Holy moly these micro LEDs are spectacular and about 1.2 x 0.5mm. I put a blob of glue close to the end of this one to avoid straining the connections.

#Sigh# I've been experimenting with the seating safety bars and it looks like I'm going to have to bite the bullet and learn how to solder brass tube - the styrene rod I'm using just isn't doing it for me. At least I can explore threading these tiny LEDs through the tube to get the lighting right.

Skiffy - I'm confident that you will master the skill of soldering brass tubes.... or at least know enough in order to finish this awesome project!

Looking awesome man!

I dig that you're using Blender, have you thought about getting Autodesk inventor? I use both, but find that making machine parts goes a lot faster with it, especially for 3d printing.

Dropship Murphy - thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm sure I'll get there.

amurdoch - I was a Maya generalist for a long time and have been using Blender for about 15 years now so it's pretty much second nature but I will be getting into some more CAD specific tools for sure.

I had a little time to do some modelling today - so I tackled the steering controls for the driver's position.



Steering 'yokes(?)' fashioned from styrene sheet with thin styrene pieces, greeblie bits and some tube added. They're moveable too - just enough to allow for any variance in the size/position of the driver.



Here they are with a splash of primer - seen from one of the few camera angles we get for these in the movie.



..and lastly seen in situ being grabbed by our stand-in Bishop/Frost/Ripley.

Very cool!

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My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

This is looking absolutely superb.

Thank you very much retrogarde, Space Jockey. It's only this good because of the quality of the reference.

Tonight was a good night. Got the dashboard greeblied up and threw on a splash of primer.

As well as detailing I'm adding a base coat of paint to start to pull all of this together. I've also measured and cut a piece of clear acrylic for the windshield (not shown).



In the background of the second pic you can see the battery box I'm building for the main headlights.

Amazing! I don't really know what else to say, it's great seeing this built piece by piece. Keep up the good work!

I will keep praising this build! Hot damn.

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My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

Thank you both! I'm determined to get as much done on this as I can while we're stuck at home.

I've been playing with lighting again today - not much to show yet but more pics soon.

This build is amazing. I am so envious of you guys that can so this kind of work. I am all thumbs for this stuff.

Thank you so much wtyler3!

It's coming along.



View from Ripley's seat (just about).



This piece is doubtless from one of Peter Lamont's aircraft salvage trips (seen above Bishop's head).



Testing the fit/clearance.



..and starting to add more ceiling fittings.



Onward!

That is wild man. You're a wild man!

Thanks bigbisont - I hope I can do it justice!

I thought I'd have a go at something I've not been looking forward to - the compound slope on this upper edge between wall and roof.





To paraphrase The Mandalorian - "This is not the way."

Well - that didn't work (but I 'was' trying to do it quick n' lazy). I'm now going to do it properly, making bulkhead profile formers to define the shape first, then cement the outer skin to it. I'll also make it part of the wall, not the roof. That way the roof can sit flush in it. It'll be clearer when I make a start on it.

Lighting. It's something I haven't tackled in a model build for a very long time.

The interior/exterior lighting for the APC will come from different sources and strengths of LED. While I wait for a delivery of soldering kit, I started to experiment with adapting these cheap halloween LED string lights for use inside the APC. They have a cylinder shaped lens with a concave end - not ideal, so I filed them down to a flatter rectangular profile and tested each one to check they still lit up.



I wrapped one with tinfoil as a light-blocker, just leaving the very end uncovered to see if that would work for an interior bulkhead lamp.





I also experimented with building a small light-box from thick card.





I have some adhesive-backed foil too which will help with light-blocking.



Next up is sorting out which LEDs to use for which purpose, how many I need, how to house them, route the wiring and locate battery boxes.

I have some tiny LEDs that I'll use for Gorman's display screens but I'll tackle that later.

I wanted to light up the dashboard so I ordered some 0.75mm Fibre and got to work.



..needs a trim.



Time to hook it up for a test.



And there we are. I added a splash of clear colour to some of the fibre ends - might add a little more. Also added a clear part - kind of a HUD type thing, or a read-out (or something). lol



It's a work-in-progress but I'm getting there.

The details. Wow!

Just... Wow.

Thank you TS826. More to come soon!

Time to do those compound slopes properly.

First the formers.



Looking OK!



Then stringers.



Then cladding with styrene putty.



I quite enjoyed doing this bit.

Very nice solution to the compound curve!
When I was building my 1:6 version, that curve was the bane of my life!!

Keep it up mate!! Looking awesome!

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AKA: Simon

Great work!

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My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751