Aztek Dummy Update 8/3/18 - 350 scale Reliant pt. 1

this week I finish the Kaldorian ship and start a new big project.
the 350 scale Reliant from Wrath of Khan.
it's the conversion kit from DonShoko.com

[@celticarchie]

"There she is... there she is... ahh! Not so wounded as we were led to believe. So much the better!" :D

[@outsider238]

Wow! That's a huge project! You have waaaaay more patience than I do for something like that but it's looking great so far!

[@dalemaeshiro574]

I knew you would light the nacelles! :-) It will look nice and great option to turn on or off. Looking forward to next week.

[@sciwolf359]

Oh my gosh, I am very excited for the Reliant!!! It’s my favorite ship! :)

[@themodelkitbase9649]

Hahah! I have NEVER had the guts to throw away the box. Those are not moons - those are big balls, Lou!

[@johngrubb1590]

My god Lou, thats a lot of work you've got there but it's looking good.

[@SkyrayModels]

Lou,you are flying through the Reliant build,it was brave of you to cut the top sections out,but you seemed to have got away with it,my only concern is the strength of the bond between the plastic of the Refit and the resin,i have fastened my sections together with M3 bolts just to avoid any stress,but time will tell i guess,looking forward to your progress,and paint scheme,also if you are making a mask kit for it,i will be wanting a set from you !

[@aztekdummy]

Lee, to paraphrase..." It's more epoxy now than resin..." believe me, I'm trying to reinforce the bejeezus every joint with clear epoxy and YES! masks will be coming

[@redgreen09]

whell al looks good so fare and all thats dun looks great will see more

[@cliffcampbell8827]

If you had a camera stand and/or suspension harness, you could use both of your hands (for item manipulation and positioning, etc.). The difficult part would be the planning and setting up of particular shots you want to focus on and getting the desired results i.e. talking about the bridge and getting everything you are talking about in frame/in focus because the camera view screen isn't always going to be right in front of your face to check how the shot looks. You could end up talking for 5 minutes, pointing out specific things and exceptionally small details only to find that everything you were trying to show your audience is blurry and/or only partially in frame. My advice would be to write a script and check the shot prior to pressing the record button.

[@aztekdummy]

script?? what's that? I have gotten better since this was shot, i promise

[@cliffcampbell8827]

@@aztekdummy Reading from a script might make your tips and tricks sound a little phoney so maybe a list? This should help prevent going over a subject multiple times and help with covering all aspects you wanted to talk about, not forgetting anything. I can only imagine how much it must suck to be in the final stages of editing only to realize you had forgotten something that should be in the video. This isn't a personal attack, it's just constructive criticism. An audience member providing some feedback.

[@aztekdummy]

@@cliffcampbell8827 Cliff, I hear you. I do find myself repeating things a lot more than i should and a lot of that gets cut out in the editing. I kind of mentally prepare what it is I want to say at the start of the day and will jot down a reminder or a turn of phrase to be sure I remember it. If i forget something, i'll go back and re-record a bit.

[@MrChief101]

That thing is a monster. I really must attend the Church Of Lou and just start working on things. You really manage to get a lot done by just... do I have to say it... doing it. You saw the need to get those parts lined up with each other. If it's a little off-- the rest of the ship won't fit. I can't imagine where you'd keep the Enterprise and the Reliant at that scale-- oh-- get a rotating mobile like for a baby's room. That way they can "chase" each other around the room. Mmm running power to it is another matter. There is a trick to using a ribbon cable in a rotating box... I wonder if I'm imagining it or was it a Scientific American article a long time ago. That Kardashian ship is just weird -- nice and alien-y. To enhance the retro-reflector stuff in stills-- with room lighting -- then just keep a flashlight or maybe even a single LED next to the camera lens. That is the same stuff as on highway signage-- you need to imitate the action of headlights on it to the driver.

[@petergreen8674]

No, Eliot, you're not imagining it: I remember reading the same article. Googling for "power cable fixed to rotating disk" led me to the Wikipedia entry for the 'anti-twister mechanism', and that references The Amateur Scientist from December 1975 which described 'a disk rotating above a base from which a cable extends up, over, and onto the top of the disk'. And there my research ended, as Scientific American has the article behind a paywall. (This is the second time I've posted this: KZbin blocked the original comment because I'd included the actual links).

[@MrChief101]

Thank you very much for your efforts! Seems like that design would have been more "out there" in the world as it appears to be super usefull. (Ahem, next time, use "at" for the "at the rate of" symbol! )

[@StewartRGraham]

Great work, this is my first comment but your very talented. Keep going.

[@FeralRabbit]

Was tempted to get this Reliant conversion but I’m waiting for a certain company that has made all the other ships to hit this out of the park.

[@aztekdummy]

David, one of the reasons I'm doing this is so that an official kit will be released. Sorta like washing your car to make it rain :)

[@FeralRabbit]

Lou Dalmaso Genius!

[@williambassett6962]

I have this kit too and agree it is a bit overwhelming. Actually Lou this is going to be the first complete build I have ever seen! I've seen people start (including Boyd) but nobody was ever able to finish it. I agree it should have been cast in two sections, especially if you got the shuttle bay kit like I did. There simply is no realistic way to include the shuttle bay. I guess it doesn't matter since you never see the doors opened in the movie. This is where a 3D printer comes in handy :) My plans are to print up new parts that will be in sections so lighting and access will be easier. I'm not sure how much if any of Don's conversion kit I will end up using. The parts I got do look well cast, no concave areas like you showed, but on the top at the sides, one is slightly different than the other side. Nothing that can't be worked with though. I look forward to watching your whole build. I especially want to see how you connect the rear deck to the PL saucer and make it stable. Also... a stand! I'm interested to see how you are going to display this beast! The rear deck resin part is quite heavy!

[@johnleightell8188]

So good I watched it twice 😀 the have the old AMT but not a pain in the ass saucer to wide guy. Where did you get the blue lights from.

[@aztekdummy]

O'Reilly Auto parts store. the brand is called "flex strip lights"

[@SpencerWolfe]

Where do you get your lamp hardware for the mounting post assembly? I just can't seem to find a good selection around where I live ... Best of luck on the Reliant! I've seen many folks start one, then go silent; but, I'm sure you'll do great.

[@aztekdummy]

Spencer Wolfe Home depot lighting section

[@johntakacs9441]

Another great vid!

[@christopherchance4860]

Visitor templates from V? is this some new fangled Ratheon effect? lol

[@aztekdummy]

double points for you , my friend.

[@petergreen8674]

Wow, Lou, that's a very inspiring build! I have some questions: 1 What did you use to cut out the two upper access panels in the resin, and what's it's kerf - how bad of a gap shows when you fit the panels back in? How will you minimize that if you leave the panels removeable? 2. Where did you get that tower of LEDS shown at 37:45?

[@aztekdummy]

it's a cutting wheel in my dremel. I looked for the thinnest one I had. it's a hair over 1/32 in thick. That LED tower I got years ago from Evans Lighting as part of a light kit that I didn't use. I put it in the drawer knowing it would come in handy one day

[@petergreen8674]

Thanks Lou!

[@josephwilson6651]

machinists use screw jacks to support internal parts for proper alignment it should work for plastics as well they are infinitely useful.

[@johnleightell8188]

Lou have you ever used aluminium foil. Reflective tapes or your old black vinyl for light block.

[@aztekdummy]

oh, you betcha! Reflective tape is my friend ( except around bare wires ) it hugs the contours better than the vinyl

[@radagastaddams3703]

16309.... Reliant's prefix code.... just in case u need it... u never know

[@willierants5880]

One day we might just get a real 350 scale Reliant kit. Why it hasn't happened is anyone's guess, it makes no sense.

[@AvengerII]

The Reliant was supposedly prototyped in 350-scale but Round 2 got cold feet at the last minute. Can you really blame them? Retail has been abandoning the model kit industry. There's really only two major retailers that carry model kits anymore and many of the dedicated mom and pop hobby stores have closed, too. Of the two major chains carrying model kits, it looks to me like Michaels IS phasing models out. They carry a LOT less than they used to. Hobby Lobby is still supporting models decently but will they do that forever? Online looks to be the way this hobby will survive. Getting the kits won't be the problem, really. The issue is supplies. Do you really want to buy all your supplies online, or have some convenience in knowing some store in your area actually has stuff you can buy that day?

[@TwistedSisterHaratiofales]

Question. Maybe I missed it. Was this a kit to use with the Rebuild Enterprise Saucer to build Reliant?

[@aztekdummy]

yes, you missed it. this is a partial kit. you need to have the saucer and nacelles from the refit kit to make it work

[@TwistedSisterHaratiofales]

@@aztekdummy LOL, I guess that is cool, but wow, kind of a waste of the other Enterprise parts. I have a Refit model that is modeled for the - A. I was kind of baffled a bit that it didn't have the decals for the Refit non A model. I dont think the ship changed dimensions in the story, they supposedly rebuilt the Yorktown and made it the Enterprise - A. some one should build that reliant version and then Resin Cast it, or resin cast the saucer and engines to sell with it. LOL, maybe when I get my 3D printer. Anyway Good modeling. I like your series, Maybe you can take a peek at mine when I get going soon.

[@squidlips6661]

lou you need a camera mount and tripod friend

[@garywood1973]

Hi Lou , just simple question , who makes the RELIANT parts that you are currently using ? & is it available to the international market ?

[@aztekdummy]

it's from www.doshoko.com and right now it's out of production. but it may be re-released in the near future

[@jamesmills4097]

@@aztekdummy do you mean www.donshoko.com

[@aztekdummy]

Yes. My bad

[@barryc1701]

Lou, I'm looking for some Refit spare parts. The Clear deflector and the pylons for my kit. If your interested please PM me. Cheers

[@aztekdummy]

barry. sure thing I tried to find the pm button. just email me at [e-mail]

[@tvacchino]

Lou is that a "ICARUS" nose I see in the corner at 30:18?

[@aztekdummy]

yup. it's a commissioned build I'm also working on in my "spare" time

[@WarrenFahyAuthor]

YAYY!!!