Oh wow that's cool!!!

Somehow it makes me think of an armoured combat Vorlon encounter suit!

Gamera

Oh wow that's cool!!!

 

Somehow it makes me think of an armoured combat Vorlon encounter suit!

 

...or Sgt. Keroro! 

https://flic.kr/p/UPwMTQ][/url]BK-26 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgt._Frog

What a cool and original kit. Looks like a blast and can't wait to see it complete. I love, love, love it!

Oh man. Looks cool. Following this build fo sho.

Following Fermis' advice, hopefully the rubbish before and after the photos will be gone forever.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4280/35603332156_db3ba4196c_k.jpg

Oh nuts, there is no "preview" button.  Oh well here goes.

Anyway, just replacing the soft plastic (TEPE, not polyethylene or vinyl) molded cables with coil spring and mesh pipe.  While the kit parts are well detailed and are nicely wiggly, the parting lines are impossible to clean up.  Some solder or wire will be run inside the replacements to emulate the wigglyness of the kit parts.

Okay, it still doesn't work for me.  I'm tech-challenged.  Sucks to be me.

https://flic.kr/p/Wf9ofq][/url]BK-27 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

Those look cool G, looking forward to seeing how you fit them in there. 

Good idea upgrading those parts. It will look much better.

Thanks for the comments guys!  A bit of progress, but not much.  I was kind of busy yesterday with the BBQ grill. 

The attachment point for the gun support arm (ala smartgun from "Aliens") was vague, so I just found the flattest spot on the body and glued it down.  I made a shallow depression on the body where the arm ball joint was, to provide some clearance.  Seems to have worked.

https://flic.kr/p/VQNaSS][/url]BK-31 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/Vcsmo6][/url]BK-32 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

The body kind of reminds me of that giant catepillar monster from "Monsters vs Aliens".    You know, with the snot thing...

The resin parts for the gun did not fit well, and neither did the plastic shield.  After some attempts to get everything to match up, I just gave up and glued everything down.  The gun muzzle had mold slip lines, so I cut it off and replaced it with a short piece of plastic rod.  The bore was drilled out after the muzzle was set, to make things easier for my failing eyesight and motor control.

https://flic.kr/p/VQNbey][/url]BK-28 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/VQNb79][/url]BK-29 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/Vcsm6x][/url]BK-30 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

Things look super messy right now, but that is just the pre-painting.  Just need to clean up some resin parts, then off to the paint shop!

What IS that???  Looks like a bad potato to me.  Please forgive this old geezer, who just doesn't get it!

Cadet Chuck,

The Black Knight is a powered space suit designed for lunar surface attack.  If you think it looks wacky, the base Mk.44 kit looks even worse, kind of like a robot Homer Simpson!  The resin aft bulges and snout, while making the design even more bulky, gives it a cooler look in my eyes.  It IS one of the ugliest robot-type kits I have though. 

Thanks, Real G.  I'm just not at all familiar with that subject-  I'll have to learn a bit more.  Enjoy!

Chuck

Slowly getting back to working on models.  The Black Knight got some black primer on a few nights ago.  Everything looks in order, so now the actual colors will follow.

https://flic.kr/p/22zrri6][/url]BK-36 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

The Black Knight charges in at the 11th hour to sub in for my failed 2018 Nats entry.  I'm sad, but hey I paid my entry fee so I cannot go "stag"!

The model was black based at the end of last year, so it was ready to be painted.  The airbrush was rolled out Friday night and decals went on yesterday.

I still can't post pics using my phone, but if I can get to a real computer, I will.  I'll also post photos from the contest upon my return next week.

Good luck G!!! Hope you can finish on time!

Thanks Gamera!  The house was reeking of turpentine from the oil washes yesterday, but less so today.  Just a few touch ups, some paint chipping, and a sealer coat should do it.

It's mostly a waiting game, so at least I have time to putter around and clean up the house a bit before flying out tomorrow.  It's fun ironing shirts to the tune of Judas Priest's "Turbo Lover"!

Great to hear!!

Our local show has a special catagory for building Revell's vintage P-51D and I don't think I'll be ready in time. This kit is friggin' horrible and it's like a hydra- every problem I solve two more pop up to bite me...

Gamera, I had the old 1/48 Monogram P-51D kit, which was not bad for its time.  It was leagues better than my other WW II Monogram fighters (Me-109E, Fw-190A, A6M5, Spit Mk.IX, F6F, and Typhoon).

I have to run out to get some wire to finish the stand for my model now.

Keep going on your build, never give up, never surrender!

lol re love love garden.  Looking good - getting interested in the mech kits.

Hi;

 The last photo of this looks like a P*&&%$ rhino with - out his horns . If you look at it just right you can see what I mean . Why can't I find these around here ?

 I hope your Sis is doing okay now . If you don't mind , I will add her to my prayer circle for protection . T.B.

Tanker Builder, thank you for thinking about sis - she's doing fine, and could probably protect all of us!

The kit is actually a resin garage kit, with a Hasegawa injection molded base kit thrown in, so I would not expect to see one in any US hobby shop.

And now if you will excuse me gents, I have to look for a box for the BK to make the 2,500+ mile hop to Phoenix!

G, I just hope you'll post the finished model with all the awards you win!

Gamera,

The competition is stiff this year and my models are not my best efforts.  So no wins anticipated!  But I appreciate the well wishes.  That the competition is stiff is good for the contest because that means lots of good entries in the mecha category.

I added the Aliens APC to my model box just before heading out the door.  There are a lot of ugly joints on the underside that I didn't bother to address, since I was just interested in being able to replace the batteries for the lighting.  Again, no wins here.  I just wanted to throw in something fun for people to look at.

And there are a lot of fun things that other people brought - I just love that aspect of model contests!

In the vendor's room, I only bought 2 kits, one for a friend.  I got a Wave Destroid Defender for myself.  I have been looking for this never reissued kit since pasing it up during it's initial run.  I'm shopped out already, so it looks like no more models to add to the hoarder's stash.

So in four days, I got the Black Knight painted - not something I want to repeat any time soon.  A lot of compromises and ugly cover-ups occurred that should have never happened under a more relaxed schedule.  I tried oil washes for the first time, which promptly dissolved the paint UNDER several layers of Tamiya spray can clear coat.  I was only waiting 12 hours between paint stages, so it's all my fault.

Anyhoo, here is a condensed play-by-play:

https://flic.kr/p/29vbbWE][/url]BK-39 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/MrFwDf][/url]BK-40 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/MrFwgw][/url]BK-42 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/28v6zaY][/url]BK-45 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/28f5vWB][/url]BK-48 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/26S8oXW][/url]BK-50 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/29yb7Dd][/url]BK-53 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/KX86iV][/url]BK-60 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/29GZSNc][/url]BK-61 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/29GZShn][/url]BK-63 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

In the hotel room with a friend:

https://flic.kr/p/MKtbP1][/url]IMG_8248 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

And back from a 5,000+ mile journey:

https://flic.kr/p/29T5zUx][/url]IMG_8505 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

Ack, hate it when the paint peels up with a wash but the final results look fantastic! 

And congrads on the award (if that's what it is- I don't see a 1st, 2nd, 3rd place on there). 

Gamera, yes that's the award that was handed out.  No 1st, 2nd, or 3rd written anywhere.

Maybe they had to go that way due to the unusually low trophy sponsorship.  I sponsored a trophy package under "The East Oahu Radical Splinter Faction Group".  I have done so on three occasions.  If club members just kick in a few dollars each, it is easy to raise the $80.  Heck that's the going price of a large kit. 

It's a beautiful award- just confused me a little there! Congradulations on winning it!!! 

Thanks guys!

Now everyone back to the bench!