[MOC] Incom T-65 x-wing (heavy modifications of Inthert's design)

[Hold0511]

They are hard to notice tbh, so I could live with both changes as they can't be seen from any other angle.

[Gray_Mouser]

Ok, this time I am done with version 1.0.

I have applied the patch I mentioned before, I brought back the targetting computer, and I am pleased to report that the result could be considered as mildly swooshable (but I'd advised against it). Actually, the xwing fell off a makeshift stand, nose first, and the only damage was that the rods of the lower guns detached. And the wings, which were deployed, closed.

For the next version (which is a long way away), I'll try to fix the following issues:

- the cone wheel I used as greebling on the top is very loosely attached on the plate below it. I dunno if the wheel I got is faulty, or if it is normal. I'll try to find something else.

- the front landing gear is gone, I'll make a removable one. I have ideas, but I just don't have the bricks. For now the xwing will stay on its stand. That's the way I like it anyway, with its wings deployed.

- I don't like the transition from the canopy to the nose fuselage. It should be smooth. I'm not sure it can be done without serious modifications

- I'm not happy with the interior of the engines (the white shows through the turbine)

- sturdiness issues (there are modifications I could apply right away, but I don't have the bricks)

- the gun cross sections should be circular, not square

- the nose should stay up by itself. The solution I used almost seems like cheating

 

Overall, I must say I'm very happy with the current result though. I'll make a final series of pictures next week end when the light is good.

Finally, I'll modify the instructions because the previous version is a bit embarassing really. I don't think I'll make them public though. The next versions could be a very long way off though.

However if you are interested, I'll send the instructions and the LDD file to you if you promise not to share them. The point is that I'll release them to everyone when I'm done for good. Be aware that it is challenging to build though.

So don't hesitate to make yourself known here, because when I'm gone (probably in a couple of weeks), I dunno when I'll return. If you could make comments on what you like, and more importantly what you dislike, it would be even better.

[Hold0511]

Look forward to the pics of the mods - for the starter MOCer like myself this is such an amazing build and is so inspiring...if you are happy to share the LDD/instructions etc I would certainly commit not to share. 

[Gray_Mouser]

There seems to be very little interest for the LDD file and for the instructions. I don't blame you, there are plenty of great xwing MOCs out there. But for this reason, it seems like a waste of time to polish the instructions like I had intended to.

I'm a man of my word though. I have updated the LDD file, and made some comments on the old instructions. The instructions are outdated, but they should still help. The LDD file should be enough though (I'll make sure the bricks are grouped correctly).

I'll send a private message with a temporary link to the files to those of you who did express interest.

Since last time I also did the following:

- the front landing gear is back (but not retractable)

- the wheel I used as greebling on top of the spacecraft is now attached solidly

- the transition between the canopy and the fuselage is much smoother

I'll try to make pictures tomorrow.

[ProvenceTristram]

Not a fan of the cockpit. What is gained on the roundabouts is lost on the swings.

[Gray_Mouser]

5 minutes ago, ProvenceTristram said:

Not a fan of the cockpit. What is gained on the roundabouts is lost on the swings.

I'm afraid I don't understand... Roundabouts? Swings? Are they nicknames for some parts? I'd really be grateful if you could explain, honest feedback is really appreciated!

[ProvenceTristram]

54 minutes ago, Gray_Mouser said:

I'm afraid I don't understand... Roundabouts? Swings? Are they nicknames for some parts? I'd really be grateful if you could explain, honest feedback is really appreciated!

It's a colloquialism. It means that, in attempting to do one thing, you have sacrificed from another, and in the process the net gain is either neutral or negative. In this case, in trying to achieve a more accurate cockpit shape, you've produced something that jumps out glaringly at the viewer in such a way as to draw attention to its discordance. Lego simply doesn't produce a fine enough set of parts to believably achieve a crafted cockpit in this scale - the shaft pieces are too bulky to be the outline of a glass canopy. It's just my fifty cents, but I think you'd be better off incorporating one of the stock cockpit pieces.

Edited November 19, 2016 by ProvenceTristram

[Gray_Mouser]

29 minutes ago, ProvenceTristram said:

It's a colloquialism. It means that, in attempting to do one thing, you have sacrificed from another, and in the process the net gain is either neutral or negative.

I see. I've learned something new :-)

29 minutes ago, ProvenceTristram said:

In this case, in trying to achieve a more accurate cockpit shape, you've produced something that jumps out glaringly at the viewer in such a way as to draw attention to its discordance. Lego simply doesn't produce a fine enough set of parts to believably achieve a crafted cockpit in this scale - the shaft pieces are too bulky to be the outline of a glass canopy. It's just my fifty cents, but I think you'd be better off incorporating one of the stock cockpit pieces.

No problem. As I said, honest feedback is appreciated. I'd be curious to know if more people prefer brick canopies or glass canopies. It seems there is no general consensus on this matter. For instance, Inthert and All in the Reflexes used bricks, while Psiaki and dmaclego used the lego glass ones.

I for one stand by the choice to make the canopy out of bricks. Now if only lego could be bothered to make one whose shape is accurate, it could be different. I mean, come on, the last one is larger at the front than at the rear... What were they thinking?

But the shafts do look too thick, I agree. I got rid of the shafts with cored knob (92690) in mine though. I daresay it looks better now, but I don't think it'll be enough to convince you :-)

Edited November 19, 2016 by Gray_Mouser

[Gray_Mouser]

You'll find a series of pictures of the final version here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskH13nM3

 

I'm happy to report that I've been much too cautious when I said it shouldn't be swooshed. Don't grab it by the nose and you should be fine (the center of gravity is near the bulge behind the pilot anyway, so it would be a bad idea regardless of the sturdiness of the model). And I prove it:

 

Those who asked for the files should have received them.

Since I've fixed the issues that annoyed me the most, I'm not sure at all I'll work on this again. It's been a time sink and it wasn't exactly cheap either (but you probably guessed that).

Gray Mouser, out!

[Hold0511]

Super job and thanks G_M for the file - this is a fantastic build and it looks great!  I can see the weekend ahead will be digging out the parts I have and then hitting BL hard...

A lovely ship like this is never going to be cheap - but its worth it.

[cehnot]

I have to beg and say that what Mike Psiaki, Inthert, and you have done to the models have been unique at best. I looked at the 3d model and had a difficult time modifying your internal structure to get that front end stronger. After 50 hours or so I realized I rebuilt the entire frame. I will post pictures in its own topic and not crowd your's. I did, however begin with the wings and rebuilt them in areas that actually made them stronger. I also reshaped them a bit to fit the EFX models Lucasfilm released and Nexus X-Wing that is considered the most accurate since he found all the original kit bashing parts and rebuilt an x-wing as a master mold from the ground up. 

Things I did to the wings:
1. Strengthen internal structure
2. Added tubing and pipes inside the engines for more accurate depiction based on the various cross-section models Lucasfilm put out and drawings. 
3. Added a fake gear in the middle that will rotate when you open the wings. You have to basically fix the bottom plate to get the thing in, but it should slide in easily into he file. This feature began my ever long hunt to make my own version have an internal mechanism that opens the wings. 
4. New landing gear. Since I own an x-wing model, I modeled the feet to match them a bit better and it pops into your current engine just fine. 
5. A remodeled roof. 
The LDD only contains the new wings, roof and landing gear. 

I apologize. I should have used a different colored background. Overall the wings look the same from afar. 

 

As you dive closer you can see the middle is quite different. 

 

I added the gear that turns only when you open or close the wings. This is attached to one of the pins to give the illusion that it has an internal mechanism.

 

The 3m rigid tube should bend around the wheel well and form a horse shoe shape and squeeze into the technic part. 

The landing gear. Fun hammer inside hinge looks like a smaller hydraulic tube. 

Wing Upgrades LDD

[den]

Hi, I don´t know if is possible that you send me the instructions or the lfx for this moc. I was looking for a mod of x-wing with the most realistic scale and found this one. I think that is amazing, the scale is perfect. Sorry for my english, is not very good. Thanks and congratulations for this mod.

[Gray_Mouser]

15 hours ago, cehnot said:

After 50 hours or so I realized I rebuilt the entire frame.

Sounds familiar :-)

These are great improvements. I saw your x-wing too... It's so good I don't think I'll ever need to improve my version again. I mean, the scale is right, and there are many nice details. I might as well work from your version.

And I know for a fact that at least one more x-wing is coming (a great one, you'll see). Inthert published instructions for his stunning v2 too.

It makes me wonder... If we all worked together on the same xwing, dividing the whole project into smaller tasks, I think we could really nail it.

[cehnot]

1 hour ago, Gray_Mouser said:

Sounds familiar :-)

These are great improvements. I saw your x-wing too... It's so good I don't think I'll ever need to improve my version again. I mean, the scale is right, and there are many nice details. I might as well work from your version.

And I know for a fact that at least one more x-wing is coming (a great one, you'll see). Inthert published instructions for his stunning v2 too.

It makes me wonder... If we all worked together on the same xwing, dividing the whole project into smaller tasks, I think we could really nail it.

I am sure somebody else will solve it. Thanks for the compliments. I really wished I solved your upward slope issue at the front of the cone. I completely understand what you were talking about when you decided to just build it in person and temporarily give up. If LEGO makes a 2 plate height series of slopes and inverted slopes like Mega Bloks then I think we could get the most accurate version at least on the belly. Feel free to modify it. I like the belly and the working wing mechanism that opens and closes it from the back of the ship. I may go ahead and order parts since I am trying to still figure out how to make instructions for my Firehouse. A timely project. 

 

6 hours ago, den said:

Hi, I don´t know if is possible that you send me the instructions or the lfx for this moc. I was looking for a mod of x-wing with the most realistic scale and found this one. I think that is amazing, the scale is perfect. Sorry for my english, is not very good. Thanks and congratulations for this mod.

Are you asking me for Mouser's X-Wing LDD file, my updated file, or my own X-Wing I recently built?

[den]

Sorry, I was asking for the Mouser´s X-wing LDD file but I saw your X-wing and your update file. There is a lot of great x-wings, Gray Mouser, you cehnot, Inthert, Demaclego... It´s impossible to chose one for built it .

Thanks a lot for the files Gray Mouser, now I have to choose one. I don´t understand why lego continues doing a x-wings so terribles. Yours x-wings are better than the ucs by far and they are in minifig scale.

Edited December 11, 2016 by den

[cehnot]

2 hours ago, den said:

Sorry, I was asking for the Mouser´s X-wing LDD file but I saw your X-wing and your update file. There is a lot of great x-wings, Gray Mouser, you cehnot, Inthert, Demaclego... It´s impossible to chose one for built it .

Thanks a lot for the files Gray Mouser, now I have to choose one. I don´t understand why lego continues doing a x-wings so terribles. Yours x-wings are better than the ucs by far and they are in minifig scale.

Build them all? 

[Gray_Mouser]

As I said earlier, there are a lot of great x-wings out there these days. I wanted to improve mine before I made the ldd file public. But by the time I do it there will be so many superior versions it will be pointless.

So I share the ldd file on the off chance some parts of this design help building another one.

Next time I buy bricks, I'll try cehnot's upgrades (the landing gears at the very least). Or maybe I'll build another one entirely :-)

http://bricksafe.com/files/Gray_Mouser/GM_T65_v1.1.lxf

[blbills]

Thank you Gary for all of your contributions!  I am very impressed with what you were able to accomplish!