Scratchbuilding starships

[Taiidantomcat]

Any links or helpful sites to kit bashing or scratch building Starships or starfighters? I know there is the starship modeler forum which is helpful I also found this:

http://www.artships.com/

Are there any other tips/tricks any one can help me with?

[pyro-manic]

What kind of ships are you wanting to build, and what size? I've done a few for the Games Workshop game Battlefleet Gothic, and I can dig out some pics if you want. They're small-scale, and rather small (biggest one is about 7-ish inches long, the others about half that), but I think they're pretty nifty. I start off building a very basic form with plastic rod, card etc, and then build details on top of that.

[deathjester]

If you want to build large models I'd suggest plank on frame construction, using either Balsa or Plasticard, or blue modelling foam to carve your ship out of one solid piece!

[Taiidantomcat]

If I had to pin down a specific type It would be ships made from spares, or other donor kits,  total scratch builds are good too though.

[sotoolslinger]

See here
http://www.modelermagic.com/

[jcf]

The first rule of starship modelling is that there are no rules. 

Any scratch-building or kit-bashing technique is fair game, it just depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

Harry Woodman's classic Scale Model Aircraft in Plastic Card is full of useful techniques, the whole book is available online:

http://www.wwi-n-plastic.com/Book/harry/contents.htm

Any of the standard ship modelling techniques are also good for making basic shapes i.e. plank-on frame, bread-n-butter lifts,
or carved from solid using templates.
The latter technique was the most common in the age of solid wood models and the Solid Model Memories site is a great resource:
http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/index.php

Ron 'sotoolslinger' Fulce's Avery Hornet build thread is also a good reference:
http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,30323.0.html

[deathjester]

How big though?  It has a lot of bearing on construction methods!

[Weaver]

This guy built some fleets of small scale ships for a wargame he wrote:

http://www.ironhands.com/starcrashmodelh2.htm

Check out the rest of his site too - very impressive.


On slightly larger models, try to integrate parts together as if they're components that are linked and do something, rather than just sticking bits on. If something is a really recognisable shape, then partially cover it, or mask it by sticking bits of plasticard onto it. The biggest sin is something like a tank wheel just stuck onto an expanse of flat plastic (yes, you can see that on the original series BSG Cylon Raiders and yes, it looks s**t!)


Aeroplanedriver's HMS Scimitar:

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,21119.0/highlight,hms+starship.html

This is a textbook example of how two highly recognisable aeroplane shapes can become a totally convincing spaceship if you do it right.

[Mossie]

AeroplaneDrivers HMS Scimitar might give a bit of inspiration, using your all time favourite, the Tomcat:
http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,21119.0.html

[Taiidantomcat]

How big though?  It has a lot of bearing on construction methods!

About a foot long or so.

Thank you for the links everyone! Just need ideas and inspiration on how to sci fi models up from their more boring earthly forms 

[raafif]

Are you thinking of "traditional" starships ie sci-fi or something more "real" ?  I'm sick of seeing submarines, battleships & F-18's in space  

I've only seen one or two believeable starships on TV, movies, magazines etc.

[ChrisF]

http://www.modelermagic.com/

Useful stuff

[Taiidantomcat]

Are you thinking of "traditional" starships ie sci-fi or something more "real" ?  I'm sick of seeing submarines, battleships & F-18's in space  

I've only seen one or two believeable starships on TV, movies, magazines etc.

soft Sci fi, reality is secondary. I would turn my brain inside out trying to build something that might actually work 

[Cobra]

here's a site for starship plans: www.shipschematics.net if the Address doesn't work, PM me. Dan   PS:they have ships from Star Trek, Babylon 5, BSG, and Space Battleship Yamato aka Star Blazers.

[Old Wombat]

My view of Sci Fi space craft is look at what you've got to play with & let your imagination do the thinking!

To me SF is as much about art as it is about possibilities - I try to let my mind run free.

Bugger-all gets built but it's fun coming up with the ideas.