MechTech Posted June 21, 2009 Author Posted June 21, 2009 Thank you guys for the encouragement. I FINALLY got to do some work this weeknd. On that note, Happy Fathers day to my fellow dads in the UK and Stateside (yes its on the same day). UPDATE 21 June 2009 Progress has been a little slow, but it has been to detail and engineer a few things. This time, I'll work my way backwards. First the tower and mast temporarily fitted together. The radar antenna leaning against the tower is what would have been the radar to fit on the tower. It would have been "canon", but just too plane for me. (Note the two gray radar antenna - both rotate) So I built this: Why do all of this? Because there is already a fixed planar array on the lower part of the tower like the Aegis ship's SPY-1D. Even the Aegis ships have a couple of rotating antennas on them so I thought I'd add them for realism. So I took another Gizmoszone motor (their WWW address is below) and added rubber to it to insulate the noise from the structure. The motor is quiet, but the design of the plastic structure amplifies the sound. The gear case connects to a MICRO drive belt (1mm thick, 2 cm circle). Next I sealed off the "arm" with thin brass. You can see how thin it is: And for the secondary surface search radar, some take off gears the extend the unit away from the mast and keep it in unison with the bigger unit: That's it for now. I still have a lot to do on the bridge (tower) assembly) I knew it would take a while, just not this long - MT Quote
claude grant Posted June 21, 2009 Posted June 21, 2009 Happy Pappy Day to you to MT! Some of the finest works have always taken the longest time to reach fruition. And in the case of this masterpiece, I would expect a lengthy window of time to achieve this level of perfection. I mean the things that you're taking into account just astound me. Again, continued success on your studies, Happy Father's Day, and keep up the phenomenal & groundbreaking work on this legendary build! Personally, I'll be around to see it completed, God willing. Quote
big F Posted June 22, 2009 Posted June 22, 2009 I still have a lot to do on the bridge (tower) assembly) I knew it would take a while, just not this long Well You know if you were HWR mkII you would have made and painted two by now Quote
MechTech Posted July 12, 2009 Author Posted July 12, 2009 UPDATE 12 July 09 Thanks to everyone keeping up with this build. Sometime you have to first go to point A BEFORE going to point B. That was my problem. I built my elevator assembly, but needed the top piece of the elevator. That calls for a finely engraved deck piece with simulated tie downs in the top piece. The Daedalus elevator is about two tennis courts long! That's a lot of tie downs and it has to match the top deck piece. So I did this (copied from the "What's Lying on Your Workbench" section): What's lying on my workbench is a TABLE! A ghetto fabulous X-Y table (manual) made from spare parts and a $10 cutting board. I'm mostly done scratch building it. Only the top arm needs doing which is easier than the bottom part was! This was two days of hrd work and it meant stopping work on my Daedalus. I finally got to the point where I decided I REALLY need one. I have to make simulated tie downs (like you see built into aircraft carrier decks) - six feet of them - several thousand! It would take weeks to do it or take this table and equip it with a special made ponce wheel to indent the marks. Roll the wheel back and forth, advance the table, and one perfect row is done. Repeat the process a bazillion times and you get a nice effect instead of plane smooth surfaced flight deck. Back stepping a bit, I was working on the tactical tower and just wanted to make more impact on the model. I finished the mast lights: That's the edge of an X-Acto knife blade. That box is now covered with resin so you can't see the wires anymore. I think I could have really been a brain surgeon if I applied myself more in school So I moved on to the main hanger bay section that has been collecting dust for over a year. This a before photo: It's now heavily modified it for the elevator and other details that will be going in. These parts are the sides AND rails for the elevator. There will be only one operation elevator on the port side. The starboard side will be a dummy. The lightest design I could come up with and the strongest is to have a shaft that stretches across the elevator and drives a gear (2 total) on either side of the rails. This ensures it climbs evenly on both sides and has no slippages. The sides in place The elevator drive is mostly metal and the worm gear gives more torque and prevents the elevator from slipping down. Next to the center of the motor you'll see a dot, that's a hinge point. The spring pulls the motor towards the gear, but slips if too much resistance is put on it. It's a mechanical clutch basically. That's all the photos I have for now. I would have finished the elevator, but the top would have looked plain. I'll post more photos as I get along and a movie of it working. - MT Quote
neptunesurvey Posted July 12, 2009 Posted July 12, 2009 Awesome as always. Do you think it will be finished by next year? Quote
MaveRick Posted July 13, 2009 Posted July 13, 2009 Awesome as always. Do you think it will be finished by next year? yeah.. can't wait to see this finished.. been following your thread since i started skimming through this forum! Quote
cos918 Posted July 20, 2009 Posted July 20, 2009 yeah.. can't wait to see this finished.. been following your thread since i started skimming through this forum! Hi there. I have just finished reading all 39 pages of this thread. I first saw this build on Model Boat Mayhem. I love your build and you have given my so many ideas on how to get items working on my boat. Your level of engineering and problem solving is the best I have seen. Please do keep up the good work and I can't wait till the next up date. John Quote
MechTech Posted July 26, 2009 Author Posted July 26, 2009 Thank you guys for the compliments! I'm hoping to finish it by next year. I may be moving soon so there might be a delay, we'll have to see. I do want to get this thing done though! There's other things piling up I'd like to build. Cos 918, welcome and thank you. I should be really updating things back at Mayhem's site, it just takes so long! Don't hesitate to PM for ideas. I love doing stuff like this and I've been doing it since I was a kid. I always put my engineering ideas into my model ships versus planes or cars; ships don't crash as easy! Here's some more photos from the table I made. I made some improvements here and there and it works great as you'll see in the next part. I added a fence and secured the pounce head so the bearing takes all the rotation force. UPDATE 26 JULY 09 You can see I FINALLY finished the elevator. In fact, this is the second one I built! I mis-calculated on the first one and it would not rotate properly. You can see the tie-down holes potted across the elevator surface. Some are clearer than others because of a wash of ink from cleaned markings. They are all uniform depth though (for the most part). Note the gray tube hinge pieces. This next picture is darker to bring out the engraved details. It shows the elevator stowed (as in all the line art) and how the whole thing goes together. The little tab you see sticking out in the bottom left hand of the elevator rail is what the elevator pivots open/closed on. The elevator platform is hinged. The upper hanger deck is where all the aircraft will go and it too has been "pounced" with holes all over for tie downs. How does it work? Check out the videos. The elevator is really quiet, but my camera's mic is nearby so it picks up EVERY little noise. The loud clicks are my battery box switch (only for bench top tests). The elevator will actually go flush with the top deck (when its built). Elevator_Open.MPGElevator_Closing.MPG[atta chment=69661:Elevator_Up.MPG] Elevator_Up.MPG Quote
nickster Posted July 26, 2009 Posted July 26, 2009 MT, I'm almost speechless! That's an outstanding build! I really liked the way you painted the 1/200 mechs, awesome. It will surely add realism on the Deadelus. The moving parts video is wonderful. Like I'm watching a documentary for Industrial Light and Magic! Cheers! Looking forward to see your final build on this baby. Nick Quote
big F Posted July 26, 2009 Posted July 26, 2009 Great work. You may be moving ? hopefully it will be near a lake big enough for the official launch party. Quote
505thAirborne Posted July 27, 2009 Posted July 27, 2009 Always impressive Mech Tech!! An official launch party would be awesome!! Quote
MechTech Posted July 27, 2009 Author Posted July 27, 2009 Thank you guys. I'll update you on the whole moving situation a I know myself. Nickster, I can't take credit for the valks. They are Yamato's 1/200 valks ( http://www.hlj.com/hljlist2/?SeriesID=934&...archpage=Scitop ) I believe they are more than worth the money. They are also in scale. I thought otherwise until I got measurements. They go great with my high end die-cast aircraft also in 1/200th scale. You'll be seeing helicopters go with this too. Think Macross Zero. - MT Quote
505thAirborne Posted July 27, 2009 Posted July 27, 2009 Quote:"You'll be seeing helicopters go with this too. Think Macross Zero". - MT Oh Hell ya, this is going to be massive!!! Quote
MechTech Posted August 9, 2009 Author Posted August 9, 2009 Thank you everyone. This thing is moving from skeleton to "filled out" stages finally. I don't know how much work I will get done in the next week or two, WE ARE MOVING. We're headed stateside now! Maybe I'll make it to Macross Con next year? Now I need a crate that's the size of a coffin for the Daedlaus UPDATE AUGUST 9th 2009 I finished the second elevator, it's just a dummy. It still has all the details to include tie-downs and teeth in the rails. They will still be visible through the interior when its open for display. The next fun step was adding the rear hanger extensions and crane container. This whole assembly will be the largest when done, about 4 feet long. I'm praying I can get this hole thing in a crate to protect it. I thought of using one of those GIANT plastic boxes for a Christmas tree or oother large items. Nope, their all too small! Just another thing that has to be custom done! The first picture is a set of rails run along the sides. This keeps everything square throughout the build. The rest you can figure out. The pictures may be mixed around. The attachment manger had files all out of the usual order. That's it for now. Thank you all for your continued encouragement and I'll post when I have a moving date. - MT Quote
claude grant Posted August 9, 2009 Posted August 9, 2009 Thanks for the update, MT! Still the ultimate scratchbuild ever, IMO. Congrats on the pending move; hope & pray all goes well with your transition back here to the states. If you do decide to make it to MWCON '10, I would almost have to make plans to be there...been watching this legendary build for too long not to see it in person! Quote
neptunesurvey Posted August 10, 2009 Posted August 10, 2009 Impressive work as always MT. Everytime I see the Daedalus I always have to think of a car carrier. If you ever have seen one you know what I mean. If you can't make it to Macross con their is always Wonderfest in Louisville. Like Claude Grant said, I would make more of am attempt to go to the Macross Con. Quote
MechTech Posted August 11, 2009 Author Posted August 11, 2009 Claude - Thank you for your support! We could use the prayers; I know I'm praying a lot! Neptune - Thank you as well. I know exactly what you mean about the car carrier. I think it does too ! I don't know if it would ever be possible to bring this thing anywhere than in my car! It's just too big! Why the heck did I even start this thing! PROJECT ON HOLD These will be the last photos I post for about two months. Tomorrow we begin the process of packing up our stuff. I'm requesting a crate be built for "my baby." I'm out of time to build one myself and have lots to do! I've been saving up polyurethane and styrene foams to make cushions for the crate interior. My model has a few thousand miles to go stateside! In a nutshell, I added more braces to the very rear area. These strengthened it and added braces for the floors to go in. Then I skinned the lower area. I'll engrave and cut these area later when my mind is more focussed on building versus moving. How big is it? I stood up against the wall and held the camera so I could'nt see the viewer any more. I still didn't get it all in! There is about another four inches to add on to the rear too, so I kinda lied, it will be well over six feet when completed. That's it photo wise for the next two months or so. I'll still have PC access so I'll "be around" - virtually speaking. Enjoy and thank you guys again for your support. - MT Quote
big F Posted August 11, 2009 Posted August 11, 2009 Well I hope you and yours and of cause the build makes it Stateside ok. On the otherside I am gutted that I now wont be able to see it in person But theres always the internet. That and the U.S is nearer Japan Planewise, so Dengeki and Hobby Japan have less traveling when they come round to photo it for the feature it so rightly deserves. Quote
raven6 Posted August 12, 2009 Posted August 12, 2009 Well I hope you and yours and of cause the build makes it Stateside ok. On the otherside I am gutted that I now wont be able to see it in person But theres always the internet. That and the U.S is nearer Japan Planewise, so Dengeki and Hobby Japan have less traveling when they come round to photo it for the feature it so rightly deserves. I have to say I am also gutted I will not be able to see this thing for real. Please, please please, will you make a series of videos to show it off when it is done? Quote
505thAirborne Posted August 17, 2009 Posted August 17, 2009 Best of luck on your Move MechTech and may everything arrive safely!! Its going to be a long wait before we see anymore Daedalus goodness!!! ( I can just hear Tom Petty's song "The Waiting" right now!!) Quote
peter Posted August 18, 2009 Posted August 18, 2009 Hope your move goes well, and hope you'll come back to this project again! Quote
MechTech Posted August 22, 2009 Author Posted August 22, 2009 (edited) Thank you guys for the kind thoughts and prayers. I too am bummed I won't get to see you guys and have a mini-Macross con in Europe. Here's some photos of "my baby" being packed. The crate looked like a coffin sitting out in front of the house. I'm sure it got some curious onlookers. I was too busy taking my work bench and other gear apart to notice. I kept a couple of 1/20th Votoms kits to build in the mean time. Thanks again guys! - MT Edited August 22, 2009 by MechTech Quote
MechTech Posted October 19, 2009 Author Posted October 19, 2009 Good news! Everything of mine arrived the thousands of miles safely here and we're in a BRAND NEW HOUSE thank God! The bad news, it's so new, there won't be any communications cables to my house for the next couple of weeks to a month! I'll be working on it though in the mean time! Take care everyone! - MT Quote
peter Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 Yeah, I was wondering when you were coming back to entertain us with your silly project. Is the rest of the SDF-1 done yet or what? I can't wait around forever you know. Quote
505thAirborne Posted November 4, 2009 Posted November 4, 2009 Thats awesome Mechtech, very good news that everything arrived safely, especially the Daedalus!!! When you have time share some pics!!! Quote
Thom Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 The bad news, it's so new, there won't be any communications cables to my house for the next couple of weeks to a month! I'll be working on it though in the mean time! Take care everyone! - MT I think we're in more pain over that than you are!! Quote
raven6 Posted December 16, 2009 Posted December 16, 2009 (edited) Hey Mech Tech - I found one of those big green-job mechs while I was clearing out my back bedroom. It's missing the launcher tubes off the top, but it's yours if you want to find it a good home. Edited December 16, 2009 by raven6 Quote
MechTech Posted December 23, 2009 Author Posted December 23, 2009 Thanks raven6, I am interested. Which mecha is it you're in referance too? For those of you wondering what's the hold up, I spent some time doing some Daedalus related work: http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=31945 It's all part of the BIG plan - MT Quote
raven6 Posted December 23, 2009 Posted December 23, 2009 Thanks raven6, I am interested. Which mecha is it you're in referance too? The green fellah in the enclosed picture. Though looking at it I think what I have is a cheap die cast version and not a collector's model like that one. You're still welcome to it anyway. IM me your details and I'll send it over after the xmas frenzy is over. No cost - my pleasure. If you don't use it, inshallah, but if you do, at least I will have contributed some thing to your magnificent madness. Quote
MechTech Posted December 24, 2009 Author Posted December 24, 2009 Thank you raven6, but I don't collect the diecast models. Plus something that heavy would make the floor of my ship warp . Thanks anyhow! I DO reccomend that you sell it. Someone will want it I'm sure. - MT Quote
raven6 Posted December 24, 2009 Posted December 24, 2009 Thank you raven6, but I don't collect the diecast models. Plus something that heavy would make the floor of my ship warp . Thanks anyhow! I DO reccomend that you sell it. Someone will want it I'm sure. - MT No worries. It may get used for another project, involving 1/72nd modern figures. Quote
olivers Posted January 6, 2010 Posted January 6, 2010 Seen this: http://www.hlj.com/product/YMT00077 HLJ have Macross 1/200 scale toys on sale 1/3 normal cost Quote
MechTech Posted January 7, 2010 Author Posted January 7, 2010 Thanks Olivers! I already have three sets! Maybe four would be good . - MT Quote
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