Republic Star Destroyer Venator

By Doug Scott

This started out as the basic Revell Republic Star Destroyer aka "Venator". There are a lot of firsts for me on this kit: First time I used lights and fiber optics. First time I went beyond the build instructions, bought aftermarket cannons and space ships. First time scratch building (The main hanger and cargo hanger, using brass rod) and first time painting everything instead of using decals.It took about 14 months and was originally inspired by MadHatter's build when I was trying to decide between buying the Anigrand SD or the Cooper SD. Once I saw what MadHatter did with his, I knew I needed to up my skill level before dropping a ton of money for the big SD. I started with the engines and hollowed them out, adding some brass and then using Evergreen stock to make the fins. The outer ring was detailed with 1/500 ship railing PE. Some flexible wire and brass tubing was used to add some plumbing and then bits of Evergreen and greeblies to fill up the empty areas. The Con tower was done next. The triangle windows are PE for a 1/6 motorcycle radiator. (One of the ideas I stole from MadHatter) Most of the details added to the bridge are from HO train parts from a local train store. $20 bought me a handful of tiny grebblies that I was pretty sure most people wouldn't be able to identify. For lighting, I started with MadMan Lighting's Venator kit. I took it a step further and with a lot of help from him and the purchase of some extra parts, I was able to achieve the look I was going for. This was my first time working with a circuit board and lights but his kit was very easy to work with and I had no trouble with my additions. The hanger lights are Paragraphics LED Strips sold here on SSM. I used the soft white LEDs and a sheet of transparent blue plastic to simulate the glowing force fields on the main hanger. The cargo hanger on the side didn't get the transparent sheet. I thought it looked better open. I intended to scratch build some cargo containers to put in it, but there are a lot of things I wanted to do with this kit and stopped because it needed to be finished. The cannon barrels were removed and replaced with DocRaven's brass cannons. I'm told he no longer makes them. The ARC fighters and LAAT/i's came from Odyssey Slipways. It took a lot of time and effort, but I'm pleased with the results. The things I learned just from this one build has me looking at kits I bought before it started and seeing them in a whole new light. Image: Fiber Optic Test Image: Added Detail Image: Rear/left Image: Engines Image: Side Bay Image: Main Bay Image: Guns Image: Hanger Image: Underside

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