AMT Galileo Kit

[3danim8d]

Spockboy,

Thanks! Hopefully I'll be able to get more done on this faster and find someone that can print the decals for me on an ALPS machine so I can have white as part of the decals.

I have another sheet of custom decals for a custom BSG:TOS Viper I need printed up too.

Anyway, I ended up selling my old ERTL diecast Enterprise since I have a couple of the 1/2500 Cadet Series Enterprises so I modified the stand object I have up on Shapeways to be more useful for those that want a stand that compromises between the old FASA style bases and the R2 dome bases for the larger kits. It should work for the Enterpise B and all the small ships. If there is interest I can scale up the base to work for the C through E, though the D is difficult as top heavy as it is.

http://www.shapeways.com/model/2754138/starship-stand.html?li=productGroup&materialId=6

 

[3danim8d]

Spockboy,

I am very impressed with Shaw's scratch build and the new Sketchup build that has been posted recently.

 

[3danim8d]

Ok, I decided to scale up the 1/2500 base a bit more and then created a test base for the 1/2500 "D".

Unfortunately I don't recall who made the two Enterprise meshes, I downloaded them sometime in 2001 (or earlier) it looks like. I just scaled them to the right size(compared to their styrene counterparts) to see how the bases would look before re-uploaded the files for potential printing.

The small stand is 2" diameter. The larger base is 3.5" diameter and has a hole for a .16" rod, which is the size of the mounts on the the 1/2500 "B", "C", and "E" kits. I need to work with Shapeways to determine what the minimum wall thickness I would need to keep the bases stable and as cost effective as possible. I am figureing on filling the body of my "D" with a wood paste or some other material that I can drill a mount location in and that will help balance the kit. The larger stand might also work for smaller 1/1400 and 1/1000 kits, but would need the hole made larger for the .225"(ish) Round2 posts. Or I could make a 3rd base that is 5" diameter with correct sized opening.

 

[publiusr]

I love those models!

 

[3danim8d]

Ok, I just got the first prototype print from Shapeways of my 1/2500 Starship Stand.

I cracked open the 3 Enterprise kit and quickly threw the Enterprise B together and placed her on the stand and I think the scale works just right. I tried placing the E-E on the stand as I hoped it would work too, but she's a bit to nose-heavy, so she'll have to go on the larger base once I figure out how thin I can get the walls and have it still hold the E-D and not crumple.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

It's all about the balance point & strength of the base.

When I turned an AMT Ent-D into a Nebula, I had to reposition the hole for the base, then remake/strengthen the base with some brass tubing.

Same with the Ent-E turned Romulan BOP.