Vespaeda

OneSixM, I second your motion, after getting blown away by MaveRick's Dimensional Fortress work and the 'Daedalus' Project. I've stood at the sidelines and watched others scratch for a couple of DECADES; poured over my Dengeki Hobby & HJ mag collection and tried to absorb techniques and tutorials like an Area51 geek in the 50's w/ a hanger fulla alien corpses and Unobtanium 'tin foil' scraps--or you might say,..SE Asian tech bootlegger with a first issue I-Phone/F-22 engine/[insert bleeding edge tech] and CAAD/CNC equipment... My last scratchbuild was something akin to the Maschinen Kreiger 'flipper' spacefighter being marketed currently; it was a 1-man, light fighter bashed from a derelict DeHav. Mossie kit., circa 1983. I was cruisin NYC for anything Macross that summer-Con's in midtown hotels with admission fees beyond my means[$40], or whatever was on the shelves of the "Forbidden Planet" off 14th & Brdwy. Now after dabbling in R/C, racing bikes and 2 tours in Japan amongst gunpla, I'm pretty sure I can scratch about anything from a much wider pool of mixed media/materials than I was aware of when younger. If you can get 3-views of lineart and supporting images, whether canon or other artist's interpretations, you can prototype anything. Just keep your initial proof-of-concepts of cheap, disposable materials to figure out your proportions, axiis and symmetries. If you are blessed w/computer resources & knowledge, so much the better. Look forward to seeing your efforts in the future. Peace

WoW MaveRick!--I'm never disappointed peeking in on the forum. This kind of scratchbuilding is what we all should be doing instead of waiting for Yamato/Bandai/Aoshima etc. to build us toys. There are enough creative people to get prototypes up and going and others with knowledge of molding and making copies of components for garage kits & toys we desire. Happy to see someone do great things with cardboard, although i can understand you switching to something that can be shaped like vinyl. I'd recommend stick with stiff cardboard when you begin to encounter heat/sagging issues, especially with increasing size and weight! Stuff can get HEAVY fast. My solution for detailing and surface hardening cardboard is Minwax Polycrylic and other water based polyurethane/acrylic resins. They thin with water and even alcohol/acetone(drying time). You can mix in acrylic paint and enamels to some degree for colouration/tinting. To create a hard, smooth surface that you can also scribe, you add talcum powder and/or fine sawdust which you then smooth with a damp sponge as it dries to get a level finish. Sanding and thinned finish coats can provide a smoth gloss. Any adhesive can be used on it and large, compound shapes can be achieved with styrofoam add-on, overlayed with thin card, which is then treated with the WBPU/talc treatment. This should blend large, complex shapes. I'm in Japan and I like to use cellulose kids modelling clay from the '100Yen'-stores to sculpt Gundam heads & armor. I carve, sand and then finish with thinned epoxy glue for durability. Unfortunately, I'm deploying so my stuffs all packed away. Far be it for me to skool you on creating, though! You've made incredible, accurate & beautiful work in no time! And, YES!...go full throttle, balls-to-walls--MAKe THAT SUCKA TRANSFORMABLE!!!

Thanks for the quick response, Valkyrie. I'm at work now(duty) and its ~19:45. For security reasons, I cannot access 'photobucket', but I will try from my personal access later. I'm 'jones'in' to get back to my model bench where I'm working on 1/144 HG-Gundam mods(hacking out the immobile 'box' torsos and scratch building flexible, articulated waists), but watching the nearby F-22 sqdrn flying out & over just about everyday makes me imagine them duking it out with JAM! Especially their sound in the air; like the wheezy screech the Jurassic Pk. raptors roared! Anton

Nice score, electric indigo. Is that one of the earthbound fleet fighters that gets wiped out by the JAM without much resistance? I've only seen one of Bandai's video releases of episode 1 & 2(DVD went to sh*t) and am eager to buy the DVD set. Used to be "mehh.." over this series but now am hunting for the lineart books with all the featured designs. Even though I think most people seem uninterested in the JAM ships, I'd love to have some detailed lineart for them. I wanted to build a kite last year in the shape of a Type-2, but couldnt get clear enough pics of it and my only DVD reference crapped out. I had been slow-scanning the frames from the opening dogfight where one gets shot to ribbons by vulcan fire. Does anyone know which past issue of HJ or Dengeki contained cover stories and the best lineart? I vaguely remember browsing thru one years back and now kick myself for not grabbing it. I can find a good collection of old mags and kits here on Okinawa, but it takes time to look.

Another research tech nod towards mecha-grade actuators and myo-mimetic drivers. http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/19/cr...ficial-muscles/ All we need are the super-caps and or fuel cells that can provide sustained power. I guess my old age really will be populated with landmates, I-robots and boomers/labours. As long as they're makin my grey years more comfortable, instead of shovelling me into a SkyNet Internment Camp furnace.

MT, I'm getting a much needed Macross-boost visiting MW after a verrry long time and trying to catch up on events in this 'Frontier Era'. Your diligence on your project is awe-inspiring and I hope the younger generation of MW'ers follows their imaginations w/garage hacks & customs. Thanks for 'bringing tears' to the eyes of a Space War I vet. PS--I'm currently posted in Okinawa and come across some really good Macross swag at times(final scored my 1st 1/48 here-a CF!); you need anything, give a holler! Vespaeda[HM2 Allen, 8506 USN]

Hmm, HG's '..big, debut screening...during Cannes festival', but just so happening in a back alley theatre, involved w/the actual, world-renowned cinematics event only by reason of timing? Anybody here a fan of the old "Bob & Doug MacKenzie/GWN", 2nd-City team of Doug Flahrety & Rick Moranis? Re-watch the first 10-15 mins of their movie, "Strange Brew" for a possible parallel 'film debut screening event' for comparisons.

Meant as a compliment(although its related to Hobotech), Your lighting and textures remind me of some of the cover art that the McKinney novels had. If only they had your quality of work to apply, at least on the outside. Cheers

If your itinerary takes you in or around any of the smaller regional towns or provinces away from Tokyo Pref., check out any mom & pops size hobby shops. Unfortunately, these are a dying breed, indicative of the greying population, shifting economy in which elderly, pensioner families can no longer afford upkeep or competition of the shops merchandise. There still a number of these nestled into corner stores and older neighbourhoods and from my experiences ~3 yrs back, these ALWAYS had some bargain classic kit suprises & rare items. Many are bargain basement priced because they just want to move them old 0079 UC Gundam stuff, Dunbine,or Patlabor(late '80's-90's kits). I got an Orguss kit and several Mospaeda(half early reissues,half later reissues), but passed up other stuff that others would consider solid gold. Best of luck

Let see..... The President having a heart-to-heart w/the First Lady and letting his weakness show ...Jack hearing his daughter say "goodbye daddy..."[how cryptic?!] ...Lynn & the red shirt sacrifice(did the producers use 'red shirts' on purpose to convey the quintessential, cannon fodder archetype?) ...Tony biting it and letting Hender-Cop get away, ...CTU losing ~40-50% personnel and YET another team of "you're ALL impotent losers/fired!" new bosses set to run whats left. All this loss & pathos just means to me that this is the dark before the dawn. Some serious terrorist/mofo-A#$-kicking payback for the bad guys in near future episodes...the likes of which we've never seen before. OORAH! I hope, anyway.

[with the beat & lyrics of "Right Said Fred" in the background....] "...I'm...too seXy for your mOlds, ...too SExy FoR yOUr MOLDS!... ...ToO sExY...too sExY..."

Nice entry and tribute pick,Knight! Will it also be a 3-place crew? Condolences on your grandpa though.

Ohh hell ya!!!! Hey thanks guys; I've been reading the last 4 pages in a PC lounge & Ive been in tears, stifling my outbursts of laughter from everyone else. Now I gotta take a leak before I wet myself! I needed this read, this morning! I miss Japan

Sorry to butt in on the thread like a 2-bit wannabe(just don't get e'nuff MacWld in my diet; hair & teeth beginning to fall out... ). I miss yuz guys banter(1st login in 1 mo.!!!) After reading your depiction of Roy beating down Robo-Lincoln, I couldn't help but visualize it a step(frame) further... "...As Roy kneels down to grab him by the shirt collar/neck and deliver the coup de grace, mortally wounded Abe reaches around w/his gunpod & empties it into Roy's back. Roy's face takes on a quizzical expression and he collapses on Abe, drooling blood"

The only worthwhile thing about this Aeon Flux flic would be Charlize Theron showing some skin or at least her figure... Interesting coincidence: Charlize Theron --recognized as quite skilled/attractive actress; playing in several award-winning movie roles, now commits the penultimate, career 'self-destruct-o' move. Put on a black, slinky super-heroine costume(not even a 1st-rate comic hero at that) so she can battle evil while juicing errogenous zones. About 2-3wks ago.. She gets celebrity gossip expose over a spat or 'misunderstanding over artistic differences...' w/Halle Berry; some reply she made to journalist's comments that were made about how Halle achieved Hollywood success w/Oscar performances, to then end up doing 'Catwoman',hit-n-run driving offenses,etc. (Supposedly, she & Halle made up/cleared the smoke together) I have never watched 'Catwoman'(purposefully!) & I'm wondering whether Aeon Flux will remain watched as the original anime.

If the cost is a fraction of an unobtanium road bike, I'll plunk for this toy. I'd like to see a destroid, Gasarake or gundam exterior for such a tubby design(Kampfer, Geara Doga or EZ-. I could easily see a near future version of this bot being given more lithe proportions for just such applications as customized VF battroids.

Well, it seems as if the Star Trek writers empowered Mr. Scott to have an even more enduring impact for his 'technical' prowess. "Gentlemen, I give you Transparent Aluminum!" (Does this mean whales will definitely be extinguished from the Earth,too?) Not sure how to post the link, but Yahoo! News page linked a story stating: "Military: New Aluminum Windows Stop .50 cal Bullet", SPACE.com/Livecience.com

Just be ready to join an Akira Cult, EXO and march in the streets!

If you don't have any luck fixing it and possibly feel you wouldn't want it anymore, I'd be willing to buy it off you for a reasonable price. Sounds like a tough fix; I'm not use to glues being effective in spots where there is not a lot of surface area to touch surface area. Vesp

Second the motion to include Octos & the Cheyenne destroid armours!

Great gugga-mugga! A 'Meat-Box'...I had heard that before I think. Sooo many planes, so many possibilities. Boy, did I encounter something very humbling this week. Any of you in the Central CA area who are aviation enthusiastes(most MW'lders) may have seen the news report of 2 S'Hornets lost in a mid-air over China Lake region. 2 crewmen survived, one unfortunately didn't(thoughts of encouragement for his family & squadron). This happened about Sat/Sun. Search crews took a day or so to rescue them and they were hospitalized for a couple days. At about noon in our clinic, one of them came walking in as part of health/recovery check-ups. This poor guy looked as if he had been used as a punching bag about the head & face for an hour by 80's era Mike Tyson!!! Both eyes/sockets were freezer-meat,purple bruises & bloodshot and head area soft tissue were swollen & yellow like Palpatine/Sidious transformation. Otherwise he was very composed & erect in stature. I felt somewhat ashamed because I was in a hatchway(doorway) talking to a coworker and turned to listen for my desk phone ringing when my eyes directly met his face. Not expecting to see him in front of me, my shock at his appearance was fully visible to him; I'm sure he'd been getting it since returning, especially from us mere deck-bound mortals. I've read about & heard "Wings! Ch." testimonials on ejection injuries, but seeing it brought home understanding. All those jaunty action movies(Maverick in the water, Will Smith in ID4,BehindEnemyLns) don't come close to detailing the trauma!

Hmmm, tempting... I dunno...a helicopter?! A sailplane or Miles Magister? I bet something goofy

I don't know if this is common knowledge among resin mold parts makers but in order to minimize bubbling in the finished pieces, has anyone tried pre-warming or applying additional heat to the molds during cure? I have not used modelling resin, only adhesive & laminating epoxies, and they generate their own heat during cure. Applying additional heat usually hastens cure. A method for removing bubbles in r/c plane lamination w/resin includes playing hot air over difficult spots to smooth surfaces & pop bubbles(using a heat gun--just enough to encourage runniness) I didn't get this trick from an r/c plane site, incidently. I learned it years ago in a microbiology lab while learning to purify DNA & RNA for sequencing(pre-rapid PCR days, circa 1987 for those in the know). 2 German grad students showed me neat tricks for removing unwanted air bubbles from media & electrophoretic gels. I miss those stressful, intrepid days.... Just my 2 Canadian cents. and, again... superb work Honneamise!

Introducing Balky-Lee pirotto "Jay-ick Pol-kins" Polkins: "I'm getting a lotta fire from that deflection tower" Un-named Valk pilot:" Pull out, Jayick" Polkins: "I can handle it..." VP:" Eject!" Polkins: "No, I'm alright...Ahhhhhh!!!"

The wings of a Hase VF-1 look too thin to add any miniature rack-n-pinion mechanisms for for variable alignment? i'm also curious what the swing mechanism looks like on the ADV Tornado kits?