When I have a good time at a model contest (even when I am asked to judge), I always come home fired-up to crack open another box and start something. Problem with this is that I already have an embarrassing number of started projects (25) crying out to be finished. I'm like anyone else, okay, maybe worse...

So, I figure - what's it gonna hurt to start another one!

Ever since I bought Fine Molds' Jango Fett and Boba Fett versions of the KSE (Kuat Systems Engineering) Firespray-31 Class Patrol and Attack Ship, I've felt a bit contrained in what/how to model them. With the near-canon lore already written on this ship type, you can really only model either or - as Jango Fett stole one of the -31 prototypes when escaping from the prison on Oovo IV and destroyed the hanger with the remaining prototypes. Frakkin' Bounty Hunter scum!

I hate being hemmed-in. But, SW:Expanded Universe lore has KSE reviving the ship type in an attempt to re-enter the small starship market by cashing in on the notorious Boba Fett's exploits with his -31. So, that gave me an idea to take the basic kit and improve upon it for a more up-to-date version in the timeline shortly after the Battle for Endor. There really isn't a lot more information or drawings/photos to go on beyond that.

I'm going to do what I envision the -41 (my creation), the reintroduced KSE Firespray Class Patrol and Attack Ship, might look like as a Privateer in the hands of scoundrels.

I'm using a photo of Andrasta (source: Star Wars Galaxies) as my source of inspiration. And, I'm going to use five figures from Studio StarForge's excellent 1/72 scale line to populate my Privateer. Furthering the idea, I'm going to apply a custom paint scheme for my bootlegger's ship and I am seriously pondering the idea of applying a "cheesecake" pin-up on the fuselage side like the dancing Twi'lek on Andrasta. I am not sure if I'm going to do a human female, or what species to select right now.

I've decided my ship's Captain will be a female - but haven't come up with a name to christen my miniature - yet. The other four will likely be a mixed-race contingent - Human, Sullustian and Mon Cal. Writing this, it sounds a bit like Firefly, huh? I never watched the series faithfully, but did watch Serenity and liked it. Maybe that's where my drive is coming from...

It will be lit internally with 15 soft-white LED's driven by a small 3V powerpack that I can tuck away in the nose, allowing the miniature to free-stand without having to be tethered to the nearest electrical socket. I already have the lights/juice ready to put in the hull, but won't cut plastic until a few minutes from now. Gotta do my stretch-and-flex exercises to get pumped-up.

My goal is to update the basic design in some areas where the -31 is deficient, without changing the overall look and feel of the craft. I envision that is part of the draw KSE would be pushing in marketing the ship to potential customers.





I started cutting plastic in April this year, actually - but life always gets in the way of fun! It didn't get to sit back down and revisit my privateer until this weekend...

I settled on most of the extra equipment for the Flight Deck & Surveillance Deck, trying to find a balance between interesting and not-too-much. The photo is of the parts press-fit together and taped together, posed with a selection of 1:72 scale figures from Studio StarForge.

The Command Island and the Surveillance Island are lit from below and there will be small points of light in places around the decks lit from behind when the model is sealed up.

I still have some adjusting to do, some spring steel to hang from the rafters and have to come up with something to do about the "legless" Mon Cal and Sullustian yet before moving on.

I intend on doing some serious work "under the skirt" behind the ship and on the wings to create something unique.

More to come...

I got some more time this morning and decided to hand the spring steel and add the rest of the extra equipment to both decks. I sacrificed the kit-supplied figures of Jango and Boba Fett, chopping off their lower legs for the Mon Cal and Sullustian. With a little putty, I think they will work out okay.

I put everything back together for a few quick photos before going back inside the house - it was 45-degrees out here in the workshop this morning, Brrrrr...

Very nice work, keep ém comming.

Cheers/Jan

Jim,

I wish I knew more about the subject, but it looks really cool Can't wait to see you paint it up.

Rudi

Hey Jimbo, what scale does this work out to be? I doubt I'd go in for building a SW model, but, I'd buy one or two just for salvaging assorted detail parts.
By the by, it does look nice so far. Is the piping material and stuff included in the model? Or, is it added by you? It looks like bass and guitar string.

Looks good though.

45 degrees? Space heater time, huh?

Cuhail

Murphy - it's 1:72 scale, I'm using the Fine Molds Slave I (Jango Fett Version) to base my conversion off of. The spring steel is from the crafts store - comes in various thicknesses and lengths. Good stuff for Sci-Fi modeling.

Yeah - the cold front blowing through here this past weekend brought the temperatures down too low for working comfortable in the workshop - even the superglue was beginning to gel-up and not flow properly...

Heya, Jim,

Nice work, as always --- as the saying goes, "I really like what you've done with the place!" Any plans to add a ladder between the command and surveillance decks? Love that resin bit you added above the command cockpit --- cool piece...what is it from? Also what do you have in store for modifications to the exterior?

Love the idea of a Slave I - styled privateer. You can always paint a Boba Fett head on the side of the hull in a red circle with slash through it!

While I have something of a love-hate feel for the design of the ship (it never grabbed me like the Falcon, X-Wing, Y-Wing and TIE fighter did right off the bat), it has always fascinated me and had a high cool factor, especially with the beat up multi-colored paint scheme. And it always leaves you wanting to know more and see more of it's capabilities, ya know?

And yeah, I know that feeling about coming away from an event fired up about modeling --- I feel that way after every L.A. Miniaturists meeting!

Can I ask what section of the craft store that you got that great flexible steel tubing in? I'm going to raid a nearby Michael's for some.

Lastly, I can identify with it being so cold and the garage/workshop being like a freezer, especially in California. Up until a couple of days ago we've had temperatures as low as the upper 30s here in Burbank! Okay, I'm originally from the East Coast, but that's just too stinking cold for me to effectively model --- never saw that kind of weather on "Baywatch!" Been out here for fifteen years and this is some of the coldest Southern California weather that I have ever seen!

Oh well, model on and keep up the great work, Jim. I'm a big fan of your gun trucks and military modeling as well!

Regards and Aloha,

Johnny B.

That is very imaginative! I've never built a kit of the Slave 1 and am only ised to seeing the version for the SW figures.

Your images convey the true size of this unusual craft.

Great work!.

How about an update Jim? Looking forward to seeing more. I have one of these kits and will more than likely do something similar with mine. I like the jet coaming above the pilot. It looks like it belongs there. "Q"

Matt - I promise I'll make an update soon. Work and some other miniature projects jumped ahead of my Dash-41, but I'll be diving back into it quickly!