Whats Lying on your Workbench MK IV

[Big s]

24 minutes ago, foundshaian said:

What is the effect of chalk pastels compared to acrylics?

Chalk pastels when ground down can make for realistic soot effects. It helps over dull finish and sometimes a little water helps to stick it to places where you really want it heavy. You can also easily wash away mistakes or use a brush dipped in water to pull the spot in the proper direction. Add a dull coat at the end when you’re satisfied with the results.

there are many ways to do weathering and it sounds like you have a good amount of items that can be used already. I would suggest practicing on the spruce parts with raised letters or numbers and see what works. Have fun experimenting and see which methods work best.

[foundshaian]

I'm surprised your up this late as well. When you say to add a dull coat do you mean a light coat of matt/gloss clear or are you talking about a weathering finish?

[Big s]

2 hours ago, foundshaian said:

I'm surprised your up this late as well. When you say to add a dull coat do you mean a light coat of matt/gloss clear or are you talking about a weathering finish?

That’s what I’m talking about. The matte/dull coating can protect paint work while giving a bit of grit for certain weathering techniques. I find that oils and enamel weathering works better over clear gloss while things like water based types and dry pastels can work better with matte coats, but like I said before, experimenting with different techniques to find what works can show you what works best for you.

 

[pengbuzz]

6 hours ago, Big s said:

That’s what I’m talking about. The matte/dull coating can protect paint work while giving a bit of grit for certain weathering techniques. I find that oils and enamel weathering works better over clear gloss while things like water based types and dry pastels can work better with matte coats, but like I said before, experimenting with different techniques to find what works can show you what works best for you.

 

I've found this as well: the matte coats let the pastel "stain" the surface rather than brush off, while the gloss allows the oils/ enamels to "slide" on them in applications such as washes.

You can also use oil pastels for the "dot filter" technique as seen in this video (largely armor and land-based mecha):

 

[pengbuzz]

UPDATE:

Well, here's what I've been up to as of late-

1) Repairs on my 1/72 Armored Factory:

 

  

2) Building a new body for Hikaru's VF-1J (I switched to the newer model instead of trying to rework the old one, as red plastic and a white finish don't exactly work!):

3) I was finally able to fix the slider mechanisms on the old VF-1 body, but now had no head for it. So....

 

   

 

Where I'm at now:

Still working on refining the paint job and need to get decals on this; I'll try to have some more pics tonight.

Stay tuned...

[MechTech]

Thanks! Yeah, its time to get this one done, hopefully soon.

@pengbuzz Your factory and Valk are looking great! I'm glad you can tackle the cannon fodder scheme. Too much masking for me!😁 - MT

[foundshaian]

2 hours ago, pengbuzz said:

UPDATE:

Well, here's what I've been up to as of late-

1) Repairs on my 1/72 Armored Factory:

 

  

2) Building a new body for Hikaru's VF-1J (I switched to the newer model instead of trying to rework the old one, as red plastic and a white finish don't exactly work!):

3) I was finally able to fix the slider mechanisms on the old VF-1 body, but now had no head for it. So....

 

   

 

Where I'm at now:

Still working on refining the paint job and need to get decals on this; I'll try to have some more pics tonight.

Stay tuned...

I really love the color palette especially the contrast between the green eye and the chest of the body, it makes your eyes drawn to the center and upper torso. Also what did you make the head peice out of?

[Bolt]

3 hours ago, pengbuzz said:

UPDATE:

Well, here's what I've been up to as of late-

1) Repairs on my 1/72 Armored Factory:

 

  

2) Building a new body for Hikaru's VF-1J (I switched to the newer model instead of trying to rework the old one, as red plastic and a white finish don't exactly work!):

3) I was finally able to fix the slider mechanisms on the old VF-1 body, but now had no head for it. So....

 

   

 

Where I'm at now:

Still working on refining the paint job and need to get decals on this; I'll try to have some more pics tonight.

Stay tuned...

Great job there Peng !👍🏼

[Thom]

@pengbuzz Factory in full swing. Nice!

[pengbuzz]

2 hours ago, foundshaian said:

I really love the color palette especially the contrast between the green eye and the chest of the body, it makes your eyes drawn to the center and upper torso. Also what did you make the head peice out of?

Thanks! The head was made from 1/8 inch sheet styrene. I simply sketched the profile of it onto paper, traced it onto the styrene, then cut out one piece and used that as a template to trace and cut 3-4 more. I glued them together and put it under a stack of heavy books to make the glue "weld it" into one solid chunk. After that, it was a matter of using a rotary tool, craft knife ("xacto knife"), needle files, sandpaper and a huge metal file to refine the shape.

 

 

[foundshaian]

4 hours ago, pengbuzz said:

Thanks! The head was made from 1/8 inch sheet styrene. I simply sketched the profile of it onto paper, traced it onto the styrene, then cut out one piece and used that as a template to trace and cut 3-4 more. I glued them together and put it under a stack of heavy books to make the glue "weld it" into one solid chunk. After that, it was a matter of using a rotary tool, craft knife ("xacto knife"), needle files, sandpaper and a huge metal file to refine the shape.

 

 

I know that you obviously have tools to make the exact changes you want but the craftsmanship seems to be perfect, it's pretty much fully symmetrical.

[foundshaian]

Also thanks for the help on weathering @pengbuzz and @Big s

[pengbuzz]

1 hour ago, foundshaian said:

I know that you obviously have tools to make the exact changes you want but the craftsmanship seems to be perfect, it's pretty much fully symmetrical.

Just simple hand tools and a motorized tool. But anyone can do it with hand tools; my arthritis makes the rotary tool necessary.

[foundshaian]

I have another weathering related question, where is a good place to look for earth and foliage effects? an example being the bags or tubs full of moss or sand, my local games shop has what I'm looking for but the price is wack.

[Rock]

1 hour ago, foundshaian said:

I have another weathering related question, where is a good place to look for earth and foliage effects? an example being the bags or tubs full of moss or sand, my local games shop has what I'm looking for but the price is wack.

Any place with train model stuff or even vigger arts and craft stores such as michaels and hobby lobby. There is green moss stuff used to cover the glue/foam in floral flower arrangements. 

 

Finding it hard this week to focus on the project at hand... 😶

-

[pengbuzz]

2 hours ago, foundshaian said:

I have another weathering related question, where is a good place to look for earth and foliage effects? an example being the bags or tubs full of moss or sand, my local games shop has what I'm looking for but the price is wack.

You can make your own out of wire and other home materials:

As for sand, you can use baking soda and simply paint it once it's sprinkled onto a glue covered surface.

Edited March 29, 2023 by pengbuzz

[electric indigo]

Time for some paint. Sky grey : gloss white 1:2 over pure sky grey base coat.

[foundshaian]

2 hours ago, electric indigo said:

Time for some paint. Sky grey : gloss white 1:2 over pure sky grey base coat.

Is that a mirage 2000?

[Bolt]

20 hours ago, Rock said:

Finding it hard this week to focus on the project at hand... 😶

I can relate. But Your project has been coming along beautifully ! 

 

3 hours ago, electric indigo said:

Time for some paint. Sky grey : gloss white 1:2 over pure sky grey base coat.

Nice !

[arbit]

I've been working on my sewing skills.  Needle and thread all day 🤣

[foundshaian]

5 hours ago, electric indigo said:

Time for some paint. Sky grey : gloss white 1:2 over pure sky grey base coat.

I really thought that was a mirage but it's a shenyang right?

Edited March 30, 2023 by foundshaian
Misspelled word

[Thom]

@arbit Minmei is looking pretty good there!

@electric indigo That is one smooth coat of paint.

 

[Bolt]

7 hours ago, arbit said:

I've been working on my sewing skills.  Needle and thread all day 🤣

Looks really good ! I really like what you did with her pose.

I've  got my resin version sitting on the workbench. Patiently waiting.

[pengbuzz]

UPDATE:

Well, got 3 things going on right now, but the 1st one (VF-1J Rebuild) is on hold until I get an issue settled with one of the transform joints. Meantime, progress on the other 2 to report:

1) The VF-1A "Cannonfodder" is approaching completion:

   

  

  

 

Yeah, I know the roundels are the wrong ones (destroid version); I don't have any spares of the red with white delta on them (need the ones I have for Hikaru's Vf-1J that I'm working on). I figure since the valk is in brown shades, maybe its' a bit more forgiveable? Anyways, pics in fighter mode:

   

   

   

It just needs a few touch-ups still, some weathering (wash/drybrushing, panel fading) and some minor details added (certain stripes, verniers painted in/ decaled). Otherwise, it's pretty well done.

Now onto project 3: the removable armor for the VF-1's:

I managed to rescue the Mauler RO-X2A dual laser cannon from the other project (which died when our upstairs neighbor's bathroom leaked water through our ceiling!) and rework it to fit the new boosters:

   

 

I found that by clipping off the attachment pegs for the fronts of the boosters and sanding them down to where they still hold friction, the fronts can be removed while assembled and replaced on either side with the Mauler cannon (which I added a square peg onto after copying it from the missile pod fronts):

  

 

As for attaching the armor: I got 12 neodymium magnets (and have 2 larger ones as well); my plan is to glue thin metal plates onto all 3 valks, while attaching the boosters to one main bracket that will slot in between the "backpack" and the back, with a larger magnet in the bracket and the plate on the valk's back (said plate painted the same color as the valk's hull).  The arm and leg armor will get 2 magnets each to attach them to similar metal plates, while tabs that slot into the valk at certain points should help keep them in place:

Stay tuned folks... more to come.

[arbit]

15 hours ago, Bolt said:

Looks really good ! I really like what you did with her pose.

I've  got my resin version sitting on the workbench. Patiently waiting.

What a coincidence, I have not seen that resin figure.  But what's wrong with her leg position?

My version is in a "T-Pose".  It's not a real pose. You design the figure in this pose and prepare the armature bones for the actual pose later.

[electric indigo]

22 hours ago, foundshaian said:

I really thought that was a mirage but it's a shenyang right?

Right, it's Trumpeter's 1/48 J10C. Excellent & affordable kit.

[Thom]

Liking it, @pengbuzz. Building up your Macross squad. As for the kites, I didn't even notice the difference until it was mentioned. It looks good.

[pengbuzz]

2 hours ago, Thom said:

Liking it, @pengbuzz. Building up your Macross squad. As for the kites, I didn't even notice the difference until it was mentioned. It looks good.

Thanks; eventually (Lord willing) I'd like to do a second VF-1A in Ben's colors, as well as Max and Miryia's valk's.

[foundshaian]

4 hours ago, electric indigo said:

Right, it's Trumpeter's 1/48 J10C. Excellent & affordable kit.

That's unique, most trumpeter kits I've come across are incredibly expensive.

[Big s]

I didn’t notice the kites either. Oops

[Thom]

1 hour ago, pengbuzz said:

Thanks; eventually (Lord willing) I'd like to do a second VF-1A in Ben's colors, as well as Max and Miryia's valk's.

Be cool to see those in formation!

 

[pengbuzz]

17 hours ago, Thom said:

Be cool to see those in formation!

 

okay:

(I know: not quite what ya meant!  )

Seriously though: most major construction on the new VF-1J is nearly complete; I just have to finish the fighter cockpit and a couple of other things. Then we can get to painting soon (hopefully). They're selling our apartment building again, and I truly resent the circus of potential buyers that stream through here when that happens, with little to no regard for our life here.

Stay tuned...

[Thom]

That's the line up, @pengbuzz!!

[Urashiman]

I purchased the ABS like resin from Anycubic and made some test prints today. It smells a bit more than the eco resin (which is really low odor), and leaves a weird white residue in the print bed and on the print. Using Isopropanol, I was able to remove it, but still strange.

it seems a bit more flexible, which is good. Here is a picture. 
from left to right:

new VF-1P nose, work in progress

old VF-1P fuselage, needs to be reworked to be thicker.

new reworked VF-9 nose, done.

Edited April 1, 2023 by Urashiman

[Bolt]

On 3/31/2023 at 12:39 PM, arbit said:

What a coincidence, I have not seen that resin figure.  But what's wrong with her leg position?

I don't think there's too much wrong with her legs. Maybe a bit bow legged. But i take it as anime style..🤷

Your VF's are looking great @pengbuzz !

8 minutes ago, Urashiman said:

I purchased the ABS like resin from Anycubic and made some test prints today. It smells a bit more than the eco resin (which is really low odor), and leaves a weird white residue in the print bed and on the print. Using Isopropanol, I was able to remove it, but still strange.

it seems a bit more flexible, which is good. Here is a picture. 
from left to right:

new VF-1P nose, work in progress

old VF-1P fuselage, needs to be reworked to be thicker.

new reworked VF-9 nose, done.

Really nice looking! So what's up with the V-1p ? I don't think I've seen that yet..

The VF-9 nose looks sweet.