[SoNE Freebuild 7.2] - The Flying Rays

[Kodan Black]

It has been several months since my complaints about not getting any real action. Hard to even believe I ever felt that way. Since then the increase in both pirate and rebel activity is astonishing. We've had to pull short sleep shifts just to keep enough TIE presence in our sector. The officers seem to be unsure of whether this is just raiding our transports and freighters for supplies or something bigger.

Now when I walk into our squadron's ready room I don't have that uneasy feeling of not belonging; it has become routine. As I walk in today I see a service droid cleaning the table and an intelligence officer checking on the latest reports. I'm a proud member of 4th Squadron - TIE Interceptors: The Flying Rays. One of the hallmarks of our squadron is that our techs always seem to get the most out of an engine and we seem to consistently have the fastest TIEs. That little speed advantage has proved invaluable in so many combat sorties... getting to the action faster to save a comrade or in dog-fighting. It is like they say: Speed kills!

The days are not easy, both the rebels and pirates pose a constant threat. Stealing cargo or whole ships, inevitably we know that whatever they take will be used against us. I've been ordered to not "finish combat" against any opponents in the hopes that we might capture a pilot and gain information. I know what my reputation is, but I also know how little we pilots really know about the big picture. I wouldn't want to end up a prisoner, who knows what the rebels would do to me; so I allow my enemies a swift end in combat as it should be.

As I walk in I catch site of "the hat". Once you've proven yourself in combat you get to wear it for a week around the ship; a tradition sufficiently old that no one even remembers where it started. You can always tell the new crew members aboard ship as they always either ask you about the hat or give a weird look. The pilots, even those in other squadrons with their own traditions, know ... we share a bond that you just can't explain. Once you've worn that hat you earn the right to have other pilots learn your name. I remember well the feeling of that hat and how different everyone in my squadron saw me once I had proven myself worthy of it.

"The hat" sits right near the doorway to the gantries that take us to our TIEs. A reminder of where our focus needs to be as we head out, and the red and white warnings are a signal to all non-pilots not to enter. That is our domain.

I'm so engrossed in reading after-action reports, maintenance logs, and general Empire news that I hardly even realize that other pilots have arrived. Dez talks to an intelligence officer to find out what he can about recent trends and what to be prepared for. Arseneau is using the computers to do research of his own. He has never been very social, I like flying with him though as his radio transmissions are always short and to the point. The droid is fortunately not bothering me just yet asking if it can clear my cup. I suspect he is secretly eyeing Arseneau's temporarily abandoned cup and plotting how to remove it without being verbally abused. I suspect Tom is getting a few extra minutes of sleep. He always says that is the best preparation he can do.

In mere minutes all of this will be forgotten and I'll be cocooned in my cockpit, alone with my thoughts aside from the occasional radio chatter. Will today be the day a rebel fleet shows up or will we be dulled by tedium. Dez is convinced something bigger is coming, but I'm not so sure. It seems more harassing than probing us and I'm not sure the rebels will change tactics to a stand up fight. It isn't really their style.

OoC: Build overall:

Please critique and judge.

[GuyDudeMan27]

This is a great build! It really feels like an imperial base. I love the story you have told, especially about the hat and the droid. It really makes you wonder if the empire really is the bad guy here. The build itself is very solid, and really gives off the vibe that you are in a ready room. The door looks very good and fits the universe very well. The door to the hanger, though, looks a little soulless. It would've looked cooler if you had matched both doors. I'm interested in seeing what happens next, especially with the Tie Interceptors. I built cornwailles version and it look beautiful

[MKJoshA]

You show all of us exactly how amazing a build using only older bricks can be! Incredible work with a limited palate. Your talent puts us all to shame! Had you been building 6-7 years ago you would have been building MOCs that would have made Lego fans drool with envy! (oh wait, there is some drooling going on here )

[Kodan Black]

The door to the hanger, though, looks a little soulless. It would've looked cooler if you had matched both doors.

It is supposed to be a dark hallway without a door, I kinda was disappointed in how it turned out. My main issue was that I literally had no more gray bricks to use for the hallway. I really wanted to build at least a stub one, but I just ran out.

Thanks for the feedback thus far!

[goatman461]

Great job. The story perfectly suits the purpose of SoNE, showing the day-to-day of the characters. It has great detail (especially about the droid and the hat) and shows the proper tone, IMHO. I'm really looking forward to seeing how your builds evolve over the next few episodes.

I'm not crazy about the arrow on the floor or the "four" on the right. The "four" on the left seems to fit into the wall much better. Otherwise, I think you did a great job incorporating the red/white striped bricks, the stingray/blue flags (...which is amazing), and the blue stripe in the wall. Don't be afraid to leave out the base to save on bricks. If you use the right surface, it will blend right in to the scene. Also, great job on the photography, but try not to cut out portions of the bricks in the editing process (as in the last pic).

I do hope you get some fleshies for Christmas; those yellow heads are horrendous. Right MKJoshA?

[MKJoshA]

I do hope you get some fleshies for Christmas; those yellow heads are horrendous. Right MKJoshA?

We are already fighting over whether the Empire is good or evil, do we really need to escalate the fight to include yellows vs fleshies? I mean, there's no contest there. Obviously yellows are the only way to go!

[Kodan Black]

Also, great job on the photography, but try not to cut out portions of the bricks in the editing process (as in the last pic).

That was me attempting to hide the non-gray bricks that back the gray wall to prevent light leaking. I actually messed up on the 3rd pic and you can see some "behind the scenes" on the far left. I try to solely back the scenes with black so even if it somehow showed through it would just appear dark, but sometimes I use other colors when low on black. I have some new ideas on things to use to block the light though going forward that may help. Hopefully I can keep steadily raising the caliber of builds/posts to keep up with the group. You guys have some pretty inspiring builds, I even float to the other forums because I like to try and glean new building techniques.

I mean, there's no contest there. Obviously yellows are the only way to go!

Correct. I have acquired via Bricklink many new SW Yellow minifigs. I have quite a few fleshies, but the best you can hope for is seeing their torsos/legs with proper yellow hands and head. Sorry, I just don't like the fleshies, I'm disappointed TLG went in that direction.

[bjj8383]

Interesting set... I like the hat.

[Shadows of Nar Eurbrikka]

Judges have awarded you 3 XP!

[Kodan Black]

Thank you!