USS Atlantis Build Blog

Priming the UFO-MS

USS Atlantis — Fri, 06 May 2011 00:44:48 +0000

Aves has dried, seam scrapper/file/sandpaper applied and she gets her first primer coat

In case you’re wondering; my painting station consists of a glass topped table, a lazy susan covered with plain paper (some old pin-fed computer paper that I still have a couple cases of here) and a pair of 2″ diameter PVC pipe lengths

Paint used is Tamiya Gray Primer in the spray can

UFOMS Update

USS Atlantis — Sun, 01 May 2011 17:53:28 +0000

Well, main assembly is done – told you it wasn’t a complex build

Just two areas that need some putty work

1) Where the forward section joins the main hull – the main hull cutout has a nice flat profile; however the molds are showing their age as the rear insert of the forward section is slightly curved

2) The rear panel isn’t quite the same size as the area it goes on – course if I remember the one I did back in the 70′s, it was the same case back then; chalk it up to AMT’s “wonderful” production

Starting another quickie

USS Atlantis — Sun, 01 May 2011 14:57:17 +0000

While I wait for the different paint colors on the Ticonderoga to dry, I decided to get a start on what will be a fairly quick build

This is going to be a quick assemble of the Interplanetary UFO Mystery Ship

I’m going to paint it – and I’ll be doing a test of my ability to create custom decals

Step one – The parts – ya, that’s all of them, it’s NOT a complex build

Onward and ‘seaward’

USS Atlantis — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 22:53:44 +0000

Getting back to the Ticonderoga – got the main hull color on and a start on the first of the 3 other colors to give it the “Measure 33, Design 10A” dazzle pattern she had in WW-II

TSR-2 Complete

USS Atlantis — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:35:14 +0000

Yes, I finished this finally – and here are some shots – better ones later when I have the time to properly set up my photo area

TSR-2 One step and done

USS Atlantis — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 01:45:00 +0000

Painting finished, time to bring it downstairs and top coat it

Then the last couple clear pieces get installed

TSR-2 Finish line in sight

USS Atlantis — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 21:32:45 +0000

Ok, so I did add some more decals – the ventral side was looking bare

And I needed a couple more coats of the Clear Orange on the canopy windows – and install the canopies – and paint the white areas of the canopies (whew!)

Anyway – here she is, almost ready for clear-coating – a bit more painting of the white areas of the canopies with the 10/0 brush loaded with Flat-White then she’s done

Close view of canopy, overall dorsal and a high-nose shot

Airbrush ready

USS Atlantis — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 15:27:26 +0000

Finally got all the pieces put together – on a budget no less

Compressor – Harbor Freight – $40
Water Trap – Home Depot – $12
Airline – Michaels – $21
Nipples – True Value – $2.50

Total cost to get a compressor and connect to my Badger 200/250 brushes

$75

Not too shabby, if I do say so

Now back to our regularly scheduled building

Slow progress

USS Atlantis — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:38:32 +0000

I’m just about finished with the TSR-2 decals – or should I say they just about finished me – there are HOARDS of tiny little decals that go everyplace

No, I did not put them all on – but I’ve put the major ones and about 1/2 of the minor ones on

Sometime this week, downstairs it goes to get it’s top-coat

Pics when that dries

And the buying continues

USS Atlantis — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 15:45:48 +0000

My replacement air-valve for the Badger 200 showed up yesterday – today took it down and ran some tests using nearly the last of my canned air

Good 2″ coverage, good 1/8″ line work – great all set

Uh-oh

Silly me – I have the wrong connector on my compressor (ya, had it for a year, haven’t used it yet)

So it’s a trip to Hub Hobby to get the right connector, and maybe a couple more bottles and a new draw-tube as well