easily.
Also, the cockpit cover is on, painted with water color. I used a too much saturated blue color, maybe I'll tone it down; I haven't decided yet, as it looks fine this way to me too.

And: this thing is heavy! For a paper model, that is. It must be all the cardstock pieces I used as reinforcements and coats of paint. Some photos:
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_P1040848.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/P1040848.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_P1040849.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/P1040849.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_P1040850.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/?action=view&current=P1040850.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_P1040857.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/P1040857.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_P1040859.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/P1040859.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_P1040858.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/P1040858.jpg)

More to come next weekend: engine exhaust tubes or astromech or some minor details or laser cannons. I haven't decided yet.

Ps.: Red 2 coming soon.

Millenniumfalsehood
06-20-2010, 06:39 PM
This is SOOOOO COOOOOLLL!!! You're making a model that's just about an exact replica of the original filming mini! AND the wings expand to boot! :D

I hope you do some of the other OT fighters after you get this project finished.

Tirick
06-20-2010, 06:55 PM
It is an amazing match for the filming model. Brilliant work imcold!

scarmig
06-20-2010, 07:42 PM
That is some incredible detail work. Fantastic and inspiring.

imcold
06-21-2010, 12:32 AM
Thanks guys :)

Millenniumfalsehood: I was afraid that I'll have to glue them in the open position for a while... the horror!
Well, I have some more x-wings to assemble, you know :D
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing%202/th_fuse.png (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing%202/fuse.png) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing%202/th_P1040831.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing%202/P1040831.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing%202/th_P1040835.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing%202/P1040835.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing%202/th_P1040838.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing%202/P1040838.jpg)

This is a fuselage test for a new model, that's going to be even closer to the filming models. Notable changes: curvature along the lower fuselage edges, variable curvature on the front upper fuselage part (the one with rebel logo), step on the sidewall above wings. There's still a lot of work to be done though.

While it may seem that I enjoy building xwings to no end, I'd like to design some other stuff too: YT-2000 Otana (I'm drawing the blueprints now), Tie something and the Viper from original Galactica.

rbeach84
06-24-2010, 09:59 AM
IMCOLD, I have started an AutoCAD drawing of the Viper as part of a re-do on a kit I downloaded from John Leslie's site (Lower Hudson Valley Gift Shop?) since it was less than satisfying as a 'representation' of the original Viper (Mk1?) Stay in touch, perhaps we can collaborate on it...

BTW, this X-Wing work is absolutely beautiful. Cheers!

imcold
06-27-2010, 04:34 AM
rbeach84: Thanks! If that's the case, I can put the Viper at the top of my list and we indeed could try to find some way to collaborate.

imcold
06-29-2010, 04:25 AM
Last wingroot details:
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_P1050166_1.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/P1050166_1.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_P1050168_1.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/P1050168_1.jpg) http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/th_P1050171_1.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing/P1050171_1.jpg)

And... the X-wings multiply! A.k.a texture test, cca. 7 hours spent on texturing and testbuilding:
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing%202/th_P1050186_1.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/imcoldz/X-wing%202/P1050186_1.jpg)