Well, here's my first pictures of my own Launch Arm finally. This was based off a kit I mastered, then modified again. Sucker's a @#$% to photograph.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/thewildkingdom@prodigy.net/album?.dir=/d371&.src=ph
I did Hasagawa's 1/72 Roy Focker's Super VF-1S and gave him some custom missiles. I think the Hasagawa missiles are too big, and look a little silly, so I went with my old missles from the pre Hasagawa Macross days. I had mastered some missiles for a Super/Strike conversion kit for the old 1/72 Imai/Bandai variable years ago and used them after they got a update. I still like them better than Hasagawas. I was going to use the Strike cannon, but it didn't feel right. This is Roy during a launch before the cannon was operational. So now the continuity guys can be happy.
I skewered my VF to the arm. I used the pin, and went right through the VF, the backpack, the umbilical, and into the arm's sensor. That sucker ain't going anywhere. The illusion works perfect. People are convinced the little fingers are holding the VF, and wanted to know if they were pewter or lead. One guy even went to catch my VF when I turned it over and wiggled the arm. That means my plan of mounting it to the wall will work. The only bad part of that plan is it sticks so far out, I gotta mount it higher than my head in a sfae spot...
I added quite a bit to the launch arm kit base again. It had to do with a 'accident during construction' (I dropped it). Anyway, I wasn't thrilled at how it was turning out, so decided to try more. I can't help it, I get into build modes.
I wanted to use a mirror to reflect the VF, so the other side of the kit would be able to tell it's story as well. I was going to use a simple mirrior base, but then I thought using the mirror as the 'windows' would work. That became skip the windows, and put some people in front of the mirror behind the window, watching the VF launch. That became 'I need a Petite Cola Machine' in there. Which became, I need to angle the mirror to better show the VF. That became, now the rest of the base looks barren, I need more 'hull'. So that's what I wound up with.
Then Wm cheng gave up his graphics for the signal arm. They can be found on Macrossworld.com. in the model forums. They look awesome btw, and everybody should use them. It's so much easier than trying to paint the lettering... Mine were simply printed out at 14% on my cheap inkjet from the above graphics on cheap white paper, then glued to the signals. The glue (Future) soaked the paper, and dulled the graphics a bit by causing them to bleed. I plan to go back and fix it right. The graphics are worth a trip to a copy store and some nice laser printings. I just gotta remember to do it somday.
So, now my Arm is customized yet again. I still don't consider it completed though. Theres quite a few little details I want ot get to still. I'd like to add a few civillians including a girl with long black hair in a red dress. I'd like to do a little kid by the Petite Cola machine. I did take it to a local contest yesterday, and won 1st place in sci-fi. (Wings and Wheels ValleyCon 16) The thing is, the way the judging had to work, it was on the VF only. Now if that ain't a kick in the pants.