TheLoneWolf Posted March 18, 2015 Posted March 18, 2015 Funny story about the N-Ger: for other mecha like the Regult and Glaug, I really had to oversize them to cram a proper pilot in the cockpit but if I look at the stats for the Ger as posted on the Macross Mecha Manual and Palladium RPG book, they list 16.4 and 16.8m respectively... That comes out to 22.2-23.3 cm in 1/72. I only had to make it about 1cm bigger than the stats to fit the pilot in. That's pretty interesting, since the Regult and Glaug were both designed by Kawamori, whereas the N-Ger was designed by Miyatake. Just curious, but did you have to oversize your old Gnerl too? Because that was also a Kawamori creation. By the way, I love how you oversize your Zentradi models. It's a thoughtful balance between realism and the titanic spirit of the Zentradi. Quote
captain america Posted March 18, 2015 Author Posted March 18, 2015 By the way, any news Cap? Yes, I've started carving and will have an update ready on Friday! I'm technically still in the rough stuff and I will explain why in the update, but I'm definitely got my momentum! The Lone Wolf: I don't recall if I ever paid attention to the numerical dimensions of the Gnerl, I was just so focused on making the pilot fit. Perhaps someone who built the kit *ahem* can chime in? Quote
007-vf1 Posted March 19, 2015 Posted March 19, 2015 I wonder how much difficult would be to mod the N-ger to a DYRL version? the torso arms and upper legs plus backpack are virtually the same.. head, shoulders and lower legs seem a bit hard to modify... Any ideas what to use to extend those shoulders? Quote
captain america Posted March 20, 2015 Author Posted March 20, 2015 Captain's log: Friday morning. And so it begins, I plunge head-first into what will surely be a long and complex sculpting project. Having taken a day or two to produce some elemental diagrams and sized them to my liking, I can now devote myself to the manual work that is the 'meat and potatoes' of this project. As this is a larger build, I will need to refurnish myself with modeling board above all else.DSCF5281: this plank of modeling board, formerly 5 feet in length when I bought it 3 years ago, is now about half as long. While you can cut the material with a circular saw, the dust produced is a veritable nightmare to clean and so I opt for the ever-faithful hand-saw.DSCF5282: these are the diagrams I've printed out at (proper) 1/72 scale. I really wonder about the designers and lack of consistency with regards to basic elements sometimes.DSCF5283: a more familiar starting point for the viewing audience, with the basic tools of the craft. I will actually need about three times this amount of modeling board for this project: the large size of the kit is already one factor, the other is that unlike other offerings where parts are interchangeable left and right, most of the parts on the N-Ger must be mirror reflections of each other, so there are more parts to sculpt. The complex curves of the many shapes means that I will have to spend that much more time to ensure precision and symmetry.DSCF5284: I then proceed to cut out the paper templates I made…DSCF5285: …And affix them to blocks of modeling board, which are then trimmed on the band saw.DSCF5286: meanwile, I will also have a significant amount of parts to turn on the lathe, so I start by taking a pre-turned (circular) piece of modeling board and CA gluing another chunk of material to it so that it may be turned into a cylindrical shape. I would NE-VER attempt this with any metal, but that's what makes modeling board so very awesome!DSCF5287: but before I start turning, I have to square-up some of the chunks of board that were cut by hand. In order to retain any semblance of precision, all the chunks which are hand-cut must inevitably be squared and made true.DSCF5288: and so on to turning modeling board on the lathe. Lots of fun, but also lots of mess as you can clearly see.DSCF5289: same part as above. This is what will become the spherical thruster on the back-pack. I start by turning the part with a knife, then proceed with coarse sandpaper to smooth the shape to my liking while it's still turning.DSCF5290: Once a component (in this case the lower leg) has been trimmed on the band saw, I proceed to refine the shape further with a bench sander. This way I can get really close for the best possible contouring.DSCF5291: back to the lathe. This part will become the shoulder armor.DSCF5292: I have temporarily glued the two lower leg pieces together for the fine sanding and shaping to ensure that they are perfectly identical.DSCF5293: the very same parts now head to the mill where the openings for the knee and thrusters will be cut.DSCF5294: For some operations which requre a more refined finish and parallel cut, I use my drill press which I have equipped with a grinding stone. I like this operation when I need extremely thin parts that can't be held securely in the milling vise.It may mot look like much, but there's almost a week of work in all this mess! From this point on, things should start to get more interesting because I'm starting to hit my stride. Stay tuned for next week's exciting episode of: The Captain Makes A Dusty Mess! Big model, big update! Quote
Zinjo Posted March 24, 2015 Posted March 24, 2015 Love your work sir, remember your amazing projects from Samurai Monkey. Quote
captain america Posted March 27, 2015 Author Posted March 27, 2015 Captain's log: Friday, March 27th. I've got a hankering for pancakes. I've also been working up a storm to advance the Grr!DSCF5295: these are the lateral parts of the main hull, affixed to a 2mm thick piece of modeling board, waiting to be trimmed.DSCF5296: back to the lathe, working on the main cannon. I could have made the part from resin, but as it will need more detailed operations with putty later, I decided to make it out of Renshape.DSCF5297: the main barrel is now machined, and will have the barrel vents added later. The piece next to it is what will become the lower abdomen. I will start by machining the opening at the waist on the lathe before proceeding to mill work.DSCF5298: at left we have the abdominal piece from the previous pic, now turned, milled and sanded to the desired cross-section. At right is the block from which the feet will be sculpted.DSCF5301: This is the part that will become the back-pack, being drilled to ensure a symmetrical mounting of the thrusters later.DSCF5302: the same part is run against the bench-sander to refine the curved shape to more precise tolerances.DSCF5303: the four main components that make-up the main hull/bathtub. The circular part at upper-left is the mounting point for the shoulders, which will be added later.DSCF5304: perhaps the most complex components are the lower legs. In this pic I am passing them carefully under the grinding stone freehand in order to remove a strategic layer of material and trace the location for the vents.DSCF5305: the forearm armor undergoing pre-Dremel mill work.DSCF5306: the main hull/bathtub has now been assembled. This will be the anchor part for many other pieces, so it has to be precise as well as sturdy!DSCF5307: the forearm part which was previously on the mill is now being Dremeled to its more characteristically round shape. After most of the big stuff is done with the motor tool, it will be further refined with hand-sanding.DSCF5308: having also been dremeled, the lower legs, now undergo hand-sanding as well. Both legs have been temporarily glued together to ensure a uniform curvature.DSCF5309: the arm parts, in various stage of finishing. There is still the cuff to make as well as the hands, so I'm not out of the woods yet! More progress pics to come in the next few days, so stay tuned for the next episode of the Captain's dust-filled adventures!! More pix. Quote
captain america Posted March 27, 2015 Author Posted March 27, 2015 You're most welcome! I should have another half-update on Monday which will give a better idea of the overall proportions. Don't change the channel Quote
neko_fr Posted March 29, 2015 Posted March 29, 2015 Wow! I can't wait to see the N-Ger next to a VF1!! Quote
captain america Posted March 30, 2015 Author Posted March 30, 2015 Just wanted to let you guys see where I was at with the build. There's still a lot to do but at least you'll have a good idea of the proportions. Quote
cool8or Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 What a weekend you had, John!! This was faster than I thought!! It looks like a Badass!! Quote
milhouse Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 WOW! That looks so great! You work so quickly, it's like... blink, and boom already another update! I wish I had the skills to sculpt! Quote
Jefuemon Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 Do you have a 1/72 Battroid you could stick next to it? Wondering if I'm going to have to adjust some shelf space. Quote
captain america Posted March 31, 2015 Author Posted March 31, 2015 Do you have a 1/72 Battroid you could stick next to it? Wondering if I'm going to have to adjust some shelf space. Sorry, no Battroid. That being said, at 24cm in height and with those massive clown feet, I certainly would Quote
cool8or Posted April 1, 2015 Posted April 1, 2015 24 cms? so it will be as massive as the Q-Rau! Quote
cool8or Posted April 3, 2015 Posted April 3, 2015 impatiently waiting next update! (today? monday?) Quote
captain america Posted April 3, 2015 Author Posted April 3, 2015 impatiently waiting next update! (today? monday?) Not until late next week, the next few days will be keeping me otherwise occupied. I have taken most of the past week to further refine and wet-sand the existing parts which were rough. A little too much hand-sanding on my part, my thumb started to bleed from the constant pressure and abrasion from the sandpaper so it will be much-needed recuperation time. Quote
mslz22 Posted April 4, 2015 Posted April 4, 2015 Ouch, i have done that before too. My buddy just had hand surgery this week from the repetitive stress of sanding during stratchbuilding and kit building, they had to do something with the nerve sheath or something like that. They may need to do his shoulder too, same issue repetitive stress. Guess it means that just because you can so something for hours on end, does not mean you should. Take care of those hands. Not until late next week, the next few days will be keeping me otherwise occupied. I have taken most of the past week to further refine and wet-sand the existing parts which were rough. A little too much hand-sanding on my part, my thumb started to bleed from the constant pressure and abrasion from the sandpaper so it will be much-needed recuperation time. Quote
big F Posted April 4, 2015 Posted April 4, 2015 (edited) Your hands are you weapons guard them well. I currently have a hand injury brought on by a repetitive strain from popping in glasing clips in my new greenhouse. Feels like my thumb wants to pop out of joint. I feel for you Capt, take it over Easter, rest you hand up. Its not until you injure your hands you realise just how useful they are. Edited April 4, 2015 by big F Quote
007-vf1 Posted April 5, 2015 Posted April 5, 2015 Wow; Looks fantastic John... i am so tempted.. Quote
neko_fr Posted April 5, 2015 Posted April 5, 2015 Take your time and, above all, take care of yourself. Nothing's more important than health. Quote
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