Jump to content

6 Foot Long Daedalus Scratch Build Up


MechTech

Recommended Posts

I think that if there are no illustrations available for areas, then MechTech has full authority to CREATE the area himself just as any artist would have. This is after all just fiction. I say that whatever MechTech creates is what the area WILL look like. Why leave it up to the original illustrators? An artist is an artist. Do whatever you like in areas that have no real data and it WILL be the data to go by.

Exactly

You may just become the cannon model maker

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks guys for the compliments and support. I'm trying to keep things as canon as possible!

UPDATE 22 DECEMBER 2008

Sorry for the delay in posts. I was out sick a week and was even too sick to build :angry: - stupid influenza!

As I said before, there was a BIG empty spot and no control cabin for the cranes, main hatch(about the size of two football fields), ramp (several football fields), and all the other operations going on in the front. So I built and installed a bigger control cabin with a 180 degree view from front to back.

post-2518-1229975589_thumb.jpgpost-2518-1229975609_thumb.jpgpost-2518-1229975634_thumb.jpg

And because you can't have enough cranes (they're drawn all over the ship's interior lineart):

post-2518-1229975716_thumb.jpg Get some old (fine pitched) printer cogged belt and Plastruct "I" beam and glue them together (both 1/8" wide).

Then get some micro (1mm) bearings (http://www.technobots.co.uk) and gears (gizmoszone) and build a gearbox that hugs the track like a giant rack and pinion system. Attach a second gearcase next to it to winch up your load. Then waste several hours trying to solder 2mm wide, 4 conductor hair thin ribbon cable lengths together to feed the whole thing!

post-2518-1229976171_thumb.jpgpost-2518-1229976197_thumb.jpg

post-2518-1229976240_thumb.jpgpost-2518-1229976254_thumb.jpg

It works great and should handle moving around even the Monster destroids (like you see in the animation).

I purchased the Preiser 1:220 (Z Scale) people. Turns out they ARE 1/200 scale and you can get 160 of them unpainted pretty cheap. They funny part is you even get their sets like "at the beach" cattle, horses and stuff. I'm trying to figure out what do with all the livestock too :lol:

post-2518-1229976863_thumb.jpg

That's it for now. Working on the wiring now. I'm hoping to have an extra special post for Christmas! - MT

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I purchased the Preiser 1:220 (Z Scale) people. Turns out they ARE 1/200 scale and you can get 160 of them unpainted pretty cheap. They funny part is you even get their sets like "at the beach" cattle, horses and stuff. I'm trying to figure out what do with all the livestock too :lol:

post-2518-1229976863_thumb.jpg

You could save them up for your Macross 1/200 city scape that you will have to build to go with the Daedalus :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks guys! I think I'll have a 1/200 scale "steel beach" party (beach party on a ship) :lol:

UPDATE 25 DECEMBER 08

MERRY CHRISTMAS

As promised, here's some special video of the main hatch and ramp in full affect. I realized none of you have seen the whole thing. I only did the "Daedalus Attack" mode, not the Assault Mode (Beach Landing). Don't laugh at my hodge podge destroids ^_^. Sorry for the back ground noises (my children were playing and my wife was preparing our Christmas Dinner). I also had a hard time filming and controlling the switches at the same time. The control box is not done yet so everything is "hot wired" for now.

Of course paint and further work (like the ceiling) is yet to come. I also had diskette limitations so the ramp down segment is in two parts. Yes I still use a diskette camera (only for model building), great small size files! I also included a brief bit of the newer overhead crane too. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! - MT

Main_Hatch_Up.MPG Ramp_Down_1.MPG

Ramp_Down_2.MPG Overhead_Crane.MPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

First off, thank you to everyone for the compliments! I'm really humbled by your reactions.

UPDATE 7 Jan 08

Nothing exciting, but a lot of engineering work! This is the controller for ALL of the accessories! There are so many cable pairs needed to make everything go, I needed a 37 pin connector at least! There's no school like the old school so I went with a rugged and good ole DB-37 connector set. Winford.com still sells all that good stuff so I bought a 6ft male to male cable and the controller and ship have the female connectors on them.

post-2518-1231349881_thumb.jpg The female connector JUST fits into the case I bought. A lot of cutting and fitting to get everything to go!

post-2518-1231349987_thumb.jpg Here's the controls. Top two are for power and lighting, switches are for cranes and elevator (still to come),and the rocker switches are all for the hatch and ramp controls. The two side buttons are for the radar and warning lights/sound (also yet to come). The case fits in your hands great (black rubberized sides) and the switch locations took a while to be ergonomic. Almost every switch is a DPDT toggle/rocker just to reverse polarity for the motors. The 4 rocker switches cost $40 - talk about fancy!

post-2518-1231350146_thumb.jpg In typical style with this project, I even had to make the nuts the connectors go into and file the washers on the interior connector to make them fit!

I'm working on decals for the face panel so you know what is what. I'm still trying to figure out where to put the massive connector on the ship side of things! That's it for now. - MT

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Have a look on ebay for 12CH RF remote, these give either latching or momentary switches. I have loads of these for various projects and they are superb. The ones with the blue faceplate give a lot longer range and are worth the extra money.

The only downside is you can only use 1 button per remote at a time but you can have different remotes on different channels. I have a mounting bracket on my Spektrum that the remote sits on so I can easily get to the buttons.

Sp is this a model, boat or ship? Not sure what 6ft of scale model counts as :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

First off, a BIG thank you to everyone's compliments. I'm glad people are reading or I wouldn't bother posting (I could be building instead ^_^ ) I stopped posting at the shipbuilding site since I stopped getting feedback. It was a scale ship site so everyone was probably like "what the heck is that?!"

Olivers, thanks for the R/C suggestion. I've already got an expander on my Spektrum for some things:post-2518-1232203341_thumb.jpg

This is for display purposes mainly and means I won't have to sacrifice function if I have to impound my radio at a "float-in." Is it a model, boat or ship - YES! In fact, the crate to store it in will be about coffin sized :lol: I'll probably build it two piece to keep it manageable :rolleyes:

UPDATE 17 JANUARY 09

It's been slow going since I started two on-line classes. My goal is to finish the model and the first part of my degree by summer; can I do it :unsure: ?

I needed decals for the controller to label the switches and needed decals for the Daedalus interior so why waste paper?

post-2518-1232203911_thumb.jpgpost-2518-1232203936_thumb.jpgpost-2518-1232203972_thumb.jpg

Yes I do have a sense of humor-park your destroid in my monster spot and it WILL be crushed!

The controller case work is done! I just need to wire it up when I decide on the pin-outs.post-2518-1232204065_thumb.jpg

The receptacle parts for the Daedalus:post-2518-1232204126_thumb.jpg

The door is one pieced carefully machined on my drill press to "hug" the connector and keep it dry.

Now you see itpost-2518-1232204214_thumb.jpg Now you don'tpost-2518-1232204237_thumb.jpg

The latch just slides over the receptacle to lock it closed; nice and simple. It's hard to see when right side up. That's it for now. On to some wiring! - MT

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks guys! I actually got to get some work done today. I got my assignment in on time, so I rewarded myself with most of today working on parts.

BigF, I used Corel Draw, but even Power Point will work! I ran out of paper so I bought clear and white sheets from http://www.craftycomputerpaper.co.uk/produ...14&catid=14 I also bought their FLAT coating. I wiped the flat coating down with a dry rag after about five coats because it had a "dust" on it from the flat coating. I then just got a brush and brushed on a coat of Micro Super Film. I put a few coats of flat coating thinking it would be enough - nope! Still need the Micro Super Film. The end result gave me a nice semi-gloss finish. Now you know how to do it too!

UPDATE 24 JANUARY 2009

After building all those lights on the sides (44 so far), I realized, "how the heck am I going to mask those!" I tried tape and liquid mask. Neither worked or was easy to use in the cramped areas. I prayed and thought, "what else would work?" Then a little divine intervention, I was reminded I have some rectangle tubing. I tried it and it fits snug right over the lights! I set up a jig and sanded/cut about sixty pieces - talk about monotonous! Then I set up a jig on my drill press to mill out a 1/8" goove for the LEDs in the lights to fit into. After I put some tape over these, they'll slide right on like a cap and mask the lights! post-2518-1232836174_thumb.jpg

Remember when I said I was done with the inside details? I forgot about the catwalks over the light conduits! It took most of today, but I made 16 of these.

post-2518-1232836317_thumb.jpgpost-2518-1232836342_thumb.jpg

Each rail was Z gauge fencing. After I cleaned up the mold seams, I drilled 7 - .07mm holes in each tab sticking out to put the posts into. Then I got some FINE piano wire and cut all those little pieces (also with a jig) to make the posts with. The posts were then rigged with hair-fine wire. The wire was glued to the posts after positioning it. It looks better than photo-etched parts and doesn't have the "flat" look to it either. The wire has a realistic "droop" to it too.

Last week I started to wire things up when I realized the warning lights (blinking and strobing) were not in yet. More details to be built and added in. I saved a few silicone inserts that you put in your teeth I found on sale 8 years ago (yes, I was planning this build that far back!). They contain a flashing LED module that strobes across 4 LEDs. Add some leftover Patlabor lenses, machine them to an angle and glue to carefully cut pieces of styrene, and you get this...

post-2518-1232836958_thumb.jpgpost-2518-1232836990_thumb.jpg

I bought my children a few of those ring lolypops that flash. After they finished the candy, I cut the rings open, removed the chip and filed the board to about 3mm wide. The LED was remounted and the whole assembly was put in a styrene case.

post-2518-1232837188_thumb.jpg and the lights strobing/flashing Lights_Flashing.MPG

The "Warn" button will activate these. They are for when the main hatch or ramp are in operation. You don't want one of your crew in the way and get crushed ^_^

That's it for now. I think my next step will be to paint the catwalks white before gluing them in. Oh yeah, fine mesh strips will sit on top of the catwalks when completed to simulate grading. - MT

Link to comment
Share on other sites

BigF, I used Corel Draw, but even Power Point will work! I ran out of paper so I bought clear and white sheets from http://www.craftycomputerpaper.co.uk/produ...14&catid=14 I also bought their FLAT coating. I wiped the flat coating down with a dry rag after about five coats because it had a "dust" on it from the flat coating. I then just got a brush and brushed on a coat of Micro Super Film. I put a few coats of flat coating thinking it would be enough - nope! Still need the Micro Super Film. The end result gave me a nice semi-gloss finish. Now you know how to do it too!

Thanks for that I too Have Corel Draw in my Arsenal of DTP software. Gonna have to give it a go I suppose.

I bought my children a few of those ring lolypops that flash.

See everyone Children can be useful. Just buy your stuff and claim it was for them. Easy!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...