This is a screen shot from the movie. The Thermopod is only in the movie for a few minutes toward the end. It's a wacky little ship but has a lot of character. |
|
|
There is very little information about this ship available online. Apart from a few pictures from an old starlog magazine, most of my reference material is from screen shots. I started the process by making a study model to figure out the basic geometry.
These shots show a comparison of the study model to the screen shots. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
Drawings measured from the study model are done. 6 total, one from each side. They need some adjusting for some proportion issues I've noticed.
| |
|
These drawings have already been scaled up to match the final size. I realized the study model was a little too small after refining the measurements off of the photos. The finihsed model will be just about 2 feet long.
| |
|
The next step is to refine these drawings for some more corrections to match the photos, then 2 more sets of drawings. The first to plan the armature framework inside the model. The second will be to plan out all the surface detailing before I start sculpting.
| |
|
The armature is underway. I'm using 3/4" plywood for the main support through the middle of the body. The top and bottom are skinned with 1/8" styrene to which I'm gluing styrene ribs.
The small bits are supports for the arms. I'm planning to use 1/4" copper tubing which I can bend to the correct shape for the arms. The arms will fit through the brackets and then I'll slather with epoxy to lock them into place. We'll see if that works.
| |
|
So far I just have the front half of the bottom side done. To fill in the gaps between the ribs I'm using 2 layers of 1/2" thick foam. This whole inside part is about 1/2" to 1" smaller than the finish size so I'll have room to build up detail with the sculpting material.
| |
|
A half-inch pipe floor flange is screwed to the plywood to receive a pipe support.
| |
|
A bit more to show on this one. I'm really glad to get some physical progress considering it's been well over a year since I started.
The ribs on the bottom side are done
| |
|
The top side is under way
| |
|
The framework around the windows
| |
|
And with the window in place. This will just be painted black so no need to use clear material on the window. It only took 5 tries to get the curved piece cut out to fit properly.
Luckily I had a sharp pair of dividers to scribe the circle onto the styrene which gave me a nice smooth curve
| |
|
The mullion bars on the window took a while with the angle of the frame and sloped window but they fit tight now. The window piece sitting in place on top of more ribs
| |
|
The styrene ribs are done but the foam is not trimmed down or glued in yet. Next step is the tubing for the arms and tail.
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
I got the armature assembled and glued together. The ribs and foam are about 1/2" to 1" below the finished surface. It's got a lot of texture to it so I wanted to leave some room to get it all on
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|