Mod of the Month - August 2007

Battlestar Galactica

By Boddaker
Worklog

Oh, holy geekdom. We know we're nerds, it's fine. So we might as well enjoy it, right? And what better way is there to truly celebrate your geek pride than with a case that is themed after Battlestar Galactica?

The problem is, the iconic series has several classically identifiable things, but each of them (particularly ships) would require an attention to detail that would make an obsessive-compulsive cringe. Much like the Star Destroyers of Imperial fame could quickly look like floating cheese wedges, the only thing that separates many space vehicles in this series from metallic slugs is a carefully done exterior.

Thankfully, Boddaker is both incredibly OCD and incredibly talented, which is a good combination for this type of work. Though he had to take a little break to become a daddy (That's no excuse! -- Ed.), this project has been floating along nicely.


How many times have I said this? Most great mods start with a plan -- particularly if you are doing one that requires this level of detail. With an image of the final product firmly in mind, Boddaker could get down to business - which all started with a slightly curved sheet of plywood.


On top of that plywood went foam insulation sheets...and then more foam. And then more foam. And finally, after a bunch of cutting, sculpting and sanding, Boddaker was left with what he really needed - a big, pink garden slug. This would become the mould for a plastic resin that would be the case's main aesthetic appeal.


When the plastic hardened, it was sanded, primed (to find the low spots), given a layer of bondo and then sanded again. A test fit showed it looked perfect on the case, and so it was on to the obsessive part - details. The ships on Battlestar Galactica have very little armor plating, leaving bunches of exposed trusses, pipes, and other miscellanea visible from outside. This had to all be replicated with polystyrene chunks if it was going to look at all real.


The tedious work was done with strips of polystyrene and a heat gun, and each detail was laid down by hand. To say this looks like a fast job would be laughable...I think I'd personally have given up by the fifth strip, much less the thirtieth. And you wonder why I called him OCD?


Of course, it's looking like it might all be worth the time. With a few vinyl stickers and decals to add a bit of three-dimensional effect to the pieces of armor, even a couple coats of dark primer start to bring the mod home. And just think - this is only about the first half of what he has planned.

To see the rest, zip on over to Boddaker's worklog. Your inner geek will thank you.

If you think this mod should win this month's competition, don't forget to vote for it in this thread! Voting closes on 9th September 2007.