nicholassagan Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 This guy has been sitting in my bin for sometime now and lately the itch to build him just kept getting stronger and stronger. I figured this would be a good time because I can get some steps done during the in-between stages on a couple of other builds (both posts coming soon!). It’s also a fairly straight-forward build because it needs very little work to be built up nicely. REL (Richard Long, Sovereign Replicas) patterned this a few years back and sold off the master to JBOT. Here’s a list of the modifications I’ve done (all it “needsâ€Â): wings were a little misshapen so I heated and fixed sanded down canopy panel to allow a flush fit for the clear resin canopy added some detail to the rear opening in each wing added small steel tubes to replace the laser cannon barrels more progress I could have hollowed out the cockpit ball pretty easily but I didn’t really want to deal with a cockpit build up for this one. It’ll be badass enough. God, I just love the shape of this fighter! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nicholassagan Posted October 29, 2012 Author Share Posted October 29, 2012 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay Chladek Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 (edited) The TIE Defender has long always been one of my favorite designs from the Lucasarts X-Wing game series. I've just never been 100% happy with the model interpretations out there (the solar wings getting shortened seemed to take some of the bulk out of the design compared to the original images from the game). That being said, I really love what you've done with your model thus far. The minor tweaks make it look that much nicer. Doing the whole bird in black for the solar wings is what I've had to do with my own TIE Fighter models and it works great as a pre-shade. So do you plan to do this bird in a gray shade or a bluer one? Edited October 29, 2012 by Jay Chladek Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nicholassagan Posted October 29, 2012 Author Share Posted October 29, 2012 Yes, I agree, the wings should be about 10-15% longer...but I'm ok with it as is... I'm thinking a coat of the Testors Light Ghost Gray. It just seems perfect for TIEs IMHO...at least the way I'd like to build them. I'll also do a cool wash and some chipping/weathering, too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Very nice work, on a very cool subject! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Model-Junkie Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Excellent work so far, its amazing how much of a difference those minor mods make. Do you know if JBOT plans to re-release this kit any time soon? I missed out on the kit & it was one of my biggest regrets. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nicholassagan Posted October 30, 2012 Author Share Posted October 30, 2012 Thanks guys! You know, Jimbo has had the molds for a couple of years now...he might be willing to do a couple pours if you drop him a line. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Man I wish there was some wy they would re-do those X-wing games. I loved them and played them daily growing up. Seems like it would be good market for the newer consoles with the model X-wing vs Tie Fighter went with near the end of the series. Great aspect for multiplayer game. Hated going up against the Defenders as you always had to drop shields and guns to near minimum in order to keep up with the little buggers. Plus the firepower they packed was massive. Look forward to seeing this one done. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay Chladek Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 My favorite fighter for going against these nasty TIEs was the Missile Boat equipped with a SLAM drive. Throw ALL power from the shields and laser back into the engines and NOTHING could catch you. Then just spin around, chuck off a few missiles and watch the fun (even better with a tractor beam weapon). :D I believe one of the resin producers is supposed to be doing a Missile Boat (the original sleek version as opposed to the ugly thing made from Imp shuttle parts as seen in the later CD roms), but I don't know what the time table is for its release. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nicholassagan Posted October 30, 2012 Author Share Posted October 30, 2012 I never had the luck to play any of the TIE or X-Wing games. Rebel Assault was my introduction to SW gaming...gosh I wish there was a really good flight sim with up-to-date gameplay + graphics...like a Rogue Squadron adventures game or some such thing... Anyway, Alfred Wong is the guy making the Gunboats. He has one in 1/48 + 1/72: http://www.alfredsmind.ca/productspg.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Man it's almost worth getting an old computer just to play the X-wing or Tie series. They were exceptional flight sim games for the Star Wars universe and had great story as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nicholassagan Posted November 1, 2012 Author Share Posted November 1, 2012 Wings masked, whole thing painted with Haze gray from the bottle, masks removed, flat black touch up, cool gray wash applied + cleaned…. Tonight/tomorrow will be dry brushing, scorch marking, detailing, flat coating and engine adding. Pics to follow after the weekend so i can get back into the studio on Monday. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Cartwright Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 Very nice build, and I've always like that design as well. I think I have this kit, or maybe a larger version of it? I think it's an old Lunar Models resin kit or something from years ago. I bought it and put the box on a shelf for when I was ready to try a resin kit, and haven't gotten there yet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nicholassagan Posted November 2, 2012 Author Share Posted November 2, 2012 No, this is the OOP 1/72 Sovereign Replicas kit mastered by Richard Long. Blue Moon models had a 1/48 version for a while and I think Alfred Wong may have mastered that one or another one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Cartwright Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 (edited) Thanks, you helped jog my memory. I still have the kit, but it's in a box on a shelf in my garage with the rest of my stash so I can't easily get to it to look, but using some of the info you provided I found it - it is from SMT, who is now defunct, and is 1/48. Here's a site I found with a little info on it, in case anyone's curious: http://www.starwarsmodels.com/tiedf.html Edited November 2, 2012 by Ken Cartwright Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nicholassagan Posted November 5, 2012 Author Share Posted November 5, 2012 All done! Added some "fancy" decals to round it off. :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nicholassagan Posted November 5, 2012 Author Share Posted November 5, 2012 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nicholassagan Posted November 5, 2012 Author Share Posted November 5, 2012 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Cartwright Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Wow, beautiful! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
xavi84 Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Holy WOW! That came out awesome! I really like the "kill markings" on it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChernayaAkula Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Awesome! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 Turned out great. Hearing the tie sounds in my brain. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Madhatter Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 Wow Nick!! That's awesome!! I'd never seen one of these fighters before - very cool Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 Holy WOW! That came out awesome! I really like the "kill markings" on it. Agreed! Nice work! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay Chladek Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 The Haze Gray color looks great. I've got a Tamiya Spray can of a shade going by the same name, but it looks a bit darker in spots. I may have to try the Testors version as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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