MechTech

Thank you guys. I'll update you on the whole moving situation a I know myself. Nickster, I can't take credit for the valks. They are Yamato's 1/200 valks ( http://www.hlj.com/hljlist2/?SeriesID=934&...archpage=Scitop ) I believe they are more than worth the money. They are also in scale. I thought otherwise until I got measurements. They go great with my high end die-cast aircraft also in 1/200th scale. You'll be seeing helicopters go with this too. Think Macross Zero. - MT

Thank you guys for the compliments! I'm hoping to finish it by next year. I may be moving soon so there might be a delay, we'll have to see. I do want to get this thing done though! There's other things piling up I'd like to build. Cos 918, welcome and thank you. I should be really updating things back at Mayhem's site, it just takes so long! Don't hesitate to PM for ideas. I love doing stuff like this and I've been doing it since I was a kid. I always put my engineering ideas into my model ships versus planes or cars; ships don't crash as easy! Here's some more photos from the table I made. I made some improvements here and there and it works great as you'll see in the next part. I added a fence and secured the pounce head so the bearing takes all the rotation force. UPDATE 26 JULY 09 You can see I FINALLY finished the elevator. In fact, this is the second one I built! I mis-calculated on the first one and it would not rotate properly. You can see the tie-down holes potted across the elevator surface. Some are clearer than others because of a wash of ink from cleaned markings. They are all uniform depth though (for the most part). Note the gray tube hinge pieces. This next picture is darker to bring out the engraved details. It shows the elevator stowed (as in all the line art) and how the whole thing goes together. The little tab you see sticking out in the bottom left hand of the elevator rail is what the elevator pivots open/closed on. The elevator platform is hinged. The upper hanger deck is where all the aircraft will go and it too has been "pounced" with holes all over for tie downs. How does it work? Check out the videos. The elevator is really quiet, but my camera's mic is nearby so it picks up EVERY little noise. The loud clicks are my battery box switch (only for bench top tests). The elevator will actually go flush with the top deck (when its built). Elevator_Open.MPGElevator_Closing.MPG[atta chment=69661:Elevator_Up.MPG] Elevator_Up.MPG

Lookin' good Nickster, keep it up. - MT

Welcome and thanks Budokhan. A lot of people have been looking for those. I have the book too, but it does seem to be rare and hard to find. - MT

Great work! I always wondered what the finished kit looked like. I too think your choice of shades looks good. - MT

Thanks Ron! You're helping bridge the thousands of miles. It looks like I missed out! Maybe next year! - MT

I'm in. I think Jason did a great job building that. Having it printed in 3D would be great. It will take a while to get the dough together, so once again, give us a heads up when you're ready and a final cost. I think you'll have more people say "yes" as the project progresses and people see progress photos too. - MT

Nice photo effects! - MT

Awesome work Maverick! It's really taking shape. All that from flooring tiles too! Another source for styrene you might find is in commercial signs. I've noticed my local hardware store sells signs like "beware of dog" and "no smoking." Some plastic food serving ware is made from it too. Just some ideas. Styrene is everywhere, even yogurt cups are made from it. - MT

Everyone's work is looking great! I'm still building one elevator - MT

John, instead of making an arm from scratch, you should have just used a REAL Darrenger pistol and cast it instead! That's what that thing looks like. Although your barrel diameter looks to be .50 cal Awesome work as always and I wish I was getting one Keep up the GREAT work! - MT

Looks good so far Nickster. I think the marker idea is great. I use it sometimes when my lighting isn't good (more so at night). Bright direct sunlight will show scratches when viewed at different angles and that's what I prefer. But the marker (thinner than paint) shows ALL your goofs before painting. I don't prime most of my tiny 1/200 models because the detail gets lost. Thanks for sharing and keep it up! - MT

The table is done! It looks really "McGuyvered", but it works! - MT

Thank Chas! I almost missed that! Heck yea, in my office too! This newer model looks cool! The shutters in the background explain it. The builder probably works in a joinery shop. - MT

UPDATE 12 July 09 Thanks to everyone keeping up with this build. Sometime you have to first go to point A BEFORE going to point B. That was my problem. I built my elevator assembly, but needed the top piece of the elevator. That calls for a finely engraved deck piece with simulated tie downs in the top piece. The Daedalus elevator is about two tennis courts long! That's a lot of tie downs and it has to match the top deck piece. So I did this (copied from the "What's Lying on Your Workbench" section): What's lying on my workbench is a TABLE! A ghetto fabulous X-Y table (manual) made from spare parts and a $10 cutting board. I'm mostly done scratch building it. Only the top arm needs doing which is easier than the bottom part was! This was two days of hrd work and it meant stopping work on my Daedalus. I finally got to the point where I decided I REALLY need one. I have to make simulated tie downs (like you see built into aircraft carrier decks) - six feet of them - several thousand! It would take weeks to do it or take this table and equip it with a special made ponce wheel to indent the marks. Roll the wheel back and forth, advance the table, and one perfect row is done. Repeat the process a bazillion times and you get a nice effect instead of plane smooth surfaced flight deck. Back stepping a bit, I was working on the tactical tower and just wanted to make more impact on the model. I finished the mast lights: That's the edge of an X-Acto knife blade. That box is now covered with resin so you can't see the wires anymore. I think I could have really been a brain surgeon if I applied myself more in school So I moved on to the main hanger bay section that has been collecting dust for over a year. This a before photo: It's now heavily modified it for the elevator and other details that will be going in. These parts are the sides AND rails for the elevator. There will be only one operation elevator on the port side. The starboard side will be a dummy. The lightest design I could come up with and the strongest is to have a shaft that stretches across the elevator and drives a gear (2 total) on either side of the rails. This ensures it climbs evenly on both sides and has no slippages. The sides in place The elevator drive is mostly metal and the worm gear gives more torque and prevents the elevator from slipping down. Next to the center of the motor you'll see a dot, that's a hinge point. The spring pulls the motor towards the gear, but slips if too much resistance is put on it. It's a mechanical clutch basically. That's all the photos I have for now. I would have finished the elevator, but the top would have looked plain. I'll post more photos as I get along and a movie of it working. - MT

What's lying on my workbench is a TABLE! A ghetto fabulous X-Y table (manual) made from spare parts and a $10 cutting board. I'm mostly done scratch building it. Only the top arm needs doing which is easier than the bottom part was! This was two days of hrd work and it meant stopping work on my Daedalus. I finally got to the point where I decided I REALLY need one. I have to make simulated tie downs (like you see built into aircraft carrier decks) - six feet of them - several thousand! It would take weeks to do it or take this table and equip it with a special made ponce wheel to indent the marks. Roll the wheel back and forth, advance the table, and one perfect row is done. Repeat the process a bazillion times and you get a nice effect instead of plane smooth surfaced flight deck. I'm making this so I can stick it on my drill press and machine more parts. The overhead rail will take a dremel tool too. It was $10 and this or $200 and less Macross stuff; go figure. - MT

Awesome work Maverick! Floortiles! That's something new. My hat off to your creativity and craftsmanship! - MT

I loved the 1/5000 cruiser model and I'm bummed it's no longer in production. Something twice that size would be awesome. I think the TV version would be great and you've got to put the Daedalus and Prometheus on it (not that I'm biased or anything ). I have lots of Daedalus material if you need it. An open hatch option would make a cool pose on it for a Daedalus attack (if built in the stormer version). I think DYRL is getting enough love for the SDF-1. That's my two cents. - MT

UNMarine, I see. You even got the recoil spring too! Nice touch. I get it Tancist, thanks. Mavrerick, I think you're on the right track with the TV version. Are you going to put the bridge and park in the tower too? Too bad making copies is impractical! - MT

You guys have fun! I'll be at the world's largest military air show ( http://www.airtattoo.com/airshow/AboutTheTattoo/event_info ), but still missing you micronians I'll be in the area around Christmas time if anyone is interested in meeting up. - MT

Welcome to MW world. I HIGHLY recommend you do a search under airbrush here or the models threads. This topic has been covered and you're missing out on lots of good information. - MT

Looking great guys! That fighter design looks slick (I haven't seen Yukikaze yet). Yes, you gotta give props for the scratatchbuilt M-60. You just need some ammo belts. Williams Bros. makes some rubber ammo belts for their R/C model aircraft guns. Cool mini-kits if you haven't seen one before. http://www.williamsbrothersmodelproducts.com/guns.jpg Nice to see some 1/200 love TSP. Your mod looks great. I'm just biting at the bit to get my destroids built, but I don't want to put the cart before the horse! Tancist, is that like the same as getting deported to Siberia ? - MT

There's some good creativity on this thread! I one time told my children to use their "imagination" (insert hand gesture here). My daughter said, "daddy, stop that!" - MT

Awesome work Ron! Eeven the video is smooooth as Exlax! I think you stole Mr. Rodger's trolly though Seriously man, it looks great! You get my absentee vote for the convention "Best Diorama." - MT

Thanks Zinjo. I also learned something new. I was given some of the clear kits by someone and didn't realize it was THAT special. - MT