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Humanoid Unmanned Interceptor PHJ-101 'Grosser Hund' - the Big Dog

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  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Humanoid Unmanned Interceptor PHJ-101 'Grosser Hund' - the Big Dog
Posted by the Baron on Friday, February 12, 2016 12:25 PM

Well, I'm calling this one finished, my first completed kit of 2016.  This is Hasegawa's kit of the "Humanoid Unmanned Interceptor P.H.J 101 'Grosser Hund' ", from the Maschinen Krieger series.  It's an armored combat chassis, with an artificial intelligence system.  In the MaK storyline, this weapon was developed by the bad guys, the Strahl Democratic Republic, as an answer to the improved weapons and tactics used by the mercenaries fighting to free Earth.

Enough of the story, here's my finished piece....









It wasn't a difficult build, but there were about 30 individual steps in the instructions, and you do need to review the instructions carefully, in order not to miss anything.  For example, the plates protecting the robot's ankles are attached using holes you drill out a couple of steps before.  It's also tricky to note the orientation of some of the armor plates.  I also found it necessary to leave many of the smaller plates off, till I had applied my base colors (Tamiya flat acrylic Dark Yellow and Green).  If I had installed them in the designated sequence, I wouldn't have been able to get paint under them.

The bare metal parts--the robot's torso chassis, for example--are painted with Vallejo gunmetal.

For the weathering, I used a couple of methods.  I primed with Army Painter matte black, with acrylics for the top coats, then I used a 3M nylon scouring pad to scuff the acrylics and reveal the black underneath.  This was my second attempt at this technique, this time, with the right paints (see my AFS build for the lesson, not to use enamels over the black primer), and while it worked better, I still think I can get as good a look by applying thinned black acrylic with a fine brush.  Which is what I did for most of the chipping along seams or edges, on the bolt heads, etc.  I also used AK's Fuel Stains wash on the metallic bits, just for the color of oil or grease as a filter over the metal.

The decals are of good quality, but with all of the curves and irregular surfaces, it was necessary to use several applications of Solvaset on them.  The "13" on the codpiece and on the butt plate, for example, wrinkled over the curve of those plates.  So did the unit insignia on the cheek plates.  Those wrinkled badly, and if I hadn't known better, I'd have panicked that they wouldn't settle down.  But Solvaset works wonders on them.  I also used a sewing needle to poke tiny holes in the wrinkles and help the solution along.  The toughest decals were the markings on the rocket tubes.  They did not want to settle around the circumference of the tubes.  For those, I used Future to get them to stick along the curves.

Oh, and I got to use my hex punch for the first time!  The kit comes with bolt heads and bolt ends with hex nuts, molded on a plate on the one sprue.  You're expected to slice those off, as needed.  I tried it with a couple of them, but it was just too fiddly for me.  It was far easier to pick a punch of the right size and just punch out a little pile of bolt heads.   That punch set was worth the investment.

I'm happy with the way it turned out, though I'm nowhere near the level of the guys in the Maschinen Krieger forum or the Kow Yokoyama Facebook group.  I do think that I will try painting the next MaK kit by hand, using lacquers, the way Kow and the veteran MaK builders do.  They're able to blend colors, much the same way you do with oils, and it's nearly impossible to do that with an airbrush.  We'll see. On the other hand, I'm developing my own style.

Oh, and, this is the kit I built for my club's February meeting, this Friday night.  The monthly build theme is "Cats & Dogs", as I mentioned in another thread, and this is my entry, the "Big Dog".  I'm betting that no one else would have thought of this, though there are a couple other MaK fans in the club.  But I've only mentioned it here.  So we'll see.

Anyway, thanks for looking, criticisms/comments are welcome, and get building yerselves!

YbiC
Brad

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: From the Mit, but live in Mason, O high ho
Posted by hogfanfs on Friday, February 12, 2016 12:45 PM

Brad,

It turned out really good! I like the colors and subtle weathering. I keep seeing these builds and keep becoming more and more interested in doing one! Great job!

 Bruce

 

 On the bench:  1/48 Eduard MiG-21MF

                        1/35 Takom Merkava Mk.I

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Friday, February 12, 2016 1:40 PM

Very cool! Really nice work on the camo and unpainted metal bits. And the worn look on the feet and legs looks good to me.

Always thought these were cool, I guess one day I'll have to cough up the money and buy a couple.  

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Monday, February 15, 2016 11:52 AM

Thanks, guys!  I'll eventually put this one in a little vignette with a figure or two.

I recommend the kit, but, Gamera's right, you will pay a little bit.  Even when the kit was in production, I think the retail price was around $68 to $70.  I think you get good quality for your money, though.  I just bought another one off eBay over the weekend, to do the second of the four subjects depicted in the kit.

If you're interested in MaK generally, the armored suits can be had for less, both retail, for the ones that Wave re-issues every so often, or second-hand on eBay and elsewhere.

 

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Central Texas
Posted by NucMedTech on Friday, February 26, 2016 9:10 AM

That is really cool looking. Can you build it in a different pose, or better yet, is it poseable?

Most barriers to your successes are man made. And most often you are the man who made them. -Frank Tyger

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Friday, February 26, 2016 11:51 AM

NucMedTech

That is really cool looking. Can you build it in a different pose, or better yet, is it poseable?

 

 
Thanks, NucMedTech!  Yes, you're correct on both counts.  Pretty much every MaK piloted suit or AI robot is engineered with poseable joints.  They're constructed with soft plastic inserts that fit in the joints, to receive the thick pins of the limbs.  I think it's a popular feature of Japanese models.
 
In the case of the suits, the joints are made to look like they are covered by cloth or some other flexible material.  A lot of MaK builders, though, will forgo the moveable joints and use putty to improve the look of the joints.  Then they'll finish their kit just like any figure.  I used Aves A&B for mine.  The Hund doesn't have any, of course.
 
I'll eventually put the Hund in a vignette, and I have a vague thought of it looking up at some threat.   I just got my next one in the mail yesterday, and that one will go in a vignette with a figure, and I'm thinking of a stooped pose, bending down to look at a figure of some kind.

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    October 2009
  • From: South La
Posted by Ti4019 on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 2:30 AM

once my Mk 44 Ammoknight is done I would love a Grosserhund ( I know, wrong spelling). I am considering a maintenance diorama.

If you aren't having fun, you're doing it wrong! Build to please yourself and they will flame you every time!

  • Member since
    June 2016
  • From: Portland, OR
Posted by Boxcar_Bret on Saturday, June 18, 2016 7:07 PM

Nice work, Baron! Thanks for the build notes. I just bought my first MaK kit and will be posting my progress soon.

  • Member since
    October 2009
  • From: South La
Posted by Ti4019 on Sunday, June 19, 2016 1:01 PM
I totalled my van Friday night, so since I wont be spending that money on the Aliens 30th Anniverary gathering autographs, I applied it to buy myself one. Im looking forward to receiving it.

If you aren't having fun, you're doing it wrong! Build to please yourself and they will flame you every time!

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Monday, June 20, 2016 11:50 AM

Thanks, guys!  Sorry to hear about your van, man, but congrats on seeing the bright side Wink  I look forward to seeing your build.

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    October 2009
  • From: South La
Posted by Ti4019 on Friday, July 8, 2016 8:41 AM

I just got mine in the mail last night. I open the box and look through the bags but didn't open anything up I am fairly busy with a couple of other things that I want to finish upbefore I start opening bags on something new.

If you aren't having fun, you're doing it wrong! Build to please yourself and they will flame you every time!

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