Here is my new minifig-scale Snowspeeder, which I created in response to the realization that my original design was too large.
About this creation
This page is for my all-new smaller Snowspeeder custom. I always had justified my previous (now rechristened SE scale and displayed here recently) version's larger size by the extra detail and accuracy it allowed. When I saw Shaun Sullivan's and Brucey-Wan's well done versions at a much smaller size, I began thinking about trying a reduced version. It took me a while to get back to the idea, but I finally tried it several months ago (I'm REALLY slow about taking/editing/uploading pics).
Since my old version was 33 percent too big (a 4 to 3 ratio), I decided to try to simply reduce it's dimensions equally. In reality, it wasn't that simple (the cockpit, for instance, would then have to have been 3 studs wide instead of 4, and pilots wouldn't even be able to fit their heads inside). In the end, it became a compromise (as LEGO often is) between the larger version's accuracy of detail and this version's accuracy of scale. There are some interesting differences between the two, and each has different shortcomings, but I'd say it came out better than I expected.
Agree? Disagree? Questions or Comments? Feedback welcome!
Update: I've just added new pics with orange detailing (as well as blue) and disassembled "instructions" pics for those who've expressed interest in building or modifying my design.
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This angle shows some of the details that I kept from my larger version, including the angled front section (with the same plane tailwing piece), and the classic "opaque" windscreen piece, while other features had to be changed or even done away with. like the wing guns and top "window" on the cockpit canopy.
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High top/side angle. I know the 2x2 tile is a bit of a cop-out for the top window, but I wasn't comfortable with the 1x2 window that I'd have if I made it a "real" one (or else I'd have to cut a chunk out of the 4x4 hinge piece). After this was built, I saw Matt's (Lowlead) new version which uses a 1x2 window, showing that it can work well enough, but I don't mind my grey tile.
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Fun with photo editing...it's flying, or "look ma, no hands!"
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Back to the air for this straight side view, highlighting the pilots' helmets in the cramped canopy. The harpoon gun on this version is even more thrown together than my other one. It was just the basic "gun" piece; I added the technic pin in a spur of the moment decision right before taking the first pics...it still bugs me for some reason.
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Rear angle. I was pleased that the rear didn't seem to suffer too much from the scale reduction. Interestingly, Lowlead and I independently worked out a similar solution for the round engine pieces. His version uses a 2x2 round brick with a 1x1 round plate in the middle of the studs, while I use 2 2x2 round plates with the same 1x1 round solution (my other larger Speeder uses 2x2 round bricks, but they have the bottom, not the studs, facing rear - I might work out a way to reorient them).
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Straight rear shot. Like my larger design, the lower airbrake flaps are not moveable (thought Lowlead's articulated ones have inspired me to possibly change both of mine).
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Another rear/side angle, with an engine afterburner removed - I was waiting for a piece from Bricklink when this was taken!
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At the request of some folks at FBTB, here is the speeder in the alternate orange (red/orange in the film) colour scheme to contrast with the dark grey of Luke's speeder.
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Blue highlights thrown in for fun. It just seemed to me that the Ice Planet logo was too perfect not to try (I had actually used it on an early incarnation of my larger speeder custom, back when it existed in blue and white due to light grey shortage).
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Straight front view: not the most flattering, but good for showing construction features.
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...and opened, with flash to highligh the controls.
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Closeup of cockpit with canopy removed to reveal all the ship's controls. Partly for fun and partly by architectural necessity, the details in here are very different than my larger version. It's always fun to fill a new cockpit with computer elements, though, so I didn't mind.
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Straight overhead view to show the ship's proportions.
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Bottom view. Overtly similar to my other version, but in a twist that (I think) makes it look better, the 2x3 inverted slope pieces (except for the front two) are attached to the wings instead of the main body (the other version has them all attached to the body). The result is that the angled surface, which would normally be an inverted 33 degrees, end up being flat, or matching the plates under the main body (Was that as confusing to read as it was to think and write?).
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Here begin the deconstructed "instructions" pics. I hope these help reveal the speeder's design for those interested. The blue details just happended to be what was there when I decided to take these pics (it's now back to dark grey). Note that the 1x4 section of the hinged "car roof" piece on the wings attaches to the body on only two studs. This makes it easy to remove, yet still sturdy enough for handling and "swooshing."
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Angled shot of wing underside to highlight the 2x3 33 degree inverted slopes.
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Angled shot detailing the front assembly. The angled 1x1 and 2x1 plates on the sides of the Ice Planet slope piece may look flimsy, but they actually stay in place quite well.
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Other side, same angle with canopy assembly removed to show entire cockpit detail.
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Rear closeup highlighting the point of connection for the wings as well as the lower "flap" pieces. I may try to articulate them, but I don't want any assembly to be too bulky and distracting.
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Speaking of articulation, here is a solution for those who wondered why I have no topside airbrakes to match those on my larger "SE" version (years before LEGO used a similar method on their new minifig scale rework). This solution was provided by Matt (Lowlead) from FBTB, and is similar to what I would have used, but I tried it and, as mentioned above, thought it was a bit too bulky on such a small ship.
For those who really feel that it's an indispensible feature, though, I'd say this is the best way to do it (thanks, Matt)!
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Big brother and little brother together. Maybe I'll break down and buy the huge official UCS Snowspeeder (but modify its brutal oversized nose portion) and also assemble Gareth's smaller (but in many ways better) matched-to-the-UCSXwing/TIE Interceptor-scale UCS custom, to make it a family of four!
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Finally, a picture I also included with my recent page for my larger Speeder (an older edition of which is shown in the middle). This shows a size-adjusted comparison to an official ILM model (the best reference for ANY custom...especially when it comes to the snowspeeder. I won't even get into some of the TERRIBLE "schematics" of this ship which have surfaced over the years, even in the latest edition of the otherwise excellent Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels...ok, so I started to get into it - end of rant.
In any event, while each version has its conflicts with the ILM model, overall, they look OK to me (though I could have 'em both pulled apart next week trying to fix something, who knows).
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Comments
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I like it |
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July 4, 2008 |
I wanted to thank you for such a brilliant design. I just finished my own based on this design and it came out great! It is my favorite MOC on my page! |
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I like it |
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Dave Shaddix February 23, 2008 |
Great work! You've inspired me to build my own minifig scale Snowspeeder. And the way you have disassembled your model helps me to understand how to structure it. You know where to go if you want to see a Brian Tobin inspired Snowspeeder. :-) |
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I like it |
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October 23, 2003 |
Wowzers Brian, that is great! Though i haven't much to say, (due to the late hour) I am still amazed. Good job! |
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