The 'Junkster' Pod Racer

ti · July 04, 2016, 03:22:26 AM

1. The 'Junkster' Pod Racer

Hi all. It's been a while since my last build. I have started on another build taking another break from truck building, while gathering thoughts for my next one. I have several in mind but I am trying to figure out which one to choose and how to proceed. 'Till then, I am working on a pod racer. Yes, another one. For some reason I have a think for these machines. I also planning on a big spaceship build after this build. We'll see. Anyways, Here are pics of the progress so far. We will see how it turns out.

The concept of this build is simple. It is an older model that has been rebuilt from scrap using various metal and machine components, hence, the name, The 'Junkster'. So It is going to be weathered to show the old age and extensive usage. Fits me just right.

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2. Most of you guys may already know what parts I am using here already. It's from a 1/32 F-15E fighter jet. I had no drawings, just planning as I build. I have lots of parts(lots), as you can see in the pics blow:

ti · July 04, 2016, 03:22:57 AM

3. This will be the body of the engines. Or should I say the fuselage. As you can see, I've already started adding the details to it. Majority of the parts are taken from other kits. Makes things easy for me, as time is always of the essence.

ti · July 04, 2016, 03:23:25 AM

4. Adding the small details. The small details makes the electro attachments(not sure what they are called. just going with the flow) come to life. Added some styrene in certain areas.

ti · July 04, 2016, 03:24:31 AM

5. I'm going to add some bits and pieces at the rear of the fuselage, to make it look busy.

Added short oval shape styrene on both sides of the fuselage for a total of 6 short lengths.

ti · July 04, 2016, 03:24:50 AM

6. Some more exterior detailing on the fuselage. Styrene stripping on the sides lading up to the front. Added parts from a missile at both front corner ends of the fuselage.

Added a couple details under the both sides of the fuselage. I will not be adding a lot of details on the bottom as it will not be easily visible for viewing anyway. I also think the amount of detail on the fuselage already as it is on the underside is just right and does not need too much attention.

ti · July 04, 2016, 03:25:07 AM

7. These will be air and maintainance vent panels, which will be displayed open, to display some of the details inside. These are just the original F-15E doors that came with the original fighter plane, as you plane enthusiast might already know what I'm talking about.

I've already painted on of the panels to test how it will look.

These particular hatch doors were taken from a stryker model. I seem to have lots of these parts lying around back when I was scratch building AFV models.

The braking flap. This will be left in the open position as to give the entire model character when it finally placed on its mounting baseboard.

ti · July 04, 2016, 03:25:29 AM

8. Did some more detailing at the rear to cover up that flat piece of styrene I had added to fill the huge gap in the fuselage. Added some bits and pieces to make the rear end look busy enough to keep the viewer interested.

Weaver · July 04, 2016, 04:48:00 AM

Still can't envisage what this is going to look like, but it's fascinating non-the-less.

ti · July 04, 2016, 05:27:41 AM

Quote from: Weaver on July 04, 2016, 04:48:00 AM
Still can't envisage what this is going to look like, but it's fascinating non-the-less.

I can understand. The very first stages I was not sure either. But here we go.

ti · July 04, 2016, 05:28:15 AM

9. I had to find a way to conceal those two exhaust vents out the back without getting too intricate with the overall look. So I opted to add some sort of vent metal meshes then make some covers to cut direct view into the exhaust. So I came up with these two methods you see in the pics below.

These will be the vents angled downwards. I added a little mechanism to both sides to give the impression that the vents can be folded upwards at right angle for a horizontal exit.

The covers added:

ti · July 04, 2016, 05:28:36 AM

10. I have already started working on the pod itself. It has already been painted(my apologies. Stress for time). I used a Tamiya F60 Ferrari as the base for my pod. The design was just what I wanted. After all, why go throught the effort of scratch building when avaible models will do half the job for you. For me, what whatever works, use it. That's how the Millinium Falcom was built. The color used is a Automotive base coat reddish color. My choice of color is going to be this color, white and black.

ti · July 04, 2016, 05:29:20 AM

11. I made my own seatbelts by using yellow tape from Tamiya, but we all know its made for Tamiya by scotch brand tape. Very please with it too. I used the one with the smaller width.

ti · July 04, 2016, 05:29:37 AM

12. These parts will be add around the pilot compartment. These are parts taken from old bike kits. I know. Sometimes I just buy kits that has potential of being doner kits.

ti · July 04, 2016, 05:30:06 AM

13. This is gong to be the jet propulsion that will be added to the back of the pod. I got it from another jet fighter doner. See. These doner kits are paying off.

How it looks installed. Not looking all that great but inside of this is not so trivial to the end results.

ti · July 04, 2016, 05:30:26 AM

14. Now due to the underside of the jet exhaust not completly clearing the bottom of the pod, it sticks out some millimeters from the base of the pod itself. So I had to find a way to accomodate the bottom plate that will cover the bottom half of the pod. So I came up with this idea. I just took a piece of styrene and cut it according to the curvy design of the bottom half of the pod, and then measured the width and length of the jet exhaust and cut out the area around where the exhaust will be. The result is what you see below:

My free hand cutting was not perfect but all this will be hidden in the final results.