Anyone Attempting to Build a Serenity Model Discussion

POSTED BY: bkeating
UPDATED: Friday, November 18, 2005 21:21
VIEWED: 10447
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BKEATING

Monday, October 24, 2005 3:13 AM

Hiya folks, a brief history.

Ima Star Wars geek. I play SWG and such. I heard about this movie called Serenity...sounded interesting so I got the TV show DVD's. Suffice to say I watched them all in 2 nights...loved it. Saw the movie as well (to my surprise I got tickets for an over 21 theatre...lol they bring beers and food to your seat!). Anyway...Im hooked!

Im maybe a journyman modeler at best. I do model rockets, balsa planes and such. (although not in a long time) I have been lookin for a hobby as of late and thought this may be a cool if not daunting undertaking.

I would like to make a model to scale. Also I would like to create the interior as well...lol.

I have gathered many great floorplans, 3d models, dimensions and such.

I also read that the ship was pretty much actually created in whole for the show (saw this on DVD special features or somethin). This leads me to beleive that it could be done.

I guess my question is:

Are other attempting to do this.

If so, I'd like to setup a thread/website or whatever for peeps interested in sharing ideas about this :)

VOLUNTEER

Monday, October 24, 2005 3:46 AM

I have 40,000 Legos ready to go!

EMBERS

Monday, October 24, 2005 4:07 AM

well...I'm still thinking about a 3-D Serenity pillow....
mostly gray, w/the blue reflector/solar panels (what are those things?)
and shiny yellow in the aft 'burn' (what gives the Firefly it's name) section...
maybe embroider in Wash's face at the helm....
definitely embroider on the Serenity name on the side...
but who knows if it'll get beyond the planning stages.

**********************************************
watch the R. Tam Session vids: http://www.hittarivertam.nu/
and buy the 'Serenity' comics published by Dark Horse!

BKEATING

Monday, October 24, 2005 4:11 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Volunteer:
I have 40,000 Legos ready to go!

Lol I love Legos! I had a trunk, prolly had 1 ft of legos in it. Of course my mom tossed them.

"I swallowed a bug"

BKEATING

Monday, October 24, 2005 4:14 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by embers:
well...I'm still thinking about a 3-D Serenity pillow....
mostly gray, w/the blue reflector/solar panels (what are those things?)
and shiny yellow in the aft 'burn' (what gives the Firefly it's name) section...
maybe embroider in Wash's face at the helm....
definitely embroider on the Serenity name on the side...
but who knows if it'll get beyond the planning stages.

**********************************************
watch the R. Tam Session vids: http://www.hittarivertam.nu/
and buy the 'Serenity' comics published by Dark Horse!

Well, I, like you, have an idea. Know what though. Forget this planning crap! Just get goin on it. Thats what im gonna do :)

"I swallowed a bug"

CHRISISALL

Monday, October 24, 2005 9:43 PM

Already made a Serenity outta legos, but only needed about 40-50 of 'em (it weren't too big).
My kid liked it.

If nothing official comes out soon, I may have to do another out of cardboard ( before you go "What!?? " let me tell ya, you can make ANYTHING out of cardboard, plus Elmer's glue and tissues. You get the outside lookin' right with layers of cardboard glued to a cardboard frame, then stuff it with tissues all Elmered up, and when it dries, it's durable as steel, and good to play with! Acrylic paint is the final touch)

Chrisisall, the cardboard magician

BKEATING

Tuesday, October 25, 2005 3:54 AM

Hehe you guys rock. Ima get "elmered up" hehe. I do agree though, you can make anything with enough Elmers glue :)...Reminds me of a star wars quote..."the force is like duct tape...it has a light side and a dark side ...and holds the uneverse together...or somethin like that"

"I swallowed a bug"

JASMITH101

Sunday, October 30, 2005 5:26 AM

I've searched the net for a model and my search came up dry.

So, here are a few suggestions that may help you get started.

Get as many "hard copy" single frame shots of the ship as possible. Wide angles, "beauty shots," posters and what not. Go over them, but don't look at the ship as a whole, get in real close and check out the finer points and think about what they look like in other terms.

I think IMHO that the Serenity's engines look like the intakes of the engines on a passenger liner and the afterburners of a military jet fused together

You may find other bizzare similaritys along the lines of: The bridge windows look a bit like Cobra chopper windows laid flat.

The next part can be expensive, but it doesn't have to be. My Dad called it "Kit-Bashing." Basicly, that's where you are using a kit not for the finished model, but for a specific part to be used with another build. My Dad used to build modifyied hotrods the way full size rods would be. Model T kit, Corvette rear end, and so on. The best way to build up a supply of surplus kits is to frequent yard sales, swap meets, flea markets, salvage stores and the like. Another good source is the clearence bin or if your lucky a close out or going out of business sale. Some hobby shops like Games Workshop occasionaly hold damged goods auctions.

So, now we have a Goodyear blimp, a passenger liner, an F-1 race car, two F-18's and a helicopter sitting on our work bench. Put them together as you best see fit and have fun with the paint. For the finishing touches, the transfers from military models, especially the "danger blast area," ones from military jets. Those are allways fun. For some of the finer points, look into a company called "Detail Master." They have some truely amazing detailing parts. They primarily focus on model cars in the 1/24th variety, but don't let that stop you from checking out their scale rubber and braided hoses.

Lastly, to wrap this up, let me offer the best piece of advice any modeler can use. One that I've needed reminding of in the past:

A hobby is supposed to fun. If you find yourself becomming frustrated with it due to a difficulty, stop. You are doing yourself and the work you are creating no justice. Put it a way for a bit and think it over. When you come back to it, you will return with fresh insight that will most likely help you overcome your difficulties.

(Oh yeah, and watch out for those X-acto's, they're sharp! )

"Look, you're only gonna scare him. . ."
"Pain is scary."

DONCOAT

Sunday, October 30, 2005 1:39 PM

I have a friend who's a former professional modelbuilder (he made highly detailed aircraft models for wind tunnel testing, e.g.)

We've been discussing the possibility of doing a fairly large scale Serenity model (well, probably two). 1" to 10' gives a 17" model; but he's pushing for a larger scale -- maybe 3 feet.

In addition, I've contacted several other modelbuilders online about making me a Serenity under contract. I've gotten far enough to know that the project will be EXPENSIVE and time consuming -- one guy mentioned 14-16 months. The more detailed and complex the model (with illumination, moving parts, etc) the higher the cost.

One of these builders had an interesting idea: do not one, but several "kits" for Serenity, which could be passed along to other interested modelers to defray the cost. They would be a combination of styrene and resin parts, and not for the casual modeler. I'd guess they would not be highly detailed, just the basic structure that could then be detailed and finished.

I've ordered the "Stormbringer" 3D CAD model from www.3d-palace.com which should be a great resource for grabbing dimensions and making templates. It runs on the "3DS Max" CAD program, which I'm learning how to use.

Other issues: a Serenity model is really three models (Serenity and two shuttles). You have to decide whether to go with the TV Serenity or the movie Serenity or even the unusual variant seen in the movie (no plot spoiler!). You have to decide how much detail to try to include -- it never ends! You have to decide whether to try to include interiors (bridge, cargo hold, dining area). You have to decide whether you want a landed Firefly (with landing gear down) or a spaced Firefly (possibly with drive panels open), or one that can be shown either way.

In other words, this is not a small project! But I'm going to pursue it and see what I can come up with.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ain't about you, Jayne. It's about what they need.

ME

Sunday, November 13, 2005 3:13 AM

"I would like to make a model to scale. Also I would like to create the interior as well...lol.

I have gathered many great floorplans, 3d models, dimensions and such.

I also read that the ship was pretty much actually created in whole for the show (saw this on DVD special features or somethin). This leads me to beleive that it could be done.

I guess my question is:

Are other attempting to do this.

If so, I'd like to setup a thread/website or whatever for peeps interested in sharing ideas about this :)"

As it happens, I'm Attempting a Model in 1:72 Scale (will be roughly 80cm)

At the moment, my best Refference has been various Photos and Screen-Grabs, but if you have anything better, would you be able to Post them here, or do you have an E-Mail Address that we could swap Info with?? :-)

"Ah, the pitter patter of tiny feet in huge combat boots"

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