Well, I've done it...with all the extra overtime on my latest paycheck, I've just crossed the $1000 mark in dedicated savings I set as my threshold before I could order this beautiful hunk of galactic junk. So I've just placed my order! Additionally, I've signed up to the 12 month plan, so I don't have to wait 2 years before this is done!

Let this be the beginning of my build diary. I guess in about a month, I'll get my first 8 or so packs, and I can start posting my progress here! I can't wait!!

You're an evil man for saying stuff like that.

lol

So I got my first shipment on Saturday, and have been busy building her! Below are the pics I've taken so far.


Unpacking:





Drilling out the Laser Turret holes:



Chair weathering:



Partial Cockpit:

I know exactly how you felt regarding the fiber optics. I was hesitant myself but took the plunge by upgrading my navigation console and was very pleased with the results. Besides, there is a wealth of fiber optic tech support on this forum in the unlikely event you get in trouble.

Accidental double post...

Thanks Mark!

My fiber optics arrived yesterday. Now I'm just waiting for my .25 mm drill bits, and I'll be good to go.

Thanks Satyr! Its still gonna be a while before I'm caught up (in fact, I'll never catch up with the early adopters), but there's a lot to be said for following in others footsteps. For instance, I get the advantage of looking at all the work that has gone on before me, picking the ideas that I like/think I can reasonably pull off, and incorporating them with my own thoughts.

Well, crap. My drill bits came in today, and I've already broken all five that I ordered. The sad thing is, I almost ordered 10, but I thought, "Nah...I'll be able to get what I need to do done with 5.

I only got six fibers installed, so I'm going to have to order more bits. I think I'm probably going to order .3 mm rather than .25 mm this time. Hopefully that will make it so I don't have to ream the hole out more (post-drilling) to get the fibers in, and that will save me some bits.make the bits last a bit longer.

Anyways, here's what I've got so far.




Anyone have suggestions for glue to secure them? I tried CA on the bundle of 3 on the right, and it ate away the color, so that's obviously a no-go.

Thanks in advance!

You can't go wrong with PVA glue for securing the fibres. Hot glue will work but you need to be careful as some hot glue is hotter than others and will melt the fibres.

With regards to the drill bits, a lot of patience is required when using the smaller ones

Thanks guys! I'll try some PVA and see how that goes. I ordered 20 .3 mm bits last night. Those ought to get me through this project (says the guy who broke 5 in 2 hours ).

Seriously though, with one exception I thought I was being careful. That being said, I really think not having to use the bit like it was sandpaper to ream the hole out to a larger size to fit the fiber through will help extend the life of the bits.

On the plus side, I finally got my order of rigging thread, so I can go back to work on tying the ratlines on my San Fran II build this week while I'm waiting for my drill bits.