[WIP] [UCS] Zeta-Class Cargo Shuttle

[Ellisss_2]

Welcome, all!

I have decided to create a UCS Imperial Cargo Shuttle after seeing the film many times! Although the ship is not aesthetically pleasing in my opinion, it serves a great purpose in Rogue One as I am sure you are all aware. After all the film is named after the ships' "call sign". So far I have created the lower deck/cargo bay, which is used to house Rebel troopers in the movie. Also, does anyone else get a turtle vibe from the cockpit area? The cargo shuttle reminds of the First Order transport, just with foldable wings slapped on the top. The cargo bay will be permanently fixed to the upper deck and wings as we do not see the cargo bay being detachable in the stolen imperial shuttle used by Jyn and Cassian, and I want to get the shuttle pretty accurate. The lower deck will be completely comprised of SNOT and Greebling on the top for a contrast. However it may be I went around on the Star Wars Battlefront Rogue One DLC taking screenshots of the ship, hopefully, the digitalised ship is accurate. Please give your ideas and improvements for the MOC, before I progress any further so I can implement them! 

Thank you for reading,

Kind regards Ellis.

 

[Cyh Naan]

Good beginning !

[Ellisss_2]

3 minutes ago, Cyh Naan said:

Good beginning !

Thank you! Any ideas for it?

[General Hux]

Definitely a solid start! My partner, ( not a big fan...) also commented that she liked the "one that looked like a turtle" because the wings look like flippers during flight mode.

A good resource is the DK Rogue One Ultimate Visual Guide. It has a great double page spread on the shuttle with some nice cutaways and interior details. Would certainly help with scaling a UCS.moc.

All the very best with this project. Really looking forward to following your progress. First thing I thought of when I came out of my first viewing yesterday was "Wow, Lego have to make that officially at some point... hmm, it'd be a big old set though..."

Without being too spoilery, it's not exactly a mere background "blink and you'll miss it" ship.

 

 

 

[Ellisss_2]

4 minutes ago, General Hux said:

Definitely a solid start! My partner, ( not a big fan...) also commented that she liked the "one that looked like a turtle" because the wings look like flippers during flight mode.

A good resource is the DK Rogue One Ultimate Visual Guide. It has a great double page spread on the shuttle with some nice cutaways and interior details. Would certainly help with scaling a UCS.moc.

All the very best with this project. Really looking forward to following your progress. First thing I thought of when I came out of my first viewing yesterday was "Wow, Lego have to make that officially at some point... hmm, it'd be a big old set though..."

Without being too spoilery, it's not exactly a mere background "blink and you'll miss it" ship.

 

 

 

Glad you like it so far.

I am definitely going to pick up one of those Visual Guides, I had The Force Awakens visual guide and I was pretty impressed with that. It will be useful for constructing this project and my UCS U-wing.

Kind regards, Ellis.

[strider117]

If this is proportionate to the rest of the ship, this will be quite the large project. Best of luck on this. 

2 hours ago, Ellisss_2 said:

 It will be useful for constructing this project and my UCS U-wing.

Aha! Looking forward to that

[VaderFan2187]

Great build. Recommend using curved Technic beams to attach the wings. When I saw the film I thought "those beams would fit nicely for the angle".

Something like this maybe http://brickset.com/parts/4140327

Edited December 31, 2016 by VaderFan2187

[Ellisss_2]

@strider117 Thank you! 

@VaderFan2187 Yes, those curved technic beams look like they would work well!

[Cyh Naan]

18 hours ago, Ellisss_2 said:

Thank you! Any ideas for it?

Good project, not particular advice at this stage of design.

Do not hesitate to mix dark and light gray for the bottom of the schuttle and for the of the wings, to give a mad and dark appearance to this imperial shuttle.

 

[VaderFan2187]

Yes but it IS mostly dark grey :)

[Kristof]

Uniform color models rarely look that good in Lego form. the color blends and all details kind of loose depth. That's why using different colors to pull out some texture, however seemingly less accurate, can often provide better look.

Plus this dark grey / light gray thing is always a matter of discussion, especially with SW models. It hugely depends upon the lighting, the amount of dirt and wear on the prop and it's usually not 100% true to match either of these two colors. For me personally, this would look really good in light-gray with white for the foils and some dark grey accents :) Eventhough I'd agree that the thing appeared a little bit darker in the movie.

[Ellisss_2]

2 hours ago, krisandkris12 said:

Uniform color models rarely look that good in Lego form. the color blends and all details kind of loose depth. That's why using different colors to pull out some texture, however seemingly less accurate, can often provide better look.

Plus this dark grey / light gray thing is always a matter of discussion, especially with SW models. It hugely depends upon the lighting, the amount of dirt and wear on the prop and it's usually not 100% true to match either of these two colors. For me personally, this would look really good in light-gray with white for the foils and some dark grey accents :) Eventhough I'd agree that the thing appeared a little bit darker in the movie.

I would agree 100% with your points. I think for the wings, I am going to mix light gray and dark gray.

[Inthert]

looks like a great start so far, can't wait to see how it turns out!

Just got the visual dictionary yesterday, can't recommend it enough, I find it to be much more in-depth compared to the other visual dictionary-type books (both in terms of the characters (background and main) and the ships). And as @General Hux said it has a great 2 page spread of a Cross-section. Correction: just checked it actually has two double page spreads about it and the same for the U-wing. so yeah a worth while resource if you can get it ;)

Funny you should mention it looks like the first order transporter. I'm almost certain (though I haven't heard any SW official give conformation) that the FO transporter entrance-ramp film set was actually repurposed for use in this film. This is most noticeable in some of the leaked images which clearly show the mount for the search light still in place atop the sloped area where cargo shuttle's cockpit should be:

But back to your build, the only thing I can see that you might want to think about changing is the current location of the forward or rear not sure which way's which atm) landing gear, as far as I can tell it should be situated a little further forward in the grey not the orange section. But apart form that it looks pretty spot on!

 

[VaderFan2187]

15 hours ago, krisandkris12 said:

Uniform color models rarely look that good in Lego form. the color blends and all details kind of loose depth. That's why using different colors to pull out some texture, however seemingly less accurate, can often provide better look.

Plus this dark grey / light gray thing is always a matter of discussion, especially with SW models. It hugely depends upon the lighting, the amount of dirt and wear on the prop and it's usually not 100% true to match either of these two colors. For me personally, this would look really good in light-gray with white for the foils and some dark grey accents :) Eventhough I'd agree that the thing appeared a little bit darker in the movie.

I think this in dark grey with light grey highlights would be better 

But to each his own

Edited January 2, 2017 by VaderFan2187

[Ellisss_2]

@Inthert Thank you for such a detailed reply! I knew they had stolen something from the First Order transporter ahaha! Regarding the front and rear, once the cocpit area is on I am sure it will be much clearer. I will move the landing gear further forward in the gray section.

@VaderFan2187 I will most likely try a few different mixtures of colours, but I will definitely try yours!

Kind regards, Ellis.

[VaderFan2187]

Just now, Ellisss_2 said:

 

@VaderFan2187 I will most likely try a few different mixtures of colours, but I will definitely try yours!

Kind regards, Ellis.

Sounds good, but you are making fast progress anyway :)

[Ellisss_2]

Just now, VaderFan2187 said:

Sounds good, but you are making fast progress anyway :)

I don't know how with three MOCs on the go.  I have learnt my lesson to stick to one at a time now!

[VaderFan2187]

3 minutes ago, Ellisss_2 said:

I don't know how with three MOCs on the go.  I have learnt my lesson to stick to one at a time now!

Haha but aren't you working on this and the U-Wing currently?

[Ellisss_2]

Just now, VaderFan2187 said:

Haha but aren't you working on this and the U-Wing currently?

I am also working on a UCS ISD scale Venator, I just haven't been updating it frequently. I shall update it tomorrow though hopefully.

[VaderFan2187]

Just now, Ellisss_2 said:

I am also working on a UCS ISD scale Venator, I just haven't been updating it frequently. I shall update it tomorrow though hopefully.

Okay. Wow, that's not just 3 projects, that's 3 UCS projects 

[Ellisss_2]

Just now, VaderFan2187 said:

Okay. Wow, that's not just 3 projects, that's 3 UCS projects 

Ahaha good point! It is definitely becoming a challange and a half. Let's keep the thread on topic now though, we're wandering ahaha. 

[VaderFan2187]

1 hour ago, Ellisss_2 said:

Ahaha good point! It is definitely becoming a challange and a half. Let's keep the thread on topic now though, we're wandering ahaha. 

Hehe but as the mods didn't start this I don't think they will punish us for going off topic...

But better to be safe than sorry 

[Ellisss_2]

Update #1

I have created the first set of wings. I am not sure whether I like them or not, I think the wings definitely need some greebling.  

 

[VaderFan2187]

Nice work so far, but they seem a little... too small to me?

I am just basing this off the images though, maybe the LDD looks better from another angle.

[Cult_Of_Skaro]

I have the same complaint with these wings that I have with the other model that's been made, the bottom of the plates shows in flight mode.