Whats Lying on your Workbench MK IV

[Big s]

On 4/4/2026 at 10:23 AM, Papa Rat said:

Plamax VF-1 Alaska scheme. Just using an unfinished Hasegawa stand for photo purposes. I would like to get a brass rod and make my own stand later.

This was a fun one, but think it’s a bit sloppy. 🤷

don’t mind the dog hair  😂

Nice and dirty

[Big s]

23 hours ago, Return To Kit Form said:

G'day guys,

 

I just thought I'd drop a few images of my Ninja that I finished last year. 

 

It is the first MaK kit in years and went together pretty well except for the large rear tank

This one looked old really great

[joscasle]

On 4/4/2026 at 11:23 AM, Papa Rat said:

Plamax VF-1 Alaska scheme. Just using an unfinished Hasegawa stand for photo purposes. I would like to get a brass rod and make my own stand later.

This was a fun one, but think it’s a bit sloppy. 🤷

don’t mind the dog hair  😂

Nice work. Really nice 

[joscasle]

Latest updates to my 3 projects :

Plamax 1/72 VF-1J and VF-1J Strike Valkyrie 

Hasegawa 1/72 YF-19 BATTROID 

I tried to paint the majority of the marks.

 

[joscasle]

[Big s]

31 minutes ago, joscasle said:

They’re looking good so far

[Papa Rat]

@Big s Thanks. 
 

@joscasle Thanks. You have a great trio going there. Looking great!Any thoughts on the Strike? I have it in my stash and look forward to building it.
Oh and that ghost in the shell stand alone. I have always wanted that kit. Do you have any more pics?

[joscasle]

4 hours ago, Papa Rat said:

 

@joscasle Thanks. You have a great trio going there. Looking great!Any thoughts on the Strike? I have it in my stash and look forward to building it.
Oh and that ghost in the shell stand alone. I have always wanted that kit. Do you have any more pics?

Thanks for your comments. The Strike is a really nice kit, like all the Plamax Battroid kits, big improvement over the Hasegawa specially the joints and the stability of the kit. BTW the YF-19 BATTROID it's a big improvement over the vf-1 Battroid, head to head with the Basara special from Plamax

The Ghost in the Shell kit it's a nice kit, lot of work in small joints (sanding )but overall nice kit

Edited April 6 by joscasle

[electric indigo]

@SteveTheFish Wow that blue really sells the kit! Did you apply it in layers, i.e. first silver, then transparent blue, or mix it in the jar?

[SteveTheFish]

16 hours ago, electric indigo said:

@SteveTheFish Wow that blue really sells the kit! Did you apply it in layers, i.e. first silver, then transparent blue, or mix it in the jar?

It's all mixed together. I followed the instructions from Aoshima's Priss + Motoslave plamo kit that I have. It's not a very good kit, but it's OOP and expensive these days. The R&D project manager responsible for that kit told me that he wasn't satisfied with how it ended up. It is what it is. I'll build it someday. The instructions for painting Priss's figure calls for a mixture of something like 50% silver, 30% clear blue and 20% indigo blue with Mr. Color paints. What you see is roughly the same, but with V-Color vinyl paints. I picked up a package of pearlescent blue powder at the Winter Wonder Festival with the intention of mixing it with gloss clear V-Color paint, but actually I think it looks fine the way it is. 

I took a half day off yesterday to enjoy the cherry blossoms with my daughter and have a picnic with her. At night I was planning to do the touch-up brushwork for Priss, but I ended up connecting my Tenacontrols lighting kit for my AMT Enterprise E model kit to a breadboard and figuring out how it works. I'll see if I can get back to Priss tonight instead.

[Big s]

44 minutes ago, SteveTheFish said:

It's not a very good kit, but it's OOP and expensive these days. The R&D project manager responsible for that kit told me that he wasn't satisfied with how it ended up. It is what it is.

I’m hoping for a newer kit , maybe a Moderoid series or something. Retro stuff seems kinda popular these days 

[derex3592]

Well, here they are....the two MOST expensive model kits I have ever or WILL ever buy.....$255 give or take a few cents to get them to my doorstep from HLJ....and that was the CHEAPER of the two ASS RAPE shipping options from them. I'm out. Done. Over it. Never again buying anything overseas until this tarriff madness stops, and the jacked up shipping rates subside, if they ever do. 

 

[Big s]

24 minutes ago, derex3592 said:

Well, here they are....the two MOST expensive model kits I have ever or WILL ever buy.....$255 give or take a few cents to get them to my doorstep from HLJ....and that was the CHEAPER of the two ASS RAPE shipping options from them. I'm out. Done. Over it. Never again buying anything overseas until this tarriff madness stops, and the jacked up shipping rates subside, if they ever do. 

 

Yeah, it’s definitely some madness going on. Wish these were available stateside. 

[Papa Rat]

1 hour ago, SteveTheFish said:

It's all mixed together. I followed the instructions from Aoshima's Priss + Motoslave plamo kit that I have. It's not a very good kit, but it's OOP and expensive these days. The R&D project manager responsible for that kit told me that he wasn't satisfied with how it ended up. It is what it is. I'll build it someday. The instructions for painting Priss's figure calls for a mixture of something like 50% silver, 30% clear blue and 20% indigo blue with Mr. Color paints. What you see is roughly the same, but with V-Color vinyl paints. I picked up a package of pearlescent blue powder at the Winter Wonder Festival with the intention of mixing it with gloss clear V-Color paint, but actually I think it looks fine the way it is. 

I took a half day off yesterday to enjoy the cherry blossoms with my daughter and have a picnic with her. At night I was planning to do the touch-up brushwork for Priss, but I ended up connecting my Tenacontrols lighting kit for my AMT Enterprise E model kit to a breadboard and figuring out how it works. I'll see if I can get back to Priss tonight instead.

I so wish I was able to find the vinyl or plastic versions of anything BGC.  Your build is inspiring me. 
 

Hanami time. My wife and I were in Japan for Hanami 8 years ago. Such a beautiful time. 🌸

Edited April 7 by Papa Rat

[Papa Rat]

@derex3592Congrats. Now just make the $255 look like a $ million. 

[joscasle]

Update 

VF-1J, decals and gloss coat applied, next step some panel liners and some weathering 

[Big s]

5 hours ago, joscasle said:

Update 

VF-1J, decals and gloss coat applied, next step some panel liners and some weathering 

Now he’s armed and dangerous 

[derex3592]

I gotta say,, that kit sure looks the part! I kinda love it! 

 

Over here this morning I was up early and decided to see what was what on the Hasagawa GLAUG and put together the 8 red "toes"  Gotta say, I'm EXTREMELY impressed. Damn, you don't even need glue unless you just want to, or paint, (of course I will eventually, but the parts separation is great) - You could just build, it, sand the sprue nubs, panel line it, flat coat it and call it a day honestly.  It's on par with the best Bandai and Tamiya kits I've ever built. Bravo Hasagawa kits in 2025/2026! 

Edited April 8 by derex3592

[Big s]

1 hour ago, derex3592 said:

I gotta say,, that kit sure looks the part! I kinda love it! 

 

Over here this morning I was up early and decided to see what was what on the Hasagawa GLAUG and put together the 8 red "toes"  Gotta say, I'm EXTREMELY impressed. Damn, you don't even need glue unless you just want to, or paint, (of course I will eventually, but the parts separation is great) - You could just build, it, sand the sprue nubs, panel line it, flat coat it and call it a day honestly.  It's on par with the best Bandai and Tamiya kits I've ever built. Bravo Hasagawa kits in 2025/2026! 

Yeah, hasegawa has definitely come a really long way in the last few years. I don’t feel all that impressed by their old VF-1, but it’s like they’ve been learning a lot of new tricks lately. If shipping wasn’t so expensive, I’d say it’s the perfect time to go all in on Macross models since there seems to be so much cool stuff lately.

[Papa Rat]

@derex3592

That’s awesome! I need to build my Glaug soon. Instead I went straight for the TV Q-Rau and it’s an amazing kit too. It’s soooooo easy to “snap” together. I know I built the DYRL version but must have amnesia since I don’t remember it being so simple. Anyway, you are in for a treat when you get to yours. 👍

Test fit in about 3 hours. Started it before bed last night and finished it up a minute ago before I head off to have a ton of fun at the dentist. 🫠

Now I need to disassemble it and get to work on seams which there are many. For $140 I need to get this looking A+++ going all in on this one. 

Edited April 8 by Papa Rat

[derex3592]

@Papa Rat --Niiiiiiice!!! 

[Big s]

3 hours ago, Papa Rat said:

@derex3592

That’s awesome! I need to build my Glaug soon. Instead I went straight for the TV Q-Rau and it’s an amazing kit too. It’s soooooo easy to “snap” together. I know I built the DYRL version but must have amnesia since I don’t remember it being so simple. Anyway, you are in for a treat when you get to yours. 👍

Test fit in about 3 hours. Started it before bed last night and finished it up a minute ago before I head off to have a ton of fun at the dentist. 🫠

Now I need to disassemble it and get to work on seams which there are many. For $140 I need to get this looking A+++ going all in on this one. 

It looks great just slapped together, but can’t wait to see you take it up a few notches 

[joscasle]

Little update 

 

 

[Duymon]

Prices of aftermarket parts in Aircraft modelling were crazy so instead of paying 50 bucks to arm my 13 dollar F2a with ASM-3's I made my own in Blender and printed them. 

Edited Thursday at 02:09 PM by Duymon

[Thom]

That missile is looking good @Duymon.

[Papa Rat]

Started to test fit this FSS 1/72 Baga resin kit. It’s way larger than I had expected and probably won’t fit in the display case. 

I’m more than halfway there and hope to finish up test fit today, but I have notice my fingers are feeling a little sore and tingly. I have been pinning and not using gloves. Does exposing yourself to resin kits cause sensitivity issues? Should I be gloved up?

Edit. Washed hands good and put on gloves. Seems to have helped already. Hmmmmm. I guess that’s the path I’ll take using this material. 
also pinned everything I could with 2mm and will switch up to 1mm the the remaining small bits. 

Edited Saturday at 08:41 PM by Papa Rat

[Big s]

2 hours ago, Papa Rat said:

Started to test fit this FSS 1/72 Baga resin kit. It’s way larger than I had expected and probably won’t fit in the display case. 

I’m more than halfway there and hope to finish up test fit today, but I have notice my fingers are feeling a little sore and tingly. I have been pinning and not using gloves. Does exposing yourself to resin kits cause sensitivity issues? Should I be gloved up?

Edit. Washed hands good and put on gloves. Seems to have helped already. Hmmmmm. I guess that’s the path I’ll take using this material. 
also pinned everything I could with 2mm and will switch up to 1mm the the remaining small bits. 

Looks wild.

as far as gloves, there are chemicals in resin that sometimes will come up that hasn’t fully cured while sanding and drilling. It’s a common thing, but seems to never happen to the pros giving advice, but does happen and even epoxies can have similar issues ,skin irritation can happen. It could also be the release agents used. You should probably be putting on gloves and definitely use a mask, so you don’t breath in the particles or chemicals at least till the work is done to be on the safe side. Some people are more sensitive than others and some people don’t see the signs until years later and some just don’t seem affected. Be safe and have fun

[Papa Rat]

2 hours ago, Big s said:

Looks wild.

as far as gloves, there are chemicals in resin that sometimes will come up that hasn’t fully cured while sanding and drilling. It’s a common thing, but seems to never happen to the pros giving advice, but does happen and even epoxies can have similar issues ,skin irritation can happen. It could also be the release agents used. You should probably be putting on gloves and definitely use a mask, so you don’t breath in the particles or chemicals at least till the work is done to be on the safe side. Some people are more sensitive than others and some people don’t see the signs until years later and some just don’t seem affected. Be safe and have fun

Thanks. Appreciate it. Mask and gloves will be part of my process. I haven’t sanded any of the surfaces yet but I have been drilling with a pin vise which did release some strong odors for sure. 

Edited Saturday at 11:25 PM by Papa Rat

[Big s]

1 hour ago, Papa Rat said:

Thanks. Appreciate it. Mask and gloves will be part of my process. I haven’t sanded any of the surfaces yet but I have been drilling with a pin vise which did release some strong odors for sure. 

Sometimes the surface will be cured all the way, but underlying layers can have a bit of the slightly less cured resin. Glad you’re being safe and let us know if those precautions help

[electric indigo]

Wet sanding also helps to prevent from resin dust floating in the air.

[Papa Rat]

32 minutes ago, electric indigo said:

Wet sanding also helps to prevent from resin dust floating in the air.

Thanks. I’ll make sure and do that. 

[Papa Rat]

Finished up pinning and test fitting the 1/72 Baga. I gloved up for the final assembly and had no reaction which is telling. I’ll keep gloves on while working on this resin kit until primer is down. 

Also have this little Tachikoma buddy in the mix. Needs lots of love to remove seam lines, but painting should be a breeze. 

[SteveTheFish]

I'm nearly done with my Priss sofubi figure. I just finished painting her eyes. She has red eyes. I added a bit of white to one side to give her irises two tones, then painted the pupils, and finally the light spots.

Here is the back of her head.

I guess now I'm ready for final assembly. I'll have to cut out her arm hole sockets to pop her arms in. She also has both a gloved right arm and a cannon right arm that can be swapped. I haven't really done anything with those yet, other than paint them.

[Big s]

3 hours ago, Papa Rat said:

Finished up pinning and test fitting the 1/72 Baga. I gloved up for the final assembly and had no reaction which is telling. I’ll keep gloves on while working on this resin kit until primer is down. 

Also have this little Tachikoma buddy in the mix. Needs lots of love to remove seam lines, but painting should be a breeze. 

Glad to hear the gloves are helping. 
looks like the wave tachikoma. I really liked that one. The oddest seam is the upper part of the cockpit booty box or whatever. It has a slit all the way across where it should have two holes at the end. I filled the slit with putty and I think at the time I didn’t have a small enough drill, so I used the back of a needle file to get the hole shapes at the ends. I do wish the figures were hard plastic because I remember the paint kinda rubs off that soft plastic if you’re not careful 

I’m hoping that with the new Ghost in the Shell anime that we finally get a cool articulated Fuchikoma

[Big s]

1 hour ago, SteveTheFish said:

I'm nearly done with my Priss sofubi figure. I just finished painting her eyes. She has red eyes. I added a bit of white to one side to give her irises two tones, then painted the pupils, and finally the light spots.

Here is the back of her head.

I guess now I'm ready for final assembly. I'll have to cut out her arm hole sockets to pop her arms in. She also has both a gloved right arm and a cannon right arm that can be swapped. I haven't really done anything with those yet, other than paint them.

She’s looking great so far