Customising a Revell 1/24 N-1 Starfighter

[Madhatter]

 hey all

I'm sorry: I couldn't stop myself. I tried, but I just could not resist it - I have to stop work on the Star Destroyer and build this brand new, highly anticipated (by myself) kit of The Mandalorian's personal hotrod.

Like a lot of Mando fans, I was really taken by his modified N-1 Fighter. Personally, I thought it was a bit of a daft craft for a bounty hunter, but why let little details like that ruin a cool ship? Also like a lot of other fans, I decided to try my luck and try find a kit of an N-1 to modify. It came as no surprise to find there was a rush on 1/48 N-1's from AMT or, if you were lucky enough to find one for less than the price equal to Australia's entire GDP, the Fine Molds kit.

So, as you can imagine, I was super mega excited to hear Revell were making a large scale N-1.

I couldn't wait for April to get it here in Aus, so I went on Amazon. I got mine sent to me from the UK with free postage and I can now see why it was free: it came in a paper satchel - resulting in a rather squished box. Upon first review, I thought nothing had been broken but alas no, one of the lower engine frames has bent and broken. Some of the sprues look a little warped as well. However, it's nothing that can't be and hasn't already been fixed.

For those interested in this subject, you would have already seen the sprue shots for this kit, so I won't post pics of that stuff. I will show you some stuff that the promo pics do not show you.

Unfortunately, my excitement has diminished a little bit upon dry fitting the hull and inserts and just in the overall quality of this kit. I am not a public basher of manufacturers by any stretch. I am stoked to have this subject represented at all. But this, sadly, is slightly disappointing, especially after their stellar work on the Razor Crest, which is an awesomely detailed kit with really sharp, well defined details.

However, with this kit, I am finding the quality of the detail to be the total opposite to the Razor Crest. They just look toy-like.

There is a common complaint with which I agree; the really prominent Revell logo and licensing stamp on the lower hull. I mean, that was just a really stupid decision to add that to the outside of the hull and not the inside. It was probably a directive from the Mouse. Who knows, but it's a quick and easy sand job to remedy. No big deal.

There are big gaps ahead - especially around the hull joins but its possible that they may not need to muck filler. I won't be able to tell until its actually glued

Here's a couple of pictures showing what I mean about the quality:









The above picture is a prime example of my disappointment. Have a look at how much of a gap there is between the edge of that detail and the lower hull and how it just hovers over the hull. None of it looks natural. This is what I mean by it looking like a toy.







There is a pretty decent void that can accommodate some more plumbing and other such detail, so that is exactly what I shall do.

I give it 3 months before someone produces a 3D printed replacement set for this kit. I'd buy it. Also a replacement cockpit. Whist the kit is OK, its a bit dull. In fairness, the original cockpit was pretty vanilla as well.
For this build, lights and so on will be a give in - no point really in saying that. However, I'm thinking I might add in some Raytheon lighting to some of the machine wells. That could be quite cool.
But what excites me the most about this build is the intended paint scheme. I so can't wait to apply the choice I have in mind. It'll look so cool (I hope)
I also hope I don't f&%k it up

So, if you're on the fence about this kit, maybe I can help you with your decision making over the next couple of weeks. I'll show as many issues as I find but to be honest, I am still really happy I got it. There is heaps of room for improvement and it makes for a brilliant platform to express some creativity.

Work on this starts Saturday
Till then, stay cool till after school
Si

[Vulcan7]

hey all

I'm sorry: I couldn't stop myself. I tried, but I just could not resist it - I have to stop work on the Star Destroyer and build this brand new, highly anticipated (by myself) kit of The Mandalorian's personal hotrod.

I don't blame you, looking forward to seeing this             

[Rick Lowe]

Some of that detail reminds me of the original MPC Aluminium Falcon...  of the 'Could do Better' variety (as my report cards often said...  )

Still, as you said it's at least here and available, so you can use it as a base to go to town on the detailing.

And it was probably designed to a price point, as opposed to something in the Bandai or Fine Molds price range...

[Dizzyfugu]

Yeah, adding some plumbing should hide the worst things - and with paint things might improve, too, that's my experience with such toy-esque SF kits. Still disappointing, though. 

[Old Wombat]

It was probably meant to be a toy but Revell probably decided that the Mouse's cut was too much, so they reduced costs by releasing it as a model kit.

[Madhatter]

There's other issues as well aside from the visually obvious detail. Like Im having to deepen and add  panel lines. Mind you,if thats the extent of my complaints then its not so bad.
Im sure there is a reason for this half-arsed approach to the above but its starting to feel a little overpriced. No, it's not buyer's regret rearing it's head either 

[Weaver]

You're absolutely right about the level of detail in those bays being poor and that plenty could, and should, be done about it.

However, I'd urge a bit of cooling off before going mad with the greeblies. Looking at some of the test-fit shots, there's remarkably little of the awful detail visible through some of those grills because they have very thick "bars". For instance, I'd say that less than half of that awful centreline bay is visible through the opening in front of the cockpit, and that's before you take into account that around half of that opening is obscured by "bars". Any effort you spend making the pair of big tubes at the bacl of that bay look more realistic, for example, will be totally wasted because you can't see them AT ALL when it's assembled.

So the first thing I'd do is carefully weigh up what you can actually see and what you can't and only spend my time on the former. Unlike movie model makers, greeblies aren't cheap and plentiful for us, and I know I'd feel sick if I used an irreplaceable detail bit on an area that nobody ever saw.

One of the things that's going to be hardest to get looking right is not the detail bays at all, it's the airframe "bars" that cross them. Unfortunately they look like they just end at a six-inch-thick wall instead of continuing under a 2mm skin panel. Hard to say what the solution is without seeing the other side of them, but if that excess thickness isn't deep then carving it out might be possible.

[Madhatter]

You know, that's also what bugged me, so I carved a panel line into it to give it the appearance that its a body panel sitting over the top already. I have pucs to post soon which cover exactly what you mentioned   

[Weaver]

If they'd really wanted to make a nice job of this kit (and double the price in the process), then what they should have done is make the empty detail bays, the greeblies and the bars as separate pieces. That way the edges of the body panels could have been tolerably thin, the bars could have extended underneath them, and the greeblies wouldn't look like they'd been vacuum-formed in one piece.

[zenrat]

I saw this kit on line and thought "Oooh, 1/24 Starfighter!".
And then I saw the parts count...

 

[Madhatter]

I was hoping for the same thing (separate detail bays). I've managed to get some additional detail in but am still working out how to detail the upper surface of the bottom hull plate in a way that it doesn't interfere with the upper hull. There's not as much room as I initially thought. I'm thinking of adding something directly behind the bars which should help hide that ugly space

While I'm here, I may as well post some pics. I have started getting the engines ready for lighting and  have prepped the nozzels etc ready for lighting. I'm using a method I saw on YT where I am recasting the center part in clear resin. This way, I won't loose any detail and I get a nice clear plate to shine light though:







Check out the awesome sink marks:



As I was saying earlier, I have cut out some missing panels so it looks a little less toy like:





I've also hollowed out some of the material in the leading edge of the wing:







And finally, the main interior part so far:





So yeah, that's where I'm at with it. One thing that will be a challenge is the cockpit instrument panel. I'm not sure how I will tackle the lighting there. I haven't really given it a lot of thought TBH
Anyways, will keep at it
See you all again soon
Si

[Rick Lowe]

Some nice greeblification there. 
What Shep Paine used to call 'Creative Gizmology.' 

[zenrat]

Looks better already.   

[Old Wombat]

Some nice greeblification there. 
What Shep Paine used to call 'Creative Gizmology.' 

Looks better already.   

Yep!  

[NARSES2]

Looks better already.   

Does indeed   

Things we do for love, eh ?