Beyond The Sprues

Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => Space GB => Topic started by: Antonio Sobral on March 01, 2014, 05:03:57 PM

Title: Vasco da Gama space station - Finished!
Post by: Antonio Sobral on March 01, 2014, 05:03:57 PM

Hi guys

One of the best kept secrets in the world surely was the portuguese space program :)

With a very low budget to start with, they purchased an old chinese station, and made some upgrades.

The first modification was the name. It was re-baptized "Vasco da Gama", after the 15/16th Century portuguese explorer.

(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-03.jpg)

(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-02.jpg)


And to pilot it, they found  this guy. Aactually it was the only one that was brave (or crazy) enough to take the job.
Allow me to introduce you to this cool looking dude named José Góis.

(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-04.jpg)


And what is the first thing any decent space station does? It orbits a planet, of course! ;)

So, allow me to introduce the the planet, as seen form above...

(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-01.jpg)


I bet you were thinking Earth. Nope!

This is Murnia, the second moon of Zavea, a beautiful giant gas star located in the "Grande Nuvem de Magalhães",
which you may already know under a different name: LMT - Large Magellan Cloud.


Can you imagine the view?

(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-05.jpg)


Breathtaking, isn't it? :)


If you have any objections regarding this planetary set-up, just call it poetic freedom....:)


To be continued....


----XXXX-----

Interlude for some modeling details:
- A trumpeter kit of a chinese space purched at a local sale, some years ago.
- The planet base is included
- One figure taken from the spare box (I think it came form a revell apollo kit, but I am not sure)
- The sun is a painted styrofoam ball that my daughter had in her room. No idea about the origin,
   but it looks great in the pictures!

Title: Re: Vasco da Gama space station
Post by: GTX_Admin on March 01, 2014, 09:12:01 PM

Another masterpiece in the works.

Title: Re: Vasco da Gama space station
Post by: Tophe on March 01, 2014, 09:44:25 PM

Wow! What a discovery! ;)

Title: Re: Vasco da Gama space station
Post by: Alvis 3.1 on March 02, 2014, 12:16:23 AM

Awesome! It's time Portugal has their space program acknowledged.


Alvis 3.1

Title: Re: Vasco da Gama space station
Post by: taiidantomcat on March 02, 2014, 01:02:53 AM

I am loving this so far!

the sun looks really awesome! Talent through the generations

Title: Re: Vasco da Gama space station
Post by: Buzzbomb on March 03, 2014, 09:16:29 AM

Great story...

looking forward to how you zap this lot together

Title: Re: Vasco da Gama space station
Post by: jcf on March 03, 2014, 11:23:47 AM

Cool stuff Antonio.

Reminds of a joke I heard in Hawai'i:

Pawdagee Astronaut

Did you hear about the Pawdagee Astronaut that is planning to land on the sun?

He said that he will do it at night...

 ;D

So folks don't get too up in arms, Hawai'i has a large Portugese(Pawdagee) community and
due to the multi-ethnic nature of the Islands, humour is primarily of an ethnic nature,
everybody makes fun of everybody else and themselves.
Here's an interview with Frank De Lima that'll make it clear:
http://www.acidlogic.com/frankdelima.htm (http://www.acidlogic.com/frankdelima.htm)

Damn, makes me want some malasadas.  :-*

Title: Re: Vasco da Gama space station
Post by: Antonio Sobral on March 04, 2014, 03:59:17 PM

Hi guys

And thanks for the comments!

Yes, there was some relatively important emigration on the XIXth century from the Portuguse Azores and Madeira islands to Hawaii,
where they left some influences from culinary (the "filhós" or "malassadas", which became the malasadas) to music (the cavaquinho,
which became known as the "ukelele").
And as any "different" community, they were object of some jokes. But that is the same everywhere around the globe ;)

As for the station, the modification works are pretty much done (not that many, actually).
Just some pieces of plastic from the spare box, and some copper wire, and everything is ready for painting:

(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-07.jpg)


(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-06.jpg)


Hope you like it!

Title: Re: Vasco da Gama space station
Post by: finsrin on March 04, 2014, 04:32:00 PM

 :)  Way better than I build and photograph.  Looking forward to painting results.

Title: Re: Vasco da Gama space station
Post by: Antonio Sobral on March 06, 2014, 04:17:48 PM

Thanks!

And the painting begins!

Fist a light coat of primer:

(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-10.jpg)


And then the planet surface:

Clear sky version:
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-09.jpg)

Partly cloudy with chance of showers (not meatballs though :)):
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-11.jpg)


And some sketches and ideas for the spaceship paint scheme:
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/JG-EE.jpg)

But since I very seldom follow what I draw beforehand, the final result will certainly be different ... and easier to paint :)

Title: Re: Vasco da Gama space station
Post by: Brian da Basher on March 08, 2014, 11:39:14 PM

You're off to another grand start, Antonio!

I especially like how you rendered the planet base.

Looks like a million bucks already!

Brian da Basher

Title: Re: Vasco da Gama space station
Post by: father ennis on March 09, 2014, 04:10:43 AM

A truly outstanding work as always,my friend. I can hardly wait to see it finished.

Title: Re: Vasco da Gama space station
Post by: Antonio Sobral on March 14, 2014, 04:40:47 PM

Thanks!

Painting complete, and project finished.

Contrary to my usual "Modus Operandi", this time there was no weathering involved.
No rusting, no chipping, no anything.... Just basic painting :)

And here are the photos:

(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-13.jpg)


(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-14.jpg)


(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-16.jpg)


(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-17.jpg)


(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-18.jpg)


(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-19.jpg)


(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-20.jpg)


(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-21.jpg)


(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-22.jpg)


(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-23.jpg)


(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-24.jpg)


(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-25.jpg)


(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-26.jpg)



And last but not the least, a final shot with some special effects involved that surely will win me an Oscar® next year
( after Gravity winning 7, this surely is in the bag.... :) )

(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/Barruel/Space/space-27.jpg)


I hope you like it.

Thanks for watching!

Title: Re: Vasco da Gama space station - Finished!
Post by: finsrin on March 14, 2014, 04:56:09 PM

WOW - ZOWIE - YEE GADS  :)

Portuguse did well on small budget !

Title: Re: Vasco da Gama space station - Finished!
Post by: Doom! on March 14, 2014, 11:34:30 PM

Way Cool!!! Besides being a beautiful model I love the name you chose for the space station.  :)

Title: Re: Vasco da Gama space station - Finished!
Post by: Jeffry Fontaine on March 15, 2014, 12:42:18 AM

Antonio, that is a very convincing looking space station you have created from all of those parts and your imagination. 

Title: Re: Vasco da Gama space station - Finished!
Post by: Brian da Basher on March 15, 2014, 04:02:54 AM

That sure finished up a treat, Antonio! I really like the unique use of Portuguese colors and it sure looks every bit the business.

Brian da Basher

Title: Re: Vasco da Gama space station - Finished!
Post by: GTX_Admin on March 15, 2014, 04:20:37 AM

Another winner! :)

Title: Re: Vasco da Gama space station - Finished!
Post by: Buzzbomb on March 15, 2014, 01:36:46 PM

Just terrific. Came up a treat

Title: Re: Vasco da Gama space station - Finished!
Post by: taiidantomcat on March 15, 2014, 09:54:44 PM

Great choice on the colors and scheme! It looks so classy!

I love the airbrush work on the base as well, wonderful all around  :-*

Title: Re: Vasco da Gama space station - Finished!
Post by: Tophe on March 15, 2014, 10:56:43 PM

Belated congratulations! :-*

Title: Re: Vasco da Gama space station - Finished!
Post by: Dr. YoKai on March 16, 2014, 08:54:45 AM

 Especially nice!

Title: Re: Vasco da Gama space station
Post by: Weaver on March 16, 2014, 10:35:15 AM

Great one Antonio: it looks really good, and the paintwork is excellent!  :)

Quote from: jcf on March 03, 2014, 11:23:47 AM

Reminds of a joke I heard in Hawai'i:

Pawdagee Astronaut

Did you hear about the Pawdagee Astronaut that is planning to land on the sun?

He said that he will do it at night...

Same joke's being doing the rounds here for donkey's years, except that here it's an Irish astronaut. Dare say in France it's a Belgian astronaut etc.....