Skull-1

Wish I could fix this thing to make it look better......... But I suck at PHOTO EDITING.

I always realize the mistakes *AFTER* I take the pictures... The chest plate and right thigh were not fully in place when I took these. Also the canopy and a few touch ups will be color matched. I also have a few spots where the paint has rubbed and I will fix those (dorsal antennae and the tail fin hinge area). The weathering is subtle and looks great in person. Kill markings to come.

I can't believe they don't make non-fading inkjet ink...... That would help.

In this case the overdone panel lining works. It makes the toy look like a painting. A living painting or anime cell. It's a very very cool look. Still, 99% of customs are overdone on the panel lining and less means more.

Whoever is out there that has had success with this..... Care to order me a right hand for an ALPHA?

Thanks NS! Will do it.

But inkjet ink fades over time.. So what are we going to do? I need some yellow lettering for nose art...... I'm f'ed.

Are you referring to an ALPS printer? Who makes them? I obviously haven't seen one at Office Depot or CompUSA so where do I get one (an ALPS)? I'm ready to just buy a color laser and hope for the best. I love the detail that the inkjet puts out, but colors like yellow and such don't show up well on anything but a pure white paintjob. If I am going to buy a Laser and it costs the same as an ALPS I may as well go with the latter, obviously. But I get the impression they are no longer made...

Thanks all for your input. For JasonC I have this question: I was told that you cannot put enamel over acrylic. Is that incorrect?

So if you paint white over the area you intend to place the decal or a white blank decal beneath it will you get around this problem? How opaque are they? Can you run multiple passes maybe? Who sells ALPS printers? Are they still out there?

I am about to, in desperation, sink four hundred bucks into buying a color laser printer so I can print permanent/non-fade decals. Anything I need to fear or watch out for in this regard?

Okay I am about to punt this thing into the trash. After much work I clear coated my latest Valk. Enamel base paint. Enamel Clear Coat. For some strage reason the chest plate completely wrinkled. Everything else is fine but the chest plate is ruined and will have to be redone. WTF happened??????????????? I did the entire thing the same way..... How does this happen on only one part? I guess I should be glad it wasn't the entire thing.

What's the correct contact info for ToyCrappy? I have emailed them numerous times without success.

Thanks. You should see it now. I have about four thousand decals on it with some more weathering and lining done... It is night and day from the pictures above. Bad thing is my camera battery is dead and we can't find the charger for it. #&$(&$(*@&!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Soon enough any way... Thi swill be my ultimate Valk (so far). Having some problems with the pencil lead though. Not sure what is going on. Then again, I build these things in less than full light so when I take them in the sun they don't look as good as they do in my office on the shelf. It is a major flaw in my skills...

Been trying to get a hand replacement for an MPC Alpha and got NO RESPONSE from ToyCrappy....

That would work (albeit a two-step process vs. one). Thanks a bunch.

Not good enough on my end. Could be my resolution but I can't tell what most of the small decals they are referring to are.

BigF did you forget me here?

I know that the Bandai and Yamato backpack thruster setups are different. On the bandai I am specifically talking about the three-thruster verniers on the tail pack (Battroid back pack)... Should they be all black or just the three nozzles? I was contemplating painting them the same color as the body of the Valk and then painting the three nozzles individually a black or gunmetal. Thoughts?

Pictures in full sun as promised. Still the above-mentioned work to go. Will start on that as soon as I post this. [attachmentid=40692]

Winter Gray Rustoleum Painter's Touch.

I can't find the thread in which I posted this originally. Perhaps it never got its own thread. Any way... IT IS NOT FINISHED!!!!!!! Here's how it looks as of now for what it's worth. Sorry for the bad pics. Would have taken them in the sun if I had time. Harriska and Dream Catcher It is glossy but I will spray flat on it once I finish the decals and weathering... Also some screw holes and seams to fill in STILL. Can't seem to get the latter out of the way... But at least you get an idea. The weathering is very subtle as it should be, IMHO. It doesn't overpower the Valk but it is a far cry from the plain and perfect gray base color. Some notable features: - Gray lined canopy (Beers) using spray painted decal film. Worked very well. Weathering to be added shortly. - Swivel thighs - Trimmed Swing Bar - Notchless Vertical Fins - Removable/stowable hands - Lowered nose blisters - Lowered arms in Gerwalk Mode - Custom decals (most by Devin) - Multi-position feet - Friction pin removed from left side of fuselage [attachmentid=40552] [attachmentid=40549] [attachmentid=40551] [attachmentid=40550] [attachmentid=40548] NOTE THE OVAL OF LIGHTER GRAY PAINT on the left rear dorsal plate. This allows you to compare the weathered to the non-weathered (as seen below). I will cover it up later. [attachmentid=40553]

Oh man...the clear decal film I used to print some custom decals appears to have yellowed slightly. I'm not sure if this is due to the clear coat or to the film. Are there decal films that tend to yellow? I know MONOGRAM was notorious for this in years past. AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

After a comment like this: I'm not surprised he's being quiet. I for one appreciated the updates regardless of content...

I love Max jets of all kinds, esp. the J. That thing looks like an anime painting or something. Very cool look.