WELL ! ! !

    In my science Fiction World it would get the GOLD. She looks AWESOME!! I LUV IT!!

Thanks Gamera!

I learned lots of lessons on this project that will be applied to following ones to make them better.  The Nausicaa train will be restocked and readied for its next destination!

The Bakagalas will be touched up a bit, then rolled into its hangar.

That is awesome! 

I thought you were going to put her in the scratchbuilt catagory, in general SF/Fantasy vehicles a second place is all that more impressive!!! 

Thanks to all for your kind words and encouragement!  So without ado, here are the pics from the "blackout" period of the project:

Black based.

Marbling.

Color coat.

In the box.

At the hotel room.

And finally, on the contest table.

Second place in a national show- that's not good- that's friggin' outstanding!!!

Congradulations!!!

WOW!!!

I am not worthy!

Thanks Armornut.  When I saw the competition, I honestly didn't think I would place.

Tanker-Builder,

Yeah I understand.  It's an internal thing my parents programmed into me to always do my best and to never slack off.  It's like that Asian parody where the kid comes home with a B- on his report card and his parents declare "FAILURE!"  

So, the best thing to do is throttle up and jump back into the GBs and my weird model builds!

Regarding the model's weight, it's quite light, being hollow and made from balsa wood CA glued to sheet plastic. 

    You had some stiff competition, that said you put forth maximum effort. GREAT JOB my friend.

Ya Gotta look at it this way!

 You got Second Place? Great. How about the poor fellow that got No Place. You did Good with this. By the way. How much does this model weigh? She Looks HHEEAAVVYY!

Thanks Gamera and Tanker Builder!

I got second place, which is much more than I deserved.  Honestly I'm not happy when I can't put forward my best efforts.  I am just grateful that the model is done!

Good luck!!! 

As TB, said go kick some booty!!! 

Okay!

      For all it's strangeness, I can only say ,She's Gorgemous. Go Wup *** and take Names later!! Safe Trip Too.

It is done; far from perfect, but it is done.  See, this is why you really should never procrastinate on a deadline.  I spent a whole day and night scrambling and improvising my way to getting the model done in the hotel room.  I made some terrible mistakes in my haste and so must live with the results.

I'll post pics as soon as I get to a computer.  A full show report will also follow.

Gamera,

I overheard some convention goers saying they were airbrushing in the hotel room shower!

Again, best of luck G!!!

One of the guys in our club, Greg, has a great story about spraying a model with Dullcote out in the parking lot at a show while taking it in there still wet... 

And I ran out of time.    But my sis calmly suggested why not finish the model in the hotel room?

Logistically it is a pain, as I have to source glues and paint, but we have a car, so it's off to whatever hobby shop I can find.  I'll check out the vendor's room first.  I did pack tools I would need, so it's not over yet.

Basically, I have to pin wash the model, paint the small windows, add guns if I can source them, seal everything with clear flat, then assemble the fins and external flaps.

...aaaaand the fecal storm hits!  The UV resin for the canopy went very badly, to the point where I told myself well, that's that, going stag for the first time.  Then I knocked off a part somewhere, and one of the external flaps went MIA.

But a friend who is also working around the clock told me no, salvage the canopy and paint it solid if you have to.

The flap turned up in the sanding stick box, and I made a replacement for the knocked off part.

I'm sad the canopy concept tanked, but lesson learned.  It's a drop-in part, so if I use white glue I can remove it later when I make a vac-form replacement.  So I guess I'll paint the insides of the gun blisters black.  

Anyway, it's gonna be a long night here!  Sleep is not an option; I'll nap on the plane.

Update:  I found the missisng part only now.  On a chair in the dining room.  Argh.  Oh well, too late, as a replacement has already been made and installed.

Akkkkkkkk, asleep on the floor!?! Please don't let this kill you G! 

Fingers and toes crossed that you make the deadline! 

Well, no photos because I don't have a proper computer at home.  

The model is shaping up though - last night I added about 40 grab handles and made an involuntary "Oh-ho-ho-ho!" when I saw the results.  Definitely helps propel the project forward.

But Lorenzo Bandini in the Ferrari car is giving me the eye.  I'll need to exceed 7,000 RPM till the finish line.  Hope I don't get a blowout.  It's gonna be close.

No wait, switching movies like the brakes on the GT40, I must follow Yoda's words:  "No, DO.  Or do not. Is no try."

See all you Jedi Masters in a few days!

Oh man, the big reveal in Vegas 

No more pics till the Nats, but I thoght I'd give a small update.

All parts have now been completed, the 12 wheels have been adjusted in height to get the wings level, fresh paint supplies have been secured, and painting will commence tomorrow.

Update:  Gah, I have fallen asleep on the living room floor, I missed dinner, and it's now 11:30 pm.  Well, I got my 6 hrs sleep, so I guess I'll press on till the morning.  

    Being a Vet I have been confused with the famous rock star. I'll explain in person

Steve and Perry (Hey you guys sound like the frontman from Journey!),

Thanks!  I'll pour it on until it gets to the finish line.  7,000+ RPM from now, going for broke.

See you all in a couple of days!

Your in the home strech G, heck you'll even have time for paint to dry. Looking forward to seeing it and you in Vegas. Bombye

That looks really good G. Can't wait to see it painted.

Okay, all "fingers" are on, as well as some antenna things on the fins.

The number of parts needing to be added has dwindled down to the small stuff like grab handles and blade antennas, but I'm running late.  It's gonna be a CRAZY weekend for sure.  

Gamera - For the transport container, I spied several boxes for the roll media we use for the large format plotter in my office.  The model O.D. is 28"W x 8"L x5"H, so it should fit.

TB - Yeah I like the weird petal-shaped wings too.  Hayao Miyazaki design at its best!

So cool! I think those 'finger' things on real planes help to get rid of static charges or something like that.

I am interested now on how you're going to get her in the airplane and transported to Vegas without breaking anything though!

Well;

     Gotta say, this is looking Good. For some reason I just love the Wing Shape. It speaks to me?

Modelcrazy, Gamera, Lostagain,

Thanks guys for the encouragement!  I'm really needing it!    I primed the model this morning before work, and already I see a lot of areas that need fixing.  I don't know why I missed them before, but they are there so they need to be fixed.

I stopped work at midnight, so didn't get to the "fingers" on the port wing.  But this is what the starboard side looks like.

So Plan C for tonight is to address the problem areas and finish the "fingers" and any other bits and bobs.

Photo updates will end tomorrow, as I start my vacation and won't have access to a proper computer.  Flicker deleted the option of copying the url .  Sucks.

Really looking forward to seeing this in person G