Whats Lying on your Workbench MK IV

[nightmareB4macross]

14 hours ago, Papa Rat said:

First layers of brushes painting lacquers are down and looking rough. Going to do another thin layer all around then it’s time for clean up, some panel lines “I guess I’ll call them that”, flat top coat and weathering etc… been super busy lately so its taking forever to get this done. 
 

Looking good. 

How I wish Clover would have released all these ABD figures for their SF Fantasy line.

 

[SteveTheFish]

12 hours ago, Papa Rat said:

I think that would be a great addition. I am unfamiliar with this specific product but I have a few Mr color crystal colors that add a really nice effect. I think I have a nice blue one that may elevate this build a little. Lots of beetle carapaces have that jewel like shimmer. Good call.  I guess I’m now leaning towards a more high gloss for the armor parts and flat for the joints, nooks and crannies. 
Thanks so much for the suggestion. 👍

This is what the blue crystal color looks like over dark lacquer paint. This is from Wave co. FFS kit

That looks nice! Thanks for sharing! I have some Mr. Color Crystal paints too, but I've yet to use them. I have a model from the Ikaruga shmup video game and while it is essentially white, my idea is to section parts of it off and do variations with those different pearlescent paints. 

Alright, so I've posted a couple of photosets of recently completed models.

Hasegawa 1:72 Armored Valkyrie

Tsukuda 1:6 Evangelion sofubi figure set of Rei and Asuka

[Big s]

12 hours ago, Papa Rat said:

I think that would be a great addition. I am unfamiliar with this specific product but I have a few Mr color crystal colors that add a really nice effect. I think I have a nice blue one that may elevate this build a little. Lots of beetle carapaces have that jewel like shimmer. Good call.  I guess I’m now leaning towards a more high gloss for the armor parts and flat for the joints, nooks and crannies. 
Thanks so much for the suggestion. 👍

This is what the blue crystal color looks like over dark lacquer paint. This is from Wave co. FFS kit

A clear pearl color might look really cool for the wings on some of these bug kits

[Papa Rat]

@nightmareB4macross Thanks. I Love how silly and “clunky” it looks.  Hope to finish it up in the next couple days. 
 

@SteveTheFish Thanks.

Also those builds look great! Thanks for sharing.  I hope you give those crystal paints a go on the ship you mentioned. It takes on a very different look based on the value of the underpainting. It’s more vibrant on a darker value but also as interesting in a different way on lighter values. 

Here is the green crystal color over a white base paint on the armor and also on the green shield. In the right light it shimmers the green pearl effects.  Oh I also used the red crystal color on the orange buster cannon. It’s really hard to photograph but fun stuff, 😊

@Big s Yeah I will painting the wings in the shimmering pearlescent blue too. I haven’t tried those crystal paints on clear parts yet so that will be fun to see how it turns out. 

Edited Thursday at 08:00 AM by Papa Rat
Added photo

[nightmareB4macross]

On 10/1/2025 at 11:09 AM, Papa Rat said:

I think that would be a great addition. I am unfamiliar with this specific product but I have a few Mr color crystal colors that add a really nice effect. I think I have a nice blue one that may elevate this build a little. Lots of beetle carapaces have that jewel like shimmer. Good call.  I guess I’m now leaning towards a more high gloss for the armor parts and flat for the joints, nooks and crannies. 
Thanks so much for the suggestion. 👍

This is what the blue crystal color looks like over dark lacquer paint. This is from Wave co. FFS kit

For the pearlescent wings try using holographic cellophane. The effect is very striking and all you need to do is create template for the size of the wings you will cut out and apply.

 

[nightmareB4macross]

Since the vernier thrusters move and end up I. Different places during transformation, I figured mapping them first before committing to their final positions. 

[Papa Rat]

@nightmareB4macross Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll have to get some of that stuff for future builds be it bug wings or some other cool details. 
 

Also loving your updates. Feels like you are on the home stretch! ♥️

[Papa Rat]

Wow this is one fugly beetle mech. Haha. I think I am changing course and going to do a matte finish on it and weather it up. The high gloss on this is not working for me at the moment. It’s hard to photograph but the pearl shimmer is refracting off the rough surface in a very chaotic jarring way. I’ll sleep on it before I go further. 
 

Edited Friday at 04:16 AM by Papa Rat

[nightmareB4macross]

It looks great in high gloss. Try applying a smoke or charcoal grey dry brush on the joints and top coat with satin, joints and black areas only. Finish stark colors like yellow and pink with matte or satin matte.

It’s looking great.

FYI - I still have to finish the cockpit amongst other details. Not quite close to the finish line.

Edited Friday at 03:34 PM by nightmareB4macross

[Papa Rat]

8 hours ago, nightmareB4macross said:

It looks great in high gloss. Try applying a smoke or charcoal grey dry brush on the joints and top coat with saint, joints and black areas only. Finish stark colors like yellow and pink with matte or satin matte.

It’s looking great.

FYI - I still have to finish the cockpit amongst other details. Not quite close to the finish line.

Hey thanks. Looking at it again this morning I see more potential in it now. Just needs some dialing in like you mentioned. 

[tekering]

With about a month left before the "40th anniversary of Robotech" display I've planned for our annual modeling exhibit, I've still got to paint my 1:48 Regult, three 1:48 Destroids, four 1:48 Logans, and two 1:1400 SDF-1s... and dammit, I still can't tear myself away from the Mos Eisley cantina!

Having completed the ceiling, I've been fine-tuning the lighting and figure placement...

...repainting Hasbro figures...

...and 3D-printing parts for characters that never got action figures.

There are just so many more characters I want to complete, but I've got to put Star Wars aside and shift my focus back to Macross...  😓

[Papa Rat]

@tekering Wow you are soooo busy! Best of luck to you. 👍✌️

[Papa Rat]

“Oh honey, I’m home!”

*Photos are sort of lacking and may try and get updated ones tomorrow with natural light  

You can sort of see the blue shimmer on the back. It’s hard to capture, but best seen in natural light.

Next up by request from my kiddo, we have the L-Gaim 1/144 Ashura Temple 

Edited Saturday at 03:58 AM by Papa Rat
Added photos

[nightmareB4macross]

12 hours ago, Papa Rat said:

“Oh honey, I’m home!”

*Photos are sort of lacking and may try and get updated ones tomorrow with natural light  

You can sort of see the blue shimmer on the back. It’s hard to capture, but best seen in natural light.

Next up by request from my kiddo, we have the L-Gaim 1/144 Ashura Temple 

That turned out fantastic!

Love it when the kiddos want to take part of the hobby. I still have a few unbuilt kits they wanted to build.

[Big s]

14 hours ago, Papa Rat said:

“Oh honey, I’m home!”

*Photos are sort of lacking and may try and get updated ones tomorrow with natural light  

You can sort of see the blue shimmer on the back. It’s hard to capture, but best seen in natural light.

Next up by request from my kiddo, we have the L-Gaim 1/144 Ashura Temple 

He’s super ugly, but that’s why I love him. Sometimes pretty is boring and gotta get something different for a change and this is definitely different and is awesome for it

[Thom]

2 hours ago, Big s said:

He’s super ugly, but that’s why I love him. Sometimes pretty is boring and gotta get something different for a change and this is definitely different and is awesome for it

[Papa Rat]

@nightmareB4macrossThanks so much! Yeah I love when my kid has some say in a fun project. They are still young so not much kit building unless it’s one of those 30 MM Bandai kits. 
 

@Big s @Thom hahahaha. So true. Not only do I like building these old kits, I also love the esthetics. Give me all these chunky/clunky and strange proportions. That’s part of the charm. 
 

Brought this beast out of the basement bench space and into the light of day for a couple photos. 
 

[Big s]

1 hour ago, Papa Rat said:

@nightmareB4macrossThanks so much! Yeah I love when my kid has some say in a fun project. They are still young so not much kit building unless it’s one of those 30 MM Bandai kits. 
 

@Big s @Thom hahahaha. So true. Not only do I like building these old kits, I also love the esthetics. Give me all these chunky/clunky and strange proportions. That’s part of the charm. 
 

Brought this beast out of the basement bench space and into the light of day for a couple photos. 
 

That dark beast really shines in the light 

[Papa Rat]

16 minutes ago, Big s said:

That dark beast really shines in the light 

Hahaha

[Papa Rat]

1:144 L-Gaim, Ashura Temple test fit is not too bad considering it’s an old kit. I guess this A-class heavy Metal Set/boxset came out in 2021. Not sure when the original release was of the individual kit but it’s feels rather dated. Love the box art and can’t wait to get jamming. 

[Big s]

9 minutes ago, Papa Rat said:

1:144 L-Gaim, Ashura Temple test fit is not too bad considering it’s an old kit. I guess this A-class heavy Metal Set/boxset came out in 2021. Not sure when the original release was of the individual kit but it’s feels rather dated. Love the box art and can’t wait to get jamming. 

I believe it was mid 80’s like 85 maybe 

[Chas]

Another reissue of an 80's kit. This time a 2000 repop of Imai's Super Dimension Century Orguss M.Lover Maaie from '83.

Getting close to finishing this up. Just gotta finish off some work detailing the pilot, do a little weathering and dull coat.

Edited 11 hours ago by Chas

[Papa Rat]

@Chas That looks great! 😊 

[derex3592]

How I spent my last two days...... 1/350 photoetch is........not my favorite thing to do. I'll just leave it that. Only messed up one spot, I'll have to dig out some extra Titanic railing to fix it, but overall, I'm gonna give myself a thumbs up on this. Never rolled PE before and never folded tiny little three dimensional baskets either... And PE staircases are my nemesis! I need a LARGE drink... LOL. And this is only the first tower I've completed... 🤔 🙄 😂 

[Papa Rat]

8 minutes ago, derex3592 said:

How I spent my last two days...... 1/350 photoetch is........not my favorite thing to do. I'll just leave it that. Only messed up one spot, I'll have to dig out some extra Titanic railing to fix it, but overall, I'm gonna give myself a thumbs up on this. Never rolled PE before and never folded tiny little three dimensional baskets either... And PE staircases are my nemesis! I need a LARGE drink... LOL. And this is only the first tower I've completed... 🤔 🙄 😂 

I don’t know what PE is but I’m assuming it’s that beautiful railing you have going on there. This looks awesome! 

[pengbuzz]

8 minutes ago, Papa Rat said:

I don’t know what PE is but I’m assuming it’s that beautiful railing you have going on there. This looks awesome! 

It is that railing; "PE" or photo-etch is thin brass that has been chemically etched to achieve finely detailed parts that would be too small, weak or incapable of such detail in plastic alone. 

This is a video on how it can be done at home; this is just to show the process. The kit-makers have better machinery and tools for it-

 

[Chas]

24 minutes ago, derex3592 said:

How I spent my last two days...... 1/350 photoetch is........not my favorite thing to do. I'll just leave it that. Only messed up one spot, I'll have to dig out some extra Titanic railing to fix it, but overall, I'm gonna give myself a thumbs up on this. Never rolled PE before and never folded tiny little three dimensional baskets either... And PE staircases are my nemesis! I need a LARGE drink... LOL. And this is only the first tower I've completed... 🤔 🙄 😂 

Great job! Looks good.

Did you anneal the photo etch before folding? I've  found that makes things much easier, as it removes the spring-y-ness.

Of course annealing doesn't  help much when you drop a piece.

[Thom]

Good looking railings and stairs @derex3592! That is one of the things that makes me hesitant to do my 1/700 and /350 ships.