Jasonc

Actually, in looking at the canopy, I'll probably edit it out, as I'm not liking the front view. I think it'll pretty easy to do, but I'm going to come back to it later.

With some improvements coming for this, I'm kinda excited to buy another one. I already have the OD green, a regular colored version, and now I'll have a second standard color version. I hope it really does sell well, not only to spur the design of the missing versions, but also so that it'll spur the HMR line as well. While I don't collect the HMR line at all, I did get the Spartan and I do like that.

I finally have both of the canopy glass done, as well as a couple other things I'm going to try on the project. for the front glass, you can't see it, but there will be a slot on the main body for the front canopy to fit in. It is angled, so once it is in, it should stay locked until a fingernail gets under to open it. On the rear glass, there is a small tab overhang (shown) that the rear canopy should fit under to keep it locked in place. The next step is to start working on the front landing gear, before I start on the wings/tail. I have it calculated out, so I can begin on that probably Friday, as I have a lot of homework for a class I'm taking. In the modeling, I can see some imperfections with the shape of the glass, but they are literally 100ths of mm off, and a light 600 grit sandpaper or even lighter will fix them. I could go back and fix them, but I'd have to roll back hours and hours of work. Anyways, hope you like it so far. The final product is what will really tell in the end, but calculations show the front and rear canopies should work just fine with extra space.

Yeah, that, I think works better. It'll hide and ease a lot of work.

Yeah, I took measurements of both and the Bandai is actually shorter in length. I don't think there's any real measurements of the line art, so all anyone can really do, is take a guess based on what there is. Unfortunately in Macross Chronicle #58, there's a picture of it next to the VF-1, which doesn't seem realistic based on the fact that it seats two, and by other images that show the room available in the line art. I am basing this on the figure of the 1/60 figure for the Yamato fan racer, but in looking at the Bandai figure (which is the same size roughly, I'm hoping I can make both figures fit smoothly and have some space in it that will secure the both of them. Here's where I'm at as of today. I have started working on the front canopy, and will be using a 1mm pin for securing it in place. If it loosens over time, the pin can always be popped out and the canopy can be thickened by whatever method you prefer. If I have it just snap into a bar, with the material, I don't think it will look as well, and may not hold up as well in the long run. I also did the lower curve of the main air frame. Of course, once I get these done, I am looking at cutting the main air frame in half, to that I can try to engineer landing gear. There are worries about it, but it may be possible, and I at least want to give it a good honest try. Same will go for the landing gear on the wings.

Yeah, I'm aware of that. I haven't thinned it out yet on the inside, but it does need some extra thickness, as the front part of it will need to hook the "glass" canopy. It is also a bit offset in thickness from the front and back. Once I get to that part, the fine details and engineering will go into it.

Thanks everyone. So here's a bit of an update. I've been doing a lot of measurement based on the line art versus the size comparison to the Macross Chronicle, and it looks like the Chronicle book has it way off from what a real world size for a 2 seat jet of this design would actually be. That said, I'm also measuring it to the size of the Hikaru Fan racer pilot, and I think I have it right (maybe a couple 100s off if anything). In any case, most of the cockpit detail is done, save for some small cleanup, but next I will be working on some detail for the rear seat area, as well as doing the loft for the bottom curvature. You can't see it, but the nose cone is a separate piece so that I can cut the main body in half to allow for landing gear and canopy hinges. It's coming along, but it is going to take some time, as I have a lot of things coming up the next couple weeks, but I'll keep updating as I get things done. I'm hoping I won't have to scrap the idea of being able to open and close landing gear. I may need to play with some of the line art to make it functional, but I know for the front landing gear, the wheel will have to rotate 90 degrees to leave enough space for it to fit. I'm still not great at Solidworks, but I've gotten good enough to make this project, so I'm looking forward to having this be my first project I can print on the new giant 6K printer. Both fans will also turn as well, so it's looking like it'll work quite well so far.

Thanks, guys. Here's some more detail of the work so far. I was able to put in the trench from the line art of the underside of the tail section. While I don't know exactly what it is for, I assume is was either a sort of a small vernier type of system (which I'd ask why you need so many) or maybe a way to vent heat. either way, that is done. I've also added a bit of adjustments to the fan setup, so that a cap will now need to be glued after the fans are put on, so that it can be plugged into the front of the body. This will give it a thicker surface to hold onto the main body, and it will allow the fans to slide in nice and clean. The last update, is that I added some aesthetic dressing inside the rear main cone leading to the fans on the inside. They may not be seen much, if at all, but it will allow some sort of detail to it. There is not line art of what it looks like between the main fans and that rear conical body piece. I also adjusted the width of the discs the fans are attached to, since I didn't like the smaller thickness. I think the wheel that holds the fans is supposed to be fairly large and almost match up the rear of the main body. In any case, smaller adjustments will be made as I move along with the design process. Hope you like it. Any constructive criticism is welcome, or if there is something anyone knows of the design that may not be in the lineart, or that I miss, please let me know. I've been looking for complete vertical and front line art to match to the profile view, but if anyone has any, please let me know. Otherwise, I can calculate the distances from what little I do have.

It can probably be upscaled without any problems with it. Once the .stl is finished, if you use your own printer, or use a service, you can change the size. The thickness for the body pieces in general are in the 2+ mm range, so increasing the size will also increase the thickness of walls.

Wanna sell one?

Out of curiosity, Any update on the Sharon Apple figure? Have you tried printing her yet?

I've began on a new design project. As the title says, I decided to work on a 1/60 scale fan liner. The reason being, is that the only versions I see available on any .stl sites are very thin, or aren't really designed to be too functional. By functional, I'm referring to landing gear opening and closing, as well as spinning fans and opening canopy windows. while I've seen one with opening canopy windows, I believe the design of this can still be better, and with a large 6K resin printer on the way, I should be able to get the detail I need to create a very accurate design with those functions. While I am not planning on selling any pieces (no recasts after I make my copy as of yet), I do plan on selling the .stl file of it through one or more of the websites. It's looking like it's going to have a number of pieces, but they'll all fit very nice and clean. If I decide to recast it, I will announce that in this thread. Until then, here's the early process of it. I'll try to update as I move along on it when I can.

That looks really good. The figure seems to accent it just right. I'm hoping to be able to get an Isamu in his street attire to fit the 1/60 bike, as well as a Lucy to go with it, but a Sharon adds appeal to this bike

Well, it has a vast library of content from 1987 on, so whoever gets it may need to have some deep pockets. The other issue is, will it be streamed, or will there be Bluray releases with subs (or dubs?) I'd love physical media, but between the two types of distribution methods, there's a lot of options.

Yes, I agree. Seeing any Macross series come over here officially would be a welcomed sight.

Yes, we are doing it again this year, and we're hoping to have something big this year since it's the 40th.

Will do.

This looks really great. Will he be selling the design for print?

Yeah, it's been awhile. Any updates?

Here's the unique auction item. Fresh from Macross Delta Zettai Live, the Max Jenius YF-29

I was gonna say that this is the first I've seen of this, and I could've made one for you, but I would've needed the other side. Nevertheless, it looks like you are already on your way to getting it together, so that's great.

That's what I thought, so Midnight for me. Here's to everyone here getting one.

I couldn't find if there was a time that this is going live for preorder madness. Anybody know? Is it at 1600 Japan time?

I put them both side by side, and the DX is smaller than the Yamato by about 1/4". The wings are also set lower, but most of the shortness of the DX fan racer is in the fan construction itself. They both have beautiful design, and both have aesthetics that are appealing, but I think if both were real fan planes, the DX would not fly well, if at all. That said, once they're done and I build a set, I'll post pics.

I have an extra one, which I had to pay a little extra for, but if anyone is interested, pm me.