DIY Star Wars TIE Fighter Bookshelf

Hi, I'm Ashley. I'm a long time lurker and this is my very first Instructable!

Since the release of The Force Awakens, whenever I brainstorm new project ideas a Star Wars related idea always comes up! Today’s project just so happens to be another Star Wars themed project; it’s a TIE fighter bookshelf! I was able to make use of some scrap lumber I already owned. Paint was the only item I purchased for the project. Everything else I had on hand. Follow along and build one for yourself or the Star Wars fan in your life.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• Circular saw
• Jigsaw
• Kreg Jig
• Ruler / straight edge
• clamps
• Orbital sander
• Lumber
  • 3/4" thick plywood - 13" x 26"
  • 1x8 board - 48"
• Gray paint
• Black paint
• 1" thick painter's tape
• 1/2" thick washi tape (I used this as painter's tape)
• Wood glue
• Wood filler
• Screws

I originally shared this project on my DIY blog, Handmade with Ashley.

If you enjoyed this Instructable, please vote for it in the Woodworking Contest! :)

Cut the sheet of plywood down into two 13" squares.

Cut the 1x8 board into two pieces 24" long.

The TIE figher wings are shaped sorta like a hexagon. Use a jigsaw to cut out the shape.

1. Draw a line from the midpoint of each side
2. Mearsure 2" from the corner and create a line from that point to the midpoint.
3. Cut along the diagonal lines

Create pocket hole joints to join the boards.

1. Create 3 pocket holes on the long side of one of the 1x8 boards
2. Create 2 pocket holes on the each short side of the 1x8 boards

Prep the surface of the lumber for painting. (You can assemble the shelf before painting. I painted half, then assembled the shelf and then painted the remaining half.)

First coat the shelf with a base of gray paint.

Once the base coat is dried, paint the TIE figher wings:

1. Tape of border of the wing with 1" painter's tape
2. Use tape to connect the opposing corners
3. Use tape to create a small hexagon shape at the intersection of all the tape lines
4. Paint the exposed area with black paint

While the wings are drying, paint the TIE fighter cockpit:

1. Draw the shape of a semi-circle in the center of the 1x8 boards (If you are painting the shelf before assembling be sure to take that into account when you draw the semi-circles)
2. Draw the shape of an octagon in the center of the joined semi-circles
3. With 1/2" painter's tape (I used washi tape because I could not find painter's tape that thin), mask off from each point on the octagon to the outer circle (see picture).
4. Paint the exposed area with black paint

Join the 1x8 boards at 90 degrees. Attach the shelf to each wing.

Finally coat the shelf with your favorite sealer and start filling it up with books!