Messages

1

Model In-Progress / Re: This Old Terminator

« on: January 08, 2014, 04:23:31 PM »

Thanks Hunter, I am really surprised how well they turned out for something so cheap. I have been busy lately building a new spraybooth, which is now complete. This is the first kit I've worked on with the new booth and it is a great improvement.



I resprayed the kit with Mr Color black lacquer, and followed with Alclad Chrome. I didn't like how the finish was looking before because it was a mix of Chrome and Aluminum.



The eyes and teeth were repainted with Vallejo acrylics. The rifle was also painted with flat black Vallejo.

The base has a black basecoat now. This kit is almost complete, I just need to paint the skulls and do an enamel wash on the Terminator.

2

Model In-Progress / Re: This Old Terminator

« on: December 14, 2013, 10:18:07 PM »

Thank you for the comments. I have not worked on the kit much due to moving and a death in the family. Now I have my new workshop almost set up I can start to pick away at projects again.

The base was too boring, and I want to add some skulls. You can get resin piles of skulls, but the casting looks pretty bad one the ones I have seen. So might as well sculpt my own, except I am lazy.



I got a box of vinyl skull pencil toppers from Halloween.



They were cut individually to get a variety of broken skulls.



The black base is the stock one that comes with the kit. The white one is the replacement, which is stolen from a Core Fighter gashapon.



I am too cheap to waste expensive putty needlessly, so I used the much cheaper drywall spackle to fasten the skulls to the base. I am really happy with how it looks for a $1.49 box of pencil toppers. The noses are pretty bad, but I will try to hide it with my pro laziness in the painting stage.

3

Model In-Progress / Re: SHAIAN - EL MEDINE - IKURU

« on: November 30, 2013, 12:54:36 AM »

Good progress!

4

Model In-Progress / Re: SHAIAN - EL MEDINE - IKURU

« on: November 11, 2013, 12:01:00 AM »

I love Dragon's Heaven. Kobayashi made some fantastic and unique designs. It's a shame the casts are bad, but I know how difficult it is to get those old kits. For any price!

Looking forward to seeing it completed.

5

Model In-Progress / This Old Terminator

« on: October 28, 2013, 01:25:30 AM »

A friend of mine was selling kits and couldn't get rid of this Tsukuda Hobby Terminator because it was started and parts were missing. He gave it to me so I am trying to build the hell out of it. Just because it's an old kit and a couple parts are missing doesn't mean it's worthless!



The chromed version and the regular release have different box designs.



This very kit was the cover for the coveted December 1991 Hobby Japan. The diorama was built by the famous modeller Takuji Yamada, who has built a ton of critically acclaimed stuff. I scanned the relevant pages.











With my research complete I stripped all the chrome from the kit with Super Clean. Next I built the kit with Tamiya Extra Thin cement. It went together similarly to a Wave FSS plastic kit. Pretty difficult, but it looks very good, and luckily fewer parts. The left forearm parts are the ones that are missing. Rather than do a battle damaged T-800 missing an arm, I opted to rip off Robocop 3:





I built a small hinge on the back of the pulse rifle and connected it to the elbow joint. It was a simple job and looks relatively good. The kit was primed with Mr Surfacer and an airbrush. A black basecoat of Mr Color was laid down next, followed by a gloss clear.



The first round of Alclad metallics down.



More Alclad in an attempt to even out the dark spots. The centre torso became too highlighted, and takes away from the head I think. But not so much I am willing to repaint it. A Humbrol black wash went over the entire kit.



The teeth and eyes were painted with Vallejo acrylics.

6

Model Gallery / Re: MG Gundam RX178 MKII - Commissioned Work

« on: October 26, 2013, 08:06:52 PM »

The sort of brass colour for yellow looks beautiful. What a cool way to make a kit look more realistic. It changes the whole mood of the model kit. 

7

Model Gallery / Re: MS 06J ZAKU II UPG

« on: October 24, 2013, 06:42:04 PM »

This is beautiful. Is the zimmerit part of the conversion kit, or did you put it in yourself?

8

Model Gallery / Re: 1/144 Turn X

« on: October 21, 2013, 07:41:11 PM »

Thanks guys, I worked really hard on blending colours.

9

Model Gallery / 1/144 Turn X

« on: October 20, 2013, 09:34:55 PM »

10

Assembly/Scratchbuilding / Re: Bending Plastic Rod

« on: February 27, 2013, 09:47:57 PM »

I'm sad nobody replied to this either.

My experience bending styrene tube was using a candle. It didn't work out like I hoped, the tube wound up in an oval 0 shape at the bend rather than the O I was looking for.

I wound up using really wide gauge solder on my projects instead. I learned it off some automotive modelers who use it for making custom exhausts on the bottom of the cars. It is so soft and pliable, it is a dream for bending and it comes in various widths for different purposes. The really thick stuff is from the hardware store for using on copper pipes in a house. But it bends pretty easy too. Easier than brass rod, that's for sure!

I always keep extra polycaps from Gundam kits. Often they are standard sizes and the solder will have a snug fit in one of them. Then I build a little styrene box around it and cement it to the kit... it's how I add all my crazy extra parts to kits! It's really simple once you try it, and you can recess them behind the surface of a kit, so you just have a hole and the polycap is hidden behind it, in a little box cemented to the reverse side.

11

Model In-Progress / Re: Rozen-Hamma (My rendition of Hamma Hamma in 1/20 or 1/35 scale) - Concept phase

« on: February 26, 2013, 10:55:26 PM »

Hamma Hamma is a great subject, it needs more love! I look forward to seeing what you do with it.

12

Model Gallery / Re: 1/24 Extreme Turbine Combat Racer - Kitbash (pic heavy)

« on: December 10, 2012, 07:40:54 PM »

Yes, I want to build a future racer too. I already have one abandoned attempt, so maybe a second try will do!

Looks great! I am really happy with how it turned out, especially the front end which seemed so mysterious for so long. Great work sticking to it! I look forward to your next project. Anything in mind?

13

Model Gallery / Re: Fuck Zeon Diorama

« on: December 07, 2012, 07:38:18 AM »

I saw this on your blog. I love the peeling billboard, it's a great effect. And the whole thing looks great!

14

Model In-Progress / Re: Variety Grade ZZ

« on: November 24, 2012, 09:45:34 PM »

Wellps, I got a 'real job' and moved in with my girlfriend, so the ZZ got put on hold. Now I am getting more organized and had a chance to work on it a little. I got those 1/100 Builders Parts hands, and they look pretty good. That was the last major obstacle, so I look forward to making some progress. Hopefully this little post will get me going again  .







Next to the MG ZZ hands.

The only thing now is that I am thinking maybe I want to be a little more traditional and go with the smaller head... but I need to find it first!

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Capitalism Corner* / Mecha Model Book - Crowdfunding

« on: November 24, 2012, 06:48:41 PM »

Hey guys, me and some friends who all share the dream of English language mecha model books are finally going to do something about it. We're writing a book, and doing a crowdfunding campaign to help cover costs. You can check it out here: www.indiegogo.com/mechamodeling?a=490595 and pledge some cash if you want to help us out! Thanks for looking. 

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Model In-Progress / Re: 1/24 Extreme Turbine Combat Racer - Kitbash

« on: November 20, 2012, 11:56:40 PM »

It's like watching a child grow up! ... pretty sure that came out wrong. It's been amazing to follow this build and see all the challenges you faced and overcame. The Racer looks fantastic!

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Model In-Progress / Re: 1/24 Extreme Turbine Combat Racer - Kitbash

« on: September 15, 2012, 06:31:25 PM »

This is exciting. Can't wait to see the finish!

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Model In-Progress / Re: 1/24 Extreme Turbine Combat Racer - Kitbash

« on: September 07, 2012, 06:51:24 PM »

It reminds me of a robot stingray. Sorry, an awesome robot stingray. 

Beautiful details. Keep the ball rolling!

19

Model In-Progress / Re: 1/24 Extreme Turbine Combat Racer - Kitbash

« on: September 01, 2012, 11:39:10 AM »

For sure I thought those were the side of the little spools for thread on sewing machines. Surprised they are Italeri truck wheels.

Pipes make everything better :) When I do those tie down thingys I use the aluminum duct-tape from the hardware store; the stuff that is actually thin aluminum with a polished side and an adhesive side. Learned it off some MaK guys. Way faster than putty and looks more uniform.

Can't wait to see more details. Hopefully some smaller/different gauges of wire? 

20

Model In-Progress / Re: 1/24 Extreme Turbine Combat Racer - Kitbash

« on: August 27, 2012, 03:56:41 PM »

I think you did the right thing fixing the bottom. Those funny spots would drive me crazy too! And it's not like detailing the whole engine and then cementing the hood over it... some people would check the bottom.

I like to think of those precut masks for the windows as templates for real masking. You stick it over the tape you want to use and then cut around it 

Can't wait to see more of the engine.