MechTech

Dinner plates, cereal bowl? Sounds like somebody's been skipping meals to sculpt I know what it is that looks off to me. The sideways bulge is alright (you're right about the head-on line art). The front canopy looks to be almost on the same sloping angle as the fuselage (looking sideways) . Right now it bulges up instead of blending into the slope. I believe the rear canopy is good to go. No criticism, just some feedback with another point of view. When I get into a project for a long time, I miss details looking at it for too long. That's when I go to my wife and ask "what's this look like to you." An easy way out on the canopies is to mold them over resin blanks that have handles on them and a cut line. Then all you have to do is mold them and let us finish them off. Looking awesome, MDF has never looked better (except on other sculpts you've done). - MT

That looks awesome John! I think the windows look a bit more flush in this picture: http://www.new-un-spacy.com/sdfmacross/comanchero.htm That's the only thing I see that looks slightly off. Is it going to have funny looking rotors like these: Keep up the great work! - MT

Nice work ZomBe! I think only about half of our members build canon. - MT

Mega props for doing this! You even did a 1/200 one too! What a guy! - MT

This photo DEFINITELY is a prototype (it's missing a leg and stuff). HLJ.com will probably sell it and I bet it averages $40 like most recent "fixed" macross models. Just like the Bandai VF-25 that most people said would suck before we even saw it, we need to give them a chance on this. Now people who whined about the VF-25 are whining because they can't get one right now - MT

History repeats itself. Bandai made quite a few valks for Macross 7 and that wasn't exactly everyone's favorite series. They did the 1/100 -19's and -17 in transforming kits. Then there were the 1/144 kits (doubles) too. Then there were all those aftermarket kits too (don't forget them). Destroids always sell well, so I would say "yes" unless the credit crisis and Bandai's marketing staff think "No." Parker - paint outside and bring your models inside right away! I had the opposite problem with humidity where I lived. Paint it outside, bring it in quickly and let it dry in a closet or little used room. You can put parts in a covered container to insulate and keep dust off while moving it back and forth. - MT

1) Great work on the fusealage so far. I'm working on my wanted list. Do you have an estimated completion date yet? I'm trying to figure out when to have payment ready. I'm guessing still $120 USD? Also are you cool with US Postal or international money orders? 2) Honnemiease and Valkyrie were BOTH working on ground vehicles last year and dropped the ball for various reasons. YOU WILL sell a lot of them and they're easy to sculpt! I've almost finished mine in 1/200. Of course I'm about to take a night class too. Feed the family or finish the Daedalus...OK I'm thinking... . Keep up the great work (and don't play with the model TOOooo much - MT

More good stuff coming! I need another job ! - MT

Yeah baby! You can never have enough ordnance (unless your aircraft can't get off the ground)! I'm still trying to figure out why they put four massive engines on this design. Maybe "Tim the Toolman Taylor" was his inspiration! - MT

Looks like being patient and waiting to order is paying off! Good stuff coming soon (not that I predicted that or anything ) - MT

Thanks MilSpex! UPDATE 15 OCTOBER 08 Still working on that same ceiling bit and the floor covering piece going above it. Cutting out the side strips. The side light strips (each one of these takes hours to do, but they're bright and LIGHT weight). Take a good look, this may be the last time you see under the floor outcrop. I made nine mecha access doors as in this drawing (left side), only one will actually be open. Building the screw drive to make the overhead crane traverse (see yellow crane in line art, Sept 20) Still working away! - MT

It IS a BIG helo for what it is supposed to do. I've looked at doing one in 1/200. Four oversized engines for what? You can only go so fast in a rotory wing aircraft before the blades stall; that's why there's the v-22 Osprey tilt rotor. Oh well, it's just an animated idea - right!?

AIRBRUSHES - I've used Badger for decades. Nice and robust. I also have a single action Aztec for doing basic work like coats. The chngeable tips are easy to clean. COMPRESSORS - You get what you pay for! Make sure you have an air trap and regulator on whatever you get - especially in humid enviroments. As long as it has a tank on it, the pulses you normally get from basic compressors will be stopped. - MT

Alright, I'm gonna have to say "yes." With all that good stuff AND ordnance, how could I say no. I'll keep it at work and tell everyone it's the Apache's replacement People see my Hase boxart Super VF-1S poster at work and think IT'S real... - MT

I'm 8 hours ahead and will sometimes get on MW in the middle of the night (prime time you're time). I rarely have any problems and I'm making twice as many network hops to get to the server (assuming it in CA). You may have local connectivity issues. - MT

UPDATE 5 OCTOBER 08 It's been a busy but blessed week! Not much work done directly on the ship, but I got other materials and gear. I shopped some more and found/ordered these: http://www.gizmoszone.com/shopping/storepr...ctoverview5.htm they have videos as well on Youtube for the 7mm version. Tell me these aren't cool! They will power my bridge/mast affects, overhead cranes, and other cool stuff! I got some of the bigger motors too. I want to R/C one of the 1/200 Monsters I have. One of the larger size will fit into the feet and an old micro car R/C unit will work perfect. Went to the local thrift store and found a medical nebulizer air pump for only $2/1£ ! It has enough pressure to airbrush (tested it) and its quiet (full ball bearing guts - you know I looked inside). For about the same price I bought an old scanner for the cables, belt and connectors. All those scanner parts new would have cost ten times that! That's how the Daedalus is built, with a tight budget (and people who don't want their junk anymore ). I finished the first half of the mecha bay lighting (the thicker side). The thinner side is next. The LEDs are the same 3mm type bought from Christmas stuff on sale last year-cheaper than buying them unwired. Here's one strip lit up to give you an idea. When I finish the other side's lighting, I'm on to the overhead crane that traverses this part. On to the smaller lights... - MT

Looking at real planes and what their panel lines look like, you've got it spot on! All aircraft have some dirt on them. Now you just need some fuel spills underneath for the full affect! - MT

OK, what everybody else said and...this is something that drives me nuts too! You're not alone. The Bandai Votoms kits are awesome in several aspects that the sprue ends are on the INSIDE of the seam! Genius! NO MARKS when cut flush. I wish ALL kits could be like that. Flush cutters make all the difference in the world like Miriya said (he won't be much of a newbee at the rate he is going). Make sure they are sharp. Don't be cutting wire with them as when they dull, they pull the plastic away. LEAVE A LITTLE ON, THEN if you have room, slice the remnant off with a razor blade. Sand off the rest carefully; or just do the whole seem. As an alternative, leave a little tab on the parts, cleaning the mating edges so they fit smoothly and glue (or snap). Then clean up the edges all together by sanding down the whole area. I NEVER paint a model if I can help it. Chipping sucks. I always cover a marked / marred area with like color paint similar to what was said before. I've gone as far as splotching a whole model with similar color and it simulates dirt and wear great! Less pastel work needed and very realistic. Scratches show up less too. A clear coat helps cover the FINE scratches as mentioned earlier. Hope that helps. The alternative is counseling which costs way too much - MT

Judging by the quarter, they are 1/200. They have better details than the Nichimo kits in some places, and inaccuracies in others. A little work and they would be great. It's too bad the tomahawk has such blah weapons detail in the chest. The Defender looks better (from what I can see). The cannon on it are more realistic in dimension. Let me know what you want to do. - MT

Another "chunky monkey" mod. Good choice of colors and everything is nice and white instead of yellowed. Keep us updated. - MT

Thanks Jarrod for going to all the trouble!!! Awesome review and photos (great build too)! I'm sure you're adding to the sales and hysteria of the kit (when available ). - MT

That looks great. The color scheme is interesting. Now you have to do one with a British flag to REALLY test your skills (they look good on Mini's) - MT

Ron - that looks great despite the poor sculpting. I'll build mine...someday! Noyhauser - interesting mix of missiles! The US Navy could scale bacl their planes with that kind of armament! - MT

Some of us need like 20 of a kit so we can fill up a massive model of the Daedalus. I get seconds to make various versions. Other kits I purchase just for parts! Don't worry, no Macross kits will be harmed I'll work on getting some pictures up. - MT

The Gunny obviously HATES the Hase kits ! Let's just say I have a walk in closet full of models and a few clothes (my half). I can only wear one thing at a time anyhow . I keep my kits in giant plastic boxes to protect and easily move them around. The last two moves were easy! Just grab and go! - MT