MechTech

Speaking of Monogram, I wonder if those are the BSG re-released molds? The awkward scale looks like it. Oh, and Toynami's making plush Valkyries. At least it won't have ABS parts to crack! - MT

Awesome job and composite work! I should make it my wallpaper at work and see how many people ask "which plane is that!?" I think the boom operator would be like, "Uh, where's the receptacle?" - MT

Nice scheme 505th! I do like the tribute and the airframe. Too bad they never had a real scheme like that. Even 25 years ago I wasn't happy with Monogram's molding quality. I was bummed when they were the only game in town for some airframes like the B-52 in 1/72nd. Still, they had some cool models with opening doors and full weapons loads like the 1/24th Huey. - MT

This is a MUST for my family. Both my son and Daughter are into the Ninjago, Chima, and Galaxy Squad sets. A set of plans would even be great for those parts not propriatary. Thanks for sharing! - MT

Nice finish and use of the decals! - MT

I don't like the "retrofit" either, but you made it look great!!! Crazy props for all that skillful "drawing." Most people use paper - MT

Congrats on the compressor ce25254, nice classic! By the way, I've had Tamiya on for months at a time too (the Daedalus Ramp) and Scotch/3M on for over a year (also Daedlaus) with no residue left behind at all. SHhhh! Don't give me secrets away Big F! Thanks guys! I've lost three gears on the floor forever and had to remake them. I've made several gears just practicing with several failures! If I was a watchmaker, I'd go broke! One set I accidently left too much travel in the shaft and the gears don't engage right. The other is smooth as silk, for three rotations or so until it sticks! And I can't see why because I need more magnification! I'm messing with doing some more cutting tonight. - MT

"...Gotta go back in time-ime..." Nice looking Delorean Ron. A "newer" version with the hoverboards would be cool too! Enterprising works guys! Nice decal work Derex! That looks like it's painted on; smooth move! The finish looks great Dobber! It will be great to see some HD photos when you get them. While waiting on the weather to cool down and humidity to clear up, I've been doing some machining. The Bronco 1/350th models have the best detail of any 1/350th styrene kit I've seen yet! The Osprey looked so cool and had hollow parts, I couldn't resist gearing the pods from a central 4mm motor (the nacells only have 3mm internal clearance at the widest point). It's assembled now and the nacells still spin the prop shaft while transitioning between vertical and horizontal positions, but the gears are running rough every now and then, so I'm re-cutting them. At only 2mm in diameter, my problem is tolerances and strong enough magnification. - MT

I'm glad to see the VF-1 FINALLY get some serious BIG SIZED mass produced love! - MT

Heh heh, that's thinking outside the box! Nicely done and I love the base idea too. We complain about one kit, they did three! - MT

The paint on that is top notch! The weathering and rust look realistic, not to mention the "flat paint" fade effects. Just awesome painting! - MT

The detail on those are great! Especially for 1/144 scale! - MT

I think this is a totally cool idea and a lot of fun to engineer. Don't blow a lot of money on materials. Build a wire mesh and cover it with paper mache as previously reccomended. The wire can come out later on. If you get it the right thickness, the surface can be sanded and a gloss coating would make it look fiberglassed. The thrusters would give you air flow as well as the arm hole you pictured. I'd have to say backwards all the way! You can always just walk forward when "chillin." The legs have to be reversed to add to the realism. There are three horizontal "cuts" into the rear hatch and a hexagonal shape in the hatch. Just cut them out and tint for your forward visuals. The bike mirror was a great idea when walking backwards. Make the rounded part of the foot bigger and it will encompass your feet too. Just my two cents! - MT

My wife was nice enough that while at Toys R Us bought it for me and the chillins. Yes, unfortuneatly LLA was a clipshow and a little animation. I belive reality is that there are just not the funds there to do what the fans want. I thought the ending was cool and the way they tied the story together, but it was a clipshow. The embossed cover looked cool though! - MT

OOoops, I missed the in flight part! I hope it turns out as you want! - MT

There you go, make an intake cover and then you don't have to paint it! - MT

Thanks guys for the compliments. I'm hoping to help you avoid some of the aggrivation I had to go through! I'd say post your pictures right here! It will give people ideas as they purchase stuff or think about what to buy. I guess I should take some photos. PetarB is right about the SEIG equipment. I'm sure my micro mill is an upscaled model of theirs. The belt just started sounding funny. I opened the belt adjustment hatch (too tight and painted shut) and discovered the belt disintegrating! The motor and spindle pulleys were not aligned and the belt edges began breaking under the extra stretch. I'm getting a new belt. The dovetails also bother me about it. At one end the travel is smooth, at the other you have to crank harder. Micro Mark's/Proxxon's X-Y table for the drill press is awesome (mine says made in Japan). It is smooth and I've started doing smaller parts on it again to spare my mill belt. And yes, Like PetarB said, covering and cleaning your machines is a BIG deal. My "minions" love to vacuum so when the shavings get out of control, they love to vacuum them up. I had to get a sheet to cover my CNC machine, the rails were getting piled on with dust. Combine that with grease or oil and it becomes sludge! The rest of my machines I don't bother covering because I use them too much - MT

Congratulations Jefuemon! The project came out great and to get your project's inspiration seal of approval is cool as well! Great overall execuation and the work was worth it (even tackling the LEDs ) - MT

That's cool! I still don't have a grinder so I use the small Dremel stones in my mill. All I have really made (cutting tool wise) are two small fly cutters and machining down drill bits and cutting edges into them for engraving bits. - MT

I never even heard of wire EDM before - that's some AWESOME stuff!!! That's what I need for 1/350th micro parts. Thanks for sharing! - MT

That F-18 looks great! The weathering and "sludge" came out realistic. Are the Canadian rides really as unwashed as the U.S. Marine's rides? -MT

One of our MUCH younger members (my son) has been snapping some stuff together. Let's not get into that "Gundam versus Macross" tiff again! - MT

I'm just catchin back up with this build - it's looking great! I think the finish and colors are great looking! It's too bad you can only work on it when your wife is away. I'd be finding errands for my wife to run for me "Hey babe, I think we need more cereal, can you run to the store?" - MT

Thanks guys for sharing! I'm more on the electronics side of the house professionally so our REAL machinists input helps! I'm also hoping to go into making some of your own tools later on to save money, but it took me months just to get the time together to start this thread! And yes, cheap bits are only good for cheap work! Lowes had a sale on gold oxide coated 29 piece drill bit sets so I got one. The bits had all sorts of stray machine marks on them so I wonder how precise they will cut. They'll mostly be for styrene so we'll see how it goes. My goal is to get one of the GOOD large index sets, but they're easily over a $150 so they will have to wait. - MT

You know, we used to dye virgin nylon parts for R/C cars. I've stained some styrene wiping permanent ink off with isopropyl. It just might work. The only hang-up is that heat is used to make the dye set in. If you tried it, you would have to CAREFULLY watch the water temperature to ensure the styrene does not warp. I'd try it on the sprue from the same kit and test it out to ensure it will work (batches of styrene can vary). I'm not trying it, my wife would never let me hear the end of it if I stained her pot - MT