1/9/06 - I've decided to do this as a lighted model, which means drilling out the insides of the solid resin body of the craft. I used 1/2" to 1/8" bits to hollow out the front and wingtips. I used the 1/8" bit to c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y drill wiring conduits between the front opening and wingtips.

My plan is for a "Valley of the Shadow of Death" dio with Uncle Matthew walking toward the war machine in a burnt landscape.

And sometime down the line, I'd like to scratch up the walking version predecessor of this, from the War of the Worlds TV series episode Dust to Dust.

2/27/07 - Puttied the surface irregularities and the mold mis-alignment scars on the body and heat ray emitter. Also drilled out the heat ray emitter for lighting.

Body underside | topside

mold mis-alignment

Body & emitter, puttied and drilled out - top | bottom

3/3/07 - More sanding and puttying, and then yet more sanding and puttying.

Topside | Underside

3/8/07 - Worked on the fit between the body and the trans green pieces that attach to it. I'm close to finished with puttying / sanding the body.

Also began work to replace the stalk of the heat ray with a straighter piece of tubing. The original resin stalk could be straightened, but this is quicker. The tubing will allow wiring to run to the bendy part of the stalk. I Dremelled a trench in this part with an emery wheel. Once wires are embedded in the trench, I'll putty over them.

3/14/07 - Continued boring out the interior of the model to make room for lighting & wiring. Most of the work was done with 1/2" and 3/8" drill bits. I managed to nick the front edge in a few places, so I puttied those up with Milliput.