Messages

21

Model In-Progress / Re: 1:100 Zaku Kai scratchbuild project

« on: April 12, 2009, 08:31:42 PM »

Yeah, don't get caught up on anything, keep the spikes you have and keep going!  I see what you mean about your method for making the spike housings, and your method did turn out rather well.  That's what I love so much about modeling, there are so many possible ways to make any given part!  For me the satisfaction is as much in the process as the result...

22

Model In-Progress / Re: 1:100 Zaku Kai scratchbuild project

« on: April 12, 2009, 02:10:05 PM »

Overall it's looking good!  I admire your patience, you've been working on this thing for years!

I realize it's kind of moot at this point, but I had a thought about the housing for the shoulder spikes and wonder if you were making it harder than it had to be.  This would have been a perfect opportunity for "bondo squish" - make a positive of the cavity and squish it into bondo to get the recessed shape you want.  Also a sandwiched "O" shape with beveled edge glued over a styrene circle would have been another option.

I totally dig your dedication to making it look funky like the original lineart, instead of the modernized/homogenized stuff we see so much of these days.  I probably would have gone with a sharper spike, but overall I think you're very much on the right track and I'm happy to see someone else who appreciates the wonky character of some older designs!

23

Model In-Progress / Re: Old school 1/144 Jamru-Fin

« on: April 12, 2009, 01:46:04 PM »

A little more progress on the ZZ mosquito:

The left "wing" section is nearly finished, minus some detailing.  The other side should go much more quickly now that I know what I'm building.  Some plastic sheet, bondo...the usual. :)



"Bondo squish" technique with the detail built in negative to achieve the cutout for the engine.





Here's the scratchbuilt housing for the fuel tank that goes underneath the wing:



Wing section compared with the unmodified part:



I also did most of the reworking on the left leg.  Chopped it all up for a more modular appearance, and so it comes apart for easier painting.  I built an inner frame for the armor parts to attach to, added a ball joint for the ankle, and lots of greebly detail.



Various leg greebles with some comparisons to the original parts:











I hope to finish this guy in less than 2 years. lol!

24

Model In-Progress / Re: Hazel Rah W.I.P.

« on: April 12, 2009, 12:41:12 PM »

Looks pretty cool.  I dunno what the visibility of this part on the final kit is, but if it's not too hidden, I'd consider another layer of smooth plastic, with some shapey holes cut to show the scribed styrene underneath.  Detail is cool, layered detail is way cool. :)

25

Model Gallery / Re: Hasegawa VF-1S Super Battroid (DYRL version)

« on: April 11, 2009, 04:11:29 PM »

The VF-1s is one of my favorites. I think that's because Jetfire from Trasnformers is one of my favorite figures.

I love the paint job and all the little details you put into the kit. All those panel lines would drive me insane.

The panel lines weren't as hard as they look, the detail is so crisp on the kit that a controlled oil wash let's the paint and the panels do the work for you.

I must admit that I've restisted temptation to do a Jetfire paintjob on a VF-1S.  It was one of the first Transfromers I got, way back in 6th grade...lol

26

Model Gallery / Re: Hasegawa VF-1S Super Battroid (DYRL version)

« on: April 10, 2009, 01:36:30 PM »

Yeah, my web server died and I've been too lazy to fix it, so my site's down for now.  Hasn't been updated in years anyway, I'm actually half-assed working on a new version of the site.  For now everything recently that I have photos of is posted here.

27

Model Gallery / Re: 1/6 Christina Mackenzie

« on: April 10, 2009, 01:35:29 PM »

I totally understand what you mean!  But I do have to admit it, I kinda like the boobies...(o)(o)

Maybe I've been looking too many resin kits, so that what would have been outrageously large 10 years ago looks normal-ish, relative to...uh...current standards. lol 

28

Model News Feed / Re: MG Gouf Version 2.0

« on: April 10, 2009, 08:46:20 AM »

Hell yeah.  But I do have a 1/144 Dreissen in the queue. :)  There was a 1/100 resin Dreissen from Club-M at C3 a few years back which was PERFECT looking.  I almost bought one on Yahoo Japan a few times, but wimped out.  I really wish I had, I don't see them available anymore...

29

Dioramas / Re: Suspended Dust

« on: April 09, 2009, 02:26:55 PM »

The stuff in the pic looks like cushion filler to me, like the stuff you buy at Joanne to fill pillows or stuffed animals.

30

Kit Specifics / Re: Zeta Plus question

« on: April 09, 2009, 02:25:39 PM »

Sorry, I don't have an answer to this question, but I have to say that I just love the depth of field in these photos!

31

Model Gallery / Re: Hasegawa VF-1S Super Battroid (DYRL version)

« on: April 09, 2009, 02:24:38 PM »

When Bandai re-issued the Imai Battroids recently, I was sorely tempted to get one.  They're not as good as the Hasegawas IMO but still from the photos I've seen I think they were pretty good...

Though the Arii Gerwalk was the second anime kit I ever did (first was a variable Legioss in grade school) - so it's very tempting to build one of those again...

Have you posted this over on Macrossworld?

Nah, I can't keep track of all these forums!  Would they gaga over it there...?  Might be worth posting then.

The IMAI Battroids aren't too bad actually, I built several of them back in the day.  The hands are bad, but they are large, beefy, and build up into a fairly accurate representation of the Battroid lineart, complete with stubby wings.  I'll probably make one sometime in the not too distant future...a nice brown VF-1A or something. :)  In fact, most of the IMAI kits were pretty good, and the ARII stuff was surprisingly bad, something I never quite understood.

32

Model In-Progress / Re: YT-1380f Corellian Light Freighter

« on: April 08, 2009, 03:02:28 PM »

OMFG, did you really?? Doooood, that is so freakin' funny!  But be careful, they'll get x's for eyes...

The blow pens are actually really fun if you like doing art stuff with your kids.  Anyway...

33

Model In-Progress / Re: YT-1380f Corellian Light Freighter

« on: April 08, 2009, 01:34:17 PM »

Dem's fighting words! It's like comparing an airbrush to a squirtgun full of tempera paint.

Ooh, I knew that'd get you!   You're right I think, but only if it's a supersoaker!  Wahahah!    Oh, and have you tried those blow pens?  They're way cool...http://www.expertvillage.com/video/28688_dog-grooming-coloring-marker.htm

Truth be told, I just bought one of the fine point black Gundam markers, and it's actually pretty cool if you have a need for clean, somewhat thick black lines.  It's finer than the smallest "art" marker I was able to find (Micron), and dries faster and more "permanent".  I thought it would be more of a "paint pen" like the larger sizes, but it's very similar to the Micron in "action".  And yes, particularly good for marking the areas you want to cut off...lol!

All right, I'll quit hijacking your thread.

34

Model Gallery / Re: Hasegawa VF-1S Super Battroid (DYRL version)

« on: April 08, 2009, 09:32:17 AM »

I will definitely have a look. And I loved the proportions on the ARII kits. I wish I could find some so I could make some better joints for it. I had one I painted when I was like 9 years old and I had planned to strip it and rebuild it, but I guess it got lost at some point .

I hate the ARII kits (aside from nostalgia value, they were among my first mecha models back in 1984 or so), but they're definitely old school.   Might be a fun project to try to make one presentable!  They're a dime a dozen on Ebay these days, shouldn't be too hard to find some.

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Model In-Progress / Re: YT-1380f Corellian Light Freighter

« on: April 07, 2009, 08:57:53 PM »

Yeah yeah, Rapidograph, Gundam marker...it's all the same. *ducking for cover*

36

Model In-Progress / Re: Hazel Rah W.I.P.

« on: April 07, 2009, 03:51:21 PM »

Wow, pretty knarly pose. :)

So I think I get it, the toe plugs into a rod sticking forward (horizontally) off of the ankle attachment piece with regular round polycap?  I don't have this kit, so don't really know how it goes together in the first place...it's kind of an odd design if that's in the original kit, but works well!

37

Model In-Progress / Re: Hazel Rah W.I.P.

« on: April 07, 2009, 09:20:50 AM »

Love the foot mod, very cool!  So you have a ball joint in the toe attaching the front of the foot...?

38

Model In-Progress / Re: YT-1380f Corellian Light Freighter

« on: April 07, 2009, 09:18:32 AM »

Actually I think the ILM dudes invented the term greebles in the very early 80's when they were doing all that awesome Star Wars stuff.    Your YT is pretty cool, particularly for the time and your age!

39

Model Gallery / Re: Banpresto Non Scale RX-93 Nu Gundam Head display

« on: April 07, 2009, 08:34:59 AM »

Probably will soon, I've gotten into the habit of picking it up and staring at it every day...that's usually the first sign of motivation for me.   But I have to finish Jamru-Fin first!

40

Model Gallery / Re: Zaku Minelayer!

« on: April 07, 2009, 08:33:51 AM »

It's a good start, keep at it and you'll be cranking out awesome kits soon! :)  I'm not a huge fan of the color scheme (personal taste), but it's interesting creative and has kind of an old "Revell Robotech" model feel.

Some advice about posing - this would look a lot more menacing and less stiff if you pulled back is shoulders a little big, like it's sticking out it's chest.  And maybe twist his left bicep a bit so the left arm points forward a bit more...