Sci-Fi Group Build

Still ongoing! How fast can you build?
http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12258

Um it depends on how sloppy you want it whens the deadline ?

February 29th.

DOH !

Thats not that much time , although I'm working on an AMT Alien warrior . I don't know if I can have it done buy then , with work and all ? I can try .


Walt

I know how you feel, Rat-man! How far along are you?

Let's see , I'm just about done sanding and adding putty , so just about ready for primer , however my idea for this kit and mind you that while it's not the best Alien kit ouot their , was to make a base and make the alien look like it was wet/dripping slime like you see them in the movie . My next project is kindda scary I'll be doing an Alien pile in resin , which is my first venture into resin kits , so this is my way of seeing if I can do the things I want to do on a cheap kit before I mess up a very expensive kit . Oh as soon as I figure out the whole picture thing I'll post some pics .

SewerRat.

You are talking about the old Fewture Alien Pile Kit I presume, pity that Fewture stopped producing those and other Kits a few years back.
Those are hard to come by this days, if you get stuck with it speak to the guys on here:

Gremlins in the Garage!

A few guys on there have finished the Kit I am sure and can help you out.

Advise:
Stock up on some acrylic gel.

QUOTE: Originally posted by MadModelFactory SewerRat. You are talking about the old Fewture Alien Pile Kit I presume, pity that Fewture stopped producing those and other Kits a few years back. Those are hard to come by this days, if you get stuck with it speak to the guys on here: Gremlins in the Garage! A few guys on there have finished the Kit I am sure and can help you out. Advise: Stock up on some acrylic gel.

Yep that would be the one , I nearly myself when I found this at an flea market of all places , still sealed , I feel like I stole it because I only paid $5.00 , do you think I should have told the guy it was worth more

QUOTE: Originally posted by SewerRat Yep that would be the one , I nearly myself when I found this at an flea market of all places , still sealed , I feel like I stole it because I only paid $5.00 , do you think I should have told the guy it was worth more

$5.00 that is a bargain, naah, if they didn't know what it was worth ...
Standard price I think is $138.00 for one of those.
Congrats on gettin the kit for that price, what a find.

Heard a rumour that Fewture USA is releasing kits again, but doing now only as a wholesaler to a few trusted shops, pretty much the same policy adopted now by most japanese kit makers.

That would be excellent , I think they made the best Alien kits around . You are so lucky to live in Japan . Were you born there are moved there or ? I'd almost sell my children to move to Japan .

QUOTE: Originally posted by SewerRat That would be excellent , I think they made the best Alien kits around . You are so lucky to live in Japan . Were you born there are moved there or ? I'd almost sell my children to move to Japan .

I moved here about 7yrs ago. Personally, I am not too much into Fewture kits myself most of theirs designs don't really appeal to me same with the Volks Sorayama kits.

Japan is a lovely place to live, takes a bit to get adjusted to mostly due to the language and cultural barrier but once you are over that and speak to a lot of the Kit makers (mostly the smaller and private guys) directly you can get hold of stuff like you wouldn't believe.

A friend of mine managed to get hold of a few Kits that were casted but never released as the licence was not approved.

MMF well Fewture is back up and running , I don't know if they'll re-release any old kits , there site states that you can still buy the Alien pile for $138 so I feel real lucky/blessed that I found it so cheap , I knew it was an expensive kit but I was thinking maybe $50.00 at most . I remember when I first started posting you mentioned having to pin resin kits , what exactly do you mean by that ? remember the pile will be my first resin kit .

QUOTE: Originally posted by SewerRat I remember when I first started posting you mentioned having to pin resin kits , what exactly do you mean by that ? remember the pile will be my first resin kit .

Pinning is a technique used to strenghten glue joints by inserting metal pins or similar.

Most Resin kits are inadequatly "keyed" for assembly and miss alignment pins and markings as you see on Plastic Kits, also since the parts are solid cast they are heavy and can pull a joint apart.

Here is how it works:
You will need to drill corresponding holes into both joint surfaces, some kits got markings for those locations others don't.

If there are no markings and the joint is smooth it gets a bit more complicated.
1.) Dry fit the parts and make sure that they lineup
2.) Draw 4 lines across the joint, the should be spaced over the length of the joint.
3.) Take the parts apart and connect the opposing lines/markings on each joint halve, this should give a cross marking per side.
4.) Drill a Hole into both parts at the center of the cross marking.
5.) Into one part insert/glue a piece of metal wire (bonsai or armature wire works well).
6.) Cut the wire to a length so that the parts will join smoothly.

Now there is a time when you cannot use the method to draw the 4 lines, at times it is easier to spot-glue the parts together and drill a hole from the outside into the joint, insert the pin followed by Super Glue and you will need to putty over the hole you drilled and might need to restore some surface detail.

Now you got the pieces ready for assembly and when you glue them together the pin will strenghten the joint and help align the pieces.

I have had Kits take a 5 foot tumble of the shelf(Earthquake) and thanks to the pinning never came apart.

Thickness of the Wire will depend on the joint and how strong it will need to be, I drill all my holes using a pinvise and minidrill bits. Most common sizes for me a re 1mm, 1.5mm, 2mm & 3mm.

Hope this helps, if you get stuck feel free to send me an e-mail and I will ship you some pics of how it is done.

QUOTE: Originally posted by MadModelFactory QUOTE: Originally posted by SewerRat I remember when I first started posting you mentioned having to pin resin kits , what exactly do you mean by that ? remember the pile will be my first resin kit . Pinning is a technique used to strenghten glue joints by inserting metal pins or similar. Most Resin kits are inadequatly "keyed" for assembly and miss alignment pins and markings as you see on Plastic Kits, also since the parts are solid cast they are heavy and can pull a joint apart. Here is how it works: You will need to drill corresponding holes into both joint surfaces, some kits got markings for those locations others don't. If there are no markings and the joint is smooth it gets a bit more complicated. 1.) Dry fit the parts and make sure that they lineup 2.) Draw 4 lines across the joint, the should be spaced over the length of the joint. 3.) Take the parts apart and connect the opposing lines/markings on each joint halve, this should give a cross marking per side. 4.) Drill a Hole into both parts at the center of the cross marking. 5.) Into one part insert/glue a piece of metal wire (bonsai or armature wire works well). 6.) Cut the wire to a length so that the parts will join smoothly. Now there is a time when you cannot use the method to draw the 4 lines, at times it is easier to spot-glue the parts together and drill a hole from the outside into the joint, insert the pin followed by Super Glue and you will need to putty over the hole you drilled and might need to restore some surface detail. Now you got the pieces ready for assembly and when you glue them together the pin will strenghten the joint and help align the pieces. I have had Kits take a 5 foot tumble of the shelf(Earthquake) and thanks to the pinning never came apart. Thickness of the Wire will depend on the joint and how strong it will need to be, I drill all my holes using a pinvise and minidrill bits. Most common sizes for me a re 1mm, 1.5mm, 2mm & 3mm. Hope this helps, if you get stuck feel free to send me an e-mail and I will ship you some pics of how it is done.

Right on , sounds like it could be fun LOL . I haven't opened the pile yet but I'm thinking pinning is the best way to go .
Now I have another question and maybe you can help .
Aliens have slime , how can I make it look like they have dripping slime ?
I was thinking about using a clear epoxy and adding just a little bit of a green tint to it , but is that a good idea ?

QUOTE: Originally posted by SewerRat Right on , sounds like it could be fun LOL . I haven't opened the pile yet but I'm thinking pinning is the best way to go .

The first time I pinned a Kit I was nervous like anything. If you get it wrong fill the holes with Putty and let it dry, redo.

There are a few other methods in which it can also be done, but I leave those for now. I once pinned and gap-filled a kit in one step.

QUOTE: Now I have another question and maybe you can help . Aliens have slime , how can I make it look like they have dripping slime ? I was thinking about using a clear epoxy and adding just a little bit of a green tint to it , but is that a good idea ?

You could use clear epoxy or Acrylic Gel from the artists supply sore.
Wood Glue will also do the trick in a pinch.

Here is my recipe for goo/saliva droplets:
1.) Drill a hole/s into the jaw
2.) Insert/glue into it a clear piece of plastic(stretched sprue), fishing line, etc..
3.) Let the acrylic gel run down the jaw onto the clear piece and collect at the bottom in a drop shape, will take multiple applications to get right. Work slow and in small amounts.
4.) Hit it very lightly with clear colours(acryllics), Alien slime I would say a green/yellowish colour would look great.

As with all techniques experiement a bit to see what works best for you.

Hope this is what you are after.

That should do the trick , I didn't even think of the gel But then thats why I'm testing it on the cheap AMT kit , I won't be to upset if I ruin it .