Star Trek: Voyager:- Dinaal Hospital Ship - micro build log

[linweseregon]

I'm not able to build models from scratch - yet! - so I have to cheat like h@*l. I suppose I'll start with my kit: scissors, large; scissors, small; pencil x2; tweezers x2; reading glasses, magnification x2 1/2; metal ruler; modelling knife; glass chopping board.

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If I don't have a pattern to work from Drex Files come in very handy. Starting with this:-

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I copy and paste the whole thing at least twice (to get a base to work from), then copy and paste smaller sections (to build up layers) and stretch/elongate other sections (to allow for curved surfaces). The result is something like this:-

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That's phase 1; now it's time to start cutting!

 

[linweseregon]

This one is proving to be exactly as fiddly as I thought it would be! I wasn't sure what the underside looked like and decided that there would be gaps between frames:-
Then came the really fiddly bit - cutting around the arms while maintaining sections that are only 1/2mm thick. After that I cut out the outline for the top view and glued them together. I found that double thickness wasn't enough for some parts:-

This gave me a base suitable to start building outwards from.
End of Phase 2.

 

[linweseregon]

I cut round the plan view of the topmost section and glued it to a piece of balsa wood in order to keep a firm centre. From this I added the stretched curved sections:-
The front section was almost perfectly judged and only required a bit of trimming at it's rear. I fitted 'bulkheads' to it before attaching the rear curve.
The rear curve was a bit short, but I decided to live with that rather than printing another sheet - I'm a tree-hugger at heart.Adding panels to the domes brought it back to edge anyway:-
I thought that layering the top section might work and allowed a double thickness for the base, triple thickness for the middle and double thickness for the top, with a single thickness for the semi-circle near it's front:-
End of phase 3.

 

[Master-Bruce]

I really like this! Bigger isn't always better I guess.

 

[linweseregon]

Thank-you Master

 

[spaceagent-9]

wow you really micro size it!

 

[Rhaven Blaack]

I really would not call this "CHEATING". It is just another way of building the model of something that you want.
What you are doing, looks really good. I like the layering technique to get the effect that you want.
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!

 

[linweseregon]

Thanks guys

 

[linweseregon]

Layering the top section didn't work out as well as I expected and I had to do a 'wrap round' (sorry about the lack of focus):-
That done I moved to the bottom section. Layering sections from the underside view worked this time and I'm pleased with the result. I used the end elevation from the Drex File for the parts that jut down - double thickness for the platform support and triple thickness for the two bits at the front:-
I use 'Glen-Jupp-adapted-by-Rawen' bases, with a dod (Scottish technical term ;-) ) of Blu-Tac to add stability, and a cocktail stick trimmed to taste:-

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A finishing touch of three teeny, toty, wee antennae and I'm done. The triangular projections from the bottom of the ends of the arms were just too small for me, so I omitted them. Et viola!

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One 42mm or 1 5/8" Dinaal Hospital Ship ready for take off .

 

[ShadowHawk141]

Wow just wow.

When I'm greebling my models I make small parts and it go crazy when I do that for more then an hour so I'll have to switch to bigger parts then.
What you do (I read your other threads to) is simply amazing.
My son (he's 10) thinks your models are so cool, he asked me if I could make some of those for him.......eeerh nope ?

Cheers,
Elko

 

[linweseregon]

Hi Elko,
Thank-you so much . I'm glad your wee boy liked them as well - that made me grin! They're not particularly hard to build - the main bother is having 5 dogs one of which has a habit of turning my parts and waste clippings into a roomful of confetti ;-)

 

[spaceagent-9]

that is really a good job. in fact I have never seen a better job on a model that small, except this one guy ....sidewinder, check out his gallery, he did some great small stuff too.

 

[linweseregon]

Thank-you very much Spaceagent . Aye, I've seen some of Sidewinder's work - most of his ships are smaller than most of mine - lol

 

[zathros]

This is not cheating at all. This is how 3D printers work, and is an excellent method for making compound curves. Fine workmanship and an excellent example of this technique! I can't wait to see what else you come up with! Awesome! You could make some awesome Brooches with that technique, tie clips too!!

 

[linweseregon]

Thank-you Zathros

 

[Uyraell]

You achieve very fine work and clearly ( I've looked at your other threads, and blog) have very good skills in such small scale modelling.
I truly admire what you've achieved, and hope to emulate it some day.

Excellent work! Well Done!.

Kind and Respectful Regards, Uyraell.

 

[linweseregon]

Thank-you Uyraell
Best wishes,
Kirsty