Upgrading a classic: yet another custom Bandai/Matchbox 1/3000 SDF-1

[Thom]

I wonder how easy/hard it would be to use the sections, when you have it apart, to make rubber molds for resin copies. Wouldn't be transformable, but you could make yourself some resin versions to play with.

[nightmareB4macross]

  On 8/21/2022 at 5:27 PM, Thom said:

I wonder how easy/hard it would be to use the sections, when you have it apart, to make rubber molds for resin copies. Wouldn't be transformable, but you could make yourself some resin versions to play with.

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I think the cost of recasting such large parts would not warrant making copies. Recasting materials keeps getting more expensive. And to recoup costs well that’s a no-no around here at MW.

[Thom]

  On 8/22/2022 at 5:12 PM, nightmareB4macross said:

I think the cost of recasting such large parts would not warrant making copies. Recasting materials keeps getting more expensive. And to recoup costs well that’s a no-no around here at MW.

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Ohno, strictly personal, of course.

[nightmareB4macross]

  On 8/21/2022 at 10:45 AM, tekering said:

I only recently learned that Takatoku's original release had spelled Daedalus as "DAIDALOS" on the stickers, and actually came with Lancer II accessories...! 😮

 

One can imagine how quickly those would've gotten lost. 😅

I was nonetheless inspired to do something similar:

I thought Valkyries on the Prometheus deck would be far more appropriate (provided they were properly to scale). 😎

I kept them in a single color to maintain the toy aesthetic... and also because I'd have a great deal of trouble painting Valks that small anyway. 😬

You're preaching to the choir, buddy. 😔

Everything's glued, puttied, sanded smooth, painted with primer, puttied, sanded smooth, painted with primer, surfacer, base coat and clear coat, and finally ready for final assembly...

...and then when you try and fit the parts back together, there's that horrifying sound of the plastic splitting and cracking, AGAIN. 🤕

I ended up using a lot of scrap styrene for internal reinforcement, wherever I could make space to do so. 

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I could only imagine you disappointed and frustration after putting the finishing paints and it would crack.

My thoughts go out to you.

Would you post pics of you re-enforcement of the parts? Are you just adding glue or adding a styrene or metal structure for support?

[tekering]

  On 8/21/2022 at 5:27 PM, Thom said:

I wonder how easy/hard it would be to use the sections, when you have it apart, to make rubber molds for resin copies.

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It wouldn't be difficult for anyone used to working with silicone molds, but the resulting resin parts would be thin and likely just as fragile... 🤔

These styrene beams will reinforce the thin plastic areas and provide greater structural integrity.

I'm preparing for phase two, hyper-detailing the surface for a proper sense of scale. I'm pushing my printer to the limits of its resolution, trying to get panel lines as thin as possible:

I might've overdone it a little. 😅

[Thom]

Hope that reinforcing holds. You've put a lot of hard work into this already. And real nice on the paneling. Should look great when it's on.

[tekering]

  On 8/24/2022 at 1:27 PM, Thom said:

And real nice on the paneling. Should look great when it's on.

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Actually, I'm not so sure...

The sealant coating turned the ink kind of greenish, and softened up the lines more than I had anticipated.

Plus, the pattern looks more like a circuit board than the hull of a battle fortress. 🤨

[Thom]

  On 8/25/2022 at 11:52 AM, tekering said:

Actually, I'm not so sure...

The sealant coating turned the ink kind of greenish, and softened up the lines more than I had anticipated.

Plus, the pattern looks more like a circuit board than the hull of a battle fortress. 🤨

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Perhaps a light, translucent coat of white over the top, not to cover it but to fade it?

[nightmareB4macross]

  On 8/25/2022 at 11:52 AM, tekering said:

Actually, I'm not so sure...

The sealant coating turned the ink kind of greenish, and softened up the lines more than I had anticipated.

Plus, the pattern looks more like a circuit board than the hull of a battle fortress. 🤨

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It might just be the initial shock of the unexpected result on a single piece. I think it will look similar to anime close ups when the entire SDF-1 completely covered in this pattern. 
 

Blending and weathering could diffuse this.

[derex3592]

It stinks that the ink color shifted on you and the clear coat smugged the lines, I still like it though and think you're on the right track overall! 

[pengbuzz]

  On 8/25/2022 at 11:52 AM, tekering said:

Actually, I'm not so sure...

The sealant coating turned the ink kind of greenish, and softened up the lines more than I had anticipated.

Plus, the pattern looks more like a circuit board than the hull of a battle fortress. 🤨

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Basically, I agree with Thom and nighrmareB4macross:

  

  On 8/25/2022 at 12:42 PM, Thom said:

Perhaps a light, translucent coat of white over the top, not to cover it but to fade it?

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  On 8/25/2022 at 1:29 PM, nightmareB4macross said:

It might just be the initial shock of the unexpected result on a single piece. I think it will look similar to anime close ups when the entire SDF-1 completely covered in this pattern. 
 

Blending and weathering could diffuse this.

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As they said: if you mist a light coat of white over that and then pick out various panels and do them in differing shades of white/ grey, it would remove the circuit board effect. I had a similar result on mine when I did the tiny panels in paint and had to do that.

Don't get discouraged, tekkering: it's just a small speed-bump on the road to the Macross you always wanted. Been there, done that, ate the t-shirt.

Edited August 25, 2022 by pengbuzz

[derex3592]

@tekering - Google "Spaceship Surface Textures" Here's an example -- Might be useful for ideas...

 

Edited August 25, 2022 by derex3592

[nightmareB4macross]

  On 8/25/2022 at 8:19 PM, derex3592 said:

@tekering - Google "Spaceship Surface Textures" Here's an example -- Might be useful for ideas...

 

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The first one looks perfect.

[tekering]

I appreciate the suggestions, gentlemen. 

My second attempt is closer to the anime look I'm after:

I added a purple tint to the image, which counteracts the effect of the clearcoat and ends up a neutral grey. 

It's still not exactly what I want, but it's a definite improvement.

[derex3592]

Ahhh...VERY nice on the 2nd attempt!  I like it! Are you printing it on decal paper on a laser jet or inkjet and then custom cutting them out to fit? Because if you are....bravo! 

Edited August 26, 2022 by derex3592

[nightmareB4macross]

It’s looking great. 
 

How did you figure the purple hue would counteract the bluriness and deliver a better finish when clear coat?

Edited August 26, 2022 by nightmareB4macross

[Thom]

Nicely done.

[MechTech]

That sucks that the plastic is so brittle with time. Your improvements look great though!!! - MT

[nightmareB4macross]

  On 8/26/2022 at 10:44 AM, tekering said:

I appreciate the suggestions, gentlemen. 

My second attempt is closer to the anime look I'm after:

I added a purple tint to the image, which counteracts the effect of the clearcoat and ends up a neutral grey. 

It's still not exactly what I want, but it's a definite improvement.

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Hi Tekering,

Hope your project is coming along and progressing well.

[pengbuzz]

Hey Tekering!

Any progress on the old girl as of late? Been curious to see how your project's getting along!

[tekering]

Happy New Year, guys!  🎊

As you can see, I've been busy curating my collection beyond the anime room... 😅

I've been offered a whole table at this year's Mikansei Hobby Show as well, and I'm hoping to complete all my Invid garage kits in time for the event.  The SDF-1 project will be set aside for the time being.

Thanks for your continued interest. ☺️

[Thom]

@tekering Wowza!! I'm not into figures too much, but that is a fantastic display!

[nightmareB4macross]

I patiently await your return to this project.

Hopefully, you made some space to accommodate this new custom.

[Bolt]

Thanks for the well wishes @tekering that's quite a collection space ! I'm very much looking forward to your further works . Best wishes 👍🏼

[Nyankodevice]

  On 8/19/2022 at 6:03 PM, arbit said:

@tekering Wow, the Matchbox has never looked so good! Fantastic work,

A couple questions:  I am worried about your wood screws eating away at the plastic over time. Maybe I misunderstand the mechanism, but could you possibly use a screw and nut with washer instead?  You could lodge the nut with epoxy (Add some pla plate to fully bury the nut).

Since you are planning to change up the guns, have you seen @Nyankodevice's SDF-1 guns on Thingiverse?  https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5389365

 

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hi guys i made an updated version of my cannons, also i have uploaded new rail cannons too

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5961035 the new cannon

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5961048 the Rail cannon

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5961088 missile turrets

 

@tekering this is looking good, keep up the good work

Edited April 10, 2023 by Nyankodevice

[Shawn]

How hard would it be to make the little support vessels in a 3D printer?

Ever since the Model Package Art book came out, I've been hoping someone would take it up as a fun side project, and would look especially good on such a fantastic custom.

[pengbuzz]

  On 4/10/2023 at 1:12 AM, Shawn said:

How hard would it be to make the little support vessels in a 3D printer?

Ever since the Model Package Art book came out, I've been hoping someone would take it up as a fun side project, and would look especially good on such a fantastic custom.

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Doesn't look that difficult... although I don't have a 3D printer, I could probably scratch that up by hand.

[arbit]

  On 4/10/2023 at 12:10 AM, Nyankodevice said:

hi guys i made an updated version of my cannons, also i have uploaded new rail cannons too

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Very nice!

  On 4/10/2023 at 1:12 AM, Shawn said:

How hard would it be to make the little support vessels in a 3D printer?

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It's not that clear to me what that elevating gun looks like, or where it goes exactly.

The rolling vehicle to carry the Daedalus is more clear, but you would have to design it for a specific model or toy, I guess.

[pengbuzz]

  On 4/10/2023 at 8:21 PM, arbit said:

Very nice!

It's not that clear to me what that elevating gun looks like, or where it goes exactly.

The rolling vehicle to carry the Daedalus is more clear, but you would have to design it for a specific model or toy, I guess.

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The gun seems to be the entire back of the leg, like on the 1/3000 toy.

[Big s]

  On 4/10/2023 at 8:53 PM, pengbuzz said:

The gun seems to be the entire back of the leg, like on the 1/3000 toy.

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Yeah, looking at the diagram, it’s definitely the back of the lower leg in ship mode. I don’t remember seeing the back open up like that in the show, but there appears to be a cannon and oddly placed missile tubes 

[Nyankodevice]

  On 4/10/2023 at 9:55 PM, Big s said:

Yeah, looking at the diagram, it’s definitely the back of the lower leg in ship mode. I don’t remember seeing the back open up like that in the show, but there appears to be a cannon and oddly placed missile tubes 

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dont think it made it into any animated media, also imo its a badly placed weapon, theres already a turret and a missile turret placed on top of it..

but i could easily make a version for my ship, since its so big..

Edited April 10, 2023 by Nyankodevice

[Nyankodevice]

  On 4/10/2023 at 8:21 PM, arbit said:

Very nice!

It's not that clear to me what that elevating gun looks like, or where it goes exactly.

The rolling vehicle to carry the Daedalus is more clear, but you would have to design it for a specific model or toy, I guess.

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im more concerned about the weight it must carry on those 4 small wheels, wouldnt it sink down into the ground?

Edited April 10, 2023 by Nyankodevice

[Thom]

That actually looks like a missile and it's launch rail. A frickin big missile!

[Nyankodevice]

  On 4/10/2023 at 1:12 AM, Shawn said:

How hard would it be to make the little support vessels in a 3D printer?

Ever since the Model Package Art book came out, I've been hoping someone would take it up as a fun side project, and would look especially good on such a fantastic custom.

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looking at the translation it says something about takatoku missile in legs

[Nyankodevice]

which type of lid fits best?