Hi all

I've had a busy weekend with my model so I have a good update today.....hope I don't bore you too badly ..

First up, I had to correct a bit of a flub I created for myself.
I have discovered that gluing the window section to the section above it was something that should have been done later on in the build. It created a problem in attaching the head section to the main body. It doesn't seem like the instructions specifically said not to do this yet, but I could be missing something.
Have a look at the two pictures below.
22 test fit head 2 by
Kev C, on Flickr
24 test fit head 4 by
Kev C, on Flickr
The tab on the head section just below the wires that are sticking out is supposed to fit into the slot on the body section. It's kind of hard to explain but by gluing the two sections together it became impossible to assemble the two sections together in the order I want to/have to with the wiring etc as I'm planning it. However, I came up with a pretty simple solution.
23 test fit head 3 by
Kev C, on Flickr
By removing the plastic that I've circled in the above section it will allow the head section to slide down over he front of the body after it has been glued together. Because the tab will still be in the slot it was meant for it will still be nice and sturdy. Of course a generous amount of glue will help as well.

25 test fit head 5 by
Kev C, on Flickr
The vertical slot is to accommodate the wiring that comes out of the head into the body as it slides into place.
Next up, I installed the flickering LED's into four of the engines.
26 engines 1 by
Kev C, on Flickr
I dry fit one together and turned it on. It looks really good! Unfortunately with it being a blue light it is way overexposed in the picture. I did the best I could though.
27 engines 2 by
Kev C, on Flickr
After that, I decided to install the red SMDs that will light the retraction areas for the landing bays.
Originally I had thought of using 3mm LED's in there. I drilled holes for them and then promptly changed my mind about using them. I thought they might be too visible and be distracting.
29 bay lights 1 by
Kev C, on Flickr
In order to use SMD's in there and have them aimed in the right direction I had to come up with a way to secure them in place.
The first thing I did was CA glue them to little squares of styrene.
30 bay lights 2 by
Kev C, on Flickr
Then I glued those in so the SMD's were centred in the 3mm holes.
31 bay lights 3 by
Kev C, on Flickr
After fighting with them a bit while the epoxy hardened enough to hold them in place I wanted to give them a try. I dry fit the head in place and lit it up at the same time. I got the first hint of what this baby will look like when lit up.
32 lighting 1 by
Kev C, on Flickr
So far I'm liking it.

Next up I had to do some catching up with myself. I had primed the tops and bottoms of the landing bays a few days ago. I remembered yesterday that i hadn't installed the Galactica photo etch pieces to the sides before I did that. Soooo ....I did it now.
28 galacticas by
Kev C, on Flickr
Not a big deal. Another shot of primer over that and it's good to go.
I'm starting to toy with the idea of using a bit of fibre optics at the very front of the ship. Have a look at the front of the Galactica in this picture.
battlestar-galactica by
Kev C, on Flickr
There are some antennae or something that are lit at the very front. The kit does include one for this area, the big one sticking out on the left.
33 front FO idea by
Kev C, on Flickr
I'm toying with the idea of using fibre optics there instead and installing some very small short pieces sticking out to simulate the other ones. It's just a thought so far. I'll give it more thought.
Lastly today, I decided to put in the decals on the floors of the landing bays. Nice simple task...nice big decals....no problem....

I put the first one in the water to soak and it immediately cracked in two near one end. I hadn't even touched it yet!
Anyway, I got it in place eventually and it doesn't look to bad. I figured it was an aberration. ha ha ha ....The other one cracked in not one, not two, but in three spots while it was in the water! Oh, and of course they couldn't break in the middle...no...they had to do it at the ends where it'll be visible... AARRRGHH!
I managed to get it in place ...oh by the way it broke in a fourth place while I was doing that!
Anyway, hopefully the microsol will make it look better after it sets. GRRR
34 decals 1 by
Kev C, on Flickr
35 decals 2 by
Kev C, on Flickr
So that's my happy tale for today. The joys of modelling.

Have a good one. Thanks for looking!
Oh...by the way..as a side note.... As our good friend Iain would say, I have a wee problem...(Hey my grandmother was Scottish....I'm allowed!

)
When I'm doing my painting I use a home made spray booth which I vent outside through the window in my model room. I open the window, put the venting hose in there and away we go....
As we all know, this is January. Being in Canada, we have this little bugaboo commonly referred to as....winter. While we here in Southern Ontario don't get anything close to what they get in other parts of the country, we do get our share. We had a cold snap last week, followed by a couple of warmer days with some rain, now it's colder again...and my window is frozen shut.

It's supposed to get colder now for a while before it gets warmer so painting could be on hold until that baby thaws out!