Looks very nice. I really like the "kissing booth". I wish I had done a bit more to mine, but it's already done. Definitely like the hairspray method for creating the chipped paint effect.

Stephen

Coming on very nicely, nice to see it taking shape. I agree, there is no rush with this project, and taking your time to get this exactly how you want them. I look forward to seeing your progress.
Keep up the good work
Mark

Just like many of you, I have been watching other's build this same model kit with awe and amazement.  I've watched how some people tackle a particular problem with detail or inaccuracy and think to myself why didn't I think of that.  I've seen some fantastical elaborate ways of solving problems that come out looking extremely incredible... but I think to myself why go thru all that trouble.  Well, here's my solution to a problem with the blaster holes on the top hull behind the radar dish.

I don't know why, but it seems as if the scan of those "bullet holes" came out as indentions.  Almost as if they are some kind of computer artifact that the computer couldn't quite interpret and just said fudge it and made them all even.  Now, I've seen some builders actually cut these holes out completely, use a soldering iron to melt the plastic, burn the plastic... heck... I've even seen some people replace the entire panel itself with their own scratch built part.  The problem they all run into is the metal framework behind them.  You could cut the framework or try to work around it.  Me... my solution doesn't damage the plastic panel or the framework at all.  All it takes is a little Epoxy Putty (also known as Apoxie Sculpt, Aves, Magic Sculpt, or any 2 part Epoxy Clay Compound that you mix equal parts together and it hardens by itself)!

Here's the panel I'm talking about...



Now notice how nice and symmetrical these blaster holes are?  Even thou all the "holes" are in the proper place and position... they don't look anything like they should on the actual prop here (image of the actual prop on display at Star Wars Identities in France photographed by Jean-Marc Deschamps & Olivier Cabourdin)...



So here's my method... take a small ball of putty and place it into the hole.  



Squish it down until it fills the entire hole...



then wet your finger and make a depression or dimple in the putty.  Smooth it out so that all the edges are even with the top edges of the hole and then take a hobby knife or whatever else that you use for fine detail work and stab it in the middle of the putty.  Slowly and gently move it back and forth to create a hole in the middle wiping away the putty from the black inside the hole.  



You can work it back and forth to create a realistic hole but not too big.  Remember the hole is only in the center of the depression.  Use the pushed aside putty gathered around the hole you made to create the torn flaps.  Notice that there are 2 completely filled holes here just like on the original prop.  Repeat the same process for each hole and set it aside for the putty to cure and harden.  Paint to taste!  



Viola... you've just created realistic blaster holes without cutting, marring, maiming, melting, defiling or otherwise destroying the plastic whatsoever (however you can berate the plastic and call it names to your hearts content because it doesn't know any better, just make sure to kiss and make up afterward!) and you never have to worry about the framing behind it! :)  When it's dry and all painted up you'll see a world of difference!  Hope this little tip helps!  Lemme know what you think!

I love how your's came out too. Very nicely done. Tonight I'll probably paint this and do some modding to it a bit to see how it all looks with paint. Wish me luck!

Gorgeous! Amazing work LrdSatyr8. I'm getting ready to open up Issue 5 and see how close to 8 I can get this afternoon. As I was looking through this last page of your build I noticed that you've held off on gluing certain parts of your Falcon. Everything I've done so far is still loose and not fully tightened. I may keep holding off on gluing certain things now that I see someone way ahead of me hasn't glued everything in place.

Great work on the R2 paint job, there's a lot of tiny details on there which couldn't have been easy.

Hey Mark... invest in a pair of quality jeweler's visors with the magnifying lenses. Trust me... they come in SOOOOOOOOO handy for doing the small stuff anymore. I know when I was a kid I was able to write on a grain on rice, but as I've gotten older, so has my eyesight. These things are INVALUEABLE for seeing the small stuff and doing tiny work like this. Trust me... you'll be glad you did!

Thanks for the info, I'll look into that, good timing, just cancellened my 3 foot arm extension, these look a better option.
Cheers Mark

An alternative is to shop online for cheap assorted reading glasses. I bought an assortment of 5 pairs ranging from 1.0 to 2.75x magnification for about $20US. It's harder to find the higher magnification (4x+) but I don't have to touch my work to my nose if I use the lower strengths (my nose it pretty big).

Heyyyyyyyy... go make your own checklist! LOL... Sorry... couldn't resist... I don't mind, but that's what i have yet to do with mine. You may have different things that you are going to do with yours. I tend to come up with a checklist of all the stuff I need to do and work on each item until its done then move onto the next one. Keeps me focused and organized otherwise I start losing stuff! :)