Issue 55

OK, getting close to a long one (going to take a lot of painting, I'll put it that way). This one, however, is relatively swift.

First, we have anew piece to the support structure:

Now, two more pieces of the skeleton:

Next up are these two "straps" that go on the hydraulics to keep them in line. Not sure why we're adding them at this late date, but here we are.

Finally, at long last, we get to add in two of the cutaway portions:

(also, you can get a glimpse as to where I'm going with the paint job)

See you later!

Issue 54

OK, before we get into this issue, I thought I'd show a sneak peak at what I'm working on as far as the bottom-side paint job goes.

Without spoiling the top, I think I cna mention I'm doing something inspired by an older look of the Falcon, as shown here...

So here's a little bit of that so far...

...and here's a bit of weathering I did on the other side of that same piece.

 (pic doesn't do it justice)

Anyway, off to this issue. Yet another piece of the scaffolding gets added on as usual:

Now we add 3 of the2x connectors on the end of the existing framework.

And onto that goes this big fella.

It gets a connector too.

And that gets this piece.

Now we get one of those long spur pieces. Note that it is only one piece long unlike most of the ones we work with here.

Next up comes the battery compartment.

First thing is to take the little pad that comes with it, and attach it to the underside of the restraining strap, like so:

Now, take the plate, the battery box itself, and the strap and put them together as shown here:

Take the nuts, and drop them into the recesses in the underside of the plate, as shown here:

Now, you're going to need 2 bolts for this. They don't include them in with the issue, but you've got some that will fit. Just scrounge a bit through your part bags. Long gold ones, but thicker than the ones you use for coupling the long spline bits on the framework.

Anyway, get both sides down good and snug.

Once you've done that, you can mount it into the frame, like shown below, but it is suggested you hold off on that just yet, as doing so will leave the battery box available for testing things and replacing the batteries before final assembly, etc.

Issue 53

OK, lots to do this time. First off, another piece of the scaffolding. So we put that right on the end, so:

Now the frame has some bits, namely these two:

Interestingly, we attach them together first before adding them to the rest of the skeleton.

Anyway, that brings us to this.

BTW, that square-ish gap we just closed up in the frame is the battery compartment, which we'll get to next issue.

Meantime, we've got this compartment to do yet. Another exposed area, so I get to have a little fun with it. First I paint everything...

Then slop a little drybrush silver around in there to give me something to work with, then it's time to start putting in pieces. First this big one:

Now the smaller pieces, one by one...

...and behold, the finished product.

A little more distress in there, here and there, just to give it the desired effect, and we're good to go.

Issue 52

OK, two-parter thsi time around. First up, we have a bit of skeletoning to do (that's totally a word now). First, this bit goes on our current assembly, so:

Now we add the center circle. A little early this time, but what the heck.

Now for some body work. I believe this is the bit that exposes the corridor to the cockpit, so we have a magnetic panel to set up. As usual, glue down the little metal pins in the host panel, thus:

And then glue the mini magnets into the receiving panel.

There we are. It doesn't look like it plugs in to any part of the frame so far, but I'm sure we'll find where it goes eventually.

Issue 51

So this issue is all about the skeletons again.

First thing is this piece, which goes on the outer rim, like so:

Then this second bit goes below it...

Now we've got another one of these spline-dealies to assemble. You know the drill by now.

...and, that goes here:

That's that.