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UPDATE 151006
The second prototype skeleton has been completed. Changes involved reworking the support
boom and assembly. 1/4" square brass tubing will be uesd- a 'T' shape (side mounting points and boom support) and another
section on the ventral spar for mounting the model on the base. They are attached to the
main support structure with Epoxy on this prototype. Another 1/4" brass tube will be in the drive section support plate. 3/6"
Square brass tubing will be cast inside the resin boom kit part to socket in both sections. This will also allow wiring to
pass throughthe model if the builder wishes to add lights.
| Revised Prototype |
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| Front Mount Detail - (Connecting Boom Removed) |
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| Drive Section Support Plate Mount |
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Below are images of the first prototype skeleton in an assembly mock-up. This is the first
test of the design and several problems arose. It was revised and I am leaving these images in for a while so you can see
how things changed.
| View-1 |
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| View-1 |
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| Detail of Mounting Points |
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Below is a link to a set of side view blueprints of both 18" & 9" ships in scale. If you were to print
the linked JPG without size to fit page enabled it would work out as a full scale reference. These are line drawing references
generated from reference photos used to design the skeleton. The features are 'roughed in', showing general placement of features
and shapes. This will act as a guide for building the master's main features, but are not an absolute. Parts and details will
be determined from every available photo, not just this single view.
| Working Blueprint - Both Ships |
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Below is the first sketch of the military version of the EF-76. Following the established Rebel approach
of stripping vessels and modifying them for specific tasks I went backwards to the original. They can never stand toe to toe
with an Imperial vessel, the tactics are more hit and run, depending on speed and surprise. The rebel version was a ship with
only essential parts. The original EF-76 was designed as an escort frigate, protecting ships under it's care. I covered most
of the exposed ventral spar equipment with armor and added three turrets along the front edge on each side. They can pivot
90 degress for broadsides. I also covered the support boom in a hexagonal plating arrangement and added two point defense
turrets. This is like the Y-Wing strip down in reverse- I don't think the Republic/Empire would have a thin support with exposed
greebly on a combat vessel. I smoothed over with additional plating the drive section, added a sensor sphere and the hanger
in the forward hull. I kept the docking tube but protected it and added two side docking ports as well.
On the upper
front of the main hull are the doors to the Hanger Bay. They roll back to reveal a launch bay with TIE fighters on racks
(10 per side, 20 total), a shuttle landing platform and observation windows with doors on the back wall. The Republic version
will have V-Wing racks. The descriptions mention that the EF-76 holds a flight of TIE's and I figured the 'fresh water
storage' on the call-outs was a natural. A medical ship would not need the large hanger bay and plating it over and filling
it with precious water seemed a logical adaptation.
This is not by any means a final on this variant- it is the very first
sketch of the different ideas I was considering to use. I wanted a sleeker, more flowing shape over the classic profile and
one which reflected the established canon and EU designs already seen.
| Military Version - Sketch #1 |
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