[SiFi]¶
Free Trader Crew¶

The models are done, all bases finished.


[SiFi]¶
Free Trader Crew¶

The rest of the crew (Engineer, Ambassador, Preacher, Doctor and Teenage Girl) is done. Only the bases on all of them are missing the finishing touches.


[SiFi]¶
Free Trader Crew¶

And the Security Specialist is done also. Six indicidual models in a day, not bad. My painting hobby definitely needs more bank holidays...


[SiFi]¶
Free Trader Crew¶

The First Mate is done. Again, I painted both versions in different clothing.


[SiFi]¶
Free Trader Crew¶

The Captain is done. I gave him two different dresses instead of painting both models the same way.


[SiFi]¶
Free Trader Crew¶

I continued work on the Free Trader Crew. First up is the Pilot, who also drives the mule to get cargo to and from the ship.

I wanted to paint the model on foot at the same time as the seated model. When I had both besides each other I noticed, that in my first attempt to give the seated drived the head of the Pilot, I grabbed one of the Security Specialist models... :-(

Out came the knife, off went the head and I instant moulded the correct head.

I then tried to sculpt the shirt of the original model on the seated driver.

Then came the painting. Orange suit and hawaian shirt.

After some colourful splotches, I tried to paint on some flower shapes in dark green - according to my wife I managed to archive the look of a childs painting attempts, but not a hawaian shirt look...

Here is the complete vehicle with driver seated and standing. The great panel on the front cries out for the Free Trader Crew logo - another decal I need to design and have custom printed.


[SiFi]¶
Free Trader Crew¶

The models were basecoated together with the Space Pirates (photographed with them). The mule was also basecoated, then sprayed black from below, then sprayed yellow all around.


[SiFi]¶
Free Trader Crew¶

I cleaned the flash from the models and based them on washers.

To get cargo into their ship, the crew uses a mini mule with trailer. The driver supplied with it wears NAC gear, which does not match the look for a free trader.

Time for some more instant mold. I choose a model (that it is the pilot was coincidence, and not related at all to the pilot of a well-known tv series...) and covered its head with the mold.

Here the cast with the head cut off.

From the original driver I cut off the head and removed the shoulder plates. I then glued the new head in place and with miliput added a hood, like on the model I cast the head from.

Here is the complete mule with driver and cargo. The driver will not be glued into place to allow me to use the vehicle manned and in action, as well as unmanned scenery.