Proteus by Moebius Models

[trekriffic]

So I've had this Proteus kit in my stash for 7 years.
Over that timespan I have had procured several aftermarket add ons.
I have window masks and gaskets from Aztec Dummy for the windows and masks for the bubble.
Paragrafix photo etch will improve the detailing of the control consoles among other things.
I have ordered the seated crew figures from Jimmy Flinstone. I will try to reshape the heads to more closely resemble the actors in the movie
Also just got some PE scissors and am awaiting a soldering jig with four arms from Parts Express.
HDA Modelworx is shipping both warm and cool white 0603 LED strips that are 1.5 mm wide for use around the base in of the bubble.
Anyway, I watched this Fantastic Voyagr on TV as a kid and own the DVD.
I always loved the design of the submarine but…I wanted a good sized model in styrene and was willing to wait, I had no idea I'd have to wait so long.
So when Moebius Models finally issued this kit and I saw s few test shot buildups on the web I was impressed.
I quickly had my local hobby store order me one that same week.
Oh man I was almost gleeful when it finally arrived and I held it in my hands.
So you should expect me to do what I can to do to make a nicely detailed and lit Proteus which is what I plan to do…
So here we go…


Proteus WIP-001 by Steve J, on Flickr


Proteus WIP-002 by Steve J, on Flickr

Excellent paint and decal reference pages:


Proteus WIP-003 by Steve J, on Flickr


Proteus WIP-004 by Steve J, on Flickr

Wow! She's a good sized girl. Measures something like 15 inches long or just a bit more from what I have read:


Proteus WIP-005 by Steve J, on Flickr

Paragrafix photo etch brass. Beautiful work with loads of detail to add to the build.
Too bad the instruction sheet had so many mistakes. I would imagine by now Paul has fixed


Proteus WIP-006 by Steve J, on Flickr

I removed the kit pilot pedals and replaced them with PE using CA glue.
I decided to start with installation of all the photo-etch parts before painting.
Makes it much easier and cleaner to glue the brass to the plastic:

Proteus WIP-007 by Steve J, on Flickr

More PE work coming up… stay tuned…

 

[Steve Jones SMS]

One of the first films I watched with Donald Pleasence. A true classic which I enjoyed immensely during my childhood. Off to a neat start with the build Steve. Looking forward to watching this one come together. Happy modelling!

 

[trekriffic]

Thanks Steve! Voyaging along then...

Pilot control console after plastic removal and attachment of PE brass:


Proteus WIP-008 by Steve J, on Flickr

Radio. I opened a hole in the plastic for the square opening and filled it with translucent clear styrene. The dial will be lit:


Proteus WIP-009 by Steve J, on Flickr

Airlock hatch got new handles after I removed the plastic ones:


Proteus WIP-010 by Steve J, on Flickr

Airlock got rails for the door:


Proteus WIP-011 by Steve J, on Flickr


Proteus WIP-012 by Steve J, on Flickr

Chart table photo etch consoles and test fit:


Proteus WIP-013 by Steve J, on Flickr


Proteus WIP-014 by Steve J, on Flickr

Center holey section of chart library after removal. Test fit with brass panel looks good. I will also be removing the lower chart illuminator (?) panel and replacing with a section of translucent milky white plastic I salvaged from some old package:


Proteus WIP-015 by Steve J, on Flickr

Backside of the chart table upper section:


Proteus WIP-016 by Steve J, on Flickr

More to come as I use brass tubing to make the chart tubes in the center section...

 

[trekriffic]

Anyway... Fantastically moving along...

I used 1/8" OD by .014" thick brass tubing to make the tubes for the chart holder.
It was a laborious and, mostly, measured correctly task accomplished using a hobby miter box and hand saw:


Proteus WIP-017 by Steve J, on Flickr

Chart tubes glued in place. Will seal the box with a rectangle of thin styrene sheet covered in chrome stick-backed paper:


Proteus WIP-018 by Steve J, on Flickr

Chart tube housing masked for priming:


Proteus WIP-019 by Steve J, on Flickr

Test fitting with part 3, the sub interior:


Proteus WIP-020 by Steve J, on Flickr


Proteus WIP-021 by Steve J, on Flickr


Proteus WIP-022 by Steve J, on Flickr


Proteus WIP-023 by Steve J, on Flickr


Proteus WIP-024 by Steve J, on Flickr

Priming begins:


Proteus WIP-025 by Steve J, on Flickr

I used cellular styrofoam sheet packing material to form a diffuser "pillow" that sits behind the lit chart table viewer:


Proteus WIP-026 by Steve J, on Flickr

So sorry for the photo bomb. My camera was getting choked. Will be making light boxes for the consoles next.

 

[Jim2001]

This is wonderful. Looking forward to seeing you put this all together!

 

[JOHN R]

Great work and detailing.

 

[Jim62]

Nice. When you finish, really impress us by doing the shrunken version.

 

[trekriffic]

Floating right along...

Chart table primed:


Proteus WIP-028 by Steve J, on Flickr

Airlock prime:


Proteus WIP-032 by Steve J, on Flickr

Good image of the starboard wall control consoles for reference.
An even better image of Raquel Welch:


Proteus WIP-033 by Steve J, on Flickr

Starboard wall photo-etch console panels masked. Thin white styrene rod was cut and glued to the dials using CA:


Proteus WIP-034 by Steve J, on Flickr

More to come as I redo the six starboard console panel gauges.

 

[BattleScale Collectica]

Looking great! I'll also be following along on this build.

 

[blakeh1]

Oh yeah!

 

[Phillip1]

trekriffic-Nice work! I am down for any Proteus build!

Phillip1

 

[Edbert]

What a strange and beautiful kit!

Then I scroll through the pictures and it becomes more amazing, kudos for doing it justice and looking forward to seeing more.

 

[Modelprofessor]

That is absolutely epic . The pe makes a huge difference

 

[trekriffic]

Thanks Professor. I'm happy that I can still learn new things since my school days at Styrene U. What a place!

Gluing the LED into the starboard wall light box. The cue tip keeps the legs elevated while the white glue dries for clearance reasons.


Proteus WIP-035 by Steve J, on Flickr

Light test with milk jug diffuser panel and foam packing pillow. Backpanel on right after foiling. Ready to glue it to the box.


Proteus WIP-036 by Steve J, on Flickr

Ready for backpanel reflector to be glued on forming a almost totally mirror-like foil interior to bounce the light around.


Proteus WIP-037 by Steve J, on Flickr

Not sure what this is about.


Proteus WIP-038 by Steve J, on Flickr

Control console panels ready for painting. Will mask off gauges and lights first.


Proteus WIP-039 by Steve J, on Flickr

Light test. Will plug light leaks along edges using black enamel and a brush.


Proteus WIP-040 by Steve J, on Flickr

I'll brush the whole box with black tulip paint. That will cover any light bleed.


Proteus WIP-041 by Steve J, on Flickr

Port light box. NO GAUGES! Yay!
I used short pieces of red, greenish yellow, and clear styrene rod.


Proteus WIP-042 by Steve J, on Flickr

Ambient sunlight test.


Proteus WIP-043 by Steve J, on Flickr