My understanding is the molded panels are too thick.Can someone answer a question about this kit? I'm thinking about starting one and I'm wondering why the detail at the top of the saucer is usually removed and the photo etch put in its place? All the parts behind the bridge. I'm looking at mine and the detail is crisp, why do most ppl replace it with the photo etch? Thanks!
That's some serious building. Out of this world. PanthermanWarping right along…
Decided to test out the backlit panel I installed in the top half of the fantail. I'm using a rectangular cool white ultrabright LED:
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USS Voyager WIP Img - 116 by Steve J, on Flickr
I glued a rectangular section of .010 thick clear styrene behind the brass window frames in the upper half of the fantail parts. Then I trimmed the margins of the backlit panel to fit behind the clear plastic windows and pressed it snugly into place.
The window frames will be retouched later on with more of the light grey hull color:
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USS Voyager WIP Img - 117 by Steve J, on Flickr
Held upside down but shows off the fantail windows with backlit panel lit up. Overexposed a tad in this photo; it looks better in person:
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USS Voyager WIP Img - 118 by Steve J, on Flickr
Pursuing the wiring theme…
First nacelle light test with bussard LEDs tied into the blue LED strip circuit:
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USS Voyager WIP Img - 118 by Steve J, on Flickr
Forward bussard red LEDs with 470 ohm resistors are soldered in a parallel circuit from wires soldered to contacts on the end of the blue LED strip. Devcon Weld-it household adhesive has insulating properties so I will spread it all over the legs of the LEDs as well as the wires and solder joints once the glue dries I will cover the wiring up with a thin piece of aluminum mylar for better light reflectance:
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USS Voyager WIP Img - 119 by Steve J, on Flickr
Light test. Note a diffusion panel made from a folded tube of styrofoam packing sheet between the clear warp grills and the blue LED strip and mylar foil in the nose under the red LED lights:
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USS Voyager WIP Img - 120 by Steve J, on Flickr
Wires from the blue LED strip and green formation light LED are paired and soldered together before being soldered to the positive and negative power leads:
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USS Voyager WIP Img - 121 by Steve J, on Flickr
A single 2mm amber LED provides illumination to both the forward intake (not shown because it's on the upper half of the wing) and both upper and lower halves of the rear exhaust vents. Blobs of Devcon Weld-It Adhesive hold the wiring in place and serve to insulate any solder joints due to its insulating properties:
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USS Voyager WIP Img - 124 by Steve J, on Flickr
Impulse engine exhaust vents after glue up. A diffuser panel behind the vents filters light from a single 2mm amber LED:
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USS Voyager WIP Img - 125 by Steve J, on Flickr
Impulse engine intake vent lit with an amber 2mm LED. A diffuser panel made by sanding a small rectangle of .010 clear styrene sits up against the back of the photo-etch brass screen:
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USS Voyager WIP Img - 126 by Steve J, on Flickr
Next up… light tests of the completed starboard nacelle.
Yeah, well, sort of is.....That's some serious building. Out of this world. Pantherman
Thanks Q. Glad you like it!Definitely enjoying your progress on this
That's some impressive work. I like it. Can't wait to see the next installment. PanthermanThanks Q. Glad you like it!
Here's the photo bomb for today...
Ribbed detailing was added to the aft ends of the nacelles. I used half round Evergreen rod attached with CA glue:
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USS Voyager WIP Img - 131 by Steve J, on Flickr
A small slice of round Evergreen rod is glued into the slot of the horseshoe atop each impulse engine.
Afterward I filled it with AVES putty leaving a slight indent on top. A tiny detail to be sure:
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USS Voyager WIP Img - 132 by Steve J, on Flickr
Masked off the raised rib detail on the clear part behind the main deflector at the front of the secondary hull using Tamiya tape sliced very thin:
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USS Voyager WIP Img - 133 by Steve J, on Flickr
Liquid mask was applied to the center section which is semigloss white according to the instructions.
Then I painted the ribs with a mix of rust brown and orange enamels:
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USS Voyager WIP Img - 134 by Steve J, on Flickr
I added some more International Orange to the mix for the second coat of the deflector grill ribs:
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USS Voyager WIP Img - 135 by Steve J, on Flickr
Wiring up lower half of the fantail with the red and green formation lights and the clear flashing nav light in the center.
The nav light will be wired to a Tenacontrols flasher board in either the secondary or primary hull, haven't decided that yet.
The formation lights don't flash and will be wired to a separate power circuit:
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USS Voyager WIP Img - 136 by Steve J, on Flickr
The upper half of the fantail was wired with a rectangular clear LED and light blocked on the top and sides using mylar foil.
I also glued a tiny rare earth magnet between the legs of the LED:
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USS Voyager WIP Img - 137 by Steve J, on Flickr
Nacelle wires were paired together - one positive and one negative pair from each nacelle soldered together.
These were then soldered to a single positive and negative feeder wire for each pair.
Shrink tubing was then shrunk down over the solder joints:
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USS Voyager WIP Img - 138 by Steve J, on Flickr
Took a break from wiring and sprayed the secondary hull with grey primer.
I sprayed the photo-etch brass hatches and covers with adhesion promoter though before the grey primer.
The nasty seam down the middle was a bitch to fill and sand but I think it looks pretty good now:
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USS Voyager WIP Img - 139 by Steve J, on Flickr
I also sprayed the top of the saucer hull with grey primer:
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USS Voyager WIP Img - 140 by Steve J, on Flickr
Next I'll start gluing .010 styrene plastic to the backs of the window frames of the larger window groups before attaching the backlit interior room panels that will be lit from behind, I have a roll of "natural white" LED strip I can use for this so they will light up nicely.
I thought about it, even took screenshots of the 1/1000 scale bay on Shapeways but… I dunno. Removing the kit shuttle from the underside of the saucer would be a real challenge and I've already spent so much time n this build, I'm thinking now about trying to light it and display it on its own brass display tube on the stand.You have a plan for the Aeroshuttle bay?