captain america Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Hi everyone! Well I got kinda bored waiting for the decals and final parts for the Legioss to arrive, so I started working on a 1/5000 Ikazuchi carrier. A kind of scratchbuilding therapy, if there was such a thing! Captain's Log, stardate: Monday morning. The project begins as they all do: as an idea supported by a drive to create. While seemingly simple in design, the Mars expedition's Ikazuchi carrier, like most every other anime design from this era, suffers from a certain lack of consistency in the artwork. While certainly not impossible to overcome, it does make for an interesting challenge to harmonize all of the views and consolidate them with several different given dimensions for the ship. Once these little issues are resolved, I then proceed to draft my own diagrams for the various main structures of the ship and print them out along with a handful of artwork renderings. This way, I can refer to the reference drawings if ever I'm not sure about a particular detail or shape. In pic 1, we see some of the printed reference material along with a chunk of modelling board from which the Ikazuchi will spring. Pic 2: once the diagrams have been cut and placed on the modelling board, the real fun begins as I start to get my hands dirty. In this particular pic, I have to start by evening-out the master block to get the necessary plat planes. Pic 3: some back-and-forth between the mill and the band saw is quite common: the latter allows me to separate and chop off excess material quickly. Pic 4: Back to the mill yet again. This particular part will comprise the upper main hull, and is the single largest part of an otherwise small-scale ship. Pics 5 and 6: the main hull parts crudely assembled. There is obviously still a lot of work left to get it looking like the line-art, but it's progressing nicely and will take shape gradually. More to come in the following week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mslz22 Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Scratchbuilding is the best therapy out there....and my be the biggest reason I need therapy sometimes as well, kind of a chicken and egg thing huh? Always love to see how you do this stuff, and always paying real close attention to the techniques, who else better to learn stuff from...... Fantastic work as usual! mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benson13 Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Can't wait to see how this turns out bud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
505thAirborne Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Thats one of my favorite Anime Ships period, SDF Macross, Galactica 2004 and the Ikazuchi carrier. Keep us posted Capt!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommar Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Damn, I was hoping you were going to cast something like this! That's one of my favorite capitol ship designs ever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MechTech Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 AWWwwww, I was hoping for one in 1/350th As always, awesome work - I'll be watching! - MT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tundrayeti Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Nice work so far Cap! I love this ship design. I will be watching this build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarrinG Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 So is this on the Garfish 'neptune model' scale - or smaller? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain america Posted January 27, 2012 Author Share Posted January 27, 2012 So is this on the Garfish 'neptune model' scale - or smaller? It's 1/5000, which is roughly 17cm from bow to stern. 1/350 would've been my choice, but there are time constraints and budgets to respect LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PetarB Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 As a design, I much perfer the Ikazuchi's big brother, the Izumo... but I know this one is going to look awesome as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neptunesurvey Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 It's 1/5000, which is roughly 17cm from bow to stern. 1/350 would've been my choice, but there are time constraints and budgets to respect LOL I would like to have it in 1/350 as well but around 3 meters long is a bit large. Yes, it is to scale with the rest of the Neptune Models 1/5000 fleet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EXO Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 I have to move this to the Anime and Sci Fi section... everyone following should subscribe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackconvoy_D01 Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 Awesome. Will you have 10th Divison? 21st? Or Dark Fleet colors? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
505thAirborne Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 Awesome. Will you have 10th Divison? 21st? Or Dark Fleet colors? What he said! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IScustom Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 Cool work Capitan! Truly awesome! Keep us updated!! IS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 You must cease & decist immediately, as this is a 100% original Steve Yune design that was made for Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles. Failure to do so will result in HG staff coming to your house and grabbing your wood!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
505thAirborne Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 You must cease & decist immediately, as this is a 100% original Steve Yune design that was made for Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles. Failure to do so will result in HG staff coming to your house and grabbing your wood!! Hahaha!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain america Posted February 1, 2012 Author Share Posted February 1, 2012 (edited) Captain's Log, stardate: Wednesday morning. Out of coffee… I'm happy to report that things are progressing nicely with the ship. In pics 1 and 2, we see the launch bays in their crude form: the parts on the left in pic 1 are the bucks used to obtain the uniform shape of the bay doors, while the parts on the right are the housings. With a little bit of putty, we end up with the parts in pic 2, which will later be reshaped further. Pic 3: these little blocks will form the aft engine nacelles, even though it doesn't show right now. Pic 4: two of those same blocks have been smutted into place with some putty to obtain a glove-like fit on the main hull. Pic 5: the same procedure is used to get the tapered shape of the launch bays against the main hull. It looks messy and imprecise, but I swear by it! Pic 6: the crudely puttied parts are now starting to take shape. The engine nacelles were Dremeled and then manually sanded to their desired curvature; a job requiring anobscene amount of work and attention, I might add. Pic 8: the forward hull "caps" in their infancy. The parts are initially machined to maintain close tolerances… Pic 9: and then the same putty smash technique is employed to get the grilled opening. The positive bucks were hand-shaped and carefully coated with mold release. Pic 10: the engine nozzles taking shape on the lathe. Pics 11 and 12: it's finally starting to look like an Ikazuchi! Much of the hard work is done, and from here my job will consist of refining the shapes and adding the more minute details. The ship masters should be complete by the next update, so stay tuned! Captain's Log, stardate: Wednesday morning. Out of coffee… I'm happy to report that things are progressing nicely with the ship. In pics 1 and 2, we see the launch bays in their crude form: the parts on the left in pic 1 are the bucks used to obtain the uniform shape of the bay doors, while the parts on the right are the housings. With a little bit of putty, we end up with the parts in pic 2, which will later be reshaped further. Pic 3: these little blocks will form the aft engine nacelles, even though it doesn't show right now. Pic 4: two of those same blocks have been smutted into place with some putty to obtain a glove-like fit on the main hull. Pic 5: the same procedure is used to get the tapered shape of the launch bays against the main hull. It looks messy and imprecise, but I swear by it! Pic 6: the crudely puttied parts are now starting to take shape. The engine nacelles were Dremeled and then manually sanded to their desired curvature; a job requiring anobscene amount of work and attention, I might add. Pic 8: the forward hull "caps" in their infancy. The parts are initially machined to maintain close tolerances… Pic 9: and then the same putty smash technique is employed to get the grilled opening. The positive bucks were hand-shaped and carefully coated with mold release. Pic 10: the engine nozzles taking shape on the lathe. Pics 11 and 12: it's finally starting to look like an Ikazuchi! Much of the hard work is done, and from here my job will consist of refining the shapes and adding the more minute details. The ship masters should be complete by the next update, so stay tuned! Edited February 1, 2012 by captain america Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zor Primus Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 Looking good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neptunesurvey Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 Awesome work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain america Posted February 9, 2012 Author Share Posted February 9, 2012 Captain's Log, stardate: Wednesday evening. Almost supper time. Guess what??? I'm just about done! Save for a few little details here and there, the patterns are essentially finished! Pictures 1 through 4 are beauty shots of the masters. The main thrust nozzles are done too, they just wouldn't stay on for the photo shoot… Pics of these a little later... Pics 5-7 are of umm… A teeny little surprise! Since the Ikazuchi is in 1/5000 scale, I figured that it could use a little bit of company, so I started toiling-away on my machines and cracked my knuckles for a little bit of small-scale surgery… And voila! 1/5000 Garsish and Inbit clam! I think that those 2 little ships had me on-edge and cursing more than any project in recent memory, especially the clam: it looks really simple, but it's not! Alas, I will now be starting mold prep on the parts; should be a fairly drama-free procedure, but you never know… Be sure to check-in next week for more of my model-making shenanigans! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackconvoy_D01 Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Awesome work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neptunesurvey Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Tom Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 (edited) Whoa John, you must have more than two hands...... That was fast and great to see the smaller ships for size comparison. (in Homer Simpson voice) Ummmmm.........Inbit Edited February 9, 2012 by Major Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfunk Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Ah cool,, mini Inbit ship Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
varitechs Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 (edited) too small, i will like 10 or 12inch..... but i will buy because it's a great job Edited February 10, 2012 by varitechs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarrinG Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 too small, i will like 10 or 12inch..... but i will buy because it's a great job Hey - isn't your Avatar an Inbit Gosu? I think we need one of those, in say 1/32 scale? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
varitechs Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 Hey - isn't your Avatar an Inbit Gosu? Yes I think we need one of those, in say 1/32 scale? i hoped that Toynami would make them but now i doubt... so yes it's a good idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derex3592 Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 I think we need ANY and ALL Invid/Inbits in ANY and ALL sizes! NOW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Arms Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 Sweet Stuff Cap!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ps99042 Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 Truly awesome work! It makes me wanna watch Mospeada... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old_Nash Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 (edited) Mospeada was very good. Fulfill the role which had been made. And like Macross, left that like to "want more". But if he continues the way it stopped, not sure if would work. I realized this after I attended the 3rd time (yes, some need to see more than once to get the messageXD). Too bad this "sequel" was through a very weak movie and a game worse... Edited February 11, 2012 by Old_Nash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beltane70 Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 Very nice work! I hate you for being so talented! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akim Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Captain, i love your work! "continuez s'il vous plait!"^^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tundrayeti Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 THAT..... IS... SO... AWESOME! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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