Whats Lying on your Workbench MK IV

[Urashiman]

Gunpla is fun. Just add tamiya black panel line stuff and rub excess off with a rubber. Easy results

[505thAirborne]

2 hours ago, captain america said:

Now you know why I had to develop such extensive scratchbuilding skills: because the kits from my youth were horrible junk!! 

As for your paint call question, your best bet is to mix. This is what I came up with for my 1/6 MOSPEADA soldier.

This is why your skills are so heavily admired & appreciated, too many of those kits of our childhood didn't age well what so ever. 

I'm going to try the Tamiya spray paint first, if I'm not feeling it I'll for sure give your color mix a try. 

[Chas]

Getting set to gloss clear coat  Wave's 1:100 VF-1S with Future. Planning Togo a little easier on the weathering this time. We'll see how it goes.

[derex3592]

You know sometimes it's just fun to get back to the basics... Wash model parts, airbrush straight onto bare plastic with Vallejo ModelAir and slap some cockpit decals on... Anybody wanna take a guess on the next project? 🤔 

[Chas]

Decals mostly done(Just the gun and hand Decals left). Some detail paint and weathering tomorrow.

Edited September 3, 2023 by Chas

[pengbuzz]

2 hours ago, Chas said:

Decals mostly done(Just the gun and hand Decals left). Some detail paint and weathering tomorrow.

I LOVE the off-white you painted this; it's the perfect color for Skull-1!!! :yeah:

[Chas]

Thanks. ⅓ jar of Tamiya XF2 white with 6 drops of XF24 dark Grey from a paint brush.

[MechTech]

There is some AWESOME looking stuff for the last couple of pages guys! Sorry, been busy and short on time. I thought I better post something. I can spend my short times here, or at the bench, so ti's a toss-up! 😁

The workbench focus has been on the 1/72nd scale Oto Melara mini-diorama. Maybe not-so-mini anymore though. October we have the local model show coming up. I'm hoping to complete it by then - we'll see! My apologies for spamming all the photos, but I guess it would be the same spread out over the last few weeks.

After the challenge by the club to animate this thing, I realized I had some custom gears to cut. This one has to be durable, but nearly photo-etch thin. And yes, these are Dremmel bits in the photo!

This is the finished gear showing how it meshes loosely into the magazine carousel.

Here you can see the gearhead motor (a TINY 6mm diameter unit), the bushings, and rotor pieces. They are for the vertical feed. It works like a revolver cylinder in a handgun, but with a slot in it for a vertical chain to drag the rounds up into the gun. The black gear drives everything. The other gears you see will drive off of this motion.

See, Dremmel bits! This one was spun around on a grinding wheel with new slots cut into it. All that just for a single tiny "crown" gear.

There is a chain that travels all the way up into the gun like a ski-lift to lift the rounds up into the gun. But this one goes vertically. To simulate that, this spinning piece was machined. 

The revolving feed has 9 thin walled cylinders. The only way to re-create them was with thin-walled needle-like tubing. Dispense All makes "Blunt Dispensing Tips" that look like hypodermic needs, but they're blunt and NOT medical grade. I chose them for cost and ease of purchase. They are available directly and via Amazon or other retailers too. They're in multiple lengths and diameters too!

This is a 16 gauge tube. It's slightly larger than 1/26" inch, so I had to CAREFULLY ream it out so it sat snug into this jig. A set screw at the bottom holds it in place to cut away a portion like this. As tight as this fit into the jig, I had to feed it SLOWLY into the mill or it would get torn out.

 

And then all 9 cleaned up and ready to go...

And because words are probably useless explaining how it all works, this is a test run in action (UPSIDE DOWN) to show the operation.

The tiny gears will be hidden by details when this is completed. This image is LARGER than the original model. The GIF is deceiving, the barrels and carousel spin in the same direction (clockwise).

The tiny diorama got bigger when I thought it would be cool to put the actual projectile in the display. So I took my 76mm round, cleaned up the molten edges of the holes (from de-militarizing it with a blowtorch prior to sales) and filled them with JB weld epoxy putty (it's a cheaper alternative to white Milliput).

The actual round is TOO HEAVY to use with a diorama, about 15 pounds, so a casting has to be made. At about 35cm / 14" high, this thing is BIG. So a silicone mold with a tube reinforced outer-shell is needed to keep the mold shape intact. The rubber would bow-out without reinforcements. 

2mm thick plastic was scribed with lines and bent into shape, then re-inforced with circular rings. Screws held them in place temporarily for gluing.

After gluing everything together, EVERYTHING was glued together - including what WASN'T supposed to be glued together! So I had to do some cutting and patching of the tube. Some cheap brass hinges and a couple of cheap jewelry box clasps, and we're ready to cast - I HOPE!😉

We'll see how the casting goes. I'm probably going to get some Smooth-on Onyx to do a slosh-mold of this and the fuse top. Thanks for checking in guys and sorry again for spamming the photos!  - MT

[Chas]

Holy crap! That's some fantastic engineering and machining. You've got an awesome set of skills. Love seeing your stuff- always leaves me dumbfounded.

Here's a look at the 1:100 VF-1S before and after oil weathering.

And the torso done wings not.

I have a problem. I cannot leave decals unscuffed.

Edited September 4, 2023 by Chas

[Thom]

5 hours ago, MechTech said:

There is some AWESOME looking stuff for the last couple of pages guys! Sorry, been busy and short on time. I thought I better post something. I can spend my short times here, or at the bench, so ti's a toss-up! 😁

The workbench focus has been on the 1/72nd scale Oto Melara mini-diorama. Maybe not-so-mini anymore though. October we have the local model show coming up. I'm hoping to complete it by then - we'll see! My apologies for spamming all the photos, but I guess it would be the same spread out over the last few weeks.

After the challenge by the club to animate this thing, I realized I had some custom gears to cut. This one has to be durable, but nearly photo-etch thin. And yes, these are Dremmel bits in the photo!

This is the finished gear showing how it meshes loosely into the magazine carousel.

Here you can see the gearhead motor (a TINY 6mm diameter unit), the bushings, and rotor pieces. They are for the vertical feed. It works like a revolver cylinder in a handgun, but with a slot in it for a vertical chain to drag the rounds up into the gun. The black gear drives everything. The other gears you see will drive off of this motion.

See, Dremmel bits! This one was spun around on a grinding wheel with new slots cut into it. All that just for a single tiny "crown" gear.

There is a chain that travels all the way up into the gun like a ski-lift to lift the rounds up into the gun. But this one goes vertically. To simulate that, this spinning piece was machined. 

The revolving feed has 9 thin walled cylinders. The only way to re-create them was with thin-walled needle-like tubing. Dispense All makes "Blunt Dispensing Tips" that look like hypodermic needs, but they're blunt and NOT medical grade. I chose them for cost and ease of purchase. They are available directly and via Amazon or other retailers too. They're in multiple lengths and diameters too!

This is a 16 gauge tube. It's slightly larger than 1/26" inch, so I had to CAREFULLY ream it out so it sat snug into this jig. A set screw at the bottom holds it in place to cut away a portion like this. As tight as this fit into the jig, I had to feed it SLOWLY into the mill or it would get torn out.

 

And then all 9 cleaned up and ready to go...

And because words are probably useless explaining how it all works, this is a test run in action (UPSIDE DOWN) to show the operation.

The tiny gears will be hidden by details when this is completed. This image is LARGER than the original model. The GIF is deceiving, the barrels and carousel spin in the same direction (clockwise).

The tiny diorama got bigger when I thought it would be cool to put the actual projectile in the display. So I took my 76mm round, cleaned up the molten edges of the holes (from de-militarizing it with a blowtorch prior to sales) and filled them with JB weld epoxy putty (it's a cheaper alternative to white Milliput).

The actual round is TOO HEAVY to use with a diorama, about 15 pounds, so a casting has to be made. At about 35cm / 14" high, this thing is BIG. So a silicone mold with a tube reinforced outer-shell is needed to keep the mold shape intact. The rubber would bow-out without reinforcements. 

2mm thick plastic was scribed with lines and bent into shape, then re-inforced with circular rings. Screws held them in place temporarily for gluing.

After gluing everything together, EVERYTHING was glued together - including what WASN'T supposed to be glued together! So I had to do some cutting and patching of the tube. Some cheap brass hinges and a couple of cheap jewelry box clasps, and we're ready to cast - I HOPE!😉

We'll see how the casting goes. I'm probably going to get some Smooth-on Onyx to do a slosh-mold of this and the fuse top. Thanks for checking in guys and sorry again for spamming the photos!  - MT

Just. In. Aweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

🤯

[Gabe Q]

@MechTech I am absolutely in awe after seeing you make those tiny gears from scratch. A real marvel of engineering. You never cease to amaze me with your next level skills.

 

@Chas The 1S is looking good so far! The decaling looks good so far. 

[Urashiman]

@MechTech I bow to you man!

[derex3592]

@MechTech Man you are amazing! That's SO cool! 

Bench updates! The 1:72 HobbyBoss F-5E is finished. Not a great kit. It looked super easy but in reality it wasn't. Lot of filling and sanding work. Then when it was 98 percent finished kitty got a hold of it and mangled one of the missile launch rails... Dragged the whole freakin model off the desk and broke off the engines and a rear aileron. Uhhggg. So I managed to fix all that and I also learned that doing 3 color cammo free hand with an airbrush is a minefield! I'm just not that good yet! Cammo stencils moving forward or rolled up blue tac! Took forever to get it to look close to right. Also paint test yesterday for the USS Texas... 2 Mission Models acrylics  and two MRP lacquers. Also got the first 12 photoetch railings on the Texas superstructure. Last but not least, the Lockheed Martin Skunkworks has been busy in secret....

EDIT: I need to get a better picture of my desert base, I made it up this morning for $8.50 from Hobby Lobby...It's got aluminum foil as the desert floor so it looks like wavy sand. I was going to use my Tamiya snow effect stuff but it had turned to stone in the bottle years ago I guess.  The rocks were model railroad outcropping rocks for $4. I painted the whole thing with 3 colors of acrylic paint through the airbrush. 

Edited September 5, 2023 by derex3592

[MechTech]

Thank you @Chas! That oil weathering added more depth to your build! The funny part, my old Imai 1-S decals look similar to yours, after 30+ years of moving! Your build will have a realistic look to it!

Thank you @Thom!

Thank you @Gabe Q!

Thank you @Urashiman!

Thank you @derex3592! Your F-5 came out GREAT! Especially after some "sheet metal battle damage repair." That's what they do on the real thing. When I first saw you paint it black, I thought it was going to be a "Mig-28" from Top Gun.

I'm glad the Mission Model paints are working out for you. The guys in my club hate them and have had to redo several paint jobs because they chip or pull up with masking or chemical interactions that aren't normal. I hear there's a formula for them. When the club members use terms like "alchemy", I have to laugh!

Thank you again guys! I hope to get a casting done by this weekend - the clock is ticking! - MT

[Rock]

Mirage wasn't too bad, but wow does the nose cone leave a lot to be desire in the way of fitment and details. I really want to get her in the pilot seat.

Can't build in peace these days either! Any future parts that drop off the table are GONE!

Edited September 7, 2023 by Rock

[MechTech]

That sucks about the fit! It looks like your dog is being held down by a force field "No parts fo you! 😁 - MT

[Thom]

@Rock Would love to have a statue of Mirage in a slightly larger scale, like 1/8. And the puppy is just reminding you that modeling should be all fun and games!😉

[Rock]

Hack 'n Slash and she still doesn't fit even with 3mm out of her torso, her butt cut off amd her ponytail mia!

 

 

[pengbuzz]

2 hours ago, Rock said:

Hack 'n Slash and she still doesn't fit even with 3mm out of her torso, her butt cut off amd her ponytail mia!

 

 

The seat might be too shallow; try grinding a couple of mm out of it with a dremel bit.

[Thom]

@Rock Was going to suggest seeing if you could lower the seat pan itself the required bit.

[Thom]

Have most of the work done on my Lancaster interior. Need to finish the belts, some paint touch ups and a clear coat. Almost ready to close up.

[pengbuzz]

7 hours ago, Thom said:

@Rock Was going to suggest seeing if you could lower the seat pan itself the required bit.

Yeah; that could also help as well, if there's enough room in the cockpit to do so.

[Chas]

6 hours ago, Thom said:

Have most of the work done on my Lancaster interior. Need to finish the belts, some paint touch ups and a clear coat. Almost ready to close up.

That's some great, clean detail. How much of it will be visible when it's all closed up?

[Thom]

2 hours ago, Chas said:

That's some great, clean detail. How much of it will be visible when it's all closed up?

Just the view through the main canopy, which is a good size, and in from the rear which is open.

[Rock]

In!

[Bolt]

That looks great @Rock 👍🏼

[Thom]

She's sittin' pretty, @Rock!

[arbit]

Hi y'all. 

I am back from an extended internet and hobby break over the summer.  I like to check out and refresh every now and then.

I've had a chance to go over all the great stuff you guys have been doing over the past few months.

Hope you will have me back?

On 6/17/2023 at 2:21 AM, wm cheng said:

I love painting, weathering and decaling.  The kit is so poorly designed that no one paid any attention to build order and how to compartmentalize pieces to allow access to sand and paint afterwards.  The problem compounded itself by my stupid idea of trying to light this model up so I had to throw the useless instructions out the window and do what makes sense for wiring as well. 

It's funny how we like different aspects of modeling.  I love digging and cutting and drilling to customize a model, and can't wait to throw out the instructions, while on the other hand I live in fear and apprehension of painting (Although I do like painting a bit too.)

On 7/9/2023 at 10:25 PM, Chas said:

I started this scratch/bash many years ago and decided to break it out and see what I could do with it.

It started out life as a Trumpeter 1:700 scale USS Abraham Lincoln CVN 72  aircraft carrier, but I decided to make it my own version of a EDF carrier from the Space battleship Yamato universe.

Really cool scratch work, I hope you will see it through now.

On 7/4/2023 at 10:16 PM, MechTech said:

Ever wonder what would happen if you took a tiny paper model, blew it up and made it out of foam board? Me too! So I did (looooong story...)

Really cool paper craft, what got into you?  Seems like a lot to learn how to design the parts.

On 7/31/2023 at 10:18 PM, derex3592 said:

LA Class USS Greeneville reporting in.....I haven't decided whether or not to "water weather" this one yet. I did one, so I might leave this one and the other LA Class "clean" Had to use the PE main prop on this one as my furry little helper kitty got a hold of the kit supplied plastic one and munched it to DEATH....😠

Very nice sea weathering on that sub. Is that algae?

On 8/7/2023 at 2:16 AM, derex3592 said:

The decks were a bit of a pain to get down, but all in all, I must say, so far, Trumpeter has made a great kit. Then we had nuclear VEAPONS loading onto the Typhoon this afternoon! 😁 

This new project looks like a BEAST!  I am looking forward to seeing this progress.

On 8/19/2023 at 8:19 PM, electric indigo said:

Finished my heli crew today; since they rarely fly with oxygen masks (they do, though) I had to perform facial surgery on my Hase clones, hoping that the painting would make up for my "viking with a chainsaw" sculpting skills.

I really got tired of unsuccessfully molding sculpts, which is the main reason I got into 3D printing.

On 8/25/2023 at 12:07 AM, 505thAirborne said:

Since no one is going to make a 1/12 Ride Armor from the Mospeada TV series, I'll have to do it myself. This will be quite the customization project but worth it in the end. Finding spare time will be my greatest enemy! LOL 

Those will be awesome!

On 8/27/2023 at 8:05 AM, nightmareB4macross said:

Still have tons of fun with this build.

I always wanted pilots for my 1/55s!

On 8/29/2023 at 2:22 AM, 505thAirborne said:

So with all that in mind I'm going to strictly keep this VR-052 in "Armo-Bike" and then build the other strictly in "Ride-Armor" mode, the idea of transforming this makes my blood pressure rise. 

Yeah, I never have luck painting transforming kits anyway.

On 8/30/2023 at 9:36 PM, Chas said:

In the mean while I had a go at finishing up this 1:100 Wave VF-1J battroid. As usual I think I went a little too far with the weathering, particularly the 'chipping', but it's  too late now.

I think the weathering came out great! I would love to do one of those, usually my valks are clean.

On 8/31/2023 at 5:10 AM, Urashiman said:

the build took roughly one hour. Articulation of the joints is really impressive for this scale. Nothing to compare to MG or PG, but still impressive. I’d recommend it.

Bandai Gundam kits are just superb. And Gundam gets so many cool exclusive kits and even space stations.  I wish Macross got the same love. Gundam fans have it soooo good. Very envious....  We just have to keep designing our own.

On 9/4/2023 at 7:41 PM, MechTech said:

The tiny gears will be hidden by details when this is completed. This image is LARGER than the original model. The GIF is deceiving, the barrels and carousel spin in the same direction (clockwise).

@MechTech  That's soooo cool.  You know that gears are the way to my heart😍

On 9/7/2023 at 7:30 AM, Rock said:

Mirage wasn't too bad, but wow does the nose cone leave a lot to be desire in the way of fitment and details. I really want to get her in the pilot seat.

I'm surprised these new 1/20 kits have fit problems.  What exactly is the issue?  About the pilot not fitting, I learned from 3D Designing pilots that the thighs/legs/torso actually need to be shortened  (I'm not into anatomy, so feel free to explain the issue to us if you are).

21 hours ago, Thom said:

Have most of the work done on my Lancaster interior. Need to finish the belts, some paint touch ups and a clear coat. Almost ready to close up.

That's a really cool interior. I like the old fashioned look.

 

Aaaaand, this is some of my stuff painted by others.   I feel like I want to spend more time painting my own models, rather than just releasing more and more figures.  And I need a new diorama project to work on.  I like long projects that I can spend 6 months to a year on.

Edited September 10, 2023 by arbit

[Thom]

You do some great figures, @arbit. Welcome back!

 

 

 

Edited September 10, 2023 by Thom

[Chas]

Had the dull coat on the 1S go cloudy and had to to deal with that before I finished it off with the clear bits.

Calling it done now. Here's a slightly blurry phone snap of the pair as they sit now.

Edited September 10, 2023 by Chas

[derex3592]

@arbit those figures look great! Welcome back to the bench!

@Chas those battroids look really good! Always liked that look.

 

Over here today it's only in the 90s SO we got some MRP Sea Blue down on the Texas deck this morning (it's a LOOOT darker than it looks in that pic) and working on priming the good old TOS Enterprise. Stay tuned! 

Edited September 10, 2023 by derex3592

[MechTech]

@Rock That sucks that the figure doesn't fit into the cockpit. How hard is it to make an ACCURATE cockpit in that scale Bandai? The figure should fit in - espeically at the scale! NICE save Rock! Too bad you had to do so much work just to make her tushy fit in!

@arbit Long story, but the paper-craft mod was sorta work related. I'm glad you like the gears. The model is more of a clock now than a model!

@Chas Sounds like the humidity got to your clear coat? The end result looks great, however!

@derex3592 Sorry about the heat (and humidity). I don't miss it at all. The humidity was so bad around San Antonio, it was even condensing on the outside of the rain gutters! - MT

 

[Big s]

36 minutes ago, MechTech said:

How hard is it to make an ACCURATE cockpit in that scale Bandai?

I think that’s Max Factory 

[Thom]

@Rock It's a real good bit of work getting that to fit, considering the stance the figure has. Had. Much easier if it had come with a half figure for a seated option.

[Chronocidal]

10 hours ago, Big s said:

I think that’s Max Factory 

To be fair, Bandai has just as much trouble in this regard, at least as far as the DX line goes.

They don't understand that fighter cockpits are tight.  Making the pilot two scales undersized is the only way they seem capable of making their pilots fit in anything at all.