[MOC] Alpha-class Xg-1 Star Wing

[Brickdoctor]

This is an excellent build, even more so because it's your first true MOC. I love the way you've used the layered wedge plates and tiles to achieve a refined and precise look while avoiding the blockiness that usually comes where stacked plates are used. But what really stands out is that cockpit: how you've integrated the windshield piece with all the angles in that area. The transition from the cheese plates in the nose to the slopes of the fuselage is seamless.

[krispy]

Thanks for the awesome comments! They mean a lot.

As token of my gratitude, please accept this scene that finished rendering today

Star Wing patrol by Krispy's brick stuff, on Flickr

Edited January 31, 2013 by krispy

[HJR-Holland]

Thanks for the instructions; I will build this one this year; it's a great looking model! :-)

Edited January 31, 2013 by HJR

[Lord_Bloodwort]

Beautiful job! There's no other word for it. I think the colors are about right too. It fits in with the Imperial color scheme at least. Any plans to do a Missile Boat next? :D

[krispy]

Thanks for the instructions; I will build this one this year; it's a great looking model! :-)

No problem; take pictures when you complete it. Also please take note that I've updated the model file (should be more robust now). If you really consider building it from LDD instructions, you might want to grab the "in parts" file. This has the model in seperate major components, forcing LDD to create instructions for them seperately. This way, the instructions make much more sense. All you have to do at the end is bring the major components (9 in total) together at the end, which isn't hard.

Beautiful job! There's no other word for it. I think the colors are about right too. It fits in with the Imperial color scheme at least. Any plans to do a Missile Boat next? :D

Thanks! As a matter of fact, I was already contemplating it: I noticed one of my early prototypes of the gunboat resembled a missileboat

[Cornwaille]

I love your Renders, very professional! I hope you do a missileboat as well, that would be awesome!

[brodey1]

Beautiful model, lovin the missile tubes.

[Esurient]

Nice build, great job. WIll support your work

[krispy]

With apologies for resurrecting an old topic; I've finally managed to real-brick build the model!

So here she is:

Turns out that although building with virtual bricks gives you a lot of freedom to experiment, there is no substitute for real-brick building. In this post (which I've also added as a paragraph to the opening post) I shall share some things I've experienced while converting my virtual model to something real.

First problem I had was with the ion canons on the sail. Turns out my old grey frictionless pins are not fond of jamming bars in them. So I've opted for the solution shown below (which still looks rather neat).

Then there was my "ingenious" solution for mounting these two canons really low and close to the sail. The original plan was to use a brick with an axle cross and jam the pneumatic "T" pieces in there, which oughta fit according to LDD. Turns out, they don't. Well, they fit, but (probably due to wear or tolerance) the brick doesn't hold them properly. Below you see the more standard solution for the problem.

Note that in the new model file it is done slightly different, which you can also see in the first picture in this post.

And then there was sidepod stability... my biggest problem (as I had predicted and feared). My original design turned out to be very fragile. As the picture below illustrates: just the weight of the main wing was already enough to have the assembly split and come apart (notice the black gap in the middle grey part).

I've come up with a redesign that kind of works (I'll get to that in a minute). This is the main reason why, if you have already downloaded a model file from the opening post and intend to build this thing, you should get the updated model files I've posted there. The version number should be 1.5.

Unfortunately, that rework of the sidepods didn't stop the axles that connect them to the main hull from bending. The result of that is a model that looks like Star-Wars-meets-Salvador-Dali (apologies for the slightly blurry picture).

I've already modified the main hull so that a pair of extra axles is present near the read. This helps, but doesn't stop the hanging. I'm afraid that if I want to make is internally strong enough, I've got to go with an entirely different solution. Probably lose the axles and use beams/thick liftarms instead. I might play with that after I'm done building my Missile Boat (coming soon ).

The solution I'm using at the moment to combat the hanging is simple: support the sidepods!

As you can see, I've used a 1x16 technics brick and it works really well. Ideally, one would use a 1x14 brick, but I don't have one. Sure, the stand is a bit bulky, but nothing I'm currently annoyed with. So it suffices for now.

Other than these issues, the build went rather smooth. I was particularly happy with the sides of the nose: they are much sturdier than I expected, allowing me to remove one of the 4 connection points so I could make the internal cockpit a bit sturdier. I'm happy with how big it turned out; getting a sense of scale is always difficult when you work digitally.

You know what they say: "A bird in the hand is worth..."

I hope you've enjoyed my little report and good luck if you attempt to build this!

[Bob De Quatre]

It's nice seeing it brickbuilt

As always building a LDD model in real bricks gives some surprises

[yogurt]

Fantastic.

It's bigger than I thought it would be and I love the way you've done the wing decoration.

[Bobsy]

Oh man, that looks fantastic. Huge props for making it out of real bricks. Question though: is the cockpit easy to open and get the minifig out?

[krispy]

Oh man, that looks fantastic. Huge props for making it out of real bricks. Question though: is the cockpit easy to open and get the minifig out?

Thanks Bobsy!

To answer your question about the pilot: not as easy as flipping open the cockpit, but not as hard as you'd expect I suppose. Take a look at this picture:

Getting to the pilot is a three step proces:

1. Flip the side windows up,
   
2. Remove the upper 2x4 tile (seen removed on the left),
   
3. Remove the main windscreen (on the top right) by pulling it backwards ever so slightly.
   

And you're done! You could leave the main windscreen, but as it is only connected at two points, it's very easy to take out and put back. I recommend removing it as it gives you ample space to work in the cockpit.

As for the stability matter. In it's current form, it's not swooshable at all. And that just won't do.

Here's what to expect from the 2.0 version of the model:

The liftarms and Technics bricks, highlighted in green, should provide ample support for the sidepods and should not bend as easily as the axles do. Moreover, I've changed how the main wing hinges are situated in the pods: studs facing up instead of down. This should make that part sturdier as well.

Also note the truckload of jumper plates required to get the right offsets.

[Commander_Rob]

Looks very cool in real bricks!

Reworked internal structure looks promising too.

[krispy]

Looks very cool in real bricks!

Reworked internal structure looks promising too.

Thanks Rob!

Turns out... it works! Check out these:

Notice the lack of hanging sidepods!

I've updated the start post with the new model files should anyone want to use these.

Edited March 28, 2013 by krispy

[MoppeW40k]

I loved to play the original Tie Fighter game!

Thank you so much for providing the LDD file --> BL Wanted List was updated today

Your Xg-1 will look good next to psiaki's X-Wing

[Ritz Brick]

Reminds me of Wolfen from Star Fox, really great work.

[krispy]

Cheers guys!

I loved to play the original Tie Fighter game!

Thank you so much for providing the LDD file --> BL Wanted List was updated today

Your Xg-1 will look good next to psiaki's X-Wing

Oh, sounds good! Take pictures!

[havoc8154]

I found your incredible interpretation of assault gunboat on cuusoo a few weeks ago, and since it's my favorite ship from Tie Fighter, and one of my favorites from all of Star Wars, I decided to build my own. After a few days of work, and a couple weeks trying to find the correct windscreen piece, I've finally finished mine, with blue flight group colors.

Thanks so much for your wonderful design, It's gonna have a proud place on my shelf for quite a while!

[Artizan]

The ship looks great in real bricks!

[krispy]

I found your incredible interpretation of assault gunboat on cuusoo a few weeks ago, and since it's my favorite ship from Tie Fighter, and one of my favorites from all of Star Wars, I decided to build my own. After a few days of work, and a couple weeks trying to find the correct windscreen piece, I've finally finished mine, with blue flight group colors.

Thanks so much for your wonderful design, It's gonna have a proud place on my shelf for quite a while!

The ship looks great in real bricks!

I agree! It looks totally awesome Havoc. Makes me happy to see other ppl are able to build it too

[Artizan]

maybe you should change the title as the Moc is no more a Ldd moc, and you should also add the brickbuilt photos to Cuusoo project.

[Brickdoctor]

maybe you should change the title as the Moc is no more a Ldd moc

He can't edit the title, but I just updated it.

[Mufalme]

I'm working on trying to upload some pictures here of a completely re-done version of this. It's been quite an inspiration, and I've got my model already built in bricks.

Check out the LDD version, if you'd like. I'd appreciate feedback, and once I can upload some pictures, I'll tell you my reasoning behind all the changes I made.

Don't let the name fool you: I was working on the fuselage, and once I finished, I imported all the other sub-assemblies.

Fuselage.lxf

[Steph 104th]

Wonderful job, this is a great little model