Almost immediately after pictures of my first 3 feet version of the Matrix hovercraft (the Nebuchadnezzar) was published on this site (God bless it!) I received a second commission for a smaller version of the same model. The challenge was to achieve the same quality of detail in half the size (that's almost 20")

I started with the same plan than in the first case, but very soon I begun finding a lot of new difficulties that the new scale present not only on the modeling itself but also on the illumination system that I have to plan previously. So I have to build a complete solid master to which I apply superficial molding to get two hollow halves in order to be able to place all the inner circuitry and lamps. The task was twice as hard as just building the model, but I think the results where worthwhile. Both halves copies were made of layers of epoxy resin and fiberglass to give a good strength to the model (almost hard as a boat-hull) and the other details (as trust disks and other repetitive pieces) where also casted in epoxy. The base was scratchbuilt in 3mm wide card boards over a wooden base, and lots of electric-power wire, small tubes and even straws to simulate the pipetubes of the movie scenes. I finally sprayed the whole group with a base of aluminum acrylic, and then airbrushed in black, Khaki Drab and different oxides to simulate corrosion and weathering.

Image: Dorsal from stern

Image: Forward port quarter

Image: Bow on

Image: Aft port quarter

Image: Lighted dorsal

Image: Lighted portside from bow

Image: Lighted stern

Image: Lighted port low

Image: Lighted bow

Image: Bridge closeup

Image: Starting

Image: Coming along

Image: Lots o bits

Image: Mold

Image: Castings

Image: Foam beginnings

Image: Bridge

Image: Mastering engines

Image: Clear cast engines

Image: Contsruction

Image: Nearly mastered

Image: Lighting