Beyond The Sprues

Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => Scifi and related GB => Topic started by: Antonio Sobral on February 23, 2016, 04:06:40 PM

Title: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Antonio Sobral on February 23, 2016, 04:06:40 PM: It is the Year of the Lord of 2199.

Union Pacific, the largest transport conglomerate of the Galaxy has some difficulties making the goods to arrive on time
in the most remote places of the Universe. Even Enterprise's WARP 10 is enough to satisfy the most demanding customers.

To solve this problem they seek help from the famous Squeak Labs, which tackle the situation by mounting
a neo-dynamic tandem with a set of Advanced Spinning Streamers, creating a craft that navigates
through the edges of black holes to give quasi-instantaneous jumps in space. Simple thing, to be fair.

Given the size of the ship and its fairly phallic shape, it became globally known as "Big Boy," and this is the story of the first prototype.

It all started with a Revell kit (which began its life as Monogram, now that you mention it) ...
(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-001.jpg)

with lots of black parts...
(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-002.jpg)

of which many will not be needed...
(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-005.jpg)

These are the ones that matter:
(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-003.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-004.jpg)

Let the works begin
(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-006.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-007.jpg)

Now joining the halves...
(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-008.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-009.jpg)

And here it is:
(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-010.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-011.jpg)

Closing some holes...
(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-012.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-013.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-014.jpg)

And that´s all for now.

Thanks for watching!
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Acree on February 23, 2016, 04:12:55 PM: This is going to be good!
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: LemonJello on February 23, 2016, 09:03:12 PM: I am intrigued. Please proceed, good sir.
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Jacques Deguerre on February 24, 2016, 03:01:55 AM: A starship from a steam locomotive.... I'm looking forward to seeing this come together although I'm getting a bit of a "Galaxy Express 999" vibe at the moment.
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Jeffry Fontaine on February 24, 2016, 05:14:23 AM: Even better would be to see a pair of these coupled to the TOS USS Enterprise NCC-1701 :)
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Buzzbomb on February 24, 2016, 06:38:45 AM: Rubbing my hands together here.
Really looking forward to this.

The design from Snowpiercer was interesting
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Dr. YoKai on February 24, 2016, 06:51:05 AM: Its a grand concept, alright. Already taking notes here.
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Kerick on February 24, 2016, 09:34:11 AM: This really looks like fun! I can't wait to see more.
I saw the real "Big Boy" roar through the town where I live. What a sight! The thing is so heavy UP has to be careful what track they run it on so it doesn't damage the track.
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: ysi_maniac on February 25, 2016, 09:02:10 AM: Very promissing project!!!! :)
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Antonio Sobral on February 25, 2016, 04:17:17 PM: Thank you, guys!

A few more "nurnies" and an acrylic base later, Big Boy is pretty much completed:

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-015.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-016.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-017.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-018.jpg)

It's really hard to see some of the details and joints with all this black plastic, so the next step will be a coat of primer to reveal the flaws.

Thanks for watching!
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Kerick on February 26, 2016, 01:52:32 AM: Ah, when will I learn to keep things as simple and clever as this!
Awesome!
Will there be a series of cargo containers to pull behind it?
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Madhatter on February 26, 2016, 07:38:26 AM: I like it. As usual, another masterpiece rolls off your work bench
Can I make a suggestion though: how about adding a couple of thruster engines below the cab area with interconnecting pipe work for detail? As it is now, I can't see how it would propel itself through space

It's a great concept and something I wish I'd thought of - but I'm just not that imaginative

As is mentioned above, having it haul some space freight would be great - although I can see issues in trying to display such a scene.
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: ysi_maniac on February 26, 2016, 11:42:22 AM: Quote from: Madhatter on February 26, 2016, 07:38:26 AM

... I can't see how it would propel itself through space ...

It is a common knowledge that it would fly better with its own wheels, rods and cranks. :P :-\ 8)

Love this concept :)
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: taiidantomcat on February 26, 2016, 12:41:35 PM: Very cool!! I would have never thought of this, but it could really work. :) :)
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: GTX_Admin on February 27, 2016, 02:32:57 AM: Quote from: Madhatter on February 26, 2016, 07:38:26 AM

Can I make a suggestion though: how about adding a couple of thruster engines below the cab area with interconnecting pipe work for detail? As it is now, I can't see how it would propel itself through space

Dare I say that "a craft that navigates through the edges of black holes to give quasi-instantaneous jumps in space" doesn't need anything so old-fashioned as thrusters... ;)
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Madhatter on February 27, 2016, 05:00:09 AM: I may have missed that point :-[
Still, I believe it would need some kind of thrusters, even if only for docking, stopping and manoeuvring.
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Antonio Sobral on February 28, 2016, 12:09:53 AM: Hi guys

Thanks for the comments and feedback!

At first I had a similar idea of adding a pair of external thrusters.
So I stole the engines from an A-10 Warthog kit and tried them in different places and configurations.
But I came to the conclusion that I would prefer the monolithic and streamlined profile of just one body with no external "protruberancies".
I think it keeps a little better the spirit of the original "big boy" design.

And here it is, after some initial primer (Tamiya sky color) followed by some more additional bits

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-031.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-032.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-033.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-034.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-035.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-036.jpg)

Now is time to choose the final color, which is never an easy task :)

Thanks for watching!
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Steve Blazo on February 28, 2016, 01:32:26 AM: That is so cool !! :P :P
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: GTX_Admin on February 28, 2016, 04:29:39 AM: Quote from: Steve Blazo on February 28, 2016, 01:32:26 AM
That is so cool !! :P :P

Yep
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Camthalion on February 28, 2016, 05:50:56 AM: Looks Cool. Nice work
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Kerick on February 28, 2016, 10:00:46 AM: Love it! Looks great. I'm sure the finished color will be cool.
You could go all Chris Foss on it......
http://www.chrisfossart.com/ (http://www.chrisfossart.com/)
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Old Wombat on February 28, 2016, 11:20:56 PM: Me? ???

I'd go a dark monochrome with contrasting light/light-metallic highlights. ;)
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Buzzbomb on February 29, 2016, 05:52:51 AM: Now that is just too cool.
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Antonio Sobral on March 03, 2016, 04:47:33 PM: Hi guys

Painting has finally begun.

First trial with the Uschi metallic powders followed by some post-shading with tamiya translucent orange.

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-037.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-038.jpg)

Well, honestly I did not like it that much.

Back to the drawing board (painting booth in this case)... :)
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Logan Hartke on March 03, 2016, 10:57:39 PM: I imagine these pictures will inspire a fair number of the forum's spaceship builders.

Cheers,

Logan
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Kerick on March 03, 2016, 10:59:16 PM: Emphasizes the locomotive look. Looks good to me
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Antonio Sobral on March 05, 2016, 05:08:08 PM: Maybe :)

But the show must go on :)

After the first trial with the Uschi metallic powders, a second one. This time with Gunze Mr Color paints.

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-039.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-040.jpg)

Not convinced either.

Well, back to the painting booth... :(
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Madhatter on March 05, 2016, 07:36:04 PM: As much as I really like those colours, I am in slight agreement with your statement of not being too convinced. If it were mine, I would add some various greys to break up the metallic finish. Maybe some other colour in the mix to like a red band or something.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE those colours (which ones are they BTW - I want some!) and you've applied them well but to me they would be better suited to what the original donor kit should be painted in.

That's just my opinion and it's not my build plus, your a way better painter than I am, so I'll just sit back and be quiet :) But am really enjoying this build - it's so much better than anything I would come up
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Antonio Sobral on March 06, 2016, 07:57:16 PM: " they would be better suited to what the original donor kit should be painted in"
You put into words what was in my mind but I could not express so eloquently :)

So, being done with metallic colors, I advanced to Mr. Ford's Filosophy: You can have any colour you want, as long as it is black.

So, black it is!

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-041.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-042.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-043.jpg)

It was really nice... for a classic locomotive!
Soooooooooo.....nope, not yet!

At this point I was kind of fed up with painting this thing over and over again, but then I remembered
somebody had mentioned Chris Fosse.

Mmmmm...interesting idea. Let's give it a try!
What can go wrong, right? :)

Maskol was the name, and painting was the game.

After a while, everything was masked

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-044.jpg)

Them some paint on top of it:

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-045.jpg)

And then, after removing the maskol...

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-046.jpg)

I confess that getting a totally crap result like that was not part of the plan :(

So, after a brief period of loudly expressing some negative feelings about Humbrol and Maskol,
I decided to strip everything off and start from scratch again.

To be continued....eventually ;)
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Old Wombat on March 06, 2016, 09:34:12 PM: Quote from: Old Wombat on February 28, 2016, 11:20:56 PM
Me? ???

I'd go a dark monochrome with contrasting light/light-metallic highlights. ;)

I still stand by this statement. :))
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: taiidantomcat on March 07, 2016, 12:17:17 AM: I'm sorry that didn't work :( Love the color choice and the fade in the middle. If you are going for an "industrial" look I would suggest stripes. Some Foss inspiration:

(http://www.starshipmodeler.com/other/jl_foss_3918.jpg)

From Homeworld 2:

(http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--GXVXlNZP--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/zswgdysfpugdampmodv4.jpg)

Just don't give up!! I feel like you are about to find the perfect paint scheme! When I build paint schemes and colors are what cause the most indecisiveness
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Steve Blazo on March 07, 2016, 02:15:22 AM: Please do not get frustrated and give up, it looks to cool !! I have been at that point many times on my sci-fi paint colors/schemes, most of the time the internet and/or my wife are the best inspiration.
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Antonio Sobral on March 07, 2016, 04:20:45 AM: Hi guys

Thanks for the positive feedback!

But quitting was never part of equation!

Remember "Galaxy Quest"? Never give up, never surrender?

That´s the spirit!

So by Grabthar's hammer, by the suns of Worvan, I shall be avenged! ;D

So I took a different approach: White with benefits.

And here is the result:

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-047.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-048.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-049.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-050.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-051.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-052.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-053.jpg)

I like it. It stays. Finally! :)

Next (and probably last) step: some light weathering (no pun intended :) )

Thanks for watching!
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Madhatter on March 07, 2016, 04:41:03 AM: I'll be honest, I preferred thet over striped one. The scratches in the stripes looked perfect as weathering. The color choice was brilliant. I'd kill to be able to get a result like that.
I do like the final result as well but that loud one was the best IMO
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Buzzbomb on March 07, 2016, 06:40:16 AM: What has been great about this process, is seeing the way the basic model shape "moves" with the colours.

Each scheme you have tried has given a different mood for the model and changed my perception of it from an industrial freighter look to a sinister warship
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Kerick on March 07, 2016, 08:42:32 AM: That all looked good to me but I think the last is best. May I suggest some decals to add some other bits of color and intrest?
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: taiidantomcat on March 07, 2016, 08:56:15 AM: I love it!! :-* great choice :-*
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Antonio Sobral on March 10, 2016, 04:14:56 AM: Hi there :)

The suffering finally ended!

This time no decals, no markings, no anything. Just some oils for a slightly "space-weathered" look, whatever that is :)

And the result, to the naked eye, is the following:

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-060.jpg)

But to compensate for the troubled painting process, I decided to pimp up a little bit the photos with a more "deep space" look.

And here they are.

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-061.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-062.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-063.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-064.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-065.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-066.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-067.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-068.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-069.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-070.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-071.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-072.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-073.jpg)

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-074.jpg)

Adding some planetary scenery (a painted styrofoam ball):

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-075.jpg)

And the "Grand Finale" with some stars (courtesy of my Paint Shop Pro SW) to spice up things a little bit further:

(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz158/AARSOBRAL/BigBoy/bigboy-076.jpg)

That´s pretty much it, folks. :)

Thanks for watching!
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Kerick on March 10, 2016, 09:40:51 AM: Definitely the best space craft I've seen in a long time. All your photos need is that swish sound as she goes zooming past!
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Buzzbomb on March 10, 2016, 12:38:56 PM: Well It works.
Well done
Title: Re: Union Pacific "Big Boy" 2199 - 1/144
Post by: Weaver on April 24, 2016, 10:21:18 AM: Well done (belatedly) :-[ :)

It's fascinating to see all the paint schemes you tried. Personally, I think the striped scheme would have looked better if you'd picked out some of the surface detail in black and metallics to break it up a bit (most colour schemes have to compromise with practicality at some point. however I also take the point that that scheme was probably more suited to a warship than a commercial one, and your final choice is entirely appropriate for the latter.