scratch The Junkster Pod Racer

[tiking]

1. The 'Junkster' Pod Racer



Hi all. It's been a while since my last build. I have started on another build taking another break from truck building, while gathering thoughts for my next one. I have several in mind but I am trying to figure out which one to choose and how to proceed. 'Till then, I am working on a pod racer. Yes, another one. For some reason I have a think for these machines. I also planning on a big spaceship build after this build. We'll see. Anyways, Here are pics of the progress so far. We will see how it turns out.



The concept of this build is simple. It is an older model that has been rebuilt from scrap using various metal and machine components, hence, the name, The 'Junkster'. So It is going to be weathered to show the old age and extensive usage. Fits me just right.



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2. Most of you guys may already know what parts I am using here already. It's from a 1/32 F-15E fighter jet. I had no drawings, just planning as I build. I have lots of parts(lots), as you can see in the pics blow:











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3. This will be the body of the engines. Or should I say the fuselage. As you can see, I've already started adding the details to it. Majority of the parts are taken from other kits. Makes things easy for me, as time is always of the essence.

[tiking]

Adding the small details. The small details makes the electro attachments(not sure what they are called. just going with the flow) come to life. Added some styrene in certain areas.

[tiking]

I'm going to add some bits and pieces at the rear of the fuselage, to make it look busy.

















Added short oval shape styrene on both sides of the fuselage for a total of 6 short lengths.

[tiking]

Some more exterior detailing on the fuselage. Styrene stripping on the sides lading up to the front. Added parts from a missile at both front corner ends of the fuselage.

Added a couple details under the both sides of the fuselage. I will not be adding a lot of details on the bottom as it will not be easily visible for viewing anyway. I also think the amount of detail on the fuselage already as it is on the underside is just right and does not need too much attention.

[tiking]

These will be air and maintainance vent panels, which will be displayed open, to display some of the details inside. These are just the original F-15E doors that came with the original fighter plane, as you plane enthusiast might already know what I'm talking about.





I've already painted on of the panels to test how it will look.


These particular panel doors were taken from a stryker model. I seem to have lots of these parts lying around back when I was scratch building AFV models.


The braking flap. This will be left in the open position as to give the entire model character when it finally placed on its mounting baseboard.

[Poseidon690]

Hello,

It's just huuuuuggge !!!   

[tiking]

8. Did some more detailing at the rear to cover up that flat piece of styrene I had added to fill the huge gap in the fuselage. Added some bits and pieces to make the rear end look busy enough to keep the viewer interested.

[tiking]

9. I had to find a way to conceal those two exhaust vents out the back without getting too intricate with the overall look. So I opted to add some sort of vent metal meshes then make some covers to cut direct view into the exhaust. So I came up with these two methods you see in the pics below.



These will be the vents angled downwards. I added a little mechanism to both sides to give the impression that the vents can be folded upwards at right angle for a horizontal exit.

The covers added:

[tiking]

10. I have already started working on the pod itself. It has already been painted(my apologies. Stress for time). I used a Tamiya F60 Ferrari as the base for my pod. The design was just what I wanted. After all, why go throught the effort of scratch building when avaible models will do half the job for you. For me, what whatever works, use it. That's how the Millinium Falcom was built. The color used is a Automotive base coat reddish color. My choice of color is going to be this color, white and black.

[tiking]

11. I made my own seatbelts by using yellow tape from Tamiya, but we all know its made for Tamiya by scotch brand tape. Very please with it too. I used the one with the smaller width.

[tiking]

12. These parts will be add around the pilot compartment. These are parts taken from old bike kits. I know. Somtimes I just buys kits that has potential of being doner kits.




13. This is gong to be the jet propulsion that will be added to the back of the pod. I got it from another jet fighter doner. See. These doner kits are paying off.



How it looks installed. Not looking all that great but inside of this is not so trivial to the end results.

[tiking]

14. Now due to the underside of the jet exhaust not completely clearing the bottom of the pod, it sticks out some millimeters from the base of the pod itself. So I had to find a way to accommodate the bottom plate that will cover the bottom half of the pod. So I came up with this idea. I just took a piece of styrene and cut it according to the curvy design of the bottom half of the pod, and then measured the width and length of the jet exhaust and cut out the area around where the exhaust will be. The result is what you see below:



My free hand cutting was not perfect but all this will be hidden in the final results.

[tiking]

15. Here are the parts that I've laid out, trying to decide what to use for the Electro Attachments on the pod. These will be connected by a long cable to the the engines itself. I wanted something cool, simple, yet high-tech looking. So I had to puzzle the parts to together and this is what I came up with.



The parts I chose to reprent the Electro Attachments.



Here are the parts disassembled and assembled just to give you an idea of the pieces involved.



Now the assembled piece. There will be one on each side of the pod.

[tiking]

16. Slowly adding the parts to the bottom half of the rod. Choosing odd bits of small components does bring alive the under half of this pod.

[tiking]

17. Did some painting of the bottom engine half of the pod. I think it's starting to look like a machine rather than lots of plastic. Well, that's just me, trying to be positive.



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18. Took the fan from a left over truck build. Since I build trucks, I have a few of these lying around. Painted it black and dried brush it with silver. I am pleased the way it came out.

[tiking]

19. I think I like the results of the bottom. Although, it will be visible, but one would have to bend their head just a little to look underneath. The details would be sufficient. Or maybe I should just add a mirror just under the pod. We'll see.



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[tiking]

20. Finally threw some paint on the fuselage to give me more inspiration to carry on. As I was a little skeptical about this was coming along. So far, so good. I think. I first used a charcoal black color from Citadel, then an automobile dark reddish color as the base.





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21. I added an extra detail to the Electro attachments on the engines to add more interest to the fuselage. There will be a tiny cable, along with the bigger one, that connects this attachment point with the other smaller one on the pod. For me, the more detail, the better.

[tiking]

22. So I started working on the fuselage intakes. Nothing too complicated or advanced, but I thought a slick design would work well for this old beast, even though it is an out-dated design and/or engine. I saved about anything that looks it might work for me in any future builds. I am an asthmatic, so I have lots of these canister lying around. I knew one day they will come in handy. I Still contemplating the design aspect of this section of the build. Will have to do more testing on the over all look later. But so far, this is what I have.

[tiking]

23. Painting the external intakes on the fuselage.





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24. Added the Electro Attachments to the pod.It's starting to take shape.

[tiking]

25. The overall look, so far on this pod. I think it is starting to look descent enough. Still contemplating the components surrounding the seating compartment. We'll see if I will use both or one or just leave it off entirely.



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26. The painting is done on the area surrounding the intakes. Will be doing some dry-brushing later on them.