Don Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 (edited) Hello all, Here is my latest work in progress/review: About the Kit and Shuttle It is Revell’s rendition of Sienar-Jaemus Fleet Systems Upsilon-Class Shuttle, specifically the upgraded command version as used by Kylo Ren. The Command Shuttle is equipped with quad heavy laser cannons for offensive/defensive operations, but its real value is found in the large bat-like wings. The upper wing sections have advanced sensor suites built into them that allow the shuttle to detect communications and scan potential enemies from a distance far greater than the enemy’s capabilities. This means that the Shuttle can remain a safe distance away from any enemy contact and observe them while remaining outside the enemy ability to threaten them with weapons. The lower wings serve a dual purpose. While engaging in operations the lower wings provide powerful shield projectors and jammers and when the Shuttle is parked or stored the upper wings slide down into the lower wing sections to protect the sensitive sensor packages and lower the height of the wings for ease of storage. Both upper and lower wings are also heavily armored to add further protection should shields fail. While preparing for takeoff, while initially taking off, or during the landing cycle, the large wings are placed in a vertical or upright position (actually ever so slightly canted inwards at the top). While in actual flight, the wings spread out into a loose “V” shape. The Revell kit is part of their “SnapTite Max” line of pre-painted kits. But don’t be fooled by this!!! This is a LARGE kit that in my opinion should have been made part of the more traditional glue line. In terms of the pre-painted aspect of the kit… it is overall bare/unpainted black plastic styrene with a few bits and pieces painted in a very dark green. The canopy comes pre-painted in a blackish-red color that actually looks pretty decent (more on the canopy in a later update) . I began by assembling the wings, which are a HUGE 14” in vertical height and approximately 6” at their widest horizontally and quite heavy! Care must be taken in steps 2 and 4 as the leading and trailing edge parts (8, 15 and 7, 16) will not fit well at all if you fully sandwich the upper and lower wing sections together (parts 1, 6 and 14, 9) before inserting the leading edge sections. Fortunately I used a slow setting glue and was able to gently pry open the upper and lower wing section to get the leading and trailing edge inserts to fit properly. Detail in these leading and trailing edge inserts as well as the lower wing edges is quite good and very convincing based on my resources. Sadly Revell stopped there and did not provide the modeler with leading and trailing edge details for the upper wing sections nor the very top of each wing. Notice nothing but a seam: And a drawing from "The Force Awakens Cross-Sections" book: Honestly, three or four more parts per-wing and the wings would look outstanding. As they stand now I will break out the Evergreen plastic and do my best to “busy up” those areas as they look terrible as is in my opinion. That’s it for now. I will continue to work on the wings and start the Shuttles main fuselage today and I hope to have more updates within a day or two. This is going to be a quick build/review-as-I-go, add a bit of detail to the upper wings, prime, paint and call it a day build (whew!). I hope you follow along and as always, feel free to comment. Cheers! Don. Edited January 31, 2016 by Don Quote Link to post Share on other sites
skyhawk174 Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Wow thanks for posting this. I was wary of picking up this kit as it seemed like it did not have a lot of detail. After reading your description I will go ahead and get it. I have that same reference you are using and I also noticed the missing detail on the upper wing. Looking forward to more of your build. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don Posted February 2, 2016 Author Share Posted February 2, 2016 Thanks Skyhawk174! Did some work yesterday and early this evening on the wings. I sat down with a pile of Evergreen plastic to "busy up" the leading and trailing edges of the upper wings. And after a coat of Tamiya primer. Again the idea was to simply add some detail to what looks to be a pretty barren leading and trailing edge section of the upper wings. Nothing fancy but still tedious and time consuming. As it is now... ...and what it looked like before (look at the leading edge of the upper wing just above the Tamiya Primer can and compare it to what it looks like in the above pictures). I think it makes a huge improvement. I have also started on the main shuttle hull and should have pictures to post by tomorrow. Thanks for looking. Regards, Don Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don Posted February 2, 2016 Author Share Posted February 2, 2016 The shuttles main hull/fuselage comes with a cockpit which includes molded on seats and a separate rear bulkhead. When painted a light or medium grey and given a wash it would...would...look pretty decent. Problem is once you place the canopy on you won't see anything of the cockpit. I mean absolutely nothing. So, unless you plan on making the canopy removable or you use your favorite paint remover to remove the pre-painted reddish-black paint on the canopy, followed by a dip in Future, and a subsequent shot of clear red then you are really just wasting your time painting and/or detailing the cockpit. Speaking of making the canopy removable, the kit would have you snap the canopy in place while gluing the upper and lower hull halves together. I don't like this so I simply cut the rear area off the canopy, which isn't seen, and it can be drop fit after the painting stage. There is a small passenger area to glue into the lower hull (part #23). I painted mine a medium grey as I want my boarding ramp to be down. The ramp itself is quite stout and while I don't normally like moveable features on my models, this one will stand up to repeated lowering and raising once you glue the necessary pieces on place (specifically part #23 will hold the hinge on part #19 in place and allow it to move freely but stay in place). Part #30 needs to have some molded "bubbles" or bumps removed for a perfect fit. Take care with parts #31, #32, #33, and #34 to ensure they stay put before hitting them with glue. Here is the hull with boarding ramp down prior to priming. I added some Evergreen to the leading edges to "busy up" a few weaker details. Here she is primed. I think the details look quite good personally. Painting comes next. It will be Gloss black, semi-gloss black, and flat black to add variations of color. Thanks for looking. Regards, Don. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anvil6 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 i dont often check in on the sci-fy section, but this is pretty cool! nice work! :) -Ramon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don Posted February 3, 2016 Author Share Posted February 3, 2016 Thanks Ramon! Glad you stopped by . Cheers! Don. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Great job on this Don. Those snap-tite kits Revell has been putting out are looking really good. This one looks like it could easily be a glue model. Keep up the great work! Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don Posted February 3, 2016 Author Share Posted February 3, 2016 Thanks Bill much appreciated! Small update today. I got two light coats of Tamiya semi-gloss black on (the finish is much smoother then the photos would suggest...I am a TERRIBLE photographer). This will be the base coat and from here various panels will be sprayed flat black and gloss black. Ren's shuttle was kept pretty much pristine. So the majority of the shuttle will be semi-gloss black, with gloss and flat black to merely break up the monotone color. Also, weathering will be VERY minimal (as in pretty much nonexistent) as based on what little photos there are shows Ren's ship to be impeccably maintained. The red canopy (which is just placed on for photo purposes) is what you get in the kit and I think it looks pretty good as is in my opinion. That's it for today. Let the masking begin! Like I wrote earlier, this is just a quick and dirty build/review as for whatever reasons this kit hasn't been getting much love. I admit that I was kinda "meh" on it at first but as I build it its really growing on me. I like it the more I work with it. Stay tuned all. Regards, Don. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K5054NZ Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Very cool Don. This still hasn't grabbed me like the Lambda-class always has - I mean, it's cool, but strange - but I like what you're doing with the kit. Keep up the updates if you can! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crackerjazz Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 Hi Don,looking great so far! I suddenly paused my star wars build -- I was stumped with something but don't remember what it was exactly -- maybe the cockpit. Looking forward to more updates. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don Posted February 7, 2016 Author Share Posted February 7, 2016 Whew...its been a weekend of masking! Here's where my Kylo Ren's Command Shuttle stands right now. Painting is a mix of gloss, semi-gloss, and flat black paint. The gloss and semi-gloss black is drown out in the photographs but is much more noticeable when viewing the model in person. I find photographing this all black model to be a challenge. I am a terrible photographer at the best of times but this model is particularly difficult. The model is surprisingly large and takes up close to 15" in vertical space! Tricky to carry as well as it wants to roll over when moved about. I still have to add red and white lights to the wings and parts on the shuttles main hull. I also need to paint some of the piping/duct work in a flat aluminum color. I also have a little weathering to do, but it will be minor as Ren's shuttle was kept pretty pristine and impeccable. But its getting there. Thanks for looking all! I appreciate all the comments as well. Regards, Don. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
toadwbg Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Nice work, enjoyed your build and the subject of Kylo shuttle. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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