Omega 7 Helicarrier

[java]

Really nice work,the photo etch window is a nice touch.

 

[Quaralane]

Thanks, java. It had just the look I was wanting

 

[Solander]

Great build, Q!
Some really nice progress You have here.

 

[Quaralane]

Thanks, Solander.

Got more to show soon.

 

[nine_d]

Nice touch with the photo etch parts man you got skills you should do a YouTube tour of your kits some day

 

[Quaralane]

Thank you, nine_d. I may do something like that down the road a bit

 

[Quaralane]

All right.
Update time on the Omega 7 Helicarrier "Columbia"

Using the Eduard etch set, I placed 1/700 hatches in various locations on the ship.
Where I could, I used locations provided by the kit. In other places, I improvised
Bridge Island


Various locations around the hull





Got the interior of the hangar primered, as I likely won't be able to get at it very well once the deck is in place


Using a series of steps and clamps, I glued the flight deck to the hull.
Fair warning to those using this Saratoga kit, the deck does NOT fit without help.


Hoverfan mounts glued to the hull. I didn't mess around here, I used Gorilla Glue


Decided to rework the aft thruster setup to give the impression of a much more substantial power plant.
Using various syringe caps, I set up a pair of quad thrusters and glued them to a balsa back plate


Then, I glued a brace piece to the back plates.


That done, I mounted them to the hull with Gorilla Glue. They'll be trimmed, shaped, and the sections filled later


Using Aves, and a few other bits, I set to work finishing the gaps on the underside in my hoverfan mounts



Youtube link:
Omega 7 Helicarrier-SMA 2013-Part Six

 

[Drpepeprz]

Really starting to take shape! can't wait to see it finished!

 

[Grendels]

I like your rework of the thruster set up. Looks much better.

 

[Quaralane]

Thanks, guys.

yeah, after looking at pics of the movie version, mine didn't have ennough 'bang' back there

 

[Jaitea]

Looking great Q.......

Can't wait to see some paint on her

J

 

[Solander]

And I second that.
Should look awesome when complete!

 

[ModelMakerMike]

Hopefully you made some big progress and this Bad boyee this weekend!
8) 8) 8)

 

[Quaralane]

Thanks a lot, guys.

Working an a BUNCH of Aves work with the new thrusters over the last couple of nights. I'm hoping to get paint on her during the long holiday weekend here in the states

 

[Tailor]

I am looking forward to see this finished.
It seems there's quite a bit of work left for only one week. ???
Good luck!
Guido

 

[Quaralane]

--smiles--
Well, Guido, you'd be surprise how little actually needs done. It just looks like a lot because she's all mis-matched right now.

Glad you're liking her

 

[Quaralane]

Deadline is fast approaching for this girl to be finished.
So, without further ado, here is the next update on the helicarrier build.

Added more detail to the bridge island with some more of the guns from the ParaGrafix Galactiuca etch set.
I used these to create the impression of the sensors you'd find on a real world carrier



Trimmed up and filled the thruster supports, as well as scultping a 'housing' for them out of Aves Apoxie Sculpt to better integrate the thrusters into the existing hull



On the advice of my younger brother, I added some large washers to the upper fans to detail them better.
I also decided NOT to use the screening I'd originally planned to use as it would have obscured any detail you might see.
As a bit of added detail, I added one of the etch Galactica guns to the middle of the fan motor to hide the center hole.



Using some sheet styrene, I filled the opening between my hangar wall and the flight deck.
On both long sides of the opening, I glued strips of sanding screen to stand in for the elevator's lift mechanism


WE HAVE PAINT!
I started with a coat of Krylon grey primer from rattlecan



I officially christened the ship "Columbia" by gluing the nameplates from the Galactica etch to places on the stern and the bow



I gave the lower hull an overall coat of the Vallejo light grey surface primer to match what I'd done on the bridge island, and to lighten the overall color


On the upper hull, I only sprayed the lift fans the lighter grey as I've noticed that most carrier decks seem to be darker than the rest of the hull.


After decanting some paint from the rattlecan into a jar, I used the airbrush to paint the thrusters in Testors Graphite Dust Lacquer.
I also opted, as a bit of color breakup to use the same color on the fans and the actual gun mounts





On my computer, I drew up some runway strips at the right size, then printed them along with some extra "Omega 7" markings


Youtube link:
Omega 7 Helicarrier-SMA 2013-Part Seven

 

[Grendels]

Looking mighty good!

 

[Quaralane]

Thanks, John.
She's got some warts, but I'm liking how she's turning out

 

[unttld]

Thought this upcoming kit from Fantastic Plastic might interest you. http://www.fantastic-plastic.com/SHIELDHelicarrierCatalogPage.htm

Those guys have a bunch of rad kits.