Bandai 1/144 Zugock-E

Thanks for the comments!

Last night I finished drilling out all of the eye slots and did a bit more sanding on some parts.  Tonight I will drill out the torpedo ports in the head and lay down a piece of styrene inside the head to start building up the base for the mono-eye.

Update: Well I couldn't wait until tonight to continue working so today at lunch I started drilling the torpedo heads out.  I took a nice straight piece off of the sprue and started sanding down the rod to make the torpedo heads.  The fit is nice so hopefully tonight I will be able to cut out the rest of the heads and get them mounted.  Once that is done I will go ahead with the base for the mono-eye.

Here are some updated photos.  The Head torpedoes are in place, the vision slits are cut out, and the shoulders have had styrene added with a bit of detail.  The upper body is almost done.  I still need to finish the work up on the mono-eye and get a few other parts done.  I still have to go back and do some putty work along with re-positioning the arms where they attach to the claws.  After that I can start modding the lower torso and legs.  Hopefully I will have this done in time for a model contest on Oct 28.

Shoulder Armor
Head Pic #1
Head Pic #2

Mailch

all looks good, mine is OOB and Im happy with it, but someday I will update it much like you have yours here. I really wish that the luanch tubes in the head were hollow so we could avoid the drill/sand/prep stage for adding new ammo....

Well it's been a long time since I updated this thread but I am back on it so here is an update.

I cut the top of the Zugock's head off and built an internal box to support the Mono-eye.  Next thing I need to do is putty up the base and then add the detail to it.  Not so sure what putty to use though to build up the base.  I have Tamiya grey putty but I was thinking of getting some epoxy putty and covering it with that.  Once that is done and shaped I can start adding the pla plate to mimic the track detail that goes around the head unit that the Mono-eye runs around on.  I really hit a wall with the whole eye thing.  At one point I just wanted to throw the whole thing in the trash!  So we will see how it goes.  Here are two pics of the latest work.  The additional pla plates in the background still need to be sanded around the edges and added to the top for some more height.

I just ordered some parts from Hobby Japan so I am waiting on those to come in.  If anyone knows where I can find Kotobukiya Modeling Support Goods, (MSGs), besides Hobby Japan please let me know.  

Malich

You can use what the Japanese use, Mori Mori from Hobby Link Japan or any 2 part polyestr putty such as Tamiya 2 part or Bondo 2 part putty for general shaping.  I am using a lot of Magic-sculpt from TAP plastics online and love the stuff. Even regular old 2 part plumbers putty would work for general shaping, but getting the sanding marks out can be tedious.

Looks good so far, better definition for the mono sensor.  I have seen those made up from WAVE and Kotubukaiya (SP?) option parts vernie thrusters and Klenses.

David

Quick Update.

I ended up using Magic-Sculpt for the Mono-eye base.  It went on pretty quickly and without much fuss so no problems there.  I did a bit of sanding and clean up this morning and I am happy with the way it turned out.  Now I am moving on to cutting the styrene strips for the upper and lower parts of the track.  I was thinking of sculpting the eye out of Magic-Sculpt but I think I will try and get the wave parts to make the eye.  If there is one thing I wish I would have done differently it would have been to make the Mono-eye base a bit smaller.  There is always next time though!

David, you don't happen to know of any other place that sells the Kotobukiya or Wave parts do you?  Hobby Japan is still awaiting a july restock.  It sure would be nice to get parts soon so I can move on to other things!

Rich

Rich

 Get ahold of Bobe's Hobby House in Pensacola, they have a LOT of Asian stock and usually stock some option parts.

www.bobeshobbyhouse.com

Give them a call in the morning and see if they can ship you something. I have NEVER been unhappy with them. I try to stock up on those things when I can every now and then, just to have the extra stock.

I will definitely check them out and thanks for the info!  I did however end up buying some option parts off evilbay.  Hopefully I will see them sometime next week. 

I laid the tracks in place for the mono-eye so now I need to construct the eye and line it up where I want it.  I made the bottom strip of styrene a little too wide.  So I will probably have the eye overlap it.  Next time I will try and get it smaller.  I don't want to sand the edge of the styrene down too much because that will eat into the magic sculpt and create a groove.  I am going to have to replace the struts that hold the crown of the head.  I was thinking of cutting two strips of styrene.  Make one strip the height I want the inside view port to be and the other strip to ride along top of the first strip with a little overlap on the crown connection and body connection.  I plan on leaving the crown detachable.  There is a pin in place which connects the crown to the base unit.  I noticed that you can see from one side to the other where the crown meets the base unit.  So I will have to add some detail to the inside to cover up any holes.  Once that is done I need to glue the substructure to the inside of one half the body and start filling in gaps, etc...  I have also been kicking the idea around of cutting out the existing pegs for the arms and constructing a better shoulder joint.  Not sure if I want to tackle that in this kit since I am already way behind. 

While waiting on parts to dry and what not I started working on a 1/144 GM Command.  I will probably keep this one pretty simple though every time I start fiddling with it I think about what I can change on it.  Once I make a bit more progress I will start another thread for it.  For now here are some pics of the latest work.