New Turret Models


3D Printing, Hobbies, Model Kits, Technology

I’ve been experimenting with modeling and printing a number of turret designs gleaned from various Traveller illustrations over the years as optional components for my starship models. It’s common to see Traveller illustrations that depict ship’s turrets as hemispheres with an oblong weapon battery with three circular weapon ports. I refer to this as the […]

April 9, 2019

Scout Ship: Revision B


3D Printing, Hobbies, Model Kits, Technology

Last autumn, I began work on a revision to the Scout model to bring it closer in line to some of Bryan Gibson’s later works depicting the Scout. Bryan had taken some elements from the 3D model I created and blended them back into an updated design, one of my favorite examples being shown below. […]

March 9, 2019

Naval Fleet Courier


3D Printing, Hobbies, Model Kits, Technology

Taking what I learned from the previous model, I created an updated version of the Type S Scout/Courier model with the aim of improving detail in key areas as well as adding features to improve the “paintability”. It’s also the first time that I attempted to create my own water-slide decals. Background for Traveller Fans […]

October 13, 2018

Scout Ship: from Concept to Model


3D Printing, Hobbies, Model Kits, Technology

This is the first in a series about my process of fabricating a sci-fi starship from original concept art through printing and painting a physical model. Concept Art First, a little background: the model I am creating is a “Type S Scout/Courier” from the Traveller Role Playing Game universe. It’s a design that’s been around since […]

September 28, 2018

TIE Striker 1/144


Hobbies, Model Kits

I wasn’t able to take many in progress photos, but I do have some notes associated with the photos of the finished model. I’m torn on the design of this ship. My initial reaction was that it looks like a potato-bat, but it’s grown on me. From certain angles, like the first image below, it definitely gives […]

August 21, 2018

Millennium Falcon 1/350


Hobbies, Model Kits

This is another model from Bandai’s Resistance Vehicle Set which includes two 1/144 T-70 X-Wings along with this 1/350 Falcon from the Last Jedi. Few parts but great detail. I’m really impressed by the pipes which run from the hull into the maintenance pits. The parts were all very clean except for the radar dish, which […]

August 6, 2018

T-70 X-Wing 1/144, “McQuarrie Concept” Markings


Hobbies, Model Kits

This model is part of a Last Jedi Resistance Vehicles boxed set that includes Poe Dameron’s boosted X-Wing, a Blue Squadron T-70 X-Wing and a 1/350 scale Millenium Falcon. Rather than going for the standard Blue Squadron paint job, I wanted to try to something a little different. I’ve seen a number of people create […]

July 29, 2018

X-Wing 1/144


Hobbies, Model Kits

This is the companion to the previously posted Y-Wing. I started the X-Wing with a base coat of Stynylrez Black Primer followed by a coat of Minitaire Skull White which is the next lightest gray in the Minitaire line from Dusty Ground, which is what I used for the Y-Wing. I used a variety of […]

July 22, 2018

Y-Wing 1/144


Hobbies, Model Kits

This is a 1/144 Y-Wing from Bandai’s Star Wars Episode IV, V and VI vehicle range. It came as part of a boxed set with an X-Wing and Y-Wing. The level of detail is remarkable, especially for a model in this small a scale. The kit parts fit together quite snugly without glue and Bandai […]

July 15, 2018