This model is based on an old friend’s drawing in 1980 for the story that would become the Starstrikers novel. Jason Harrington used his imagination to improve the spaceship carrier idea we had developed a few years prior and built from cardboard. I have a picture of that old model somewhere, if I find I’ll post it here.
I still think the drawing is cool, and I want to create a new plastic model for a re-release of Starstrikers.
I started with the basic shape, outlined in a thick, plastic laminate that I have long since forgotten the name of. The model sat unfinished for several years on my desk in the garage until I decided to finish it this year.
I have a block of RenShape for a mount point with a set screw reachable through the small square in the side. The round cylinders are PVC 1′ pile from the hardware store. They form the base of the hangar deck that is not shown in the above picture.
Above, you can see the original drawing and some of the top gridwork and hangar bay details that I had already built before. The cups along the wooden base are the engines, where I started this time.
Close-up of a single engine made from a pill bottle top, a printer wheel part, an electric toothbrush part, and an electric razor grill. One of six such engines that needed to be pieced together.
All six engine nozzles are mounted to the back of the model. The space between the engines will need filling with greeblies, even though it won’t be seen on camera.
This is the first pass at greeblies—mostly odd bits of junk from my garage drawers. Still, some space needs filling…
Ahh, that’s more like it!
I am working out some details on the stern main deck, where the massive antenna will eventually go.
Before the hangar deck could be sealed, I had to detail the interior. These are mostly boat model parts.
The ceiling and back wall had already been detailed. Next it all has to be painted inside there.
I used two shades of mixed Tamia Acrylics for the inside. This is the ceiling turned over so you can see it better.
I forgot to primer the decking, so I will probably just dirty this up and call it good.
Finally, I gave the top deck, which has its bay doors closed, some details.