Mechamaniac

The level of detail on the ARMD's is SICK! These things are the bane of my existence right now. Every time I think I'm getting close to done, I find something I haven't even started yet! Here's a pic of them about 90% assembled. They've been hit a couple of times with an oil wash, then cleaned up etc. Still left to do is a final oil wash then cleanup, paint in the windows, paint the 8 zillion little thrusters that go on each one in some Tamiya light gunmetal, attach the thrusters, add the decals...then clearcoat....

And that works out well because EXO is on the West Coast and I'm on the East Coast. Shipping will be cheap for both of us.

Anybody else just panel lining theirs and not painting the whole shebang? I want to panel line mine but can't decide whether I should bust out the micron or gundam markers and hope for the best, or if I should do a thinned paint or oil wash. I'm wondering how well a wash would work on the bare plastic without a gloss clearcoat.

Thanks for the leg work, but I should have specified, these are thread cutting screws designed for plastic, not machine screws. I have found them online but not the right sizes.

I'm having a deuce of a time finding a source for these screws online. Anyone know where I can get some? I tried McMaster-Carr and Grainger but they don't seem to have metric screws. Any place else I've found seems to be really small and/or has a crappy website with no info. For the record, I'm missing: M1.8 x 6.00mm Pan Head - 6 M2.0 x 4.00mm Pan Head - 4 M2.0 x 4.00mm Flat Head - 4 M1.8 x 4.00mm Washer Head - 1 (and this one is CRITICAL) since I can't finish assembling the arm/shoulder without it. I thought about reaching out to Yamato USA but they have a disclaimer on their site saying they cannot do anything with Yamato Macross items.

Honestly, the scale of the valkyries means next to nothing since there's no way in hell the SDF1 is close to 1/2000 scale. EXO and I calculated based on the size of Macross city and the stadium that the Macross would really be more like 5 MILES long. It's funny that the PE valkyrie that comes with the kit is bigger than the whole stadium... In other news, my build is going pretty good. The instructions are ok but after a few pages I'm noticing some pretty decent sized errors like them telling you to use one type of spring in one step that can't possibly fit in the area you're assembling. They also pretty routinely leave parts off the various diagrams so you'll build it and be looking at it and thinking "something just isn't right" then sure enough, go digging through the sprues and find a part they left off ...

I'm definitely snagging one of these....if they ever come back in stock anywhere...

Got my kit the other day, I have to say, overall, I'm stunned by the level of detail. Sorted my screws etc, and like others, I'm plus a few here, minus a few there.... . The "best" part about the screws is that they come in three or four separate bags. For the most part, they seem to keep the 1.5 mm and 2.0 mm screws to themselves. However, in one case, all the screws of a specific type were in one bag except for 4 of them which I marked as missing....then found them mixed in with another bag... All in all, I think I'm only a few short, so I'm not sweating it too much. One thing I AM sweating though is that one of the pins that goes into what appears to be the main swing bar that more or less forms the keel of the ship has a knurled end. We all know the wondrous effects of the knurled end pins. I think I'm going to get one myself that is smooth. The other minor niggle is that the parts on the sprues are NOT NUMBERED. The sprues themselves are numbered, but in order to find the part ON the sprue you have to look in the assembly manual at the diagram for each sprue which shows which parts are which.... Still, all in all, it's a great kit. If you've ever built a Perfect Grade Gundam kit, this one won't present any problems for you.

So, TheLoneWolf had a good idea. Since Ishiguro is going to be at Otakon 2011. Perhaps we should try and arrange an interview with him. He or I would do it but unfortunately, we both Staff at Otakon so I don't think we "should". Also, neither of us have any idea how to conduct an interview and/or have any of the gear to do so. Are there any MWorlders out there who are going to Otakon, and have the right skills and gear to pull this off? If so, I can point you in the direction of the Interview Request form and perhaps we can cobble together a list of questions from the members here. Any takers? He aint getting any younger!

I think I can take care of it. Drop me a line and we can work out the details.

I assume this is a Japan only thing?

The search tool is your friend... http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?app=core&module=search&do=search&fromMainBar=1

That sucks ass! What sucks worse is that it's probably easier for you to buy the screws yourself online than try and get them from Yamato.

Sugoi! I'ma save me some cash then.

So, from the pics, it looks like this thing is molded in color except the damage parts. Can anyone who has this kit confirm that? If so, then it appears one could essentially add some panel lining and have it look pretty good. I'm not adverse to building my kit and saving $100 bucks or so, but I don't think I'm interested in a full-on paintup.

Giggity - I want one of these!

Add me to the ranks of those who missed out and would like a reissue.

Cool, but too rich for my blood.

This one is my favorite picture! Absolutely stunning work. I can't stress enough how awesome you are for not only having the balls to tear apart a $400.00 toy, but the skills, no....the MAD SKILLS to customize it and bring it to life like you did.

Peabody - This is your official warning. Keep the politics and racism out of this thread or you will be banned.

Some good deals in there, but I'm reluctant to drop any cash until we see what effect the earthquake/tsunami have had on Japanese shipping.

Yes they were, It has the removable nosecone IIRC. Personally, I'm interested in the cockpit detail parts more than anything. Minus the canopy teeth that is.

OK, these look awesome and I want a set! Yamato 1/60 PhotoEtch Parts

And NOT some BS Japan only exclusive thing that's only available between 1230 and 1AM at the Yamato showroom and requires 50 Pocari Sweat lids.

That is absolutely SICK.