MechTech

What do REAL panel lines look like on REAL red (purple) aircraft? I could only think of one team, the Red Arrows (they're excellent by the way). Here's their website: http://www.raf.mod.uk/reds/gallery.html Note there are panel lines in some places, and not in others. The question is if you're going for "display team clean," or "Miriya and I just took on the Zentraedi fleet." - MT

Thanks guys, I'm humbled! I now have four pills, errr, pods. I now have to make the internal braces to support the front shaft and hold the cowlings (note the big gap in them). When I'm done, the back ends will be sealed on with silicone RTV, it'll also fill the gaps. The front cowlings (where the props are) have to come off for oiling access. Speaking of that, I still have to fill the front of the tube sockets with silicone to make a water tight seal. These will be completely underwater, so I'm sorta building four submarines! - MT

AWESOME work! I can appreciate all the changes he's made. Not to mention the difficulty of taking weak material like styrene and adding brass hinges and other stuff. And yes, I bet he doesn't transform it often. Just the paint alone starts wearing off! Great engineering!!!

Yap, I be knowticen' : I forgot to mention, that day I used it, I slept lowsy that night. I was all hyper. I didn't think much of it because I was on holiday and going back to work the next day (who likes to do that). - MT

It's not confusing. In the early 90's Ford couldn't build a reliable minivan so they bought the Nissan quest (called the Mercury Villager now). I've got one. It's got Ford and Nissan stamped on all the parts! Moral of the story, you gotta look in the box. Imai isn't known for they're accuracy, but I've got a 1/144 F-20 Tigershark that has great detail and accuracy. The weapons weere excellent too (often overlooked - especially in 1/144)! - MT

I agree with most of Dave's comments. On another note, Revell Germany is TOTALLY different than Revell USA. I've got two 1/144 helo's from them (Chinook and NH-90). They have everything including the screw holes represented! Excellent engraving too. I just bought the awesome/newly released AN-124. It's got a seperate interior from the outer skin! Unfortuneately there are few companies that you can buy from and get an "ace" every time. Another reason I scratch build or modify so many things! - MT

UPDATE 13 SEPTEMBER 06 Still working on the motor pods, they're an engineering feet all in themselves. The small box that the Daedalus thrusters are in on the model doesn't give me much room. They also sit way too high on the design than on a real ship. The main props ALWAYS go as low as possible on the ship for higher water pressure around the prop; that means more power out of your propeller. Here's the tubes with motor mounts. How to make lathed parts without a lathe! Here's a pod with the motor mount glued on, stuffing tube attached, and a small tube epoxied on to that, with a larger tube filled with epoxy around that. The front shaft area has to be water proofed since the cowling that goes around it is not able to make a complete seal. The MDF male form for the vacuum forming the fron cowling is in this picture. The paper cut out is my guide for making prop shaft braces to fit around the plastic prop shaft supports. This is what I had to make before I could do any vacu forming (with cowling sample) Vacuum forming cowlings; hot of the stove top! An assembled pod (goes together like a plastic Easter egg - looks like a pill with a prop on it ) This was as hydrodynamic as I could get with the short length available inside the thruster box. One of the 50mm props, I love those curves! What to do when not building (this is all Japanese and I made it so it's still fits the thread ) Giant Shrimp, Somen, and Edamame! Glad I already had dinner tonight! - MT

Thanks for the heads up! I had no clue. Like I said this stuff was new to me, but now I know better! I'll probably reserve it for areas requiring higher strength. That's the great part about these forums, someone always knows something you don't! Thanks! - MT

Hey guys, I accidentally discovered a new type of glue that uses a different type of non-stinky solvent. The solvent in it is Trichloromethane Methylene Chloride. This stuff has no solvent smell and it works fast! You probably won't get headaches from using it in large quantities either (though some of you might miss that ). Still use good ventilation though!!! "Trike" can irritate your lungs/skin badly. This stuff is perfect for those of you in small apartments or are tired of your wives complaining about the smell. It's water thin, works and dries fast and is a very strong solvent! Works great for dissimilar plastics joining too! The brand here I've got is called EMA Plastic Weld ( http://www.ema-models.co.uk/shop/prodpages/page-PPC-2P.html ). For the U.S., Plastruct makes it ( http://www.plastruct.com/pages/CementGuide.html ). This stuff has been around awhile, but I have never heard of it. I've used about everything on the market and I wish I knew about this stuff a while ago so I'm getting the word out! It cost me £2.50 / $5.00. Many of you might have used it, but I've never seen it or heard of it before. Hope this helps someone! - MT

Lookin' great! I wondered if you got any further along these past couple of weeks. Don't give up and finish the set. - MT

Clean paint jobs. I haven't seen one of the 1/170th's built up in a while. Zaku style, now that's different. - MT

Don't worry, there's a shallow ramp area I can safely keep her at arms length. Will post pictures soon! I didn't expect the boards to be back up yet. - MT

It's too big for the tub! I'm gonna try in a shallow area in a nearby reservoir. The two halves are different displacements so independantly they will be different. I'll have to put them together and then add everything inside to check balance. Gettin' closer to launch day... - MT

Thanks haterist! I sure hope it floats! If it doesn't, it's gonna make one heck of a static display! I hope to get more done on the motor pods this week - stay tuned - MT

Hey Isamu, if you've got one of the 1/72nd scale Imai kits, they're pretty good all around. Hope it works out for you. - MT

There's always one in every crowd ! I gotta keep room for destroids too! I'll use this on my smaller ships, like the destroyer in my earlier shots. Still working on the pods. Hoping topost pictures this weekend... - MT

Yeah, my wife occasionally works on plastic model kits. She isn't doing museum quality work, but her work doesn't look like a "glue bomb" hit it ! If your scared about airbrushes, high quality spray paints will get you started. I did it for years and liked not cleaning up the mess. Airbrushing gives you a smoothness and control that's hard to beat. Panel lines can be as easy as using sharpened colored/plain pencils (blacks/greys accordingly) ran into the panels. Metalic colored pencils will even give you flaked effects if you're too scared to dry brush. Be creative (read the forums here) and experiment on junky models or sheet styrene. Don't experiment on your macross masterpiece. Take care! - MT

Congratulations! Great kit, just outa my price range. - MT

That looks great! One of the better way to pose mecha in combat other than from behind rocks and stuff. - MT

Why cut your grass when you can just trample flat (and blow away those stubborn weeds)! - MT

I thought this thread was dead. It's is a cool idea still though! - MT

Thanks HWR anyhow! Are you sure you won't be over your weight limit now with that tank ! Dude, you can probably have it pull you around in a wagon! Did you find any "pods" laying around the house . - MT

Thanks olivers! I might have been tempted before, only thing is that I always run 6volts - it's just easier to put everything on it. The unit I have is smaller too (important for building in tiny 1/200 scale). I did like some of the other stuff I saw on there though! Thanks again! - MT

Hey HWR, do you have any other drawings/photos of the monster Mk 1? I'm thinking about taking one of my three and converting it after the daedalus is done. Thanks! - MT

That looks awesome! The only problem is that's it's not on my shelf! - MT