Dang. Those references are some deep cuts; I had to had to look those up!

I nod my head towards you in deference to your superior SW knowledge.

Dang. Those references are some deep cuts; I had to had to look those up!

I nod my head towards you in deference to your superior SW knowledge.

Naw, not really...I lifted them from the Eravana's cargo in the TFA:Incredible Cross Sections book

...I have to confess, I'd completely forgotten that the Kiirium ingots featured in "Han Solo and the Lost Legacy"...will have to re-read that sometime soon

Blimey, I hadn't realised how dense the plastic in Shapeways WSF models is! Just had to cut through a solid section about 12mm x 6mm and it took me over 20mins with my Tamiya razor saw - it usually goes through similar thickness plastruct/evergreen styrene in a minute or so

...shame it also seems to be a bit brittle when it comes to fine detail rods/guns etc...but I guess that serves me right for being a cheapskate and not getting the ultra-detail plastics

Still, done now, and hopefully I'll soon have finished my short-haul Tibanna gas tanker...are we ok to post Shapeways stuff here, providing we don't link to the site etc ? - I know there were some concerns around non-FFG stuff when the Paint&Mod forum was given back

Cheers...

The second picture in post #22 is the best thing I've ever seen done to a Ghost!

Ian, you're clear to post pretty much any mods & paint jobs you're proud of (and some of the one's you're not). Just avoid turning your thread into ad-space and you shouldn't have anythingto worry about.

Now get back to posting some pics!

The second picture in post #22 is the best thing I've ever seen done to a Ghost!

Thanks...I think, lol ...finally got the primer coat down on it all this weekend...got fed up with 'greebling' and panel-lining small areas on the container section any more, so will cheat and use decals to add some more detail after deciding on the main paint scheme...

...got most of the containers primed, too, so need to livery-paint those together with the odd-shaped 'special' cargoes I've made for it.

In the meantime, I've made a small 'pusher' platform to go between a YT-1300's mandibles to carry a few containers - hopefully get that painted up to show on here within the next few days.

My YT-1300 "Pusher" platform...something to give a break from the Eravana Jr and try out my still-numb hand at detailing and painting...not great, but a bit of fun...still need to put some markings on those containers, though!

[ I've made some smaller 'loads' for the Jr that look a bit better balanced, size-wise, on this - but haven't got around to painting those yet - oh, as always, the platform is magnetised to allow different load configs]

Anyway, herewith the "Second Breath" with a mixed cargo of Meir wine, speeder parts, datapads, and multichannel comlinks:

Cheers

Ian that looks awesome ! I really enjoy the creativity that people have with these ships.

It would be pretty neat to flying a mission based on delivering a bunch of cargo using this mod.

It would be pretty neat to flying a mission based on delivering a bunch of cargo using this mod.

I'm looking forward to putting together a convoy of 2-3 small[ish] freighters...I've got this, another YT-1300, a YT-2400, a Mel's YV-929, another small container-carrier and the short-haul Tibanna gas tanker I mentioned above to chose from...then use the Political Escort mission or those in HotAC as a basis, but with the convoy going diagonally across the board to make up for the large base size.

IronOx suggested a penalty system for just damaging the freighters vs Ion'ing them, which seems a good idea, and perhaps something like a more damaging DeadMansSwitch if the tanker is destroyed

...all assuming I can persuade my regular opponent to play something other than 100pt deathmatch

If I could travel to Derby, I'd hop in my T-16 and be out there in a flash to play against you. The thing is... I've got a bounty on me and I'm short on credits at the moment.

Maybe you can get your regular opponent to play a 50 or 60 point game to shake things up, and then, since you've set precedent for a different style of play, you can introduce the convoy escort mission.

...Or throw a tantrum and hide their car keys, mobile phone or pet canary until they agree to play your scenario.*

*not recommended unless you enjoy hurt feelings, getting into scuffles and possible legal trouble.

Finally managed to do some work despite the problems with my hand...

...a bit beyond some of the previous mods, following some discussions about freighter-based scenarios:

The "Eravana Jr"...or, what to do with a 3rd VCX-100 still VERY much a WIP!

Fairly normal VCX, sans dorsal turret, and looking a bit odd about the middle:

Whoops...a tale of two halves:

New mid-section, bare-bones...still needs a LOT of greebles!

Loaded up...need a few more small containers/crates for the lower deck, and all those [magnetised] containers will need painting in various owner liveries!

Long way to go, but I thought if I didn't post some interim shots now, I'd probably forget to take any at all

(Oh, will probably look to do a more conventional "cargo-bay" mid-section as well, so it's kinda like the expanded versions of the Ghtroc 720 )

Cheers...

Any updates on this?

Finally managed to do some work despite the problems with my hand...

...a bit beyond some of the previous mods, following some discussions about freighter-based scenarios:

The "Eravana Jr"...or, what to do with a 3rd VCX-100 still VERY much a WIP!

Any updates on this?

Been away on holiday, so progress delayed, but finished getting the base coats down on all the containers & other loads yesterday/today - will post a pic of the whole thing in primer & base later, still deciding on a livery - saw a really nice geometric design for the VCX on a Facebook group, so may borrow the pattern from that, with Grey/Green/Blue primary colours...

...need to finish up my Gas tanker, Sorosuub 3000 and Hutt GR-75, as well

Eravana Jr and cargo primed & waiting livery & weathering:

( I really must set up a decent miniatures photostudio at some point ! )

Whoa. That's more impressive than I imagined it was going to be.

That's amazing, can't wait to see it finished. What are you doing for flight stands?

That's amazing, can't wait to see it finished. What are you doing for flight stands?

The original receptacle is still on the front part of the body, so I may be able to add one to the container section and use the regular Huge stands [have some spares, and a spare Raider & CR-90 cardbase] - alternatively, may have to go for a twin stand arrangement at the rear for stability, think I have seen something similar on one of BulldogUK's or Macross's models, if it needs the extra stability...it'll only be doing 1 forward/banks, so should be able to come up with a template for that

Eravana Jr and cargo primed & waiting livery & weathering:

( I really must set up a decent miniatures photostudio at some point ! )

It looks Fantastic so far.

I'm intrigued by what colour you might finish it in.

It is very Starwars....but.....I think it would suit better in the Rag Tag fleet of Battle Star Galactica !

" The original show that is "

Great job.

All the best.

Barry.

Really looking forward to seeing this finished !

It looks Fantastic so far.

I'm intrigued by what colour you might finish it in.

It is very Starwars....but.....I think it would suit better in the Rag Tag fleet of Battle Star Galactica !

" The original show that is "

Great job.

All the best.

Barry.

Thanks, Barry - have to admit that when I saw that low-angle bow shot, it made me think of BG freighters a bit !

Still can't make up my mind about a colour scheme...will probably aim for something typically SW 'light' for the mid-section, just so that any decals I put on to add extra detail have a chance to stand out well...

...maybe with green and/or blue geometric design on the Ghost parts - need to come up with something that will work when I do the alternative 'solid' mid-section as well

The only thing I would say is.

The blue and green panel over a brighter colour will resemble the ghost paint scheme.

How about a darker colour with light panels.

Like the republic red/maroon then pick out white and beige panels.

Or an olive green with lighter green and brown and grey panels.

Or tan colours only.

From light beige to brown.

Something like corporate company colours.

Something of a contrast.

Lots of ideas out there.

What ever you chose will look great.

All the best.

Barry.

Definitely falling into the category "looks better from a distance", my first try at 3D printing a ship - a small container tug that will replace the attack shuttle on the Eravana Jr:

Tried some sanding & then priming with Mr Surfacer 1000 to fill the ridges a bit, but not successful...can't make up my mind if I want to invest the time in trying to better smooth it out, as it'll be difficult to keep what detail there is

I've another blank to try things out on, so may have a go at the weekend and see what I can achieve

...still, at least the printer has produced some nice greebly panels for the Jr's midsection

It's kind of ugly, in a good way! I hear nail polish remover can be used to smooth the surface of 3D printed objects.

If it's possible to do this, do you think reorienting the model vertically so that the first layers printed are the engines and finishing at the nose (does that make sense?) would give you a less stepped look?

It's kind of ugly, in a good way! I hear nail polish remover can be used to smooth the surface of 3D printed objects.

If it's possible to do this, do you think reorienting the model vertically so that the first layers printed are the engines and finishing at the nose (does that make sense?) would give you a less stepped look?

Hadn't heard of the nail polish trick...I assume cellulose thinners [which I have] would have a similar effect ?

Trying a vertical orientation is certainly worth a go - not sure it will do much for the cabin front slope [which is roughly 45 degrees], but should help the cabin top and certainly make the engine bells look better - thanks for the suggestion

Have files for a YT-1000 and YT-2000 to try at the weekend...will leave the Action IV and Mobquet freighters until I've got a bit more experience!

I've never 3D printed anything before, but I did attend a seminar a few years back that demonstrated various 3D printers and their capabilities, which is where I heard this tidbit. As long as whatever you use is acetone or has similar properties, I'd think it would work (I can't make any promises).

I found a link to an article that might be of use:

http://airwolf3d.com/2013/11/26/7-steps-shiny-finish-on-abs-parts-acetone/

Hope it works out!

Unfortunately, the acetone trick only works on ABS, and mine is a PLA printer

...but, whilst searching the article you mentioned and elsewhere, came across something called XTC-3D which is a self-leveling liquid filler/finisher [and actually found somewhere in the UK that sells it!], so may give that a try on more important models...

...but, for this one, the key to finishing PLA is apparently lots [& lots] of gentle sanding...oh well,

Cheers

EDIT: ...but now I've found an article that says Ethyl Acetate works with PLA - which is what most modern nail-polish-remover is [apparently acetone was replaced as it dries the skin], so you were right in the first place - will get some to try

Scummy....REAL SCUMMY.

Loving everything in here, and previous to starting my scum cartel, you brought a lot of inspiration to me to go forward.

Keep up the great work!