Couple questions on EA shipbuilding

[l33tpenguin]

Rotating Omegas:

I think I have this down, but I'm looking for input from anyone that has been through the trials of getting these to work

I'm using the 'two tube' method. One brass tube inside the center section with a thinner brass tube connecting the front and rear sections through the middle.

Anyway, I epoxy the middle together with the tube inside. Then I super glue the small tube into the rear section. So far so good. I slide the middle section onto the rear, then try attaching the front end.

First I tried metal cement (the stuff in the green metal tube), but the cement wouldn't set. I don't know if it was an airflow issue or something. So, I pulled it apart and cleaned it up.
Next I tried super glue, which was a mistake. Because of how fluid the super glue is, it traveled up between the two tubes inside the rotating section and locked it up tightly. I had to use my leatherman to rip both tubes out of the center.
Finally I used the two part epoxy. This seems to have worked, 2 of the 3 that I put together rotate decently (not as smooth as I would LIKE, but they rotate). Might have to redo the third.

Next, the Marathon Cruisers I have came with a spur of 5 guns each, but I can only find a spot for one (forward top of the hull). Are the others just extra?

 

[M1ndr1d3rs]

Can't comment on the Omega as I've never done them that way before..

As for the Marathon, there's a small notch beneath the boom on the lower hull. You could place one there if you'd like. The rest are extras I guess... That type of turret just come in sprues of 5.

 

[The Adept]

I've done two of the Omegas, and both work just fine. I used a slightly simpler methods - a length of 2mm brass rod, drilled intho the front and back, running through the hole in the spinning section (the hole is already there, so no extra drilling!).

If you ensure a good tight fit for the brass rod into the front and back, then you only need a spot of superglue on the rod itself - this stops it from flowing into the moving area.

I discounted the two tube method because of 'K.I.S.S.'

 

[Locutus9956]

you could try superglue gel perhaps? It's basically the same as normal superglue but MUCH less fluid (as you would probably guess from the 'gel' part )

 

[Burger]

Here's how I did mine:
http://www.ibisfightclub.co.uk/Projects/Omega.html

I discounted the one-tube method because of "Mongoose's casting sucks" The rotating section's holes aren't anywhere near round, and using an outer tube makes the rotating much smoother.

 

[l33tpenguin]

Unfortunatly, I'm a bit out of the way to get new supplies :/ It takes about 2 weeks for any mail to reach me where I am, and I would have to order anything I needed. So I'm kinda limited to what I have

I did, however, try a bit modified version of burgers method. I filled the one end with epoxy and dabbed the super glue on the very end of the rod, similar to how you did with greenstuff and super glue. it seems to be holding up nicely

I think I'm going to mount those other 4 guns on the Marathons as well. Two on the sides, under the top hull about where the 'sensor pod wing things' are and another two facing backward under the back end of the upper hull.

 

[David Anla Shok']

The four Omegas I assembled didn't require any kit bashing to make them rotate.

 

[Rawwar]

I discounted the one-tube method because of "Mongoose's casting sucks" Wink The rotating section's holes aren't anywhere near round, and using an outer tube makes the rotating much smoother.

Exellent guide, looks pretty straight forward to me.

Do you, or anyone else for that matter know a good supplier of said brass tubing?

I haven't got any Omegas but Dan has & Shadow Omegas & I'd like to have a go at one when I'm bored some time. I may make a rod (ooops dodgy pun time) for my own back & have to do the lot but hey who cares I have the drills etc... :twisted:

 

[l33tpenguin]

Exellent guide, looks pretty straight forward to me.

Do you, or anyone else for that matter know a good supplier of said brass tubing?

I haven't got any Omegas but Dan has & Shadow Omegas & I'd like to have a go at one when I'm bored some time. I may make a rod (ooops dodgy pun time) for my own back & have to do the lot but hey who cares I have the drills etc... :twisted:

Hobby Lobby Thats where mine came from. If thats not avaliable, I'm sure you can find it at just about any gaming store that caters to minis or a hobby store. Some home improvement places *might* carry them as well.

I'm getting better at my Omegas. Its obvious the progression on my Omegas as I've become better at putting them together. The first ones I did are a bit harder to spin while the one I finished last night spins freely.

 

[Burger]

I got my tubing from a local model shop (the kind that sells model spitfires and remote controlled boats, not gaming minis).

 

[David Anla Shok']

I got my tubing from a local model shop (the kind that sells model spitfires and remote controlled boats, not gaming minis).

Yes. A by gawd modelling shop with modelling tools and plastic and metal sheets and rods.

 

[Rawwar]

Cheers guys I know just such a shop I can have a look in now.

 

[phoenixhawk]

With regard to the Marathons, I added the extra 4 gun turrets to the ship, to give it a better "feel". I always like to "overgun" my Narn and EA ships

I've got 1 Omega left to build and I am planning to try the rotating trick, so I hope to build upon the success of others here and make my own

Chris

 

[David Anla Shok']

and next, you drill out the little windows and put a light inside the model ;O

 

[k3ndawg]

I got the rotating section on my Poseidon to spin pretty well. Lots of filing and test fitting, but I didn't have to resort to brass rod.

Now if I can just figure out how to motorize one... 8)

 

[Burger]

Now if I can just figure out how to motorize one... 8)

Hehe I had that idea too but didn't get round to it yet. I recommend CR2032 batteries like I used for my Pimp Victory, you can "borrow" them from old computer motherboards :lol:

 

[David Anla Shok']

I got the rotating section on my Poseidon to spin pretty well. Lots of filing and test fitting, but I didn't have to resort to brass rod.

Now if I can just figure out how to motorize one... 8)

DUDE! No drinking and posting!

 

[k3ndawg]

Hey, it was only 2... 6-packs... and a couple shots of bourbon


:lol:

 

[Rawwar]

I got the rotating section on my Poseidon to spin pretty well. Lots of filing and test fitting, but I didn't have to resort to brass rod.

Now if I can just figure out how to motorize one... Cool

You mean to say you don’t have any minions to spin them for you??

Back in the days of the Great Centari Republic I had a thousand servants spin a thousand rotating sections on a thousand ships…….

Not that we ever needed rotating sections you understand, just that we could.

Back in the day. :roll:

 

[Chernobyl]

My two omega models only use 1 rod between them. The model is small enough that you don't need a journal bearing type arrangement - the two halves of the ships will slip over the rod nicely and the front will glue on. I did use a liberal amount of glue to get it to set up though, but I just rotated the hull around the tube for a minute or so so it didn't set onto the drying glue.

Question - are you assembling before or after painting? I painted after assembling, and had to do something similiar when painting near the contact points. In the end, I think the front popped off of one of them and had to be re-glued anyway, but it works.