Q-Rau build up

[Less than Super Ostrich]

I thought I'd thin my Macross pile out a little, so I grabbed the Bandai 1/144th scale Q-Rau. Did I mention that I hate that scale? Well, at least the Q-Rau is big enough to make this scale somewhat feasible.

This build up will be not as detailed as the normal ones. I just thought I would take a few pictures now and then.

This first pic includes most of the parts, some of which have been already put together. I added a primer coat to most... primarily to show seams that I missed on the first go around. I'm planning on the Miria red version for this Q-Rau. But I think I may try a shiny red finish. I hear if you use a shiny lacquer (like Alclad) and then use the clear red acrlic over that, then you get a nice finish. We will see!

[Less than Super Ostrich]

Here is a close-up on the leg seams and main shoulder seams. I think I did a pretty ok job. Thank God for Mr. Surfacer 500. This model fits together very nicely, but the Mr. Surfacer makes it look like there was never even two pieces.

The detail on the pieces are not that impressive. Of course, what do you expect from a small scale, especially from Bandai? (We are spoiled by Hasegawa).

[Rodavan]

Looking forward to this one !

[Less than Super Ostrich]

well here is my attempt at getting the shiny red finish. i made the mistake of not putting a final coat of primer on before I sprayed, which made for some spots here and there. I put a coat of the Alclad lacquer (Polished Aluminum) and then a coat of Clear Red + Smoke Acrylics over the Alclad. I think it looks ok.... what do you guys think?

Edited April 16, 2004 by Less than Super Ostrich

[Eternal_D]

seems a little pink/purplie. I love clear red over silver. I wanted to do a custom millia vf like that but thought what am I going to do with the white stripes...it'd clash too much.

[Akula]

It seems a little too pink... I don't know how to fix it (maybe another coat of clear red?) but it looks pretty good!

[Sam]

Its a purtee colour, fer sure

Maybe the flash is making it look brighter than it is, thats what usually happens when i take shots.

I would like to see the final product =)

Sam

[The_Major]

To get more of a red look you need id say 1 to 2 more coats of clear red.

[Less than Super Ostrich]

The flash is making it look "pink-er"... but you are right... I think it needs a little more clear red + smoke to make it darker.

[wm cheng]

Very cool metallic red idea! Can't wait to see more, you did a great job at sanding away the seams - if I remember correctly, those old kits are a bitch.

[Sam]

actually the pink reminds me of the pink i used on the missile bay covers on my q rau from a while back!

Bring on the hot pink

Sam

[Less than Super Ostrich]

Its been awhile... lots of stuff going on, so I haven't had much time to model. I added a couple more coats of the clear red and smoke, so hopefully it doesn't look so pink now. Maybe the lighting is slightly off with my camera... the real color is a blood red color... very nice in person.

Does anyone have any nice reference pic of Milia's Q-Rau? I'd love to see any detail on markings?... since the markings that came with the Bandai kit do not coincide with the Milia version. Thanks in advance.

Edited May 24, 2004 by Less than Super Ostrich

[Less than Super Ostrich]

Next up will be one of the tough ones. I'm going to start my second resin kit. The likely suspect is one of the 1/100 Wave kits. The quality is oustanding. I have test fitted a couple of the big pieces and I'm thoroughly impressed.

[Angel's Fury]

So LTSO, which of those ones are you gonna start with?

[izzyfcuk]

i;ll love to see the SDF instead

[Less than Super Ostrich]

I think I'll start with the Jamming Bird, so I save the more expensive ones for later. Maybe I'll do the SDF-1 Cruiser after the Jamming Bird.

[Less than Super Ostrich]

I've started to put a couple of the pieces together. I have not had a chance to do any of the weathering or any of the touch up painting. I am going to have to piece together some of the Milia markings since the Bandai version does not come with Milia options. Does anyone have some good line art of the Milia version?

I don't have the headpiece on yet... its the only major piece I have missing.

I noticed after all this time that I screwed up on the legs. One leg has the missile bays on both the inside and outside of the same leg... I can't believe I didn't notice until now. I have alot of painting to do around these areas.

These pictures are still coming out very pinkish. The real life version is much more blood red looking. I will have to take it out into the natural sunlight to do final pictures.

[Less than Super Ostrich]

Ok... just for kicks. Here is a picture of the Q-Rau with a picture of me and my kid at a Northwestern football game (Go Cats!).

[astromanED]

looking sweet, ilikethe color choice. are you gonna keep it shiny or matt? I can't wait to see the completion shots.

[Less than Super Ostrich]

Ya know... I saw this CG effort in the Fan Works section and I decided it looked sooooo cool that I'd try to replicate it.

Edited May 27, 2004 by Less than Super Ostrich

[Less than Super Ostrich]

Ok... I'm in the home stretch. Basically all I've done is scratchbuilt a new head to make it the Milia Red Version head instead of the one that comes with the Bandai kit. I think it turned out ok.

As you can see, I still need to add a few decals. I'm just going to choose a couple of the Bandai decals to give it a little character. I've added the leg decals, which I made myself. Basically all I did was cut some out of this black line sticker material that you can buy at most hobby shops. If you're interested I'll post a picture of it.

I also plan on doing an oil wash to highlight some other crevices, but that's it. I'm not going to do a drybrush or anything else. I'm going to keep it kinda new looking. That's partly because I'm lazy... and I'm itching to move on to my next few models. I have three models already under way:

Hasegawa VF-2SS

G-Systems SDF-1 Cruiser Mode

Club-M Jamming Bird Battroid

[Sam]

Very nice, i like the new head, and the decals u have made yourself, top stuff

the oil wash will be nice on it too, its amazing how many nooks and crannies are brought out on this model. There are some larger holes though that personally i painted, then oil washed, like on the shoulders and forearms, whether its right or not though im not sure, just made mine look better

very nice indeed though

[Neova]

Wow, that looks pretty good! I like the decal work.

Can you stand it next to a 1/100 or 1/72 kit for size reference when you're done?

Keep it up.

[Replicant Mechanic]

That is looking really good!

[to177]

Luv the custom alternate face and color scheme LTSO, great job!

[wm cheng]

Great work! LTSO. Try taking some pictures in natural daylight - the colours might be closer.

Can't wait to see more when you are finished.

[Valkyrie]

That's looking really good, LTSO. The scratchbuilt head looks great. Though technically, you should have also made a DYRL style 'antenna' to replace the TV type one that the kit comes with.

It probably wouldn't be too tough to make one from a piece of sheet styrene. So if you want to go for that last bit of accuracy, you could probably bust off the old one and replace it fairly easily.

[Myersjessee]

EXCELLENT!

[Less than Super Ostrich]

Ok... here are some of the finsihed pics on a new thread in the Model section:

http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?...opic=8619&st=0&