After the success of my previous build of the YT1300 courageous, the next one is a centre cockpit conversion with 'fighter style' viewport and replacement engine section based on one of the types in the owners manual book.

Previous build here:

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/238990-yt1300-courageous-light-freighter-conversion-and-repaint/

First off the donor falcon with relevant parts removed. You can also spot the start of the bracing used to support the replacement panels.

Panels in place and filled around the edges. You can also see the beginning of the cockpit at the bottom.

Panels in and lines scored in.

Little details added to the panel lines and engine bay floor added.

Wow...that panel lining looks great...are you using a scribing tool, or something else ?

Wow...that panel lining looks great...are you using a scribing tool, or something else ?

It's done by initially marking with a knife (and steel rule for straight lines) then using the pointy tip of a needle file to widen. Then any burs formed at the edges are remove with the knife.

Takes a few goes back and forth.

Daaaaang even replicating the little notches on the Falcon armour. Respect.

A very quick update after I added the cockpit section on last night:

Mind sharing the source of that cockpit canopy, or did you sculpt it yourself ? - Looks just about perfect to match the Haynes manual drawings

Mind sharing the source of that cockpit canopy, or did you sculpt it yourself ? - Looks just about perfect to match the Haynes manual drawings

Somewhere in between! It's the end of a retractable ball point pen! One of the ones with multiple coloured inks.

I cut the end of it off, filled the hole with filler, smoothed off and then used plasticard to create the detailing.

Some work on the engines now.

Never knew I would find a use for Lego while doing this!

The engine isn't actually drooping, I think it's just an illusion created by the slope of the hull.

Looking good! Ha ha, Legos. Who would have thought?

As a matter of curiosity, I've always wondered where the modded ships people chop up come from. In other words, are they a) "spare" game pieces that were purchased for their upgrades, b) bought specifically for the purpose of modding, or c) other?

My budget allows for about 1 small ship a month or 1 large every 1.5- 2 months, so making drastic changes to my larger ships is carefully considered.

A bit of both for me. Some of the parts come from spare ships, some come from ships bought specifically for modding, and some come from active ships that I'm actually flying. It's rare for me to mod a ship I want to use in case I wreck it, but I found the courage to make my Fangs spinny...

Yeah usually a bit of both for me as well. I don't usually have the courage to wreck a brand new ship though!

Both of the Falcons I've converted were cheap off eBay after the heroes of the resistance came out and a few people seemed to be getting rid of their Falcons without cards so I think I picked them up for around £10 each. Saw them as a bit of a bargain (I didn't own an original falcon at the time) so picked them up and only after decided they were for the chop...

Looking forward to seeing how this will turn out.

Your previous YT 1300 Conversion was excellent.

so Im looking forward to seeing this one.

Ill also be converting a YT 1300 soon, I bought the Heroes of the Resistance falcon few weeks ago.

im selling Poes Xwing on Ebay

and turn the falcon into a YT 1930.

Been wanting to do this conversion for a long time.

so its always good to see other YT conversions on the forum....and get some ideas !

All the best,

Barry.

Some work on the engines now.

Never knew I would find a use for Lego while doing this!

The engine isn't actually drooping, I think it's just an illusion created by the slope of the hull.

Crafty! Pretty neat!

Keep it up! Legos? Awesome!

For those of you modding the ships you have, escpecially the bigger ships, Are there natural breaking points to take advantage of? or are all the cuts made by patiently scoring the ship with an X-acto?

I swear by the tamiya plastic scriber. It's phenomenal for chopping up plastic. The only thing it has difficulty with is small curved cuts. I also use a razor saw for straighter and deeper cuts.

Progress stalled a little bit because I ended up incredibly busy at work!

Finally got a chance for a bit more on the YT1300 though.

Engines fixed in place, some detailing around the hull and filled in where the antenna dish was previously.

All ready for paint now, so here's all round pictures:

Rear view of engines

Looks great!

How about adding some riffling at the end part of the thrusters? So it doens't look so mich like Lego parts.

12 minutes ago, RogueLeader42 said:

Looks great!

How about adding some riffling at the end part of the thrusters? So it doens't look so mich like Lego parts.

If you mean externally, I've tried to stay as true as possible to the drawing in the YT1300 Haynes manual and I think these look pretty close!

If you were thinking internal then I'm not really sure how I would manage it :/

Thoughts as to how it might be done greatfully received!!

Always looked a bit penis to me.

@Lord Ashram Oh my!

Sometimes a centre cockpit is just a cigar, bud.

On 6.2.2017 at 2:38 AM, Lord Ashram said:

Always looked a bit penis to me.

I wonder what Mon Cal ships look to you...

On 6 February 2017 at 1:38 AM, Lord Ashram said:

Always looked a bit ***** to me.

This one is nothing compared to the previous one 'courageous'!