Scratch Building/Model Modification Archive Thread

[mickyg]

I can't say I've done an exhaustive search but does anyone know if anyone's been successful in modifying the Hasegawa VF-1 legs/engines? By that, I mean, the part after the "knee" where on the Hasegawa models, it slopes down a bit. It didn't bother me, all those years looking at other people's amazing models, but now that I've got my own, it's driving me nuts! The joint is very strong as it is, so modifying it is sure to weaken it somewhat. Just wondered if this was irritating to anyone else as it is to me?

[leading edge]

I can't say I've done an exhaustive search but does anyone know if anyone's been successful in modifying the Hasegawa VF-1 legs/engines? By that, I mean, the part after the "knee" where on the Hasegawa models, it slopes down a bit. It didn't bother me, all those years looking at other people's amazing models, but now that I've got my own, it's driving me nuts! The joint is very strong as it is, so modifying it is sure to weaken it somewhat. Just wondered if this was irritating to anyone else as it is to me?

If the joint i strong you could is carefully measure the part and use a trick I used to do on older kits like the old macross Arii batroid models, 1st you take a piece on plastic from the kit or fine shavings, possibly some cellophane and fill the small excess space with non abrasive material. First you measure how much is missing If the joint is just unable to hold the weight consider joint reconstruction or save yourself some time and simply fill the joint with some fine non abrasive material that will create pressure in the joint. I stay away from chemical fillers instead try freezer cellophane the kind used to wrap food up( remember use no glue if possible). or simple get a tight smooth fit without the hassle of butchering the kit. As a rule if it's tight is damaging the joint if it is finger tight( able to move with only a little push)then you aren't damaging the joint.

Edited June 12, 2010 by leading edge

[nightmareB4macross]

Here's a fantastic tutorial that I happened to come across. The explanations are so simple and effective, I thought I should share this.

Model Kit Tutorial

[Reïvaj]

Here's a fantastic tutorial that I happened to come across. The explanations are so simple and effective, I thought I should share this.

Model Kit Tutorial

That's nice, thanks nightmareB4macross.

[ae_productions]

That's nice, thanks nightmareB4macross.

Thanks a lot for this! I appreciate it.

[Dax415]

Just found this again, anyone want to have this pinned? If so, probably a good idea to ask the mods if its ok.

[Dax415]

I bump this thread every now and then, anyone want me to start this back up?

[Chas]

Hey cool! I remember this thread!

Now why did it never get pinned?

I always thought it was a good idea. Sort of a on stop thread that linked to all the scratched and modified model builds - makes them easier to get to. I mean considering how long it takes me to finish a build, by the time I'm ready to try something that someone else on the boards did, their thread could be buried in the depths of MW.

Meh, maybe it's just me though.

Anyway I'd be up for seeing more.

[MechTech]

The Workshop area is supposed to kinda take over that, but hey, I NEVER build anything right out of the box for myself, so the more scratch building the better!-MT

[mickyg]

Here here!

MODs - Any chance we can sticky this one? I see it's at least in the right area.

[Chas]

The Workshop area is supposed to kinda take over that, but hey, I NEVER build anything right out of the box for myself, so the more scratch building the better!-MT

No Doubt, but by default it will also have a lot of straight out of box builds and various other subject matter related to the workshop theme.

My thinking is that this thread could be used by folks once their dedicated scratch/modification build thread has been completed.

Sort of like this. star a thread for your latest scratch/mod build. update /respond to posts until the build is complete. Then come here and post a link to it so that it stays on the first page of the forum and thus folks can find the thread easily later on. That leaves it up to the thread starter to post the link to their build, so no one person has to manage/update it.

[Dax415]

Ok guys, I'll try to keep up with this thread and add more. Who knows maybe it will help someone out. Any suggestions for more threads to add to the topic? I lost track of that one guy modifying the 1/60 toy, that is a must have for this section even though he is modifying a toy.

[007-vf1]

I also agree these sort of topics have to be pinned if they have links and reference points for newbies and experience builders that can benefit from the information...

I would advice with any new endeavor like this to start small... or even big would be fine as long as you are able to live with your creation even if you happen to destroy it in the end. There's no way to acomplish your end goal and acquire experience unless you take the first step even if the result is failure.. keep in mind the time and monetary investment in it.

Having 3 scratchbuild and modification projects that has been in the backburner for years I can tell some jobs are not simple...

I would add this to the tool lists;

Clothes or paper pins/clips to hold parts for glueing or painting.

Wires and small metal and plastic tubing of different gauges and strengths.

Soft trasparent plastic toy box encasings that I use to make windows and such.

Save discarded spruce parts as greebles for future scratchbuilding parts.

Glass and plastics jars/containers that can be used for mixing paints and also to safeguard small pieces.

Set of different exacto blades.

Paper; just regular plain white paper for drawing, scketching and also soft paper towels for drying and such.

[Mintox]

I can't say I've done an exhaustive search but does anyone know if anyone's been successful in modifying the Hasegawa VF-1 legs/engines? By that, I mean, the part after the "knee" where on the Hasegawa models, it slopes down a bit. It didn't bother me, all those years looking at other people's amazing models, but now that I've got my own, it's driving me nuts! The joint is very strong as it is, so modifying it is sure to weaken it somewhat. Just wondered if this was irritating to anyone else as it is to me?

Hey MickyG

Which part are you talking about? I have a 1/72 VF-1S Strike Battroid or is it fighter version this is an issue? Actually if you compare the two I believe the Battroid kit has the right shaped lower leg (bigger dimensions) than the skinny fighter version and actually matches the 1/48 Valkyrie better which is IMHO the most accurate interpretation of the line art in fighter mode.

[mickyg]

I had to dig way, way back, but look at the thread I started a long time ago in this page, about half way down:

http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=36983&page=2

Quick response, fighter mode is really the only issue. And only non super/strike, for that matter.

And man, I need to finish that kit!

[ce25254]

The SoftBank VF Modeling Manual shows this mod, too. But your thread is in English .

I had to dig way, way back, but look at the thread I started a long time ago in this page, about half way down:
http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=36983&page=2

Quick response, fighter mode is really the only issue. And only non super/strike, for that matter.

And man, I need to finish that kit!

[mickyg]

Does it really? I was looking all over the place for tips on what I should do and after failing to find anything, figured I needed to think outside the box and come up with something on my own. I'll have to look into that modelling manual - I recall seeing it a few years back and thought it was a very nice thing to have for builds in the future.

Edited October 12, 2015 by mickyg

[ce25254]

Might be informative. I don't have a plain Hasegawa VF-1… only the Strike and Elintseeker.

[mickyg]

That looks like pretty much what I did. I don't know what they used to fill in the old notch but I'm glad I'm not the only one who considered the leg alignment to be a bit of an eyesore.

[dbh1973]

There is some good stuff in here! Thanks for resurrecting and pinning this thread!

[Xigfrid]

Didn't know where to put this kickstarter project:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1094489804/formbox-a-desktop-vacuum-former-that-makes-beautif

Still more expensive than buying of Ebay an old dental vaccum former, but interesting!

[TMBounty_Hunter]

$349 for just a box with a heating element and not even a pump? What a ridiculous ripoff.

Hobbyist have been making small scale vacuumformers out of scrap material laying for decades and that costs only an hour of your time. Got an oven and a vacuum cleaner? You're 90% there to a vacuumformer.

[NZEOD]

RC Airplane builders have a ton of info on their sites on making them. I made one when I was 16 for making canopies on P51 and BF109 Slope Soarers MANY MANY MANY years ago. Frame to hold the plastic sheet, Clean over to heat it in until is JUST begins to sag, a Form to stretch it over, a sheet of peg board (holes all over it already) as a base and a simple box underneath with a nozzle to hook up the Home Vacuum too. Job done and same results.

Just takes a few minutes instead of 20 secs like theirs.

[MechTech]

I gotta agree, that's tooo much! I've gotta build one myself. I'm thinking of a similar design, but using an old toaster oven for the elements and heating controls. - MT

[NZEOD]

I used to use the grill setting on my mums oven with the sheet wedged between two same sized picture frames. As soon as you saw it start to sag you'd pull it from the oven and slam it down over the form then hit the vacuum cleaner button to finish dragging it into shape.

http://blog.protoneer.co.nz/building-a-vacuum-forming-machine-and-making-your-own-parts/

http://www.widgetworksunlimited.com/12_x18_Hobby_Vacuum_Former_p/vf-12x18-vac_former.htm

And the simplest one yet...

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-good%2c-cheap%2c-upgradeable-sheet-plastic-vacu/

Edited May 18, 2016 by NZEOD

[big F]

When it come to vac forming, there is a wealth of info on you tube and various rc plane builders websites.

You can literally make one from junk that most of us have already at home and in our workshops.

Edited May 22, 2016 by big F

[edstuff]

Hey guys I have an idea in my head for a project but have a question for the scratch builders. I want to build the base from cardboard. What do you guys use to cover the cardboard that you can prep to paint? It will be kind of large scale but not too big. I'm hoping for something inexpensive. My original plan was to use styrene and aves apoxie but was wondering if there's something else I should look into.

[MechTech]

Cardboard may not work well, especially over a foot in diameter. There's too much flex in it, even after gluing a sheet of styrene to it. I'd recommend something stiffer like plywood or thin MDF board which can still be cheap and bought usually in smaller sheets. Whatever the case, you will want to seal it with a clear coating from moisture and give the other medias something stable to stick to. - MT

[Kylwell]

I use Varathane to seal cardboard & paper. Heavy spray coat will soak in and seal it pretty good.

[pengbuzz]

To get this thread going again, I posit the following:

Try using masking tape (3M™ Scotch brand tape with the yellow/red/black inner core), cardboard (flat, sheet, tube) and mat board (the kind you use for artwork works best) for your projects. Burnishing the tape down and using a good layer of primer and clearcoat to seal it works wonders, and doesn't require adhesives.

The peng has spoken....

[djivaldi7]

Several intriguing kitbash and scratch mod examples in RHL002 Robot Hobby Life 002, several enhanced Valkyries,  an insane new spin on the destroid Monster, and a variant on the Macross-2  Tomahawk.  All on a flip-through YouTube review, but no comprehensive scans.  Anyone got?

[djivaldi7]

From RHL002, really great Tomahawk conversion.  Somewhat like the Cheyenne with the wheeled feet of the Macross-II Tomahawk.

 

Bought hard copy on Mandarake. $15 cheaper shipped than best price on Ebay.