mslz22 Posted January 19, 2018 Posted January 19, 2018 So I, like many model makers are really bad at sticking to one project. But cleaning my shop I stumbled upon this kit in my stash, which I got from the boys at Wfest a bunch of years ago. It's such a beautiful (and rare?) kit I just had to get going on it. Not too many parts so I am hoping to finish it in time to bring to Wfest this year. Totally borrowing the panel lines from this amazing build. I'm going to be adding some of my own little details along with way, but the kit would be amazing out of the box. Thanks again guys! Rough map of the panel lines . Pinstripe material is great for creating an edge to guide the etching on these curvy surfaces. Once etched I pencil in to check the work. Quote
mslz22 Posted January 19, 2018 Author Posted January 19, 2018 And a little primer to see it start to come together. Quote
derex3592 Posted January 19, 2018 Posted January 19, 2018 Awesome work!!! Can't wait to see the finished product! Always was one of my favorite Macross ships! Quote
big F Posted January 19, 2018 Posted January 19, 2018 Such a rare kit, it will be nice to see one built up. You are off to a good start. Waiting for more progress updates. Quote
mslz22 Posted January 21, 2018 Author Posted January 21, 2018 More of the very preliminary work continues. Panel lines applied to the other half of the top. Mapped out the bottom and etched those. quick dusting of very fine primer to check all the work. Next up will be to get the body nice and smooth, I have not even started the part line clean up and there is some residual 3d print lines to clean up, which is easy with a nice heavy fill primer. That's up next. Quote
mslz22 Posted January 21, 2018 Author Posted January 21, 2018 wet sand that thin layer with 400, then prime with the heavy stuff. You can see it won't need much TLC at all to get really nice and smooth. Quote
mslz22 Posted January 23, 2018 Author Posted January 23, 2018 Adding some detail to the engine bells. I will be lighting the engines so I put a 1/4 tube stalk on to the bells. Then took them over to the mill and carefully etched in some deep lines at the base and some fine lines that will act as guides for painting the red stripe later on. Was also able to wet sand the parts quickly using the slow setting on the mill. Also added some nice raised panels at the edge of the bell. Quote
big F Posted January 23, 2018 Posted January 23, 2018 I love your build threads. Keep up the good work. Quote
mslz22 Posted January 26, 2018 Author Posted January 26, 2018 For the eye I wanted more detail than to just have the clean green lens illuminated. I am opting to detail it with 4 camera "eyes" behind the green dome. A long tube keeps the LED at a distance so that it's not just completely blowing out the clear acrylic spheres that make up the camera cluster. Once I get the dome tinted clear green this should look pretty cool. Quote
mslz22 Posted January 26, 2018 Author Posted January 26, 2018 Note these images are flipped for some reason, the larger camera should be on the right and the 3 little ones on the left Quote
mslz22 Posted January 26, 2018 Author Posted January 26, 2018 Green clear then frosted the dome (better for diffusion) painted the inside of the tube silver. Quote
electric indigo Posted January 27, 2018 Posted January 27, 2018 How did you achieve the frosted effect? Quote
mslz22 Posted January 27, 2018 Author Posted January 27, 2018 The dome was sanded smooth and buffed a bit, then I sprayed it with Tamiya green clear, then I hit it with Krylon frosted glass spray. I also hit those 4 acrylic spheres with it also, otherwise they would look a little to "hot" Quote
MechTech Posted February 1, 2018 Posted February 1, 2018 I love all the detail you are putting into the kit! The eye is great especially. The kit was big enough to have fun with. I think your paint job is coming along much better than mine did! - MT Quote
mslz22 Posted February 2, 2018 Author Posted February 2, 2018 Yours looks great, i would not have the patience to do all those gizmos Quote
derex3592 Posted February 2, 2018 Posted February 2, 2018 there's just toooo much freakin awesomeness to even begin to try to describe goin on around here...... Quote
mslz22 Posted February 3, 2018 Author Posted February 3, 2018 Heading into the final prep on the body before painting starts. Setting up the display base. The wood will get routed on the underside to hide electonics, then sanded nice and painted black. The zentran emblem wiill get green and yellow I suppose. Quote
MechTech Posted February 4, 2018 Posted February 4, 2018 Thanks! The stand is a great touch! - MT Quote
mslz22 Posted February 23, 2018 Author Posted February 23, 2018 Back on this a bit, adding more details to the engine bells, also adding some extra veneer nozzles to the inside of the engines. I can add 2 pre paint, then paint, then add the LED for the engine lights, then add the last 2 (painted separately). Otherwise the LED won't fit. Also routed out all the channels for the eye and engine light wires. Not a fun part but necessary. Getting ready to do the final smoothing on the body. Quote
Return To Kit Form Posted February 25, 2018 Posted February 25, 2018 (edited) Mike are you eyeballing those engine bell rivets? Or is there some sort of indexing tool used? Either way the extra details look sharp! - Brett Edited June 19, 2018 by Return To Kit Form Quote
MechTech Posted February 26, 2018 Posted February 26, 2018 Its a monster chunk of resin, isn't it? The details go great with that. I agree with RTK. - MT Quote
Goodman Models Posted June 5, 2018 Posted June 5, 2018 Looking good Mike. Did you make any other progress on it? Quote
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