mslz22

I hope to be back on this in 3 weeks after I finish molding up the 3 foot TOS galactica that i have been working on. The idea of installments is brilliant, and it may really help me to finish as i can tackle it in smaller bites. I am thinking 3 installments, body, arms, and legs. Body would be up first as it's rotocast and rotocast needs to be done in fair weather, I can rotocast up to about mid Dec, then it's just too cold for that. The arms are also rotocast but that can be the last installment in spring with legs getting done in the middle winter months. If that sounds like a plan i will concentrate on the body once i can get back on this. thanks mike

So Jerseyfest is less than a week away, any MWorld members going to make it? I am planning on bringing some macross stuff for the big sci fi display. Would be great to see anyone from here. mike

At 1/250 you are really talking about something akin to a studio model. To give you an idea the 6 foot TOS Galactica cost somewhere between $60,000 and $80,000 by the estimates that i have read, and that was in 1978 dollars, so around $230,000 to $300,000 in today's dollars. Now i know that is with studio overhead and etc but a lot of it is labor cost and materials. Even scratchbuilding it for yourself you need to estimate what your own labor is worth. Paying others to do it, labor is labor, in the computer or cutting plywood in a shop, the development time in 3d would be an enormous task. And even the CNC process, cheaper than printing, would be very substantial, even at the 4 to 6 foot range, can't even imagine it at 15 feet long. I have wanted to do a big macross for a long time but have never really gotten to it because of the enormous time and material cost, and i was only thinking in the 4 to 6 foot range, with conventional materials like plywood, styrene, renshape etc. If you really want a big macross, I would look at this approach as comparatively it is much cheaper. Wish you the best of luck, no matter which approach you take mike

A little progress here and there, nothing spectacular. I am sad to say that i got myself into a situation i thought I was smart enough to avoid, too many works in progress. I have about 5 kit patterns at the 80% complete mark, this being the only macross one. My plan right now it to tackle one at a time and stay focused on one pattern until it's done, then move onto the next one, and not start any new ones until at least two or three are done. I have been working non stop on a 3 foot yet to be announced kit (not macross), once that is done i will basically flip a coin to see what's next in line from the 5 unfinished patterns. I likely can't think all that straight until this first pattern, which is the most difficult of all, is done and behind me. The good news is that my youngest daughter is starting real pre school next week, I will be back up to a 5 or 6 day a week work schedule for the first time in 4 years. Hoping to get very productive again. thanks mike

I've been talking with the Dave from Jereyfest a lot about the mecha stuff recognized, especially the sub category of resin vehicles and mecha. I'm hoping to see some macross stuff entered from people here, especially some of the Capt's kits built up, or if anyone has finished TundraYeti's bug eye kits. I know there are some guys here that build MAK as well would love to see that too, any mecha really.. The star wars award from Lorne Peterson is also a huge deal. All my build ups will be in the big special SCI FI display area and won't be eligible for the contest but I am hoping to see some people from here if anyone can make it. Again i would love to see macross stuff well represented in the contest area if possible, there is always a couple at WFest but hope we can get a little more going. mike

Really amazing stuff all around!!

After doing this build i have a real urge to tackle the scout pod. It actually makes the most sense in many ways for the next kit as much of it is re used from this one. I guess one of the missile pod variants makes even more sense as it's even less work, but i really want a scout. I have a lot i want to tackle, too much...... mike

ISO setting, so that's what has been wrong with my pics! Well at least one part of it. Thanks for the suggestion, I still lag behind this technology stuff sometimes..... mike So a couple of pics with the new ISO setting and a 1/48 valk....

Commission build of my 1/48 kit for a member here, usually don't take on commission builds but considering doing it more often. This has the eye and the 4 head sensor domes illuminated via LED's. The switch is hidden in one of the top head laser cannons via a telescoping push on/push off switch. 9V battery is hidden in the hollow cast head. Trying to get better at photo set ups, kind of hard with these huge kits but here is a first crack at it. thanks mike

First few will go out tomorrow, rest to follow early next week.. thanks mike

Agree with anime52k8 above, Tamiya x-21 does a good job, but keep the ratio right. See this link below.... http://fichtenfoo.net/blog/clear-coats-with-future-floor-acrylic/ Just mixed up a bunch last night for a project i am finishing. Finding that it's way cheaper than buying small cans of dull coat, or even Krylon matt finish, and smells waaaaaaay better...

Hey everyone. quick update. Things have been crazy the last couple of weeks, end of the year stuff with the kids, new set of stairs for the house, landscaping etc. However i have managed to cast up a kit almost everyday, so i have all paid orders cast. Boxes should be here tomorrow or Friday, and these will start shipping next week. thanks mike

I have not made a custom one for myself yet, but it looks like it is meant be integrated. I personally would likely mod it a little to be a snap on like the 1/55, if only for fear of paint scratches during transformation. It will be a long time before i get to do a custom of this for myself, but if anyone here has a link to any of the builds done by Kurt or others feel free to post a link here... thanks mike

Hi guys, sorry last week got out of hand with end of the year stuff for the kids with school activities and such. Added to that i had to work on my front stairs, the excessive snow of the winter pretty much collapsed them, that of course took longer than i expected. I think i got back to everyones PM's but will go back and check later today/tomorrow. Feel free to PM me again in case i missed your message. All paid orders are cast up, just need to get some shipping boxes... thanks mike

Quick calculation would put the 1/10-1/12 scale inbit at 20 inches tall........that may be something i need to see happen...

The last 6 months has been tough on my time, my youngest daughter started preschool but that yielded me less time than i had before somehow. The summer may not be much better with 2 kids at home for much of the summer. Fall things get better, younger one starts "real" preschool and will have 3 6hr days to work on stuff, that of course includes casting projects for other people which funds a lot of other stuff. I need to prioritize these, and some will not make it at all and some will be years away, but here is the wish list... 1/10-1/12 inbit shocktrooper 1/48 TV Q rau 1/24 Fastpack armour and mislepack 1/72 monster TV Sdf-1, very big hopefully at some point. 1/48 destroids if no one else winds up picking them up. Keep in mind i have some BSG and SW stuff in development too, and i am always switching back and forth between scratchbuilds, casting and build/paints for people so nothing gets done as quickly as i want.... Feel free to give your input and help me get focused on one of these.... mike

Pics, one showing the clarity of the canopy. The resins is the same High Density tough resin John used. I'll get to everyone's PM's a little later today. thanks mike

Hey, sorry can't believe i did not post the scales. All of the above are 1/72nd scale kits. I have a kamjin figure in 1/48 as well but not a capt america sculpt. gwfalcon i will Pm you with details. thanks mike

Hey everyone, so I have finally gotten around to molding up some patterns that i got from capt. america here, in addition to the ones that i purchased direct from the capt, i have also acquired some destorodio patterns from Dax415 (which he already reissued the destorodio tomerhawk and defendarr) I was already casting them for him so we made a deal so that i can own the patterns. Pm me for details, pics soon mike

I also have finally gotten the molds for the 1/48 VF1d conversion kits up and running. Important to know that my version has a crystal clear canopy, instead of the translucent one of the original, it's a PITA to cast, but worth it. These are $40 + shipping. PM me for details. Will post pics soon thanks mike

This thing is really awesome, got mine at Wfest yesterday and it is way bigger than i thought it would be, you guys did a terrific job on it, it's a real bargain for the size and quality. It was great to chat with everyone over the weekend, i can't believe how fast it went by, it's blurr. Can't wait to dig in on mine sometime this summer maybe after i recover from Wfest and get my back orders on stuff out the door... thanks again mike

Sorry to hear about your problems, hope you are feeling better and stay that way. Anyway, did make some progress. I will likely finish this this summer, long story but needless to say that some things got bumped up on the priority list for reasons beyond my control...see the link for the progress.. thanks mike http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=37927&hl=monstar

Assuming i can actually get it done......it will be as reasonably priced as possible, all the stuff i do here i try to make as affordable as possible, mostly i just hope to pay for the projects because i love this stuff so much... mke

Depending on how i decide to calculate the scale, some where between 2.5 times to 3 times as big. It would be big enough that it will be a job for the rotocast machine.... mike

Ok, pic with the usual soda can for size ref, it's actually a pretty big kit. Also pic of a cast kit (only thing missing is the clear hemi for the eye, will be included) I will start a 4 sale thread soon, in the meantime you can PM me if you want info on a kit. I can bring a few kits to Wfest if someone wants one... thanks mike