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In lugnet.space, Tim Courtney writes:
> "Zac Soden" <zac_soden@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:GF3DH9.HCy@lugnet.com...
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I have just finished disassembling all of my models and had my sights set on
> > a big dropship. I started trying to build it but it just isn't happening. I
> > don't yet have the skill to beef it out properly. Having a small brick
> > collection ddoesn't help, either.
> > Can anyone please give me some tips on how to build the bigger models. I
> > think for now I'll go down a size and make something else...
>
> Hehe...this after just spending a weekend building on two different large
> spaceships using two different building techniques. Let me try to answer :-)
>
> Ok, the way I see it, is there are two ways to build big. Both of those ways
> need one thing though - structural stability. When you design a large ship, you
> need it to withstand the forces of gravity we are subjected to here on Earth,
> because, even if you don't design a ship to land, fact is, we're on Earth and so
> is your model. I'll give the two extremes as I see them, and then my happy
> medium at the end.
>
> 1) Bricks, bricks, bricks. These large models use mass quantites of larger
> bricks (2xn) to stay together. It usually ends up looking rather blocky unless
> you put what I like to call 'space crap' or what others call 'greeblies' on the
> outer surface. These are parts to make the ship look high tech, they're easy to
> do but there's also an art to them. When you have a large ship, you must have a
> strong base (which the ship sits on), and a strong way of supporting the upper
> deck(s). Brick walls are the strongest way to do that, and the thing that
> strengthens brick walls is ribbing them with supports.
>
> Basic ribbing the way I do it is lay a 2x4, then lay a 2x3 rotated 90 from the
> 2x4, so it sticks out 1 stud from that 2 wide surface, lay another 2x4 and
> repeat. The next layer, brick the 2xn wall over the 2x3 so it leaves a 1x2
> footprint exposed, fill with a 1x2 there and then go back to the way you did the
> first layer. So, it alternates and gets this 2x3 support integrated into the
> wall. Doing this every 4 studs makes an incredibly strong wall (the master
> builders use a variation of this technique on their large buildings). You'll
> see that on the shuttlebay (brick enclosure) of my latest capship probably
> coming out in a couple weeks (half done)
>
> 2) Panels and hinges. Here's the opposite extreme - have a few brick structures
> tying in a bunch of panels and hinges to build the outer skin of the ship. You
> still need structural stability, but that's often hidden inside. Having panels
> and using hinges to mount them gives a much more interesting shape, and lends to
> the SNOT or 'Studs Not On Top' building style. These ships are very lightweight
> compared to the brick ships, but they don't take a beating like the brick ones
> do. You have to be very careful to keep the panels on and if its on display you
> might have to fix it often due to inquisitive hands. This style lends to the
> most interesting ship designs, but often the weakest, unless done right.
3) Buid a frame out of technic! I think I'd always do this, but I'm biased -
well over 90% of my collection is technic (but that is changing!)
Regards
ROSCO
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Building big
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| "Ross Crawford" <rcrawford@csi.com> wrote in message news:GF3Jn4.7pI@lugnet.com... (...) I'd love to have enough technic to build a frame first. I've always wanted to design a ship this way. I still integrate technic beams with the bricks and keep (...) (23 years ago, 18-Jun-01, to lugnet.space, lugnet.loc.au)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Building big
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| "Zac Soden" <zac_soden@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:GF3DH9.HCy@lugnet.com... (...) Hehe...this after just spending a weekend building on two different large spaceships using two different building techniques. Let me try to answer :-) Ok, the (...) (23 years ago, 17-Jun-01, to lugnet.space, lugnet.loc.au)
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