Merseajohn's 1/144 FM MF--finished

[merseajohn]

Update time. Added missing piping on the back of the cockpit walkway:

And added the missing fins on the bottom (These were originaly on the 32" ship but if you see the model now at exhabitions there missing, due to it bieng handled so much they have snapped off  )

[Scott Girvan]

Cool.

[scratchy]

Sweet, nice touch. Would you happen to know where the actual kitparts came from for the studio model?

[merseajohn]

Thanks Scott, and Scratchy I have no idea what kit parts they used, iv got a reference pic somewhere I'll dig it out for you.

[panzerace007]

JOHN ,

  Kid Dy-No-Mite !!  Rock It out !!!!  Cool Stuff Bro !!

 Some more useless parts trivia - Behind th last row of Cooling/Exhaust fans on th Rear deck ... Those are 3 Rear Decks from a German Panther Tank Kit & it seems like They incorporated th Turret ring into th circumference of the ports.

  I've got Sculpting a Galaxy & will go through that &see what I can Pull together as far as a parts list. Although .. take a look at th top of this G.B ... SCOTT has compiled a Great reference thread with some of those threads really gettin into detail on th Original Model from ANH ! Remember .... a lot of those tank parts come from Tamiya ( 1/35th) for th Studio Scale Model !!   

  Great Catch KEN ... I was staring at it .. going .. "I've seen that , It a suspension part" - Tamiya H.T. ! 

[merseajohn]

Thanks Eric, it is interesting seeing where the parts came from.
Update time, Hit the lights! First off drill tiny holes in the back of the cockpit pannel:

Then sanding the 3mm LED's (thanks Grendels for the tip) bieng tiny allready sanding them down makes them really handy, hopefully I can sand them small enough for the headlights  

Then taped 2 together with a snippet of que tip for a spacer/splint.

Test fitted:

All lit up!   Iv got a lot of blacking out to do and I hope it wont shine through the plastic once the paints on..

[Scott Girvan]

Very cool. That's a great way to light that section.

[Grendels]

Looking good!

[Quaralane]

Thank you for posting this.
It's giving me ideas for possible lights on mine

[merseajohn]

Thanks Scott, Grendels and Q. Bit of progress tonight heres the proof 
Started by cutting off the back plate to allow a snug fit of the modelers brand Led strip:

And sanded with the mini drill:

Then I had to make way for the sanded down 3mm LED's (Actually ended being about 1.5mm!) so I removed the locater pins from top and bottom:

All wired together running off a single 12v battery which isnt quite up to the job  DONT glue it together untill you have run the lights for 30 seconds! The rear lights start to dim within 5 seconds on mine  :'(
But I never leave them on and I can live with it. Oh and the lights have blu tac around them to stop light bleed 

Switch at the top, the turret will be held on with magnets:

Rear:

Front 

Comments welcome as always!

[Scott Girvan]

I think that looks pretty darn awesome.

[java]

Yep!,nice work.

[Quaralane]

Definitely looking good

[Grendels]

Wow, you are moving fast!  Good work so far!

[scratchy]

That looks really nice Merseajohn.  Great way to keep the switch hidden from view.