MechTech

Those colors and decals look awesome! Very tempting... -- MT

You know, I just checked out the link. The messed up part is it says "variable" on the box, but it's a battroid!? - MT

Patience dudes! I bet we bit harder on the Macross hook than Bandai anticipated! There WILL be more kits and variants - I'm sure. In fact, this delay is a good sign they are probably re-running the line and packaging. All the other posts about stores running out is a good sign. For those that are afraid to snap a Bandai kit together - don't knock it 'till you try it. They are as easy as you could ask for. Easier than putting your kids toys together - MT

WM, the F-16 looks awesome. There have to be dudes at the wolf pack just wanting to get their hands on this! TSP, I'm having second thoughts about making eggs this weekend for breakfast! - MT

Thanks Graham!!! Don't worry dudes, Bandai will milk the molds for all they can. I'm sure this is not the end!!! There will be more or some one will make the decals for the version you want. Bandai is sitting on a gold mine and they know it! - MT

This topic keeps popping up (with good reason). Do a search because there have been about three threads on it so far. Here's one: http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?show...p;hl=paint+wash Basically you use an oil based enamel as your base color and then use water based paints for the wash. This is the easiest way to go, but there are many others. With a "wash," you wash a watered down darker color (not always black) into the panel lines. Sometimes a darker version of your base color is perfect. Then you wipe off what's outside the panel lines. I HIGHLY recommend you practice on another model FIRST - just in case. The results are worth the effort! - MT

Yeah, TSP is right, make dentures! I just saw destroy all monsters tonight, Godzilla has a better pair of snappers than that. - MT

UPDATE 20 September 08 First off, thanks Carzooyah and Meninge, (and for reading all that material, 32 pages so far! - and WELCOME to MW). Ahiachris and Knight 26, thanks as well for the support! It's been brought up a few times for people to do destroid donations. I WILL NOT have enough (despite hording them for years) to fill the ship. I welcome (and anyone who wants to start a thread) people that want to build and customize a destroid. Put your name or colors on it(hot pink is out of the question ). I think it would be awesome to have a destroid from those members who want to contribute. I've had a lot of support from people here and this is where I spend my short on-line times (other than ordering supplies). I welcome anyone who wants to build a destroid. If I had a prize, I'd put it up for competition donators "best entry" by our MW forum. You know I'll give a shout out to ya! In short, a LOT of detail and work for three strips of detail. This is for the edge of the upper deck in the hanger bay (labeled 2F in drawings). GETTING JIGGY WITH IT! If you need to make a lot of stuff, and make it look good, make a jig to help. The jig building is part of the process. In between the panels are some tiny indentations. An old 220v plug terminal (brass) and a file were used to make the die to be hammered. Gluing details for the end sections came next (hypodermic needle with liquid glue for good control of flow) and completed strips And all that work for the edging... The top decking is just sitting on top in the photo. I still have to make details in the lower ceiling like lights, ladders for destroid entry, etc... and then I can glue it on. The deck is about 1cm thick in case you were wondering. Here's the line drawing for what I'm working on right now: That's it for now. I've got TONS more details to do as you can see in the line drawing. - MT

I've got the 1-J. It is a really cool model, for a SD model. It even shoots darts! It doesn't make that cool "ZoonWeee - DoDoDoDo" sound though - MT

Yeah, that's a lo of carpentry! Just curious, what's the Daedalus look like (sorry, just had to ask)!

Fly4 - I see, Gundam mecha! I never saw that before! - MT

I believe a VF-1 could fly (fighter mode). Gerwalk mode would be fun to see work. The wing loading is the issue. As everyone else said; thrust to weight ratio. If the wing will take the the load, it will work. It might land at 200MPH, but it would fly! The VF-1 is made in a flying profile model, no special "Extra" flying surfaces - with tail-o-vators. Besides, a lawn mower can fly!!! (it was the best argument I could think of next to the whole bumble bee thang). Oh, and then there's that whole possibility of transformation thang too... - MT

The aerial view looks realistic! Hey, I can see my house from here! - MT

Thanks Fly-4. I'm building foam lined crates! Mustang - I guess every cloud does have a silver lining - Gundam Ole' school goodness. HWR - I was wondering when you were going to release that thing! - MT

Welcome to the boards Vintage Macross? "I think I have everything SDF in 1/200 except the Nosjadeul-Ger and the Gnerl" I didn't know those were made in 1/200!? And yes, if the destroids are 1/200, I'd love to buy/borrow them for more destroids. I don't have enough to properly populate even the front half of my ship! I might have to throw some valkyries in to take up the space. - MT

Don't forget the married geeks category too! Hey wait, that's me! - MT

Hey Cowie. The barrels aren't bad really. About $92 (US) right now. The average tank barrel is about $10 so these are a good deal (9 pcs). BIG, heavy and a lot of brass. The Kotobukiya guys have it down. My complaint, where were they in the 80's . The Yamato is for when I finish the Daedalus; deadline is Aug 09 - I think I can, I think I can... - MT

Well, whatever it is, the "tank" looks great so far! What's on my bench (besides the Daedalus): Speaking of 1/144, I thought this would be of help to someone. I just got my stuff from HLJ today. Some cool tidbits: The polycap set is from Fujimi and has tons of parts for EVERY scale on it. Note the coins for comparison. This is a comprehensive set of polycaps and for a few bucks too! It says "1/144" but that's overly generalized. The Kotobukiya parts are gatling gun muzzles - note coins for size again. Both are musts for scratch builders! Every size you'll probably need for gatlings. The brass barrels are AWESOME from Pit Road. I've got the 1/200 Yamato from Nichimo (52" long) and these are night and day compared to the low detailed stock barrels in the kit. I just need some 75-88mm 1/32 scale brass ammo and I'll be armed up for the BIG 18"-46mm main guns. I love HLJ. I should buy stock in them - MT

Thanks guys! I'm pushing for August 09 for TOTAL completion! Most of the engineering bits were in this part up front. The rest will be down hill from here! The only engineering bits left are an overhead crane (one done), Internal doors, and two elevators on the side. They are easy compared to the ramp which took months all by itself! - MT

I might be interested if they ARE 1/200! Some pictures with a referance point like a ruler would be great. - MT

My "machine" (more like wooden frames) is home made. Just a box with a lip that two frames with styrene sandwiched between them and bolted together. I use a household vacuum cleaner, nothing special. I'm on my second unit and built from memory. A search and I found these videos. Scale down from this industrial unit and just heat over the stove/oven and quickly pop it on the box. http://www.imperial-armor.com/videos.html Also search you tube. There are TONS of videos on there about it. - MT

First off, thanks for the compliments guys. Those of you who think I'm building another Macross vessel this large need to lay off the solvent based glues ! It's taking me a long time. The Promethius would be done by the time my children BOTH graduate college - 20 years from now! The SDF would be completed by the time I retire! By then nobody would know what the heck Macross is (like most people I meet don't anyhow). UPDATE 13 Sept 08 The external parts of the front half are done minus the top. The top has to come last due to fit, engraving and installing the motorized cranes. Added the port wall lights (I mistakingly said that wall was done earlier - I decided to add the lights afterward) and the headlights. Made the two thingies underneath that I have no idea what they are. I doubt they're headlights (got those already). Maybe a weapon or more deflector shields . Anyhow, they were complexed shaped, had to be strong and light, so vacuum forming was the solution. The rough male mold and best drawing to interpret it A vacu formed piece Two completed parts (best of the five I made) Front shot Completed port side Lower 3/4 view And the "money shot" with comparison So did I miss anything? I've been looking at this for so long now, it's easy to miss something. NOTE - I'm using the lower sketch as my example from the line drawings. It's most accurate and consistent perspective wise. Also not photographed but made recently, two clips to hold the front hanger deck to the front hull half and tapered angle strips to seal where the two pieces mate. The seal will repel water and improves the appearance. It's visible in the "lower 3/4 port" picture. One item not canon is the small half tube at the center front. It covers the ramp extend/retract drive. That's it for now. Next I'm working on the inside details. Part model, part diorama, and a lot of electrical work! - MT

The tank looks great, which series is it from? It reminds me of MADOX. - MT

Ron's THE Diorama Dude! Awesome work (and I know a lot of it too)! - MT

Thanks Dave! I was throwing the idea around too. Maybe taking Imai's kit and giving it some love or converting a gashapon (to keep all my stuff in 1/200 scale). - MT