The final stage of this build revolves around the application of small random details on the main rocket body.
The source material for all of these little decorative pieces is a plastic model kit that I have no intention to build. (More on this subject in a future post.)
Anyway, this plastic kit is chock-full of all sorts of pipes, panels, widgets, and gadgets that are perfect for adding little embellishments to the Protostar. I've even been able to employ some sections of the kit's plastic molding sprue pieces.
Here is a pic showing the various stages of processing some of these detail parts:
After trimming and sanding the molding lines and flash from of the parts, they are brush painted in "Steampunky" antique brass acrylic paint. Note the small pieces at top center of the photo. These were little scale chemical barrels from the kit that were sliced in half using a heated hobby knife!
Whatever it takes....
In looking through a number of online photos of various Steampunk models, I found that there was usually an over- abundance of gears, pulleys, cogs, cams, and other widgets, most of which appear to have no useful functions. They seem to be put there purely for aesthetic effect only. In many instances the models have a very cluttered appearance.
With the Protostar, I'm trying to avoid overload of this sort of thing. I carefully selected parts from the plastic kit that looked like they might serve some function on a working spacecraft - pipes, conduits, panels, valves, etc.
Also, since this is, after all, a flying model, I do not wish to weigh it down with a lot of un-necessary greebling.
Sometimes, less is more.
Once the parts are all painted, it's only a matter of scraping away some copper paint on the model and epoxying the 'brass' embellishments in their allotted spots.
In addition to the plastic parts, I have fashioned a small number of details made from more of the adhesive label stock.
Here is a detail photo of some of the completed additions:
Now, all that remains for the rocket body is to apply a couple of decals, clear coat, and attach the recovery system.
The final upcoming posts will cover detailing on the Protostar's 'crew capsule', a.k.a, nose cone.
There is light at the end of the tunnel on this long-running project!
Cheers....