mslz22

Super bright LEDs, actually pre wired super brights, meaning it comes from the factory with the resistor already wired. A bit more expensive, but no guessing, and the resistor and LED are nicely wrapped for a durable connection. Behind the LED is a clear engine diffuser. mike

Cool, yeah i got a stash of parts, from multiple sources as well, and a stash of Anazazi decals, plus decals i printed myself, oh and like a dozen 1/55's patiently waiting for some TLC. You would think i would be sick of the VF-1 after all this time, but no, spend lots of daydreaming time on them...

Ok, so 1/55 Jetfire to a Super O or VF-1D or any other VF-1 custom build thread would be ok in the Workshop, once done off to the Toy section, or even just up under member customs gallery? Again, sorry to be a pain, just want to get this right if i ever get around to doing some 1/55 customs again, been kind of nostalgic for them lately, been using that wayback machine to look for old MW customs. I have a stash of resin parts, some mine, some others that i have horded that i hope to tackle one day. Actually can't believe that i have had some of the parts for like 10+ years! thanks again mike

Just for clarification, and not to be a trouble maker but like a lot of old timers at MW i have a stash of 1/55 parts in resin (if you get my meaning!) from kind of before that was really taboo. So if i ever finish said 1/55's with old stash parts, no displaying here at MW at all or just kind of "hey check out my custom Jfire conversion!" with no mention of resin. Only ask because i have been itching to do an old school 1/55 custom, may not really get to it anytime soon, but the people i would want to share it with are here, not a for sale thing either, just sharing. Will respect Mods decisions of course. thanks mike

Thanks guys... Engine test... mike

Back on track after too many snow days. Sticking with the making this as sturdy as possible, 2 countersunk screws for the hip to body connection. I will cover this with details. Upper legs with some 3/8 brass to connect to the lower legs. Temp rigging to get the legs posed and fixed in with a combo of 5 minute epoxy and brass, brass will get hidden under the sensor thingys. thanks mike

Heavily modified Bandai 15th anniversary kit, not 100% done yet, will likely start a thread when it's all the way done and list the mods. Little better pic for now. thanks mike

The only thing i have left in my 1/60 collection is the V1's, I have the regult but it's on the bench. with 1/60 and with a 1/72, the 1/72nd is in a bit of a crouched position, so it would be a tiny bit taller.

Legs and feet are almost done, little smoothing out, then detailing then ready to go. Pics with a normal size spray can to show just how big this monstar is.... Hip connection will be really secure on this and legs will be "action pose", kind of like the pic above. Legs and feet will be installment 1, hoping to have it molded up in about 3 weeks. thanks mike

Wow, I don't check out the toy section much anymore, but glad i had a chance to see these! Really awesome work all around, I need to repaint my regult at some point, I was pretty happy with mine but need to fix a couple of issues. Did you get the decals from JT graphics? They look like the ones i had him do for the 1/48 regult but was not sure if you guys were able to get a hold of him for the 1/60 resize. As for my experience with this 1/60 in regard to the legs, IMO glue them in place, one of the reasons i need a repaint it repeated falls from the shelf! mike

It really is huge, i actually forgot just how big this thing is. Hopefully the rotocast parts will keep the weight down on this second version. I am still going to keep the feet mostly solid, just so the weight is at the bottom, should help with stability. mike

Hey guys, just a quick way in advance note that i will be teaching a traditional scratchbuilding class at Jerseyfest this year, an academy class on Friday. I'll be doing a hands on demo, and i will be working on a mecha subject that many of you guys here may be interested in, more info as i get it. mike

Some more rough pics.... thanks mike

Ok, hope to keep my word this time. I've been working on this again as much as i can, very motivated to finish it right now. I still need to put the finishing touches on the boss pod build i am doing, then finishing up the first installment of this pattern. Body and engine section revisions are just about done, will start panel lines and details sometime this week. Fingers crossed that i can actually get this off the ground soon. thanks mike

Super build, very impressive, just the right touch on the panel shading. Your correct that this would not look as impressive with over done weathering. mike

Really amazing work, looking at the V1 monster is kind of like looking at my high school pic sometimes as it was my first full scratchbuild, but you made it look really nice. Kind of gives me a kick in the pants to get back to the V2! Really great looking! mike

More progress, behind on this for the member here but hope to get it mostly finished up this weekend. More than this is done but just a catch up. Running wires for the light on top of the cannon. arms have been built, they have locator pins where the meet the "ball" of the shoulder socket, that way then can be set up for photos but still broken down for shipping. A lot of what held up the build was figuring out how to build stuff to be broken down for safe shipping. I also wanted to make the arm connections as rock solid as possible, i forgot to take pics, but the method that i settled on was pretty straightforward. I attached the ball section of the mid arm to the sockets of the upper and lower arms with 5 minute epoxy, picked the position i wanted as the glue was setting, tacked it in place with a bit of CA to hold the position. After that was all set i countersunk 3/32 brass rods thru the arm connections. There is a 5/32bd brass rod cast into the mid arm, so the intersecting 3/32 rod along with the epoxy should be pretty solid. The ball at the top of the arm connections will get some gunmetal paint soon. thanks mike

I am going to finish up the big 1/48 boss pod build that i have been doing for a member here, hopefully this weekend, then put the finishing touches on this. I was away on a family vacation for about 10 days and i am busy taking care of a few loose ends before i really finish up and start a new project. Hope to be cruising on these in about a month. thanks mike

Update, just about done with the 3 foot galactica run, few other things i need to finish up before i get to mold this up, but getting close. So here is the support system, Cool thing is that the machine bolt will look like a hose painted, or you can rig up something different if you want. Support plate is not pretty but really feels very stable. Just need to make the "clamps" and a few tiny details on the arm, and this portion will be ready to mold. The base will a separate add on/kit. thanks mike

May not look like much, but it's got it where it counts... Support plate that snaps into the chest/backplate area, this is what a machine screw will attach to on the valk, taking the pressure off the relatively fragile styrene. The grabber mechanism now has this beefy middle that will accept the machine screw, it will all get hidden by the umbilical, which will be some type of tubing to hide the screw, maybe some heat-shrink tubing since it's flexible and looks like a rubber hose. this all still needs a little finish work but wanted to show the concept. thanks mike

Working on it a bit today, making a reinforcement plate for the inside of the chest/backplate today. It needs to have it IMO to distribute the force of the weight more evenly thru that part, rather than a single mount point thru the body, up thru the umbilical. It's going to take a countersunk mechanical screw running from the reinforcement plate, thru whatever i come up with for the umbilical, to the grabber mechanism to hold the weight. I am going to err on the side of stability and try to over engineer the the connection. I really don't want any fully finished valks winding up on the ground because of me! mike

Box is epic huge!!!

Looking at the instructions i am so glad they made that plate detail on the top of the boosters a separate part, will make sanding so much easier.

Looks like my first 3 are in the processing for shipping phase at HLJ, fingers crossed that means they are in. mike

Holy Cow, it must be something in the air, I have been eying both bandai re issues and originals in my stash of these same kits! I have not had any time to play but a lot of daydreaming. I think there is still room for vintage stuff, with a good paint job and only a couple of simple tweaks they can look really cool, and in some ways they are closer to the show. Plus it brings back some serious memories. Ok headed off to ebay to buy all the kits before everyone gets the same idea (only kidding, maybe not!) mike