July 2014 Update - Naboo's Starfighter

about a week ago i had this very tempting offer from a local ebay seller whom i've had a few transactions with just by the end of 2013 and early this 2014..
he offered me the latest model of the Naboo Starfighter which used to be in my WishList, and so i immediately grabbed the opportunity to get a copy of it, upon verifying the authenticity of the unit...

the week that passed wasn't a great week..
a strong typhoon hit our area, there was blackout all over the northern part of the country, and the delivery of my item got delayed..
lucky for me, the courier still successfully delivered my package the day after that great typhoon..
so it's not a bad week after all...

my latest purchase is a vehicle..
so basically (again), it made my Estimated Rate increase..
but it's okay with me, because it was still a great deal..
actually, there are some items out there that can help me lessen my Estimated Rate value, but it's kinda hard to insert them in my 'to buy list' especially when my top-priority targets are coming in the scene...



REBEL VEHICLES:

Naboo Royal N-1 Starfighter..
sometimes known simply as the Naboo Starfighter..
a starfighter used by the government of Naboo for defense, patrol, and escort duties..
the Royal N-1 Starfighter featured the best elements of Naboo design, being aesthetically sound and adhering to Naboo's love for curves and aerodynamic shapes...

for the very first time, i featured a unit which is not fully-assembled..
i did not attach the tail portion of this starfighter because i'm afraid that i may have problems with its interlocking parts..
i have experienced that problem with my AT-AP unit, and i had to use force to separate the cannon on top from the main body, and it resulted to some minor damage on the interlocking parts..
for now, i still don't have a decent room for all my collection, so i need to put them back in their packaging after inspecting and taking photos of them..
and so, i need to be very careful and make sure that each unit (especially vehicles) can still be disassembled after...

on the upper right portion of the image above, shows how tall a pilot figure is compared to the starfighter...

here's a photo revealing the concealed proton torpedo launchers on the side engines...

the latest model of the Naboo Starfighter features a working compartment for the astromech droid..
the photo above shows a full-body R2-D2 unit placed inside the starfighter's back portion..

the upper image shows that a Vintage Collection Naboo Pilot can fit inside the starfighter's cockpit..
and the image below it shows that a Padme Amidala (disguised as a Naboo Security Pilot) can also fit inside..
i've also tried putting in an old version of Ric Olie, but it would require forceful methods to do so..
TIP: don't use the sliding canopy to put a pilot inside the starfighter, i suggest you open the upper part of the main body (the one which reveals the engine inside) and start from there...

here's a comparative top view of a Naboo Starfighter and a V-Wing Starfighter..
here you can see how long the Naboo Starfighter is (which is about 22 inches or 55 cm long), compared to a V-Wing Starfighter (which is about 14 inches or 35 cm long)...
and so this makes my new Naboo Starfighter the longest vehicle in my collection right now...




NON-MATCH FURNITURE:
and here's a short update for my non-match furniture..

glass chamber..
i'm not sure what this item used to be (it looks like a soap container to me)..
but, i'm planning to use it like some sort of transparent chamber for holding mid-sized bodies or entities...

Non-Match Furniture - Recyclables

here's a bunch of recyclables which i think i can use for my Star Wars Diorama Project:

microscope slides for glass stairs..
i plan to make it look like a floating stair...

test or sample containers for glass tanks..
i might be able to use them inside my cloning facility in Kamino...

marbles..
probably for porch ornaments or lighting equipment...

vials for glass tanks or chemical containers...

razor blade covers for lighting equipment...

sharpener glass covers for small table and cover...

small table with cover...

cotton buds clear plastic container...

Pringles container lid...

breath freshener container for vending machine...

beauty cream containers for garden or corridor ornaments...

beads for jewels or valuable stones..
available in orange, yellow, green, and white...

Non-Match Furniture - The Clock Tower

here's another update for my non-match furniture..
this isn't the latest though, for this piece has been with me for quite some time now...

wall clock frame & glass..
so we had this broken wall clock from my biological brother's house..
i tried to fix it, but it seemed hopeless..
and after removing the frame and the glass from the main body, i thought that i might be able to use those parts for some sort of clock tower in my Star Wars diorama..
so for now, i'll be keeping it until i have the time and resources to build my clock tower...

Non-Match Furniture - Clear Plastic Glass Display Stand

and here's a little update with my non-match accessories..

clear plastic glass display stand..
it looks like glass, but i believe it's just made of plastic material...

it's not an actual component or accessory included in any Star Wars package..
so i decided to just include it under my non-match furniture..
i got this as a bonus item after buying my very first Clone Trooper 212th Battalion..
and i'm happy with it... ^_^

Non-Match Furniture - Display Cabinet & an Ebay Update

these new recycled materials has been with me for a few weeks now..

and it was only yesterday that i find the time to take some photos of them...

so this is a clear plastic glass casing of the Marlboro Ice Blast which goes with a free lighter..
i was even surprised to know that it's actually cheaper than a regular pack of Marlboro..
by the way, i'm not a smoker, and my biological father just gave these to me..
let's see..
so i had this case inverted when i took this picture..
the cigarette pack is placed in the middle..
the bonus lighter is placed in the smaller portion (the one in the bottom for this picture)..
and the remaining partition (which is on top in this particular photo) has nothing inside it, it's just covered with a cardboard from the outside which contains the brand name of the cigarette...

display cabinet..
the first time i saw this type of cigarette casing, i already know what i can use it for..
so i am planning to use them in an inverted orientation..
and as you can see in the picture above, it looks more like an ordinary tv shelf at home instead of a futuristic display cabinet..
you can put some random display items on the top part (5 Clone Trooper helmets for example ^_^)..
a large monitor in the middle..
and probably a dvd player and some cd rack at the bottom..
haha!

i like it because of the transparency effect of the plastic glass material..
it makes things look elegant and modern...

and you can also see in the picture a regular 3 & 3/4 inch scale ARC Trooper standing by the side..
just to provide a comparative view of their respective heights..
seems alright to me...^_^

here's a wider view..
now with 2 units of that cigarette casing...

glass platform or glass wall..
these are also part of the plastic glass cigarette casing..
these are the removable sliding covers..
and i think i can make use of them either as glass platforms or glass walls...

Ebay Update:

and just a little update about my Ebay store..

well, i already managed to sell some of my stuff just last week, though it's not my Star Wars for sale items..

and it was a great experience..

all the bidding, the arrangement, and especially the postage thing..

it's a good thing that everything went smoothly, and so i was able to satisfy my very first ebay client...^_^

good luck with me!

hope to have more selling transactions in the future...^_^

Match Furniture - Plates (Model 02)

here's a little update regarding my match furniture project, which is an experimental part of my diorama project..
it is still in the experimental stage since there's really a lot of factors to consider, like the: durability of the material over time, wood-eating insects (or infestation), and what paint to use on them...


since i have been accumulating a lot of used matchsticks for the past few weeks..
i decided that i should come up with some new model(s)..
and i thought of creating a new plate design..
coz the plates (model 01 or simply 'plates') looks too simple...

and here's what i came up with..
i made these during the early part of April...

plates (model 02)..
unlike the basic or the first model, this type has spaces in between each stick..
each space being as broad or as thick as a single matchstick..
they're quite tricky to produce, coz only the tips are being glued for most part..
i make use of heavy materials with straight edges as guide, just to make sure that each side of the plate would also be straight (90 degrees for every corner)..
plus, while gluing, i need to temporarily put matchsticks in place of those spaces, to come up with spaces of almost the same sizes and also to keep the sticks in the inner side of the plate straight while still waiting for the glue to dry...

i think i can make use of some of these as air vent...

August 2012 Update - Imperial Trooper & Furniture Accessories

now here are the content of my latest package from a trusted local ebayer/seller..
the package was delivered by JRS Express, it's the third time for me and i'm glad that they haven't let me down yet, unlike the others..
their shipping charge is still considerate, handling is great as usual, and their next day delivery is faster compared to other courier service provider...



IMPERIAL TROOPER:

442nd Siege Battalion..
they are clone troopers assigned to capture the planet of Cato Neimoidia, home to the Neimoidians who are key members of the separatist group...

so far this is my most favorite design for a basic imperial trooper..
the green theme gives it that military-look..
this is my very first 2nd Generation Clone Trooper (with basic armor design) that has no removable helmet feature..
it is still fine though, but i do hope that Hasbro could someday release versions with a removable helmet and an officer version with pauldron..
so this is another unit that i have just taken out from my Wishlist Page..
YES!!



sad to say that i only managed to buy one Star Wars action figure this time..
but here are the other items that i purchased..
these are 3.75 inch scale furniture accessories manufactured by M&C Toy Centre Ltd., they're made of a certain durable plastic material..
i thought i could use them in my diorama project particularly for the rebels, since i'm planning to make their equipment look less high tech..
they can also serve as good reference in designing my matchstick furniture...

barrier..

with working hinge to adjust the angle or orientation..

separate barrier standing with a clone trooper action figure for size comparison...

folding chair..
beside it is a matchstick chair (model 01) for comparative view..
my design is slightly smaller..

i told you, it's a folding chair..

with Aayla Secura figure seated...

table..

with a folding chair and an action figure for size comparison...

locker..

it has a working hinged-door and a couple of dividers inside..
a clone trooper helmet can be stored inside one of those compartments..
here, it stands with a clone trooper action figure for size comparison...

Gurney stretcher..
foldable for easy storage or when it has to be lifted...

it has an adjustable bedding..
it also features foldable wheeled-legs for easier transport..

with action figures for size comparison...

bunk bed with mattresses..

Jarael and Aayla Secura standing around the bed for size comparison..
they'll be sharing the bed together while i still don't have my hands on a Shaak Ti (TFU) figure..>,<
tsk, i forgot to take a picture with a figure lying down on it...

the mattresses, made of a certain type of rubber material somewhat similar to that used in making slippers...

Match Furniture - Set 01

MINIATURE MATCH FURNITURE:

Materials:
- used matchsticks
- glue
- cutter
- pencil or any other marking material
- sandpaper
- weights, anything heavy with a flat base

Steps:
1) decide on what design you'll work on, and divide it into segments (e.g. the seat for a chair, or the back support, or the base)
2) select only those matchsticks with straight and flat phases
3) cut the matchsticks based on the desired length
4A) glue the matchsticks together, try working on it by pair, gluing the sticks piece by piece, letting them dry well before gluing them to another part, until you complete an entire segment of whatever you're building
4B) when drying, lay the glued pieces in a flat surface, then apply the weights just to make sure that it won't be moved and that it'll dry flat
5) use the sandpaper to smoothen the edges and surfaces
6) glue the segments, again, piece by piece, let it dry well before gluing in another part, depending on the model that you're working on, you might need additional support materials to make sure that your subject will get dry accordingly (e.g. combining a slanted back support for a chair)
7) after completing the model, apply glue-coating to every exposed parts, it can somehow help prevent the stick from being exposed to destructive foreign bodies and will also give the figure a shiny look

Concerns:
- durability of the matchstick material
- how to totally prevent insects and other foreign bodies from attacking and attaching to the sticks
- painting material that will not fade and will not produce stain

plates..
these are basic structures with uniform size which i can use for different kinds of furniture designs...

chair (model 01)..
this is the very first matchstick furniture that i came up with..
i manage to paint it just by the use of water color..
i also applied glue-coating so that the paint will look shiny..

placed beside a 3 & 3/4 inch action figure..

look! it's fully functional...^_^

chair (model 02)..

this is a latest experiment..

this model has a more stable base compared to the first model...

food tray..
the tray is divided into a small (left) and big (right) section..
i also managed to paint it, but i discovered that the reaction of the water color to the glue can ruin the paint even if it has already dried before the application of the glue-coating...

lamp shade..
i also tried painting its cover, but after applying the glue coating, the white paint turned into pinkish-white - not a pleasing result..

the cover is removable in case i want to put a lighting device inside..

placed beside Sigel Dare...

bench..
i will use it for locker rooms and corridors...

diner's table and seats..
i will use this model for Dexter's Restaurant..
i tried painting one of the seats blue but i ran out of water color..

the table and seats are desinged to just stick in the wall and be slightly elevated from the ground..
here you can see that it's fully functional..^_^
the support near the action figure isn't a part of this model...

toilet bowl..
with hollow bowl and removable tank cover..
my skill is limited to building things with straight edges..T,T

the Naboo Soldier peeing...

the girls and boys share the same toilet, and the Naboo Soldier didn't clean his mess - poor Sigel Dare..>,<
again, i tried painting the tank cover, but the result isn't satisfactory so after that i decided to stop using water color for my miniature furnitures...

cash register..
with sliding drawer, it's not hollow so there's really nothing you can put inside..>,<

comparative view with Dexter..
the green and transparent object is a sharpener, i only used it as a substitute desk...

container..
it kinda looks like a container used for delivering noodles..
it has a whole..
but i'm not yet sure how i can make use of it...

it has a concealable handle on top...

cabinet (model 01)..
it's an open type and has 3 sections (top most layer included) where you can place miniature stuff...

cabinet (model 02)..
this model has opening doors and the interior is divided into 2 sections...

ammunition box..

a spacious metal container with opening cover...