[MOC] Imperial Shuttle

[Corydoras]

...or My Little UCS (kinda).

At last, the parts I was missing arrived and I was able to finish it. I’ve been working too long on this MOC, which I built as a tribute to dmac’s version of the shuttle that eventually, after some tweaks, became an official set. The much smaller scale made designing it pretty challenging.

It’s roughly the size of the original set from 2001 and mostly childproof. Initially I wanted it to be Palpatine’s personal shuttle with its distinct grey stripe on the front of the cockpit, but couldn’t find a way to separate hinge plates and make them two-color.

The wings do fold out, the double blaster cannons move as they should. The landing gear is only for show and must be removed manually when going into “flight mode”. The model lacks a boarding ramp, but the small non-minifig scale makes it redundant anyway.

Looks way better in person than on these poor quality photos. My X-Wing was somehow easier to shoot...

http://orig13.deviantart.net/4e82/f/2015/277/3/e/imperial_shuttle_01_by_goshi_kun-d9bwfna.png

http://orig14.deviantart.net/3e5f/f/2015/277/7/4/imperial_shuttle_02_by_goshi_kun-d9bwfti.png

http://orig03.deviantart.net/714e/f/2015/277/4/5/imperial_shuttle_03_by_goshi_kun-d9bwfxi.png

http://orig04.deviantart.net/574e/f/2015/277/c/5/imperial_shuttle_04_by_goshi_kun-d9bwg6x.png

http://orig11.deviantart.net/179b/f/2015/277/5/d/imperial_shuttle_05_by_goshi_kun-d9bwgi9.png

http://orig06.deviantart.net/9931/f/2015/277/9/4/imperial_shuttle_06_by_goshi_kun-d9bwgm9.png

http://orig08.deviantart.net/4059/f/2015/277/3/0/imperial_shuttle_07_by_goshi_kun-d9bwgsz.png

http://orig00.deviantart.net/a7ca/f/2015/277/3/c/imperial_shuttle_08_by_goshi_kun-d9bwh2b.png

http://orig05.deviantart.net/428f/f/2015/277/a/e/imperial_shuttle_09_by_goshi_kun-d9bwhcx.png

http://orig09.deviantart.net/fdd9/f/2015/277/3/2/imperial_shuttle_10_by_goshi_kun-d9bwhiw.png

Comments and critiques appreciated!

[Raskolnikov]

Looks good, and the proportions are right on.

I don't suppose you're able to take any comparison shots next to the newest shuttle set? I'd be interested to see the size difference.

If I had a suggestion, it'd be to try something with wedge plates on the sides of the cockpit --- might close that gap at the hinge. It might also result in some exposed studs, though.

[Fuppylodders]

The body looks really good, and the cockpit looks really good. I understand how it is difficult to get rid of that gap at small scale. Either that or studs, or wedge plates with tiles which at that scale will look weird.

But the cockpit and body together look out of proportion. The cockpit is too big, or the body is too small...

[Corydoras]

Seems about right to me.

[LegoPercyJ]

Looks great!

[Kristof]

Very nice! Redagrding the debated disproportion. I agree that the cockpit is slightly bigger in all directions but it's especially accented at it's front. Not greatly off, maybe about one stud. But in this scale it's quite remarkable.

Great MOC though!

[Kman860]

  On 10/6/2015 at 4:38 PM, Fuppylodders said:

The body looks really good, and the cockpit looks really good. I understand how it is difficult to get rid of that gap at small scale. Either that or studs, or wedge plates with tiles which at that scale will look weird.

But the cockpit and body together look out of proportion. The cockpit is too big, or the body is too small...

  On 10/6/2015 at 5:42 PM, Corydoras said:

<snip>

Seems about right to me.

The body is just a touch too small, but still looks great

[Corydoras]

At this scale it's as accurate as it can be. If I decided to make the body bigger, I'd have to increase the size of the wings, using slopes not available in any set.

[Kman860]

  On 10/9/2015 at 8:00 PM, Corydoras said:

At this scale it's as accurate as it can be. If I decided to make the body bigger, I'd have to increase the size of the wings, using slopes not available in any set.

I know I enjoy miniscale building a lot, and I know how hard it can be to get things in th right scale at this size.