Whats Lying on your Workbench MK IV

[Sanity is Optional]

I've got 2 pairs of God Hands, and 3 pairs of Tamiyas, plus some Gundam Planet nippers and some Xurons.

When I need something cut cleanly, and I can't sand the part (transparent plastic, chromed runners, etc...) I pull out the god hands. They cur the cleanest and closest of all my nippers.

Btw, I got mine for like $50-$60each, they're really not that expensive any more.

https://smile.amazon.com/God-Hand-Ultimate-Plastic-GH-SPN-120/dp/B01MUGEO9X

 

[Thom]

Just about finished the cockpit on the Hellcat. I just need to add some levers to the throttle quadrant.

 

Thom

[MechTech]

@Thom That cockpit is looking fantastic! We had some people in the club build that kit and they love it.

@peter Thanks for posting the gun photos for reference! That is a DIRTY muzzle!

@derex3592 Thanks for posting the review video and info on the cutters. I can't believe some of them cost that much. I almost got the Citadel ones because they're at the local hobby shop, now I'm glad I didn't - it looks like they stink! All these years I've been using a knife sharpening wet stone and putting a new edge on my cheap cutters. It works, but this looks better.

EVERYONE - Since we're talking about sprue-cutters, the most awesome tool I just saw this week to clean up after sprue-cutters is a glass file. I saw them online and ignored them because I have almost every single kind of file. Some that are decades old (like WWII). What difference can a glass file do? A guy in the club brought one to our meeting and let me try it out. I filed a piece of sprue and it came out shiny, like glass. It couldn't have had a more mirrored finish. The one he brought in was from USA Gundamstore, but it looks like they don't carry it anymore. So now I'm trying to find one. The random pattern works better than the lined patterned style. - MT

 

[derex3592]

@MechTech - You are most welcome sir!  And not that I'm profiting off recommending Dspaie by any means, but they do make a glass file like you talked about I think...

 

Newtype: Dspiae MSF-13 Siren Glass File

[F18LEGIOSS]

Working on my 1/12 ride armor with magnets

Edited July 17, 2021 by F18LEGIOSS

[MechTech]

16 hours ago, derex3592 said:

@MechTech - You are most welcome sir!  And not that I'm profiting off recommending Dspaie by any means, but they do make a glass file like you talked about I think...

 

Newtype: Dspiae MSF-13 Siren Glass File

Thanks Derex for the link! I'm also seeing that they have them at beauty supply places too. I'll have to get one.

@F18LEGIOSS The magnets are a great idea for that kit. It will actually make it work better than the stock design. - MT

[pengbuzz]

Well...been a bit busy with some stuff as of late:

 

1) I didn't like the "chunky cigar" the gunpod I had done for my G1 Jetfire had become:

So, I stripped the whole thing down, carved off a ton of wood, made a makeshift lathe out of my dremel tool and reshaped it:

I'll have finished pics up soon.

2) Finally got a G1 Shockwave figure for an affordable price; it was a bit rough though when I got it (Ebay pics courtesy of Lemuel2840):

After cleaning it up (mildew/ white powdery mold) and fixing the arm joints, I repainted Shocky:

I discovered a new process to make my own foil labels using clear decal paper and foil tape, which I'll be using to replace his Decepticon logo.

And speaking of which...

3) Other G1 Transformers:

I recently came across some affordable G1's that simply needed some parts, so I got busy scratchbuilding. I also developed a new foil label process using clear decal film and foil tape:

G1 Prime's trailer:

The bottom is the old one I peeled off (it was already peeling!); the new one is in place!

G1 KO Megatron> G1 Megatron (repaint, minor repairs and new labels:

And.. Thundercracker and Skywarp (working on Thundercracker now):

 

Stay tuned...

[Thom]

3 hours ago, pengbuzz said:

Well...been a bit busy with some stuff as of late:

 

1) I didn't like the "chunky cigar" the gunpod I had done for my G1 Jetfire had become:

So, I stripped the whole thing down, carved off a ton of wood, made a makeshift lathe out of my dremel tool and reshaped it:

I'll have finished pics up soon.

2) Finally got a G1 Shockwave figure for an affordable price; it was a bit rough though when I got it (Ebay pics courtesy of Lemuel2840):

After cleaning it up (mildew/ white powdery mold) and fixing the arm joints, I repainted Shocky:

I discovered a new process to make my own foil labels using clear decal paper and foil tape, which I'll be using to replace his Decepticon logo.

And speaking of which...

3) Other G1 Transformers:

I recently came across some affordable G1's that simply needed some parts, so I got busy scratchbuilding. I also developed a new foil label process using clear decal film and foil tape:

G1 Prime's trailer:

The bottom is the old one I peeled off (it was already peeling!); the new one is in place!

G1 KO Megatron> G1 Megatron (repaint, minor repairs and new labels:

And.. Thundercracker and Skywarp (working on Thundercracker now):

 

Stay tuned...

Staying tuned in! These are nice blasts from the past, and hopefully a deal (steal?) Cool work on the gun and great looking decal replacements!

...only.... poor Megatron looks so funky!

[pengbuzz]

1 hour ago, Thom said:

Staying tuned in! These are nice blasts from the past, and hopefully a deal (steal?) Cool work on the gun and great looking decal replacements!

...only.... poor Megatron looks so funky!

Well... he never was an award winner, even in proper attire!

[MechTech]

@pengbuzz AWESOME restoration work on those Transformers. Like Thom said, too bad you can't do anything about the awkward look of the toys, but in the 80's - they were da' bomb!!! That metal foil work is fantastic! Looks factory fresh! - MT

[derex3592]

@pengbuzz Those old TF's look great!  Brings back soooo many good childhood memoires.  Thundercracker was my first ever TFer back in the day. I went through two Megatrons..haha! He was such a sad looking robot, but as a kid, I didn't know any better and loved him.  I can still remember how to transform them with my eyes shut.  Some things you never forget! 

I had a great Sunday in model land over here, Runabout detail painting DONE (or as much as I'm gonna do), clear coated and decals applied! (Pics soon!)  The Titanic got some touch up painting on the hull, and the finishing of the yellow stripe. A lot of builders skip this step on this kit I've noticed, but I wanted to do it.  No, it wasn't easy, but came out good!  Now for the rivet counters out there, no, it isn't EXACTY accurate, but close enough as the mold of the kit is from the 70's and where the stripe should be on the bow doesn't match up to where it actually is, but whatever, inaccuracies of an old kit.  Installing LED light strip soon and then it's on the getting the main deck installed. (which I test fitted and no, it doesn't fit well at all)...*sigh*....

[wm cheng]

Wow, thanks for all this info on sprue cutters - I never knew.  I've been using my x-acto blade all this time (sometimes I might even break out my Canadian Tire hardware $1.99 wire clippers!)... now I really feel like a dinosaur!  I'd love to find out more about this glass file as well.  I've always hated sanding, its the worst part of model making - I'd love to learn anything new that will make this chore less like a chore.

 

[derex3592]

@wm cheng - you are most welcome sir!  With your level of skill, you should definitely have top shelf tools to aid you in your craft!  I've learned soooo much from just hours on hours of watching YouTube builds and comparison videos while at work during the pandemic.  I can't imagine how much further along I would be with this hobby if the internet had been a thing back in the 80's/90's to teach a 12 year old kid how to use a single action airbrush and how to glue parts together properly!  

[wm cheng]

Yes, every few years when I get back into this hobby there seems to be all these new paints and companies to learn all over again!  Just when I thought no one builds physical models anymore (there's a few brick and mortar shops that have closed around me).  I can't see myself paying over a $100 for God Hands, but $35 for these Chinese clippers might be a gamble I'm willing to take - especially like that circle cutter from the same company!  My new hobby (other than collecting kits for my retirement) is collecting tools for my retirement 😛

 

[pengbuzz]

10 hours ago, MechTech said:

@pengbuzz AWESOME restoration work on those Transformers. Like Thom said, too bad you can't do anything about the awkward look of the toys, but in the 80's - they were da' bomb!!! That metal foil work is fantastic! Looks factory fresh! - MT

 

9 hours ago, derex3592 said:

@pengbuzz Those old TF's look great!  Brings back soooo many good childhood memoires.  Thundercracker was my first ever TFer back in the day. I went through two Megatrons..haha! He was such a sad looking robot, but as a kid, I didn't know any better and loved him.  I can still remember how to transform them with my eyes shut.  Some things you never forget! 

I had a great Sunday in model land over here, Runabout detail painting DONE (or as much as I'm gonna do), clear coated and decals applied! (Pics soon!)  The Titanic got some touch up painting on the hull, and the finishing of the yellow stripe. A lot of builders skip this step on this kit I've noticed, but I wanted to do it.  No, it wasn't easy, but came out good!  Now for the rivet counters out there, no, it isn't EXACTY accurate, but close enough as the mold of the kit is from the 70's and where the stripe should be on the bow doesn't match up to where it actually is, but whatever, inaccuracies of an old kit.  Installing LED light strip soon and then it's on the getting the main deck installed. (which I test fitted and no, it doesn't fit well at all)...*sigh*....

Thanks guys! Part of their charm is how "awkward" they look, although I do have a couple of the Masterpiece versions! As it stands, I'm very close to completing my 1984 Collection for the Autobots!

 

BTW: nice job on the Titanic, derex!

[Sanity is Optional]

4 hours ago, wm cheng said:

Yes, every few years when I get back into this hobby there seems to be all these new paints and companies to learn all over again!  Just when I thought no one builds physical models anymore (there's a few brick and mortar shops that have closed around me).  I can't see myself paying over a $100 for God Hands, but $35 for these Chinese clippers might be a gamble I'm willing to take - especially like that circle cutter from the same company!  My new hobby (other than collecting kits for my retirement) is collecting tools for my retirement 😛

FWIW, you can snag God Hands for like $60 shipped, or my personal favorite cheap(er) cutters, the Tamiya "123" for under $30 shipped. From Amazon (US) in both cases.

[Gabe Q]

This is the pair of sprue cutters you've been looking for. They're essentially identical to the much more expensive Meng pair that I have. Compare them and read the reviews. 

MicroMark version https://www.micromark.com/Modelers-Micro-Sprue-Cutting-Pliers

 

Meng version 

https://www.themodellingnews.com/2018/02/tools-tried-n-tested-meng-models-mts.html?m=1

[wm cheng]

15 hours ago, Sanity is Optional said:

FWIW, you can snag God Hands for like $60 shipped, or my personal favorite cheap(er) cutters, the Tamiya "123" for under $30 shipped. From Amazon (US) in both cases.

Unfortunately I'm in Canada, so shipping, customs & duties and the crappy exchange rates puts it over $100cdn and Amazon.ca is $110.66 - argh!  Are God Hands that much better (x3) than DSPIAE Nippers?

 

Are the Micromark Micro Sprue cutting pliers that much smaller that I would need both DSPIAE and Micromark?  Are the Meng just like the DSPIAE?

[derex3592]

I don't think you need more than one "good" pair for removing parts from sprues on normal kits.  You definingly can't go wrong with the Micromark ones. I think they are almost identical to the Meng and Dspiae, probably all made in the same factory in China. The MicroMark ones are on Amazon. I almost went with them more than once. 

[MechTech]

@Gabe Q Thanks for posting the links! The Modelling News was great with the close-ups of the cuts and cutters.

@wm cheng I have a shop full of Micro Mark tools bought over the past 20+ years, they're great! I guess this is another tool I have to add from them now😧.

@derex3592 You're probably right! They're all probably from the same Chinese factory line. Some of them have a rough tooled finish to them too - a signature of Chinese machining (Obviously Meng is in Shenzhen, China).

After seeing close-ups of the nippers, I'm going to try and grind a pair of mine down. I usually sharpen them already. Time to get the bench grinder out and a glass of water! - MT

[Sanity is Optional]

1 hour ago, wm cheng said:

Unfortunately I'm in Canada, so shipping, customs & duties and the crappy exchange rates puts it over $100cdn and Amazon.ca is $110.66 - argh!  Are God Hands that much better (x3) than DSPIAE Nippers?

 

Are the Micromark Micro Sprue cutting pliers that much smaller that I would need both DSPIAE and Micromark?  Are the Meng just like the DSPIAE?

If you only had one pair of cutters, you want it to be something more like the Tamiya ones, rather than God Hand/MicroMark/Gundam Planet. The best cutting nippers have thin blades, so they're also fragile, especially when cutting thick gates or transparent (hard) plastic.

Get something durable and sharp enough, and then later on grab a secondary pair for making clean cuts when needed.

Also how you remove things from nubs can matter, at least if you're not going to putty+paint over everything. To reduce stress marks and pitting, cut stuff out with large nubs attached, then cut them short or remove them.

[MechTech]

OK, before buying a tool (especially for $60-$100!), I try to make it myself. It saves money for important things like models.

A couple of weeks ago I bought some cheap cutters from the local table-game hobby shop to support them (we have no real hobby shops here). They were a pair of "The Army Painter" cutters. They are not cutters, they pull the part up; the "blades" are so steep. I bought them knowing I'd grind them a new edge. So after all this talk on nippers, I thought this was a good opportunity to try a new type of edge.

So before... You can see how much the blade sucks.

And after a couple of hours on the bench grinder, a Dremmel, a sharpening stone, and a magnifying glass. They're not going to win any awards, but they work!

Compared to regular cutters....

And because a blade cover has always been a good idea, a piece of rubber tubing. Yes, my family borrows my tools - they're so conveniently "there" I have to label the "no go" ones You can also see why the yellow handled ones need replacing.

Was it worth the effort? YES! I still have $60 (somewhere) and a better pair of cutters. You can see how this style of blades works much better on a really tough subject (the parts are only 1/8" - 3mm long).

So if you're on a budget and have a junky old pair of cutters, you can save some serious dough and make something better out of them. The downside, the blades aren't as tempered, but with a few strokes of a wet stone, they can be resharpened. Hopefully this helps someone save some dough! - MT

[Salamander]

20 hours ago, MechTech said:

So if you're on a budget and have a junky old pair of cutters, you can save some serious dough and make something better out of them. The downside, the blades aren't as tempered, but with a few strokes of a wet stone, they can be resharpened. Hopefully this helps someone save some dough! - MT

...if you have the tools to machine those cutters.

Anyway, this discussion made me pick up some Tamiya cutters, for the lovely amount of 34.95 Euros...I think they'll work better than the DIY-shop ones I've been using :)

 

[derex3592]

Decals are down on the Runabout including my own little custom TX roundel. I think it works! Quick clear coat today and then on to some weathering tomorrow... Think I'm gonna go dig out my oil paints for this one... 🤔 

Edited July 24, 2021 by derex3592

[Chronocidal]

Careful about putting oils over whatever you have down already, they might eat right through it.

Looking gorgeous though! 👍 

[MechTech]

@derex3592 Looking great Derex! That Texas roundel is a great idea and looks cool!

Well, my two mecha are all washed up! Over the Krylon base coat  I airbrushed a slightly darker Tamiya color only over the recessed and shadowed areas. Then I put a custom made burnt-sienna Tamiya wash over everything. The unwanted wash was wiped off with isopropyl. I still have some cleaning to do and then on to the highlights and decals with some weathering. The hoses and tubes are still needed too. I'll probably do them next so they get some weathering. Thanks for checking in. - MT

[Return To Kit Form]

Nice work @MechTech So much neat custom work. 

 

Well after nearly nine months this thing is nearing the end of it's time on the workbench:

Looks like this will be the only build for this year!

[derex3592]

@Return To Kit Form - Damn man, that is one absolutely gorgeous sex machine!   Great weathering! I love it! 

[MechTech]

@Return To Kit Form OK, we know what's on your mind🤣 Seriously though, the finish and weathering looks great! Is that supposed to be rust on the leading edge slats? - MT

[peter]

On 7/20/2021 at 4:38 PM, MechTech said:

OK, before buying a tool (especially for $60-$100!), I try to make it myself. It saves money for important things like models.

A couple of weeks ago I bought some cheap cutters from the local table-game hobby shop to support them (we have no real hobby shops here). They were a pair of "The Army Painter" cutters. They are not cutters, they pull the part up; the "blades" are so steep. I bought them knowing I'd grind them a new edge. So after all this talk on nippers, I thought this was a good opportunity to try a new type of edge.

So before... You can see how much the blade sucks.

And after a couple of hours on the bench grinder, a Dremmel, a sharpening stone, and a magnifying glass. They're not going to win any awards, but they work!

Compared to regular cutters....

And because a blade cover has always been a good idea, a piece of rubber tubing. Yes, my family borrows my tools - they're so conveniently "there" I have to label the "no go" ones You can also see why the yellow handled ones need replacing.

Was it worth the effort? YES! I still have $60 (somewhere) and a better pair of cutters. You can see how this style of blades works much better on a really tough subject (the parts are only 1/8" - 3mm long).

So if you're on a budget and have a junky old pair of cutters, you can save some serious dough and make something better out of them. The downside, the blades aren't as tempered, but with a few strokes of a wet stone, they can be resharpened. Hopefully this helps someone save some dough! - MT

I swear to God MechTech, you can make anything.

[peter]

On 7/25/2021 at 5:49 AM, MechTech said:

@derex3592 Looking great Derex! That Texas roundel is a great idea and looks cool!

Well, my two mecha are all washed up! Over the Krylon base coat  I airbrushed a slightly darker Tamiya color only over the recessed and shadowed areas. Then I put a custom made burnt-sienna Tamiya wash over everything. The unwanted wash was wiped off with isopropyl. I still have some cleaning to do and then on to the highlights and decals with some weathering. The hoses and tubes are still needed too. I'll probably do them next so they get some weathering. Thanks for checking in. - MT

Those are really cool mechs....the gun barrels and brakes...wow.  As a gun nut, I have to say they look incredibly real.  They even look worn!!!!

[peter]

On 7/26/2021 at 3:17 AM, Return To Kit Form said:

Nice work @MechTech So much neat custom work. 

 

Well after nearly nine months this thing is nearing the end of it's time on the workbench:

Looks like this will be the only build for this year!

Ok, I'm really itching to build my 1/48 now.....

[peter]

On 7/24/2021 at 8:10 AM, derex3592 said:

Decals are down on the Runabout including my own little custom TX roundel. I think it works! Quick clear coat today and then on to some weathering tomorrow... Think I'm gonna go dig out my oil paints for this one... 🤔 

I love the custom Texas decal on there.  Subtle enough that it still looks like Star Trek, but when you see it, you think "that's *ucking awesome"

[Return To Kit Form]

@peter There is sooo much 90's design in that runabout! 

@MechTech that's not rust. It is supposed to be grey paint chiiped and peeling to reveal the orange underneath. The slat was salvaged from VT-102 after it was recovered from the ruins of South Ataria island post fold incident. Great pliers by the way your engineering skills are awesome!

 

 

 

[Thom]

55 minutes ago, Return To Kit Form said:

@peter There is sooo much 90's design in that runabout! 

@MechTech that's not rust. It is supposed to be grey paint chiiped and peeling to reveal the orange underneath. The slat was salvaged from VT-102 after it was recovered from the ruins of South Ataria island post fold incident. Great pliers by the way your engineering skills are awesome!

 

 

 

Love that there's a story even for a chipped slat!