SCRATCH BUILD MACROSS Armored Factory and Maintenance Bay

[MaveRick]

guys thank you for the kind words, i appreciate all the comments... it makes me even more eager at completing this project as soon as possible..

Macrossman: i still haven't gotten hold of the latest elint.. will try to see if there's a way to get the dish to rotate.. maybe a smaller rotary motor would do..

Miriya: i used a water based brown "acre color" paint.. from the previous build, i applied a gray base color, then used yellow for second coating then finally that paint (regular brown) for the finish.. i'm not sure though if there's a spray can for it. will try to check on it..

so here's another quick update.. i had 3 straight days off from regular work (idependence day last friday, and no sideline audit engagement since saturday) i was basically spending most of my time continuing the build..

i already starting making final attachments on the wirings... so basically here's how it looks like with the lights installed:

Gate 01/Partition 1 with 8 of 10 lights already installed... with the latest 1/60 yamato destroid..

Also been looking over some specialty/hobby shops and malls hoping to get something that would more likely resemble at "Boom Lift Truck" that's being used.. but only managed to see some heavy equipment trucks and construction type trucks.. nothing really decently as accurate as this one:

so after few hours of contemplating.. heck! i decided to scratch build it too!!!

so here's my update on this extra build so far: (note.. just applied base coating.. still have to put final colors and minute details once its completely build)

manage to finish this one the other night... (Boom Base, Boom, Hydraulic Cylinder, and Carriage)

with Scale 1/72 Hasegawa ground crew kit figure inside carriage

then started working on the truck itself just early this morning.. here's how it looks like as of this posting

and just like the factory, i opted to put real working headlights for this build

other gimmicks: boom can be stretch.. boom base articulated as well..

here's a mock up combination of the parts..

[Kicker773]

[Vegas]

astig pre! the destroid looked like he just got in a club lol. anyway it looks amazing

i hope your next project will be an air landing strip.

[m0n5t3r]

LUPIT BRO!

[derex3592]

Yeah! Destroid up in da club! LOL! Seriously though----that set is freakin AWESOME!!!! I am SO jealous! Great work!!

[MaveRick]

thanks again guys... never really thought, it would somehow give that "in the club/concert" feel.. but nonetheless i enjoyed staring at it with the lights on before dozing off the other night

got home early today so i had a chance to continue working on this project..

i started continuing on my boom lift truck s.build... salvaged my old tamiya mini 4wd racer's wheels and my spare 1/48 decals for the boom part also opted not to follow color as show in reference pic and used lighter color instead.

then wired up the LEDs for the headlights.. took some time before i figured out how to conceal the connection and place the batteries.. had to modify a part of it..

here's how it looks like with the headlights on.. im still trying to choose whether to make the LEDs light up steadily or not..

also trashed my first design of the destroid roller.. just didn't appear to be appealing to me at all.. started working on the second version just few hours earlier..

after applying base color..

[EXO]

ummm... you're just a tad insane....

loko ka pare!

[MilSpex]

Really amazing. buuuut..if I have to nitpick I would prefer to see those rounded style wheels on that truck like in the lineart. Are you planning on building around the current wheels?

[Lethalzero]

its sick man... i wish i have the talent, the resources and time @_x

[ahiachris]

It's not only the time and the talent. It's the speed of how you build the things that amaze me.

[jardann]

You seriously must cast that lift truck and rolling platform and make them available to members here!

You don't know how long people on these boards have been begging for some support vehicles.

Great work and incredibly fast! Keep it up!

[DarrinG]

Just freakin amazing.

I've got to find a few spare months or talk you into building me one . . .

[MaveRick]

Got an advise that i'll be on field work starting this weekend.. so decided to devote my time for the past two days finishing this project..

First i made some changes on some parts:

Change my first design of holder for the rotating platform and motor.. the second design didn't prove to be stable enough to hold heavier valkyries.. here's my modified case..

Also i didn't like how my lighting turned out.. it really looked like the mechas are in a club/concert thingy.. so i discarded my first set .. also opted to follow the colors of each lamps as show in the line-art.

had a problem capturing its true colors.. but it's basically green, yellow and red

Then some additional parts.. i thought of putting a cut off ceiling just to give the entire factory some dept..

still for final colors.. and reinforcement at the back portion..

cut out a rectangular hole, where i will be putting additional ceiling lights..

Edited June 19, 2009 by MaveRick

[MaveRick]

then came the part i hated most... cable management...

apparently the back portion still has to be covered.. but before that i need to organize all the wirings and sockets..

i used 3 separate power sources for the electrical components:

for the gate and gantry side lamps, i used my mom's spare cellphone charger as source

i used cable tie and headers as snap on connectors for all three partitions

and so here's my second version of the lighting with a mock-up attachment of partition 1's ceiling.. (without the lights at the front section and some hidden parts.)

[MaveRick]

Spent the entire day working on..

- finishing the ceiling.. and installing it on all 3 partitions

- cable management

- final placement of LEDs and Rotating Platform..

so.. here's my Scratch-Build Macross Armored Factory and Maintenance Bay!!! ( just placed both 1/60 destroid and focker and a few crew figs.. i still have to make final arrangements on how i will place the yammies with the crew)

Edited June 18, 2009 by MaveRick

[Vegas]

AWESOME work mav! i wish ill have the chance to see your collection and your diorama when i get back there

[Temjin]

Simply wow... to the last details.

[MacrossMan]

I'm at work right now so I am not able to access the video so I will ask here. In the video do you show the process you used to add lights? If so and you provide a list of materials? I'm pretty good with that type of thing and would love to add this effect to my 1/48 diorama. Thanks Mave!

[AcroRay]

Dude, I'm so proud to own the plastic kit, but it utterly pales in comparison to your hand-made version of it. That's really a work of skill, genius and insight.

Amazing, and inspiring!

Edited June 18, 2009 by AcroRay

[AcroRay]

do you show the process you used to add lights? If so and you provide a list of materials? I'm pretty good with that type of thing and would love to add this effect to my 1/48 diorama.

Same here. I'd love to add working lights to the plastic kit. Would you please consider a detailed tutorial on your lighting setup?

[Kicker773]

wala na bai... ibaligya na lang na sa akoa.. aron ma himuslan nako dire.. hehehehe.. bitaw igna biya ko of ibaligya nimo =)

[miriya]

OMFG!!!!

MaveRick is the man!!!

[UN Spacy]

SUSMARIOSEP!!! Pare......GREATEST. MACROSS. DIORAMA. EVER.

[MechTech]

Absolutely astounding work! My hat off to you for the great engineering of light and motion too! My opinion is if your going to make something that big, make it real! Thanks for sharing! - MT

[EXO]

so how do we get this to show off at MWCON???

[Lethalzero]

free plane tickets i guess... and accommodation too lol.

[MaveRick]

i would like to thank you all people for following my build thread, really would have lost interest at finishing this project without your comments and encouragement from friends.. everybody seems to wonder how come i work so fast.. some friends where kind enough to help me on this build.. (My friend leanard who helped me with the electrical components and Jojo who should also be given equal credit for the overall planning of this project) it has been an exhausting, but fun build (since i mostly do it during unholy hours if not after work).

Vegas: when you have the chance to visit here.. let me know.. my house is always open for fellow hobbyist/macross fans

>EXO<: hey pare.. thanks a lot for following my thread.. i also wish i could bring it personally for the Con, but we both know that'll be close to impossible.. and oh.. your right about me being a bit insane! (esp when bored)

MacrossMan and AcroRay: Sorry, but i wasn't in a bit of a hurry when i did this project that's why i wasn't able to cover extensively.. but i could give you a list of materials i used though.. for the lights i used:

1. Standard Size LEDs (Green, Yellow, Red)

2. Superwhite LEDs (for overall lighting)

3. Cellphone Charger or Adaptor with at least 6Volts output

4. Ribbon Type Wire

5. Battery and Battery Holder.. some lighters have this (i opted to use this as power source for some parts of the factory and the boom lift truck)

6. Cable tie and headers (this is ideal for connecting/disconnecting multiple wirings)

7. Resistor (drop current and avoid LEDs from busting off early.. but this is just optional though)

anyway i made a snap shot of some materials left.. sorry for the crappy pics:

Edited June 22, 2009 by MaveRick

[EXO]

free plane tickets i guess... and accommodation too lol.

Maybe if I sell like 10000 T-shirts! haha.

hey Maverick, thanks for sharing this project with us.

[MaveRick]

likewise EXO.. right now i'm current planning another big project.. (literally big)

hopefully when i'm done with field work, i'll start working on it..

[AcroRay]

Thanks for those details, MaveRick! I hope to use them as a guide to light my own 1/100 plastic kit. My local hobby shop has a nice assortment of LEDs, and the electronics shop at my TV studio can supply me with ribbon cable & some resistors. Its the skill I lack, so your work is a nice place to start from! Thanks!!

[Lethalzero]

hmm maverick maybe you can show this off next toycon... macross enthusiast would be thrilled

[gian7675]

likewise EXO.. right now i'm current planning another big project.. (literally big)

hopefully when i'm done with field work, i'll start working on it..

A project well done

I'd better see your MACROSS Collection while I'm assigned here in Cebu City...and play with this Armored Factory and Maintenance Bay....weeeee!!!

Hmmm...another big project eh?...wow....

[MaveRick]

AcroRay: don't mention it.. i wanted to give you a detailed diagram on the electrical connections, but i somehow lost my draft on it..

LethalZero: now that's reasonably possible... i'll see what i can do though.. i do have something i'm sure to bring with me if ever i could make it to the ToyCon - My Scratchbuild Protoform Starscream:

gian7675: sure thing.. Alain (of Macrossworld) was just here few hours ago.. having some cold drinks while enjoying the sight of build..

[mospeadamacrosstech]

I am amazed at the talent and quan that's gone into this. I am in complete awe.

Thanks for sharing with us.

[Iceblue106]

MaveRick,

I'm new here but I have to thank you for your inspiration!! I viewed this build awhile back and it made wonder if I could do something similar.

I started my build with your factory as a reference but in 1/100 scale instead, however it evolved into a hanger deck scene instead. The materials used where mostly balsa wood, plastic model scraps, and computer parts (from a horrible crash). Anyways your display of the lighting helped me out drastically since I never messed with LED's. Thanks again and I look forward to more builds from you in the future.

If anyone is interested this is the link to my build so far..

http://thelostuniverseofrt.forumotion.net/hangerdeck-hang-out-f46/

(hanger is almost complete but pending pictures with final lighting, crew, and support equipment)

Edited November 19, 2009 by Iceblue106