MOC: Mini-scale Imperial Landing Craft

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

I love mini-scale polybags, because they let me get Star Wars starships in a more manageable size. So with TFA coming and the announcement of at least one polybag (the First Order TIE Fighter), I decided to whip something together....

I think it still needs some work. I did make it so that the front hatch actually opens (and I wish I had some Games-scale Stormtroopers to put in there). I don't like how the back turned out, but I'm not sure how to duplicate the thrusters in mini-scale since they go at an angle. I'm also not 100% sold on the tower using the mailbox element, but it was the best solution I had with the parts available.

If anyone has any thoughts for improvement, let me know. I love mini-scale and would love to see more TFA sets in polybags in the future.

[YellowCorvette]

Good try for a small-sized First Order Transporter, but I think this model still needs some improvements. The tower is too big and the way you did the engine thrusters looks very unfinished and very fragile. I don't mean that I hate it, but with some improvements, it can be better.

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Thanks. I was hoping someone could give some suggestions on how to get angled thrusters at that scale. The minifig-sized craft obviously has a lot more freedom to get four thrusters tilted at that angle and I'm not sure how to do that here.

[Backgild]

I'm a big fan of mini-scale, and I'm impressed with the details that you've been able to replicate from the minifig scaled version. I'll concur with the others that have said that the tower is too big. For reference, the micro machines version might give you a better idea on the proportions, because I think the full size version is not quite long enough as well. For the thrusters, try these:

http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=43857&idColor=86#T=C&C=86

With a one stud connection, you can angle them, and I think they'll look about as accurate as you can get at this scale.

[rollermonkey]

I think the mailbox is just about perfect for the tower. Sure, it's a little big, but if you stretch the length a bit, to be more in keeping with the right proportions, It sould work even better.

As for the engines... what if you used 1x2 DBG plates and 1x2 trans blue tiles, centered on some SNOTted 1x2 or 2x2 DBG jumper plates? You can center the plate on the jumper and rotate to the correct angle.

Edited September 9, 2015 by rollermonkey

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

I modded the tower last night (I'll have to upload pics later, probably tomorrow). I switched the mailbox for some 2x2 SNOT (downward) pieces, and then I put 1x1 black cheese wedges on the front side to replicate the black screen in front of the tower. (I'd have used 1x2 cheeses, but I don't have any in black.) I suppose a black 2x2 plate could work as well, but the tower window seems to have an angled aspect to it that I wanted to replicate. I think it looks better, but you be the judge when I get around to uploading pics. I'll have to try rollermonkey's jumper plate method and see if that works. I have plenty of 1x2 trans blue tiles, so that's an option. I hate that the thrusters are so flat on the large-scale ship.