Tearing the Tantive IV apart (not looking for plans, just modding)

By Forensicus, in X-Wing

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Just wanted to share some pictures of my storing solution for the Huge ships and some of the prelim modding I've been meddling with on the Tanty:
This is my CR-90 and CR-75 cradled nicely in my BattleFoam 216 P.A.C.K. in a 4" pluck foam. I guestimated that 4" should be enough for the Tantive and it JUST is enough when putting it on the side. The Transporter fits more easily:
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The Tantive fits VERY snuggly in the 4" foam:

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So as you very well have found out yourself the Turrets and the satellite dish (wonder hows the reception is out there? I guess it's okay as long as your not in an asteroid field). But I find that it's
  • A) Annoying that the turning/adjustement is too snug/tight
  • B) SUPER annoying that the turret/dish pops of at 90/270 degrees turn

So the obvious solution: magnetization of the turrets & dish:

The dish was the greatest challenge since it sits on top of a "deep" well. I glued on an extension/peg on the bottom of the dish base plate and stuck a magnet in the bottom of the well and the peg. And the the locking nubs was filed off on the base plate.

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The turrets need almost similar solutions, though the bottom one was the easiest: For the top turret simply file of the locking nubs on the base plate and file through the central plastic ridge and glue a magnet on. Then I used a drill to do the some on the ridge in the bottom of the small hole the turret is mounted in. And of course a magnet there too. For the bottom on the is no ridge in the hole so that was easier:
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Ohh, and make sure you orientate the magnets similarly for both the top and bottom turrets, then there won't be any issues with fitting the turrets on either side.

And finally I tried to ply off the escape pods on the underside of the Tanty. As expected they popped off very easily. And actually so does the Lasers on top, but I've decided to have them stay fixed. Anyways, since I feel that I simply MUST make sure that R2-D2 and C3P0 will be able to escape in a pod I decided to magnetize one of those suckers too.

The actual pod is attached with 2 small peg like bits and is otherwise hollowed, so I used some modeling putty to fill it and then lodged/glued a magnet centrally in the pod. On the hull I simply drilled a hole in the center of the pods placement and glued in a magnet:

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And finally I have started to try out doing some sort of engine glow on the engines (which a nicely weathered out of the box btw). I've just done some very lightly dry brushing and it is nowhere brilliant or finished, but it does add something. More work is needed, but I think that I will team up with some of the more experienced paint guys from my gaming group before doing a full engine paint.
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That's it for now. It'll be an Epic season tone an X-Winger
-Niko-
(from Copenhagen X-Wings, Denmark)

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Engines and bridge need lights.

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Engines and bridge need lights.

Ohh... hadn't considered bridge lights yet... How would i do thatt......

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Where did you get that pluck foam?

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Where did you get that pluck foam?

From BattleFoam. They have sites for UK, Europe, US/Canada, Australie and "Others":

http://www.battlefoam.com

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Engines and bridge need lights.

Ohh... hadn't considered bridge lights yet... How would i do thatt......

Figure out how they put this thing together, take it apart. Gently cut the bridge window(s) away with an exacto. Take some of the clear plastic packaging from any expansion, take sandpaper to it to frost it. glue it in place.

Drill small holes in the center of the engines, enough for light or wires to pass through.

Go to a model/ train hobby/electronics store. Tell them what you are doing. Buy light bulb packages and a battery holder. Can get clear or colored. glue lighbulbs in place. wire them to the battery case. Fix case so that you can change the batteries easily. Conceal the batteries inside the ship.

If you are good with electronics you may wire an on/off switch and fix that to be operated from the bottom of the ship.

Reassemble.

Here is a link to a project that I lit up.

Edited by Viceroy Bolda
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Ok, so I just killed an hour of my time making custom trays.

I'm tempted though, to wait for Wave 4 cuts to show up before I place this order.