This year I have decided to build a static model and enter it at Wonderfest.
Wonderfest is the largest sci fi and horror model contest. http://www.Wonderfest.com

I was going to build a model of my own design, but found on line a highly detailed paper model of the Imperial Shuttle, one of my favorite designs from Star Wars.
I opened the PDF in Aspire and exported the pages to a DXF. I than blew it up to the size I wanted to build the model. I than loaded the shapes in sketchup and started a virtual model, to check fit of the parts.

I plan to incorporate the wing folding using servos to drive them add White LED "blinking" running lights, Blue LED "pulsating" engine lights and would like to make the landing gear and ramp come down when the wings fold, but I might not have room for all of that.

Here is the frame work in Sketchup. Attached files

 

Here I have started the Main Dorsal Wing.
This is 1/8" x 1/4" and 1/4" x 1/4" Balsa .
The Straw will be used to guide the wires for the LEDs.
The Sheeting is 1/32" Attached files

 

I kept experimenting with glues and have found a glue we use at work called Ru glue? that is what the guys at work call it. It is a water-based melamine adhesive for gluing laminate to sheet goods. White in color and is similar to rubber contact cement.
This is what I have used to glue the styrene sheets to the balsa sheeting.
I was planing to cut the .020 styrene with the phlatprinter but it did not give a good enough cut.
so I put the sheet in my Vinyl cutter. This gave score lines that I followed with scissors. Attached files

 

Here it is with all the panels glued on .
That is Photo-etched brass in that has a small grid pattern I think this will look good for the flush vents at this scale. Attached files

 

Well I have the Dorsal Wing completed, I am using Evergreen Scale styrene angles and channels for the details in the wing trenches. The Running light housing is a part from the 350 scale NX-01 Enterprise model, I made a silicone mold of it and cast it in resin, and cut it to fit, all that is left to do is paint it and attached the brass and the LEDs. Than on to the folding wings.

Attached files

 

Indeed this is a great use of the MK1. I am a big fan of StarWars despite my age, and this build bring back a ton of memories. This is fantastic work.

 

WOW! ...awesome work.


ALB RT

 

This is REALLY cool! The detail you're putting into this model is amazing and very creative. I'll be following your build closely. Good luck with the contest!

Si.

 

AWESOME !!!! Sorry T for not ever getting a chance to lay out the Snowspeeder... Now I feel like a jerk, but to be honest this is one of my Favorite ships and you are doing an amazing job, Props out to you my friend!!!

John

 

OK I just cant stay away from this thread Cant wait to see your progress!! Keep the pics coming!!

 

Thanks, guys
I am busy with club meetings this week so I will not get much done until the weekend.
Hey John I can build the Snowspeeder for next year!
This is the website that inspired me to build this, these guys have the talent
http://www.resinilluminati.com/

 

Cool Travis, maybe we can make this a joint effort!! I would love to do the Speeder scaled up!!! You are doing an amazing job on the Shuttle, it was a sad day when I had to sell my unopened Shuttle from the 80's Well at least I have a pic and I previously gave my buddy a used opened version that I can play with!! LOL :look:

John

 

Theres a piece of Star Trek in it

 

Here I have started one of the folding wing panels. this is the lower part of the wing.
This weekend I should get started on building the main body frame, I may cut out 3D molds from foam
and vacuum form some of the curved parts.

I have a club meeting tonight, so I will miss the live show. Attached files

 

Travis, this is amazing and parts are so realistic looking, I cant wait to see how you actuate them to retract, this is going to be awesome!!! :fantastic:

Thanks
John

 

I got a few more things done for the shuttle.
I have the main part of the wings done.
I had to stop here because I had to have the plywood spars cut out
that connects the main wing area to the stubwing that has the gear part that rotates. Attached files

 

The Plywood parts that I made to build the main body of the ship, fit on a 24x30 1/8" thick sheet of plywood. As my 4X4 Hybrid is having binding issues with the Z axis and the Phlatprinter will not cut this as clean as I would like, I decided to use one of our CNCs at work.
We were going to use the phlatscript, but could not get it to have a "depth of cut" that would work propperly. So I used Aspire to do the tool paths. However I did not know that the file was going to be so big. We had to break up the file in 4 sections and run each section one at a time.
My buddy took the file and using Ruby wrote a script to break up the file. it ran great
we used a 1/16" bit and ran it in 1/16" depth passes. not sure what the feedrate was. Attached files

 

Here is a mockup of what this will look like.
the large holes in the framing is for incerting skate bearings so the wings will pivot nice and smooth.
I still need to design the way the servos will work the wings. Attached files

 

OMG... Travis that thing is AMAZING!!! I wish I was your neighbor so I could get involved, Man I love these Star Wars Ships and this is just too cool!!! I WANT ONE!!!

Thanks
John

 

Thanks, John.
When I have this done I will post the files that I used to make it.

 

That would be awesome!! I could make one out of FanFold

My buddy sent me a DXF file of a 3 view of the Snowspeeder here is the SKP file I made yesterday in hopes you could use this for future use!!! Its a little rough but it should be a good start!! My Snowspeeder was all done from measuring off my model and some pics!!This will be much easier!!

Thanks
John Attached files Snow Speeder.skp (444.5 KB)Â