1:350 Sentinel Light Cruiser

[SCI-FI]

Originally Posted by AdmiralBuck

The Wonderfest16 30 Day countdown begins today. This is what Chaos at the Tycho Yard looks like and it's not pretty. Somehow, she has to be completed in the next four weeks.


[...]

Pardon me, I can't help but play "I, Spy"...
- Lower left, I see the old Galileo, the port hangar, um, two F-104 Starfighters, and the Arboretum? (Sorry if I miss a step, I'm still playing catch-up!)
- Sentinel atop her monolith perch, minus her spine covers (this gives me an idea for how Starfleet would really do it...)
- Top left, Back wall has ... a map of Dealy Plaza in Dallas? Or something...?
- Top center, a plexi of a TNG ship? Do you have a TNG secret coming?
- Top right, the lovely ladies of Risa visit Tycho to keep watch on the progress. And at their feet, um, an F-4 Phantom? Is this a shipyard or an airshow?
- Under the saucer, a spool of the metal tape-- what was the verdict on using that tape on a lit model? Good reflectivity, versus possible shorting of circuits?
- Lower right side, the lights for the bussard collector await installation. Red and orange? (Did I miss a vid of this in action...?)

Finally: I know time's running short, but please, Admiral, you gotta tell me: will the "Coast Guard stripes" on the sides make the cut? Visually distinctive, I've been pulling for that since the concept drawings.

Best-

[AdmiralBuck]

Originally Posted by Jim NCC1701A

Oh man, I so wanted to see this in person

JIM!!!! You're not going to make it to WF this year???

[AdmiralBuck]

Originally Posted by SCI-FI

Was this an off-the-shelf part? Or did you have something modified to spec?

(Admiral on the phone: "My old chip went poof. Magic smoke escaped. I need something smaller to replace it. How small? Small enough to hide behind the park bench in a 1/350th Arboreturm, so get solderin'!")

I found this from a N scale on-line lighting supplier. It's strictly off-the-shelf and not really aware that this board was a minuscule as it was. I'm only concerned that my soldering iron tip can fit in-between the points.

Originally Posted by SCI-FI

Pardon me, I can't help but play "I, Spy"...
- Lower left, I see the old Galileo, the port hangar, um, two F-104 Starfighters, and the Arboretum? (Sorry if I miss a step, I'm still playing catch-up!)
- Sentinel atop her monolith perch, minus her spine covers (this gives me an idea for how Starfleet would really do it...)
- Top left, Back wall has ... a map of Dealy Plaza in Dallas? Or something...?
- Top center, a plexi of a TNG ship? Do you have a TNG secret coming?
- Top right, the lovely ladies of Risa visit Tycho to keep watch on the progress. And at their feet, um, an F-4 Phantom? Is this a shipyard or an airshow?
- Under the saucer, a spool of the metal tape-- what was the verdict on using that tape on a lit model? Good reflectivity, versus possible shorting of circuits?
- Lower right side, the lights for the bussard collector await installation. Red and orange? (Did I miss a vid of this in action...?)

Finally: I know time's running short, but please, Admiral, you gotta tell me: will the "Coast Guard stripes" on the sides make the cut? Visually distinctive, I've been pulling for that since the concept drawings.

Best-

Map: Downtown Akron, Ohio. I have no idea why I have this. It should probably go along with 90% of the other junk in the basement.

The TNG Master System Display is of the MacPhearson Class Lagrange Transport that I designed 20 years ago. These are the printing negatives that I placed behind smoked plexi and colorized with various colored gels just like Okuda & Company did on the show.

I do have video and photos of the bussards in action with both the orange and transparent outer domes. As much as I liked the orange caps, I am leaning now toward the clear. But, I have the option to display her with either as they are removable. I'll have to upload the video later but here is a still image with the clear:



Finally, YES! The plan still calls for her 'Cutter Stripe' - in red. I can't wait to pull the tape once that's on her.

[Trekriffic]

Oh man that bussard looks awesome...

[Road Warrior]

Looks great. By the way... Have you considered making Hood a very late tos ship? Hood already has the look.....

[AdmiralBuck]

Originally Posted by Road Warrior

Looks great. By the way... Have you considered making Hood a very late tos ship? Hood already has the look.....

Yes, I think that was my plan as well. A late TOS, 5-6 season ship gives me lots of unseen design options.

[Road Warrior]

Awesome. Can't wait. But, eh,one thing at a time, right. I am a very patient man.

[Jim NCC1701A]

Originally Posted by AdmiralBuck

JIM!!!! You're not going to make it to WF this year???

Sorry Bill.

[AdmiralBuck]

Originally Posted by Jim NCC1701A

Sorry Bill.

Total bummer. Hopefully next year!

Photobucket is an absolute computer-system-crashing, junk-riddled bucket of pop-up ram clogs and it's taken all morning to upload four pictures.

Weekend progress on the S included the final assembly and wiring of the nacelles, pylons and stern cover to the hull. This also included the construction of a Lego alignment jig addition to the main hull 'dry dock'. Using a laser level to make sure everything was well, level - the Lego nacelle towers verified that the engines were spaced and properly oriented to the correct height and distance from each other. All of this had to happen at the same time as the nacelle wiring had to pass through the pylon covers, through the brass braces, under the stern cover and into the hull. The nacelle halves were then epoxied into place with the 5-minute variety. Fiber optic (1.2mm) was also run from 3mm LEDs for the aft strobes on the end of each nacelle. Data ribbon wire had to be extended, spliced and run between the twin bussard LED rings.







The 12v distribution board was finally mounted inside the hull and all wiring connected and power-tested. (With the exception of the bridge module)

[Trekmanscott, M,Ed.]

I like the use of the Legos. I wish I had thought of that for the Chandley. While my jig worked, it weights a ton!

[SCI-FI]

Originally Posted by AdmiralBuck

[...]

Here is a pair of videos showing the bussard light test using both the orange and clear outer domes:

Orange.
Close, but I prefer the orange. The pulsation is subtle, and reminds me of TOS the most...
And the jazz improv music bed is appreciated as well.

[AdmiralBuck]

Originally Posted by SCI-FI

Orange.
Close, but I prefer the orange. The pulsation is subtle, and reminds me of TOS the most...
And the jazz improv music bed is appreciated as well.

I was a big fan of the orange caps myself initially until I began playing with the clear domes and they are growing on me quite a bit.

[Chief D.D. Maxwell]

Either way you light them it looks AWESOME!!!

[SCI-FI]

Originally Posted by AdmiralBuck

I was a big fan of the orange caps myself initially until I began playing with the clear domes and they are growing on me quite a bit. Here's a rough lighting video test. Many LEDs are still covered in tape.
[...]

Absolutely jaw dropping.
I don't think you can go wrong, here- either will look consistent with TOS and with your overall design.

What remains? Painting and decals?

Best-

[AdmiralBuck]

Originally Posted by SCI-FI

Absolutely jaw dropping.
I don't think you can go wrong, here- either will look consistent with TOS and with your overall design.

What remains? Painting and decals?

Best-

Thank you! With the caps being removable, I can replace them depending on the mood or environment it will be displayed.

Right, all that's left is bodywork around the pylon seams, nacelles, more priming and light blocking and then paint, registry, decals and window inserts. The To-Do list never seems to end but it is getting shorter. I can almost see the light...

Prelaunch countdown is now 23 days.