By Dennis Dilmore - images & text © 2007

Editor's Note: What could you build given 2 pounds of parts and a deadline? Back in 2004, a challenge was issued on the Starship Modeler Discussion Forums to answer just that question. Participants scoured their strategic styrene reserves for likely parts, then sent them in to SSM, where they were randomly boxed up and sent back out again. None of the participants knew what they would get. The results .... well, see for yourself. The full record of events is still online on the Discussion Forums (though some of the individual links have undoubtedly decayed since then).

So, back in March of 2003, someone came up with this challenge where you send a two-pound box of model parts in to One-Zero and get a different box back. Now, here's the catch, use the components in that box to build at least one model. Okay, sounds like fun. I dumped out my parts box and put together a two-pound box of parts. Let me tell you, going through one's own parts bin is not easy! What do you part with? The stuff you're not going to use! (Yea, right! We want everything!) After much agonizing, I finally got enough stuff together to send off. So it's down to Wal-Mart to mail off the box. (The mention of Wal-Mart is important, pay attention!)

To pass the time and gauge when I can expect my box, I check the board regularly to see when the boxes ship and who gets them. After about a week or so, the mighty One-Zero starts popping boxes in the mail and posting whose box shipped. I see my name posted! YAH! Can't wait to get my mitts on that thing!

Now to sit back and wait for my box to arrive...And wait...Waiting...Waiting...Where is my box? I check in with One-Zero and verify the address he sent the box to: Wal-Mart! With so many participants, One-Zero and company sent my box out according to the return receipt. A quick run to Wal-Mart and its Christmas in March!

My wife insisted that she get to open it, so I get to sit there and drool at all the neat stuff in the box. My daughter comes in and starts asking for stuff. What, now she shows an interest? I explain it's all part of a competition and, if she wants, to wait until I get one model built.

All these parts! Now what do I do?

Build Something!

After sorting through the parts about twenty-six times, an idea started to percolate in the ole noggin: Escort Carrier. Two of the components were what appeared to be halves of a Nautilus sub. I sanded most of the raised rivet detailing off and removed some other detail to give it a more streamlined appearance. But what to do about the gaping hole in the side was a large door is missing? Looking through the parts, I found components for a WWII era tank. I took the top deck of the tank, cut it up and made a launch bay. I stuck it in the hole in a way that made some sense. Now the rest of the holes needed attention. I used the road wheels and idler wheels from the tank as fillers. They make pretty good turbolasers. Then I glued the two halves together. Okay, I used a little putty to fill the seam. But that's all!

For engines, I cut up some plastic tubing and ended them in an old standby, road wheels. The way you add a piece can make a lot of difference. Turned one way, the road wheels are turbolasers. Flip them over, now they're engine nozzles. Adding detail to the surface without cluttering it up is no mean feat. Besides, what is it SUPPOSED to look like?

I chose to add just a few greebles here, to make it look busy without over doing it (I hope!) Two road wheels, some circular pieces, stuff that looks like it would have a purpose. The big piece on the rear ventral looks like a vectoring control. It fit nicely and filled up a couple of small holes in that area, without resorting to putty. On the dorsal side, I needed to cover a seam. A section of...something ... worked and made it look like more engine detailing. Most anywhere that had a crack or seam, I tried to cover without cluttering.

Painting

Okay, time to stop building and prime the beast, then look for imperfections. Now, the big hang up, painting. What colors, schemes or style to use? How about grey! It's simple and works for most military style vessels. Some red detailing and voila - Fini!

But what is it? Okay, I said escort carrier at the start of this, but for who? The Rebellion! I feel the shape fits the Star Wars universe, and the build can be explained as a bulk freighter converted into a escort carrier. Now, to figure out scale and dimensions. For inspiration, I gaze upon my Polar Lights TOS Enterprise hanging from my ceiling. 1/1000 scale it is. I break out the tape measure and the scale calculator and start computing:

• Length= 342.9 meters,
• Height= 85 meters,
• Beam, not including hanger egress, = 95 meters
• Hanger width = 54 meters,
• Height = 10 meters

Now all I have to do is come up with a witty name. Any ideas?