MechTech

Thanks Martin! It's good to be back!!! Neptunesurvey, http://www.plastruct.com/ . Their site is a pain in that it isn't that easy to navigate, BUT, they have almost anything you can think of for model/hobby architectural building. Search in the top left hand corner. They do most of their items in train/hobby scales to. Some examples of items they make (styrene or ABS), ladders, steps, "I" beams, "C" beams, joices, tubes, all kinds of building structures and textured sheet, etc, etc. Your best bet is to find a hobby shop that has a good stock from them. That's how I found my stuff. Their catalog may be easier to look at. Download their catalog too! My crane is made from two "C" beams either side, an "I" beam, and .020" sheet and .060" sheet. Simnple but strong enough to haul a MAC II model around (hint). The joices may be what you're looking for ( two parallel beams connected by "W's" along the length. They may even make a crane kit for what you want to do! Yep, they do all kinds of models too. Let me know how it goes; better yet, post some photos! - MT

Better you than me! That thing was a pain to build! It seems like I was sanding it for ages! - MT

OK, that was weird. It would just hang on "uploading" and that was it. OK, let's do this for real. UPDATE - 6 AUG 07 - FINALLY!!! Here's my first test photos and the crane that was supposed to take one week and ended up being about two. The inserted drawing points out details (notes for me really) and the yellow shows the cranes I'll be building as fully functional. The big yellow one will be fun! This jig was built to slice a printer toothed belt longways - perfect length for this project. It's not perfect, but averages 1mm wide and works, so hey. This is the handmade cog from three pieces and gauge showing belt width. Here's the micro motor gearhead. It's only 2.5cm long and strong, even at 1.5volts! Note the brushes on the sides and hair fine wires. The contacts rub against copper tape plated sides. The whole assembly simply rides on an "I" beam (the tubes hug it). I had more pictures, but my wife over wrote them (I just found out the hard way)! Here's the crane from overhead. You can see the gear case at the end and the two pieces of copper contacts running out along side it. The gear case is driven off the motor via a thinly sliced piece of surgical tubing to make it run more quite as opposed to a spur gear. The whole length is basically an "I" beam piece and two "C" pieces glued on .020" plastic to reinforce it. A ball bearing sits at the pointed end (pictures are worth a thousand words). With limited file sizes, here's a short video of it moving some. It's fully functional moving back and forth or hoisting up and down, anywhere on the length of the crane. Here's the ribs contouring the shape of the bow. And the ribs sheeted over with .060" styrene. This was way to heavy (to be safe) so I've trimmed it out some. I've just ordered the side sheeting, .030" styrene. U.S. Plastics is cheap and awesome! http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/category....e=76&Page=1 Great prices and service! I've been busy this summer. The Fairford airshow took a big chunk of my budget (well worth it) and holiday bible school took about a week. It's been slow going, but when the styrene comes in, boom, back to work! - MT Winch_Moving.MPG

I actually just did. No crashes, but I'm having problems posting pictures still. It just says initializing when I go to upload and then it hangs there. (Let's see if this reply posts text only). - MT

Welcome and great job on all the kits! - MT

Thanks Sketchley, that's good to know info, you never know project will need it! - MT

I'm using Internet Explorer 6.0.26. Everything else has been fine so far (except over at the Macross Mecha Manual Webpage). I haven't changed any firewall settings (Norton). I was happy until the server migration. Migration is for the birds . - MT

The flesh is willing, but the browser is week! I don't know what's going on. I think I'm getting the cold shoulder from the mods, like no help or answer. I'd hate to have to switch browsers JUST to post back here. I've got pictures too! I'm just waiting... And waiting... - MT

Would it be easier to sand it down a bit and put a thin piece of styrene on it?

Where's a good source to purchase these? I haven't really found anyone. Thanks. - MT

Not that it helps any, but I have lots more pictures! I just can't post into a thread with pictures in it after the migration. I can only do fast replies for now. I'm waitng on Hurin to help me out (subtle hint). The founder of s shipbuilding site is complaining too. He asked that I send him my old and new pictures. When he gets them posted, I link to it. - MT

That's what I'm talkin' about! He's got some skills alright!!! AWESOME work and it doesn't look like a toy! He can do that stuff because he's a member of the Hong Kong Modelling League. It's like the Justice League, only with styrene powers . If you want to articulate your figures or hands like that, cut joints into the part, drill holes through them and glue wire into it. It's like the old Gumby toys. It works as long as you don't do 90 degree bends. High angles stress and crack the wire. - MT

Let me guess, the spoiler will be swept forward? Where are you going to put the fold pod ? I'd love to do a 1/1 mod. Trouble is the best I could do is make my minivan look like the "Rabbit Shuttle" on DYRL. - MT

I found out I'm not the only victim of the server migration. I can't even post pictures right now! I only have "Fast Reply." "Reply tries to initialize images and crashes Explorer! I'm missing the old server about right now! - MT

Thanks for posting that photo! I'm VERY interested. The little gears in my mind are saying "buy one and make it transformable." - MT

That looks great! I never really did care for that kit and I have a couple too!

On one hand the two schemes are pretty cool. On the other hand, I think they could have doen better for one of the most popular anime productions of all time. - MT

Yeah, could you post a picture of what you have? I haven't seen all the kits out there except for the TREAD/Legios combined unit. I am interested! My wallet is having contractions... -MT

Thanks guys. I think ridiculous IS a good word. Somedays I ask myself, "what the heck am I doing." I miss doign SMALL mods and stuff. I waited years to do this so I'm just going to shut up ! - MT

MilSpex, the Daedalus is alomost the ultimate amphib! Valks aren't officially mentioned on the Daedalus that I know of, but hey, they're VTOLs, right!? I'll have some on there. That's the only catch. The bridge/crane gets in the way of conventional landings. Helos and anything VTOL will be on there (I've even built a Tunny a few years back). UPDATE 25 JUNE 07 I got sick of all the cutting, sanding and carefull cleanup of the carbon fiber so I started on something fun (and that's mostly made of styrene). These are the parts for one of the overhead cranes. This one goes from the main hatch nearly all the way back to the first bulkhead (that's a long way in real life). [attachmentid=43213] The larger gearhead is soon to be the winch. [attachmentid=43214] I thought I was done soldering brass pieces - yeah right! The winch and guide. The tubes on the guide accomodate the cable loop that will push / pull the winch along. Electrical contacts will connect the motor to the copper lined rails for winch power. [attachmentid=43215] Lining the rails with copper foil (as used in stained glass window repair/production). The foil is then coated with styrene safe grease to keep it from oxidizing and smooth winch movement. [attachmentid=43216] Assembling the tracks and rails The center rail is scribed every few millimeters along its length. You can see how it all goes together now. This will be strong enough to haul a Monster model along (just like in the series when prepping for combat). [attachmentid=43217] The nearly completed assembly. I wasted a lot of time working on gearcases. I modified two I'm not using (too noisy and "toy like." Both gearcase motors hardly make a sound. The gearcase moving the winch and guide has a belt driven motor to cut back on high speed gear noise. I hope to finish this assembly this week. - MT

Kylwell, you're just missing the change cup! Looks great (in a beat up sort of way). Thanks electric indigo, I have to wipe the slobber off my keyboard! That's an awesome looking kit! - MT

Robodragon gave you some great pictures to go by. I like the 1/48 variable Legios kit myself. It's a model so it gets weak in some joints, but its a one piece tranforming mecha; no extra parts. Bandai's kits vary depending on the kit. Some of them are molds purchased from other vendors. Hasegawa's kits are all excellelent. I love the ones I have and I haven't heard anyone say they hated theirs. - MT

Those look really awesome man! REALLY clean and shiny too. They're just asking to get shot at by the "bad guys." - MT

Thanks for those links. I should have checked out Kotobukiya's FULL line of stuff! - MT

The vehicle set is Hasegawa's Aircraft carrier set (figures and truck). Oh yeah, if you want to keep your figures from falling, either glue thm down (obviously) or use clear sheets of plastic to make base for them. You can get a hand hole punch and make small circles to glue on each foot too. - MT