I am going to try my hand at a BT-80 scale Fireball XL5 [Inspired] model rocket. I know a number of people have done this one but hoping I can create a unique balance of detail and launch options in my version.
I downloaded a number of different 3D designs, STLs, pictures, etc... and have been somewhat disappointed in the missed or incorrect details in many of the models. Ultimately, I always wind up redesigning from scratch but everything I can get my hands on helps me get as accurate to scale / semi-scale as possible.
The best pictures I can find are from the opening sequence of the show as well as some behind the scenes photos of the actual model used for the show (on Shutterstock for some reason). The behind the scene photos are also square on the model, which is great, but unfortunately there are only front and rear photos (no top, bottom, or side angles). If anyone has seen other behind the scenes square-on photos of the actual model used in the show I would appreciate a link.
Rear photos are key since lots of the details are back here.
Here is an example of the missing details. Some of the B/W pics out there seem to be rendered remakes (my assumption) of the opening segment but look at the missing details inside the vertical airfoiled wing part on the two left pictures / models compared to the pictures above. My initial draft is on the right (I tried to get more of the details but I need to fix the shape (it is not an oval but should be a rounded rectangle per the above prototypes). I also need to fix the shape of the middle bump (should be a rounded corner instead of an oval there as well). Anyway, its an iterative process.
One of the more square side pictures I can find (at least along one dimension) as well as a pretty square picture of the bottom (although terrible lighting).
I am measuring scale from a number of these pictures (often across a few pictures to triangulate on what should be closest to scale).
I downloaded a number of different 3D designs, STLs, pictures, etc... and have been somewhat disappointed in the missed or incorrect details in many of the models. Ultimately, I always wind up redesigning from scratch but everything I can get my hands on helps me get as accurate to scale / semi-scale as possible.
The best pictures I can find are from the opening sequence of the show as well as some behind the scenes photos of the actual model used for the show (on Shutterstock for some reason). The behind the scene photos are also square on the model, which is great, but unfortunately there are only front and rear photos (no top, bottom, or side angles). If anyone has seen other behind the scenes square-on photos of the actual model used in the show I would appreciate a link.
Rear photos are key since lots of the details are back here.
Here is an example of the missing details. Some of the B/W pics out there seem to be rendered remakes (my assumption) of the opening segment but look at the missing details inside the vertical airfoiled wing part on the two left pictures / models compared to the pictures above. My initial draft is on the right (I tried to get more of the details but I need to fix the shape (it is not an oval but should be a rounded rectangle per the above prototypes). I also need to fix the shape of the middle bump (should be a rounded corner instead of an oval there as well). Anyway, its an iterative process.
One of the more square side pictures I can find (at least along one dimension) as well as a pretty square picture of the bottom (although terrible lighting).
I am measuring scale from a number of these pictures (often across a few pictures to triangulate on what should be closest to scale).
