DBMiller's 1/960 Scale Nostromo

Post by **Tomcat64** » Tue Sep 19, 2017 10:00 am

DBMiller wrote: Mon Sep 04, 2017 2:12 am When all else fails - buy a new kit! These BanDai are expensive but at 40% off they aren’t too bad!

DBMiller_IMG_0972 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

ooooh... two X-wings in one box...

I don't need any more X-wings
I don't need any more X-wings
I don't need any more X-wings

Lysus · Post by **Lysus** » Tue Sep 19, 2017 3:49 pm

Ha! Kids just watched that Spongebob.

Sometimes you just have to cut your losses, the line between perseverance and misery is a fine one, but it's good to know when you've crossed it.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Tue Sep 19, 2017 4:21 pm

Ha, We've already got one!!

darn the gif isn't working...you get the drift

DrSprue · Post by **DrSprue** » Tue Sep 19, 2017 4:38 pm

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Tue Sep 19, 2017 4:21 pm

Ha, We've already got one!!

darn the gif isn't working...you get the drift

I think cause it needs gif not jpg at the end of it Scott. Not sure myself, was just playing with this too.

God I loved python and that movie.

Post by **Tomcat64** » Tue Sep 19, 2017 4:58 pm

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Tue Sep 19, 2017 4:21 pm

Ha, We've already got one!!

darn the gif isn't working...you get the drift

Lysus · Post by **Lysus** » Tue Sep 19, 2017 5:03 pm

Post by **Tomcat64** » Tue Sep 19, 2017 5:07 pm

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 6:43 pm

First engine section glued on!

DBMiller_IMG_0010 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

Gaps not too bad.

DBMiller_IMG_0011 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

DBMiller_IMG_0013 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

Second engine section on! This should hold it all together!

DBMiller_IMG_0018 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

Tape and rubber bands off! The clamp is to re-set a piece that developed a gap and needed some extra help to stay put!

DBMiller_IMG_0022 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

It’s a good size ship and quite heavy!

DBMiller_IMG_0023 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

DBMiller_IMG_0024 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

These are to be attached to the main (central) engine bell. At some point.

DBMiller_IMG_0021 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

The parts for the engine deflectors. Did some one ask for flash?

DBMiller_IMG_0015 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

DBMiller_IMG_0016 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

First part of cleaning up done.

DBMiller_IMG_0017 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

Thank you all for following!

DrSprue · Post by **DrSprue** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 8:56 pm

Man that really looks like the Nostromo! especially 5, 6th pages down. When thats weatured when you finish the few loose ends, its gonna look epic!

Post by **Tomcat64** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 8:31 am

I hadn't appreciated how big this was going to turn out - great progress!

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Sun Oct 01, 2017 8:59 pm

Still coming along. I swear, this kit takes a better modeler than me to make it look good. Not all the problems are because I kept it so long that the PVC warped.

So, that end piece just won’t stay put. Used some putty to fill it in and hope for the best.

DBMiller_IMG_0002 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

Turns out I put this engine cone on a bit off so the support rods don’t fit as well as they should. I drilled out the location points for better holding.

DBMiller_IMG_0003 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

DBMiller_IMG_0005 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

DBMiller_IMG_0006 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

This panel is supposed to fit here. The recess is not as wide as the part; leaving a gap. I’ll leave this one for later.

DBMiller_IMG_0012 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

DBMiller_IMG_0013 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

This panel fits OK. I won’t be putting too many more on since that will make trouble when painting. I will at least prime first. That way there will be some color in case I miss some spots.

DBMiller_IMG_0015 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

My poor alignment of the engine cone really shows up here! What a f**k up!
All four engine supports are on and so are the side rockets. More gaps to fill.

DBMiller_IMG_0016 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

DBMiller_IMG_0017 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

Outer engine support rods. Only seven more to clean up and attach!

DBMiller_IMG_0019 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

Lysus · Post by **Lysus** » Fri Oct 06, 2017 5:58 pm

I feel like if this kit were an animal it'd be a hungry alligator and your job is to cuddle it.

You're doing some fantastic work getting it in line.

kiwigav · Post by **kiwigav** » Fri Oct 06, 2017 10:46 pm

Your the right modeller for the job mate. Comming along sweet

Post by **Tomcat64** » Mon Oct 09, 2017 9:24 am

Great perseverance in knocking this into shape mate - I know I'd have given up in a flame ball of flying plastic by now!

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Mon Oct 09, 2017 4:16 pm

Thank you for all the support! It makes me feel better about the build - although I'm still half tempted to yank off that nasty engine and re-glue it!

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Sun Oct 15, 2017 10:54 pm

Taking stock of the remaining parts to see which of them I can safely glue on and which I’m guaranteed to break off several times.

DBMiller_IMG_0020 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

I think the dishes will be OK but those long antenna - fat chance. By the way, nasty injection molding, isn't it?

DBMiller_IMG_0021 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

Here is the first pair of dishes on the upper nose.

DBMiller_IMG_0022 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

DBMiller_IMG_0024 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

Starting on the V-braces.

DBMiller_IMG_0026 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

DBMiller_IMG_0028 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

I think the two flap-doodles on either side of the upper module engines will be safe enough to glue on. I should be able to paint around them, too.

DBMiller_IMG_0029 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

Once the rest of the dishes are on I can finally prime the entire ship!

The end is in sight!

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Tue Oct 17, 2017 8:55 pm

Here are the three antenna I can attach.

DBMiller_IMG_0030 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

And here is where they go. Imagine standing at that window! Gives a real scale to the ship.

DBMiller_IMG_0031 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

In place. Let’s hope they stay there!

DBMiller_IMG_0035 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

DBMiller_IMG_0033 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

First dusting of primer! This thing will use a lot!

DBMiller_IMG_0036 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

DBMiller_IMG_0040 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

Well it’s finally coming to the end! Dip it in mud and no one will notice all the bad work!

DrSprue · Post by **DrSprue** » Tue Oct 17, 2017 10:15 pm

Wow, does not look like mud to me, looks like a really nice star-ship is coming to life here! I still get scared looking at it! (There must an alien nearby somewhere.....)

Post by **Tomcat64** » Tue Oct 17, 2017 10:16 pm

Great work detailing that up - I may have missed it but how long is that from nose to tail? It seems to get bigger with each update!

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Wed Oct 18, 2017 2:12 am

Tomcat64 wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2017 10:16 pm Great work detailing that up - I may have missed it but how long is that from nose to tail? It seems to get bigger with each update!

It's pretty good size. Over a foot (30 cm) long and quite hefty.

IMG_0003 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

IMG_0004 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

Post by **Tomcat64** » Thu Oct 19, 2017 3:40 pm

Yep that's a hefty piece and no mistake!

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Thu Oct 19, 2017 5:50 pm

Looking good
Get her in paint and it will be AWESOME!!!

Lysus · Post by **Lysus** » Fri Oct 20, 2017 12:11 am

A+ on that construction.... What a journey.

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Mon Oct 23, 2017 1:33 am

Getting the parts ready for the final push!
Here are the landing gear with some metallic touches added before the grimy wash. You can really see the bad seam lines and ejector pin marks I didn't bother to try to clean up. I suck.

DBMiller_IMG_0005 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

DBMiller_IMG_0007 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

Here are the engine flapitators all primed up and ready for paint! I wonder why spell check doesn't know the word "flapitator".

DBMiller_IMG_0008 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

DBMiller_IMG_0009 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

Stash · Post by **bfrd** » Mon Oct 23, 2017 1:42 am

They still look good. A few EP marks never hurt anybody. I think the amount of work put into this kit has been impressive. It will be terrific when you finish.

Post by **Tomcat64** » Mon Oct 23, 2017 9:27 am

Really looking forward to seeing the final assembly done on this one - very well done in sticking with it

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Tue Oct 24, 2017 6:55 pm

Working on the landing gear grime and dirt. The lower half has Ultimate Dark Dirt and the upper has Ammo Dark Streaking Grime wash. I'll add more weathering when I figure out my base.

DBMiller_IMG_0012 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

Here it is with two coats of mottled Mig Ammo Medium Grey. Once I'm happy with the look I will seal it and give it some depth with a darker wash all over. The engines will get a different treatment.

DBMiller_IMG_0013 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

DBMiller_IMG_0014 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

DBMiller_IMG_0015 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

FenGiddel · Post by **FenGiddel** » Fri Oct 27, 2017 2:57 am

You've done a fine job getting her lines squared back up. Unbelievable task, that! Looking good.

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Sun Oct 29, 2017 12:43 am

I put this together today at work. This is a pretty big boat!

Nostromo vs. C5 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

MakingModels · Post by **MakingModels** » Sun Oct 29, 2017 1:05 am

Very noice

.. really taking shape now

kiwigav · Post by **kiwigav** » Sun Oct 29, 2017 7:17 am

Coming along nice mate

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Sun Oct 29, 2017 4:22 pm

Well, this should take a few hours! I'm adding some lighter tones to the surface - starting with white and moving darker. I won't be painting every little detail but just enough to break up the surface some more.

DBMiller_IMG_0033 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

DBMiller_IMG_0032 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

DBMiller_IMG_0031 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

I still have to paint the engines - dark gray on the edges and black for the vents. Finishing this will be another close one!

DBMiller_IMG_0030 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

Post by **Tomcat64** » Mon Oct 30, 2017 2:31 pm

That's really coming to life now - here's hoping you get it done in time.

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Mon Oct 30, 2017 7:52 pm

So, finishing up the antenna. Funny thing about them is that there is a part number 11 but I can't find it on the instructions! I'm stumped!

007_IMG_0040_DBMiller by Donald Miller, on Flickr

006_IMG_0039_DBMiller by Donald Miller, on Flickr

005_IMG_0038_DBMiller by Donald Miller, on Flickr

Anyway, I have to put on the landing gear before I can attach the antenna or I really will be breaking them off every few minutes!
Here it is on its feet. I used a piece of plate glass to make sure it sits flat while the glue sets.

001_IMG_0034_DBMiller by Donald Miller, on Flickr

002_IMG_0035_DBMiller by Donald Miller, on Flickr

003_IMG_0036_DBMiller by Donald Miller, on Flickr

004_IMG_0037_DBMiller by Donald Miller, on Flickr

kiwigav · Post by **kiwigav** » Mon Oct 30, 2017 8:11 pm

Sweet looking kit mate. Ive come across similar situation myself , just need to wing it...sweet as.

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Tue Oct 31, 2017 1:23 am

Masking for final paint work!

001_IMG_0001_DBMiller by Donald Miller, on Flickr

Flaps are on!

002_IMG_0002_DBMiller by Donald Miller, on Flickr

004_IMG_0004_DBMiller by Donald Miller, on Flickr

003_IMG_0003_DBMiller by Donald Miller, on Flickr

005_IMG_0006_DBMiller by Donald Miller, on Flickr

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Tue Oct 31, 2017 9:02 pm

Alright! Last post until the reveal! I have reached the limit of my ability (or confidence) to try any more weathering so on go the antenna!

DBMiller_IMG_0007 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

DBMiller_IMG_0009 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

Not only is there an antenna part #11 on the sprue but not on the instructions there are three antenna shown here but only two on the filming model. So, I opted for a little less work and only installed only two. I'll always wonder what number 11 was for though.

DBMiller_IMG_0008 by Donald Miller, on Flickr

Lysus · Post by **Lysus** » Wed Nov 01, 2017 5:36 pm

In case you break one? I dunno...

So much work to be done at the end! After all that effort to begin with, it's the details later that seem to just keep coming...

FenGiddel · Post by **FenGiddel** » Mon Dec 04, 2017 2:37 pm

Nice work on the landing gear and the intakes! Love the details your washes and paint jobs brought out.

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Tue Dec 05, 2017 1:45 pm

FenGiddel wrote: Mon Dec 04, 2017 2:37 pm Nice work on the landing gear and the intakes! Love the details your washes and paint jobs brought out.

Thank you!