MechTech

That's cool! Paper is a pain on curves. - MT

DIO - Look online. You can have items printed online fairly cheap. Fine Scale Modeler did an article on it a while back. You just have to clean up the lines with a light sand. Check it out and ask for quotes. Cobywon - You're livin' my dream. I've been saving for a 3D engraver! Someday... I can do some awesome stuff with laser engravers (when I have access), but there's much more capability with a 3D unit! Big-F - Yep it's sad that there's less need for such awesome artistry! I know the US mint still uses handmade patterns - all done in metal (even harder to work with). - MT

The airbrush looks ok for a basic unit. It will probably be noisy and pulse the air stream since there's no tank on it. Remember, you get what you pay for (I paid for something that could wake the dead - -but it works)! - MT

That's a cramped cockpit design anyhow - not for the claustrophobic! Looks good! - MT

Looks great! Just don't use Babelfish to translate your sentence, or it be looking mighty weird to read and or do stuffs with - MT

I didn't know the Zentraedi had air fresheners (I'm sure they need them though) Awesome work and awesome over-all execution as usual! If only I had the funds AND the room! - MT

The molds get stressed out a lot too. I visited a friend who worked with injection molding equipment. They close the mold, inject and then cool with water running through the mold like water through an engine block. It would take a long time otherwise. Then they open it up when it reaches the right temp and the ejection pins pop out the product. Warped parts come from rushed cooling times. The whole process can be stressful on the molds. Cracks are bound to happen eventually. I wonder if that's what happened to some of our old beloved Imai/Arii kits? - MT

In case anyone is still thinking it over, these are awesome looking for something so small! All the markings are printed and the wash picks out the many panel lines and other details. The windshields are clear and fit well. The sculpt is great too overall. There's only a few details I'm wondering about, but I'm picky. I'm ordering another set when my budget allows. - MT

Those guys look great Ron! You just need the sound of the Macross air raid siren blasting in the back round! If you don't mind the humble suggestion, get a thin sheet of clear styrene and a paper hole puncher. For 1/48th, use the punch outs for stands on each foot. They blend color to whatever you put them on. Keep up the awesome work! - MT

AcroRay is right. It all still looks prototyped to me too. These were just to get people like us interested. Guess what - it worked! Is it just me, or have some people been drinkin' Hater-aid? You can't please everyone, and I'm sure that will be the case with this model regardless. I'm still neutral on this model. If it's like the VF-19 series, I will be very disappointed. After all the awesome R&D and equipment upgrades Bandai has had, I kinda doubt it. - MT

Don't panic - yet. Those are ALL prototypes, some parts roughly made. It looks like they wanted to get people's appetites for the product ready. - MT

Awesome custom. You'll never find that in mass production! - MT

I'm not a guru, but I take the same problem on a lot. Models are like clothes I've found. Not everyone's size x shoe is the same or everyone's size x pants. You always have to try them on first. Or in your case, test fit. I bought a set of 1/200 figures from one company, and another from another company. Even that small, there was a big difference! That stuff bothers me too! My humble solution, find the figure you like, and build around that one. Only you will probably tell the difference! - MT

Prometheum, bigger is better! Wether it's a Glaug, T-34, or antique model trains! Old Lionel? Again, awesome work on the tank! - MT Cain, great job on the alien paint effects. I never did see that movie. No head, odd design!?

THANK YOU Graham, Jenius, Chowyunskinny, and Vifam7 for the updates! These are realy looking awesome! Not that I'm biased towards 1/200 scale stuff or anything . I'm thinking my one preorder will not be enough! The ABS seems to fix the PVC sags too! I'm not a big "toy guy," but these will fit nicely alongside my other 1/200 aircraft and mecha. The VF-3 and 9 look awesome too! Thanks again for the updates (good thing my wallet isn't here, it'd be mad ). - MT

Yep. If you look WAYYyyy backin this thread you ight be able to see the lower hull. It might slice through a balsa hull, any more than that I'd be afraid to scratch the new paint on my ship WHEN it's ready! I won't be making any updates until I can source some mini, momentary DPDT rocker switches for the controlls. I'll need quite a few. There's the ramp in-out, ramp fold-unfold - - two sections, main hatch, two internal cranes (4 total switches), and the interior doors. - MT

Aaah yes, the Mikimoto illustrations. I've never seen those outside pictures online. Nice touch! Definitely a "buy and never open" item! - MT

Yep, that's a cool set! Clear smoked plastic stands and all the different heads. I think only the decals were different. Aaaah, the good ole' days! - MT

Hasegawa makes the crew, aerospace ground equipment (AGE) and weapons loading/handling equipment. They've been making it for years. They've got almost all the conventional weapons covered too! - MT

It looks great, but her butt is too shiny (never thought I'd say that ) Cool models! - MT

Yep, "anime magic!" Until someone draws a variable mecha in CAD and animates it, the three modes never work out like they're drawn or animated. Even the simple Daedalus I'm working on has tons of anime magic in just the line art. I've studied the drawings for hours, made smaller models, and still one thing won't work as drawn or narrated in the text. A lot of line art also accentuates certain features on purpose - doubly frustrating! Now, I'm ALL about taking a static valk and making it transform - -don't get me wrong. I think that's awesome. Big gaps and big hinges will always take away from the "realism" though. It just comes with the territory. Not to mention problems with styrene or even ABS being strong enough to be thin enough. Those pros who took a static model and made it transform and look good in all three modes had to "cheat" and use brass hinges. Once again, the problem comes with the territory. All things considered, the model looks pretty good so far. No judgments until the final work is released from me. - MT

Welcome! This should help: http://www.hlj.com/hljlist2/?MacroType=Inj...p;GenreCode=Sci Just translate Yen to dollars. All of the recent re-issues have brought the value down on some kits. If you're selling them, there's a "For Sale" section. - MT

Thanks guys for the compliments! Yes, it did take a long time! UPDATE 1 June 08 I wasn't going to detail the underside and I thought, "well, I've come this far..." Here's some photos: Not shown are the two micro switches underneath to cut power to the motors when the ramp folds open or closes. Without them the servos could crush the whole thing when opening or closing (that's bad!). The engraving doesn't show up well, but it's there, ALL over the place! I'm tired of engraving for a while! Enjoy the photos. - MT

UPDATE 25 MAY 08 I FINALLY finished constructing the ramp component. It just needs to have the wiring harness put back on. I didn't bother with an overall top view because all the panels look the same on top. The sides (mosly complete). Side View of the folded ramp. 3/4 view showing it folded with top details (and some putty on the seems). Next job is just to wire it all in. - MT

I didn't see this in the other thread. Just in case, a breakdown in the flight deck variations:Asuka_Carrier_Views.bmp - MT