This is the product of 198 days of work: a 1:35 scale Incom T-65 X-wing Space Superiority Starfighter.

I built it out of an old AMT-Pro-Shop X-wing Fighter kit, and I kept all the motorized features and sound effects. I am in love with this bird, and the fact that the motors all work and work well just makes this an awesome model kit.

I replaced a good chunk of this kit. One of the most prominant areas I worked on is the cockpit. The area behind the pilot was just *bad*, and I mean BAD. It would have made a good *mural*, but as far as representing the targeting computer, hydraulic pistons for the canopy, and the various wires and piping that runs down the back of the seat, it's no good. I scratchbuilt a lot of detail, including two functional pistons for the canopy that really raise and lower when it moves. The 'intakes' for the engines have a new support beam. The exhaust can turkey feathers were thinned and detailed. The ridiculous detail inside the wings was removed and replaced with simple piping like on the miniature. The laser cannons are almost completely scratcbuilt save for the main body. The engine deck has a ton of new greebles to break it up. The torpedo launchers are now completely hollow and have actual torpedoes in them, ready to kill a Death Star.

One of the biggest areas of improvement though has to be the base. I felt all that space needed *something* to break it up. I thought I could get by with simply adding descriptive text, like in a museum, but then I got completely carried away and added a bunch of small displays featuring components from the 'real' starfighter: the ion drive, repulsorlift projector, hyperdrive, laser cannon, and a selection of missile weapons the ship could be fitted with. Each of these has a light above it and small plaque next to it explaining what it is, what it does, and it's rating (example: Krupx Munitions MG7-a Proton Torpedo, Charge: Baradium, Detonator: Proton-based, Yield: 9,900 Megatons). The ion engine I'm especially proud of. I work at a jet engine refurbishment facility, and I get to see real engines all the time, so I was able to put this knowledge into building a realistic-looking fusial thrust engine. Also, the turkey feathers on this engine are 100% scratchbuilt, including the flame holder.

Back to the cockpit, I created a special decal for the main console which was semi-transparent. I had to use several decal layers and paint on top of the inner ones in order to get the white and silver parts. It looks just about perfect though, especially when it's lit up.

The model was painted in Camouflage Gray with Testors Red striping. The off color panels are all various mixes of green, yellow, and blue gray. I spent a lot of time researching Red Five, trying to get as close to the miniature as possible. The panel lines on the model are not the same as the miniature though, so I had to fudge a few of the off-color panels.

All in all though I'm extremely happy with how this one turned out. It's the best model I've ever built, period.

It is not in my collection, however. I built it as a Christmas present for my niece, a young Star Wars fan and a terrific young girl (she's a big sci-fi nerd, like her uncle. She can even hold her own in a Comic Book Guy-level nerd fight! I'm so proud . . . ). She opened this thing up, then I had her flip the "on" switch. The wings split open to attack position . . . and I had to help her pick her jaw up off the floor.

The only thing that could have made it better was if I were able to rig the box like I had planned. I wanted to put one of those Star Wars card circuit boards in it and rig it so it would play when the lid was completely off the box. But I ran out of time and had to wrap it up as-is. But it was alright; her reaction was reward enough for all the hard work I put in it.

I made a YouTube video of the wings and cockpit canopy in action, complete with the cliche' of using Star Wars music:

[link]

For more pics, here's the Photobucket album I used during it's construction:

[link]

By the way, before I gave this model away I took it to a Christmas party hosted by one of the guys from my model club. I brought this along, because I knew a few guys would want to see it in action. It ended up being the center of attention, with all the guys there lining up in order to push the buttons and see it work. They even asked me, one of the *neophytes*, if I would explain how I did it! These guys are serious modelers and are asking *me* how I weathered it, how I scratchbuilt the components, where I learned to scribe . . . I was a great night.