Motorized 1/72 VF-1J Flight Deck

[MacrossJunkie]

Wow, I haven't seen this yet. That's incredible! And grats on your work getting highlighted @arbit!

[arbit]

Thanks. I never thought I'd be a centerfold model... (Sorry, Dad joke).

Edited October 12, 2020 by arbit

[MechTech]

That's AWESOME Arbit!!! I used to subscribe to them for years! I stopped because they rarely had sci-fi stuff in there. It would have been cool to see this! - MT

[Return To Kit Form]

On 10/10/2020 at 12:51 AM, ulvdemon said:

Excellent build, any idea which issue this  is it in?

Pretty sure it is this months issue. I can't take credit for the photo as a mate of mine sent it when he saw the build. He's a member of MW but doesn't come here often. 

[Thom]

Very cool, Arbit! You've reached 'Teen-dream Status' among your fellow modelers!

[arbit]

12 minutes ago, Thom said:

Very cool, Arbit! You've reached 'Teen-dream Status' among your fellow modelers!

Hilarious. Keep the 80s jokes coming.

Gen Z members are now Googling, "What's a centerfold?"

Edited October 12, 2020 by arbit

[electric indigo]

Congrats to making history!

I think we can forgive FSM for mentioning the R-word.

[Thom]

10 hours ago, arbit said:

Hilarious. Keep the 80s jokes coming.

Gen Z members are now Googling, "What's a centerfold?"

So, should they be shown examples..?

[jemC]

extremely impressive final model and thumbs up for the step by step work that was done. 

 

[vincemoto7]

Congrats on the centerfold Arbit!!! 

That's awesome and you're quick to credit those who've helped you, which speaks volumes.  Your work is incredible.

[arbit]

I finally finished the second airlock I always planned for this project.

 

 

Edited May 9, 2021 by arbit

[MKT]

Previously the little Petite Cola diorama scene, and now this! This flight deck full of cool surprises! Mega likes your way @arbit 

[Bolt]

On 10/11/2020 at 1:33 PM, Return To Kit Form said:

Pretty sure it is this months issue. I can't take credit for the photo as a mate of mine sent it when he saw the build. He's a member of MW but doesn't come here often. 

Is that @Scream Man RTKF?

[arbit]

On 5/7/2021 at 6:27 PM, MKT said:

Previously the little Petite Cola diorama scene, and now this! This flight deck full of cool surprises! Mega likes your way @arbit 

Thanks. I do have a little update on the Petite Cola scene. I added more greeblies and internal lighting.

[arbit]

This is the wiring control pad for both airlock doors and their internal electronics to turn on LEDs and rotate the stage. There is no other wiring required except the DPDT switch to open and close the door.

This was the simplest way I could figure out to activate both airlock motors and their internal lighting and internal motors.

For example, When Airlock Door 1 opens, Light Switch 1 is hit, which turns on all its internal lighting/motors.

Wiring in detail:

- There are four wiring rows of pins: 3V+, Ground, Light Switch 1 (L1), and Light Switch 2 (L2).  L1 is for the Airlock 1, L2 is for Airlock 2.

- Airlock Doors always receive 3V power pin and Ground pin to open and close on demand, which I pulled from the main project deck.

- Light Switch 1 is connected to L1 pin and 3V+ pin. Internal lights and motors don't get 3V power, they are connected to L1 pin and Ground pin. So when the Light Switch is hit by the door opening, all internal electronics on the L1 pin row get 3V power and turn on.

Edited May 14, 2021 by arbit

[arbit]

WIP for the door.  Just some spare styrene and 1/700 battleship greeblies.

No, I cannot lay down a decal straight 

Scratch built rails for the door to slide on.

The 35RPM motor was still fast, so I slowed it down with a larger gear.

Edited May 14, 2021 by arbit

[arbit]

WIP for the laser piano, stage and figure.

I scribed the piano panels squares on clear styrene plate, and then laid down an enamel wash to color the lines. The scribing also helped my to mask and cut out squares to paint each color. 

I paint the black parts of the piano with primer, then metallic steel for light blocking, then gloss black.

I painted the colored parts of the piano with a gloss varnish instead of a primer, before airbrush painting the squares.

Took me about a week to paint and mask each square!

Sanding and multiple layers of primer and acrylic paint  ultimately hid the 3D print lines on the figure.

Winnup's Minmay sculpt is really nice, but I can't say the same for the quality of Shapeways printing.

Stage is made from an unused Millennium Falcon gunner window. 5x flashing LEDs are in the gray box below the piano.

Figure paint was too light, needed darkening after testing on stage.

Tried to keep the same shades of paint for the whole scene. Lot of mistakes needed repainting.

The stage uses a very low RPM motor.

Magnet holds the stage's motor in place. Everything is removable in case I need to get inside to fix something in the main project.

Hangar door slides open on magnets to reveal valk deck.

And of course the inspiration.

I guess only Minmay could inspire me to get back at the workbench after a year of Covid and all it entailed.

Best wishes to all of you and your families.

Edited May 14, 2021 by arbit

[arbit]

Are you all bored of this project yet? Well, I'm not. Up next, a sci fi version of this platform to add to the deck. I'm thinking of lighting under the floor,  electronic wall control paneling, and sci-fi shaped barrels, with Misa and Hikaru at the helm.  (Will somebody please make Captain Global and Bridge Bunny figures?)

 

 

Edited May 14, 2021 by arbit

[Bolt]

Loving all of it ! Truly inspiring! Thank you @arbit 

[MechTech]

The updates look AWESOME Arbit! - MT

[Thom]

Bored!? Not-at-all!!

[arbit]

On 5/14/2021 at 9:00 PM, Bolt said:

Loving all of it ! Truly inspiring! Thank you @arbit 

 

On 6/15/2021 at 4:46 PM, MechTech said:

The updates look AWESOME Arbit! - MT

 

15 hours ago, Thom said:

Bored!? Not-at-all!!

Thanks guys. I appreciate the nice comments.

Since you're not bored yet, this is what I'm up to.

[Thom]

1 hour ago, arbit said:

 

 

Thanks guys. I appreciate the nice comments.

Since you're not bored yet, this is what I'm up to.

Nice! Is that a collection of prints or a scene?

[arbit]

5 hours ago, Thom said:

Nice! Is that a collection of prints or a scene?

These are separate objects for printing the platform for my flight deck. It's just a mock up for now. But some elements could be joined for printing.

Edited June 17, 2021 by arbit

[arbit]

I just finished a new project I have been working on for my Flight Deck's Stage Diorama. 

Comments and geek outs greatly appreciated. 

Hope you like it!

 

Edited November 6, 2021 by arbit

[MechTech]

Another "home run" knocked out of the ball park!!! - MT

[DarkArchon3000]

Wow! Great job on the idol miniatures!  I especially like the Sharon Apple ones!  Would love to have those to go with 1/60 YFs!

[lochness]

This makes me smile. 😊

Great job on everything! Love it.

[arbit]

2 hours ago, lochness said:

This makes me smile. 😊

Great job on everything! Love it.

Thanks. Glad to make you smile, that's the whole point. 

[arbit]

3 hours ago, DarkArchon3000 said:

Wow! Great job on the idol miniatures!  I especially like the Sharon Apple ones!  Would love to have those to go with 1/60 YFs!

Thank you. Obviously I am a big Sharon fan.  And given the lack of figures of her, I had to go all out.

[arbit]

4 hours ago, MechTech said:

Another "home run" knocked out of the ball park!!! - MT

Thanks MT, you are always a great support.  

[derex3592]

ALL so freakin cool @arbit!!! Little black dress is workin for me!!! 

[arbit]

6 hours ago, derex3592 said:

ALL so freakin cool @arbit!!! Little black dress is workin for me!!! 

Thanks, man. Project is not complete till I hear from you.