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"Veteran of Future Wars" 1/20 S.A.F.S.

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  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Louisville, KY.
"Veteran of Future Wars" 1/20 S.A.F.S.
Posted by Cosmic J on Friday, January 25, 2008 6:08 AM

This is my Super Armored Fighting Suit in 1/20 scale, from Nitto. It's kit # 4 from the Maschinen Krieger / Ma.K. ZbV3000 series.

It's mostly straight from the box. I swapped out some of the joint armor w/ an SAFS Fireball kit, added a white metal replacement hand from Modeling Support Goods/Kotobukia, some Waldron instruments and bezels in the drivers compartment, and various minor improvements using brass rod and tubing.

It was painted w/ Model Master enamels, and weathered using a salt mask over a base coat of burnt umber. Markings are a combination of kit decals and dry transfers by Verlinden and Archer. 

The model won a Silver award at Wonderfest USA in 2005, and a Silver at the IPMS region IV show that same year.

Comments and criticism welcome.

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Staten Island, New York
Posted by kenny_conklin on Friday, January 25, 2008 6:09 PM
excellent work your paint job is awsome
"Rakkasans Lead the Way!"
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Newport News VA
Posted by Buddho on Friday, January 25, 2008 7:02 PM
Excellent job!

  • Member since
    January 2006
Posted by KirkTrekModeler on Friday, January 25, 2008 7:36 PM

 kenny_conklin wrote:
excellent work your paint job is awsome

Agreed, very well done. 

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Louisville, KY.
Posted by Cosmic J on Saturday, January 26, 2008 4:07 PM
Blush [:I] Aw, shucks. Thanks Guys.
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: arizona
Posted by cthulhu77 on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 11:40 PM
Fantastic job on that one!  You need to cgi it and throw it into a film...too good.
http://www.ewaldbros.com
  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Baton Rouge, Snake Central
Posted by PatlaborUnit1 on Thursday, January 31, 2008 7:27 AM

Man I love a SAFS!

I pulled one of mine out and checked the box last weekend.  need to get some things done and get one mine again.

Great colors you picked for it!

David

Build to please yourself, and don't worry about what others think! TI 4019 Jolly Roger Squadron, 501st Legion
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by ssgkopp on Thursday, January 31, 2008 11:31 AM
awesome job.
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Louisville, KY.
Posted by Cosmic J on Saturday, February 9, 2008 1:35 AM

Sci-Fi modelers are the kindest modelers... Big Smile [:D]

Thank you for your kind words, gentlemen.

  • Member since
    January 2006
Posted by KirkTrekModeler on Monday, February 18, 2008 4:50 PM

It's not just kindness Cosmic, your work speaks for itself. Can't wait to see more. I'm willing to share some web space if you need a place to host your pictures. 

 

 Cosmic J wrote:

Sci-Fi modelers are the kindest modelers... Big Smile [:D]

Thank you for your kind words, gentlemen.

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Louisville, KY.
Posted by Cosmic J on Saturday, June 7, 2008 4:16 PM

Well, I got a new camera, so I took some new pictures. Much better than the old grainy ones.

Hope y'all like them.

-CJ

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Schaumburg, IL
Posted by SkullGundam on Sunday, June 8, 2008 10:41 PM
I like this man, its really cool.  MaK isn't my cup of tea, probably because I doubt I could do it, and I know I would need a ton more experience before I would even know what to do with it, but they sure are fun to look at when you want to see great work.  Good job.  It deserves those awards.

If at first you do succeed, try to hide your astonishment.

Join the Club and Swap Books for Free! - PaperBackSwap.com

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Louisville, KY.
Posted by Cosmic J on Thursday, June 12, 2008 5:46 PM

Thanks SG. I appreciate it.

I feel exactly that way about Gundams. With the Ma.K.s, if you make a mistake, well, they're supposed to be a little beat up: mistakes are easy to forgive. Gundams are really clean; even the detail on the battle damaged ones is very sharp. The slightest mistakes are usually obvious.

Construction is another thing. Ma.K.s have very few parts compared to the Gundams, and construction is fairly straight forward. With Gundams, I have trouble visualising the entire painting and construction sequence, so I wind up building them piecemeal, which takes forever.

I am trying to get better tho'. Wink [;)]

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Schaumburg, IL
Posted by SkullGundam on Thursday, June 12, 2008 10:39 PM
Well I agree, although on the damage part I must say I've never seen a mangled MaK that looked like the builder just screwed up.  And I think the construction challenges for me are fun.  I'm still learning how to do it in the right order and every suit I've built has some problem Like parts of 2 halfs of an arm being painted different colors or forgetting to do any panel lines on the Gouf till after it was painted.  But I think the one reason Gundams are easier for me is they are familiar.  I built Gundams before I ever knew people painted them, so this new world of modeling is just one more step but with MaK or something else I'd be in the dark to start.  But if I ever decide to branch out I at least know I have a few people to go to for advice.

If at first you do succeed, try to hide your astonishment.

Join the Club and Swap Books for Free! - PaperBackSwap.com

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Louisville, KY.
Posted by Cosmic J on Friday, June 13, 2008 8:42 PM

SG:

Well I agree, although on the damage part I must say I've never seen a mangled MaK that looked like the builder just screwed up.

Heh! I hear ya. I guess what I meant to say is that if I accidentally scratch the finish on a MaK during final construction, no one will think it's a mistake. They might even give me props for it (are the kids still saying that?)

I think the one reason Gundams are easier for me is they are familiar.

I really agree w/ this. I know the things I like to build are those things that I became familiar w/ when I was young: MaKs, Star Wars, BSG...I never even heard of Gundams until I was in my mid 20's, so they are kind of terra incognita to me. I see their potential though, so I'm trying some out.

agentg:

Not my cup o'tea, but WOW! the workmanship was superb. listening to him describe the construction sequence made me crosseyed. Also increased my respect for his skill 10x more than I already had.

Oh yeah, absolutely. I used to think they were glorified toys, until I actually tried to build one. Serves me right for pre-judging them.

Oh, and thanks for the compliments guys. I really appreciate it.

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Friday, June 12, 2009 11:24 AM

I love the large amount of Ma.k showing up on this site. 

You did a Great job on this. 

Wave just released this kit I think with a female head

 

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Louisville, KY.
Posted by Cosmic J on Friday, June 12, 2009 10:52 PM

Thank you stv. 

They did just release a new one, but I haven't got one of those yet. Too many in the stash already. Big Smile [:D]

This is an old thread from about a year and a half ago, resurrected by the (now deleted) previous respondent. Not that I mind, its nice to dust it off and look at it again. I'm pleased w/ how the photos came out.

 

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: The House of Blues Clues
Posted by Griffworks on Friday, June 12, 2009 11:30 PM

I was first exposed to the MaK stuff a while back thru Squadrons mail order fliers.  It looked interesting, but I was much too interested in Trek to seriously consider buying any.  Kinda kewel, but a bit too World War II-like for my tastes.

Fast Forward to now. 

The first time I actually laid eyes on a complete kit was a model contest in El Paso, TX.  Someone there did the Neurospotter (I think it's called?) Drone.  Pretty kewel.  And now after seeing these at WonderFests over the last several years, I'm even more amazed.  I have a real appreciation for these kits and those who build them. 

So, thanks for sharing the pics of the builds, John.  It's greatly appreciated. Make a Toast [#toast]

 

The greatest measure of a man is his children and what kind of people they are.

 

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Saturday, June 13, 2009 3:07 AM

I'm being drawn more and more to builds like this one. And I especially like this particular model.

I've looked on ebay, but they are all $50-60. Where's the best place to get these?

Lastly, when I was deployed, if we were on down time on the tracks we were always siding outside .... too dang hot inside! ... do these kits come with a full figure? And if not, where would you find 1/20 figures?

Thanks in advance & great job on this build BTW.

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    May 2009
Posted by ZeroBXU on Saturday, June 13, 2009 10:56 PM

 smeagol the vile wrote:
Wave just released this kit I think with a female head

The kit Wave just released is the "Snake Eye", which is a space-faring variant of the SAFS, but different from that which is pictured above. It does, however, contain a few sprue trees labeled "SAFS", and it's been suggested  that a newly tooled SAFS is in Wave's plans--just probably not for a year or so.

 modelchasm wrote:
do these kits come with a full figure?

Most of the old Nitto kits do not come with a full stand-alone figure. The exceptions are the Fliege, Krote, SAFS, Fledermaus, and the Neuspotter (and probably a few others). None of the new Wave kits have been issued with a full stand-alone figure. However, they are re-issuing the Nitto mold of the Fliege in July, so that should give you a figure. I guess the current-gen exception would be the Falke, which comes with a standing female figure and a pilot.

 modelchasm wrote:
And if not, where would you find 1/20 figures?

There's a few options out there. First, there's resin figures (check Starship Modeler and HobbyLink Japan). Second, there's a few (very few) plastic offerings. Nitto made two boxings of Ma.K. figures (Strahl and Mercenary) with three figures apiece. There's also a "Pit Crew" available from Tamiya in 1/20. There's a boxed version (out of production, hard to find, and expensive) and a bagged version which isn't that hard to track down--I even saw one in HobbyTown recently. If I recall correctly, the bagged pit crew had six figures in various poses. In July Hasegawa will be releasing a figure set to complement their Falke, and it will contain four figures.

"The parrot is the bird that talks the most and flies the worst" - The Wright Brothers
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Louisville, KY.
Posted by Cosmic J on Monday, June 15, 2009 2:07 AM

 Griffworks wrote:

I was first exposed to the MaK stuff a while back thru Squadrons mail order fliers.  It looked interesting, but I was much too interested in Trek to seriously consider buying any.  Kinda kewel, but a bit too World War II-like for my tastes.

Fast Forward to now. 

The first time I actually laid eyes on a complete kit was a model contest in El Paso, TX.  Someone there did the Neurospotter (I think it's called?) Drone.  Pretty kewel.  And now after seeing these at WonderFests over the last several years, I'm even more amazed.  I have a real appreciation for these kits and those who build them. 

So, thanks for sharing the pics of the builds, John.  It's greatly appreciated. Make a Toast [#toast]

 

Why thank you Jeffery. I know you've been a real fan of my Ma.K.s for awhile now. I still have that PM of congratulations you sent me regarding my Fledermaus.

Appreciate it. Make a Toast [#toast]

 

 modelchasm wrote:

I'm being drawn more and more to builds like this one. And I especially like this particular model.

I've looked on ebay, but they are all $50-60. Where's the best place to get these?

 

I get all mine off HLJ.com, or else buy them at shows.

HLJ:

http://www.hlj.com/

 

HLJ's Maschinen Krieger (SF3D) page:

http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljlist.cgi?SeriesID=968&Dis=2

 

This particular kit I bought way back when it as first re-issued, like '97 or so. I actually finished it early in '04 I think.

I'm looking forward to the new releases. I'm thinking of pairing a Nightstalker A.F.S. w/ a Neuspotter drone for a dio.

 

Lastly, when I was deployed, if we were on down time on the tracks we were always siding outside .... too dang hot inside! ...

Yeah, that's what I was going for, a tired soldier popping the lid on his armor to get a breath of fresh air... but the pilot looks so happy, that I don't think it translated. Big Smile [:D]

 

do these kits come with a full figure? And if not, where would you find 1/20 figures?

ZeroBXU does a good job of laying out what's officially available in the previous post, and the HLJ site has some stuff.

In actuality, the older kits are closer to 1/18 scale, rather than 1/20. 90mm figures look about the same size. In addition, the original modeler (the gentleman whose models this series is based on) used chopped up action figures for his pilots, like those from the G.I. Joe and Star Wars series. I don't know how keen folks would be to cut up a vintage Star Wars figure these days, but it is an option.

 

Thanks in advance & great job on this build BTW.

Thank you. Smile [:)]

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Friday, June 19, 2009 6:42 PM

Hey thanks guys. I'd like to pick up something along these lines in the near future. Just to ... expand my horizons a little bit. It'd be nice to build something where I'm not limited to historical accuracy. I was thinking of just a stand alone figure/ robot w/ the pilot sitting on/ just above the open hatch as if either getting ready to climb in or as if they had just climbed out. Maybe I'll go with the battle weary look w/ a cigarette in the hand.

 

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Louisville, KY.
Posted by Cosmic J on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 11:21 PM
You're welcome. Just make sure you share your progress w/ us. Cool [8D]
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