Ma.K Group Build 8/2010-8/2011

Gunpla Master

Had time today to work on another project I am building besides the SF, the Nitto AFS Mk1.  Most of the assembly is done with the exception of a few parts and ready for texturing.

the Gunp

One of my personal favorite M.aK designs. A nice mix of mechanical shapes combined with the human form. 

Not a fan of the pilot though. Mine looked a bit like Elliot Gould when he's surprised...

Looking good, GM. What happened w/ the Luna Pawn?

Gunpla Master

Hello CJ, hope to see some photos soon my friend.

Yeah, I’m a bit overdue for something.

I puttied the arms and legs, using a round toothpick to give the joint covers some wrinkles and such. I left the bottom of the feet off, thinking that instead of solid metal they might have vulcanized rubber soles, kind of like a car tire, which might give better grip on concrete or asphalt. I’ll paint them dark grey, which is easier if they aren’t attached.

I modified the shoulder mounts w/ bits of aluminum tubing, so that I can add them after base painting. Then made a cross bar out of brass tube to insure that they line up correctly. Hopefully it will give the arms additional support now that they are heavier.

Also added some more detail to the upper sensor, or rather replaced details that were a little soft.

Added weld detail around the periscope base. After sanding the hull smooth, I glued the periscope in place. When that was dry, I glued a bit of Evergreen round stock into the seam. When that was solid, I sanded it down, and then cut grooves in the strip crosswise, using a #11 exacto blade. Then I painted it w/ Tamiya liquid solvent, and repeatedly pressed a homemade weld making tool into each cut – the solvent melted the plastic into a putty-like consistency which gave under the pressure, creating little weld-like marks. I then let that dry. It looks okay in person, but not in the photo. Have to wait to get paint on it before the final verdict is in.

Next time, I’ll use half-round stock, to make it easier.

I need to work on the base before I make the hands or attach the arms, because I want the right hand to be resting on or pushing aside some rubble - so I started on that.

Went to Home Depot and found a 4” diameter PVC pipe connector – making sure it was well molded w/ no major defects. Sanded the ID numbers off the ends and then dropped a circle cut piece of 1mm styrene sheet into the hole. I wanted it a little recessed so that it would form a bowl to hold the base material. It’s not quite level, but that doesn’t matter – once the base filler goes in, it will never be seen again.

Then I made a pair of boxes from styrene sheet. These were filled w/ plaster to make a concrete looking floor and wall section.  They didn’t come out perfect, but that’s okay – they’re going to get very beat up in the next few steps - I’m going to bust them up to have a section of flooring w/ a partial wall, and lots of rubble.

It’s going slowly, but I’m pleased w/ my progress so far. I'm glad for this GB.

Waz up CJ, glad to see you post your WIP, and looking good I might add.  Hope you don't mind if I barrow the PVC pipe idea for a base, great idea.  Joints look great.  As for the LP, a botched paint job with a disastrous attempt @ paint stripping, resulting in a melted LP.

Look forward to more of your build.

the Gunp

Hey CJ, My memory is not all that great, but are you by chance building a 1/20th SAFS suit like these: ?

(old pic- been meaning to get these guys wrapped up any day now...)

If so, could you help me figure out just what all the do-dads are? E.g, the cannon on the arm, the stuff on the back of the green/white one?

I only got 'into' these model kits when I splurged on the Falke, then the Lunadiver stingray (in 1.35th), so I don't know too much about all this...

Keep up the good work, though

Some photos of todays work, about ready f/primer.

I'm genuinely sorry to hear about the LP - I hate when a build goes sideways. Plus, I'm partial to that particular kit, always like to see one done. Hope the next one goes better.

Feel free to snag the PVC idea – I myself got it from a friend, who got it from someone I don’t know. Like 90% of everything I know about modeling I got from someone else, so it's good to be able to pass something on.

Try to make sure you get one that’s as near perfect as possible off the shelf, and I’d also recommend painting it w/ a sandable primer to find and hide any small irregularities.

Indeed it is! The model I'm building is the Raccoon, a scouting/forward observer version of the SAFS.

Okay, the little guys you have there are the Fireball SG (Stop Gap) and the SG Prowler.

The little horizontal tanks on the top of the back are “L.O.G.” tanks, they contain liquid oxygen fuel for the thrusters. The large cylinders on the back of the Prowler are radar arrays (active I guess?) as is the large horizontal bar above the cockpit hatch (passive?).

The weapon on the Fireball SG is a laser of some sort. I don’t know what the original Fireball was armed with, but the schematics seem to indicate it was a projectile weapon of some kind. Makes sense that they'd switch to no-recoil lasers in micro gravity, I guess.

The development of those suits goes something like this: the Mercenary forces designed the SAFS, then they built on its utility by adding sensors and stealth parts to make the Raccoon. There was also an up-armored version of the SAFS known as the Snake Eye.

So then the Mercs needed a suit for use in space (In Spaaaaace!!!). They welded some thrusters to a SAFS along w/ some fuel tanks, and called that the Fireball. They needed a space variant of the Raccoon, so they added some radar arrays to a Fireball and called that the Prowler.

Continuing to tinker w/ the design, they up armored the Fireball, to make the Fireball SG. Naturally, they made the same mods to the Prowler, resulting in the Prowler SG.

I’ve seen something that refers to the MaKs called the 90/10 rule: 100% MaK = 90% cool + 10% Bull S#*t.  That is to say, they look cool and functional, until you try to explain how they actually work – they couldn’t. The design aesthetic reflects that the appearance of form following function is more important than having them actually make sense. In other words, build it so that you think it looks cool, and we'll make up a good rationalization later.

Helpful?

LOL:  CJ only from you would I hear about the 90/10 rule: and I can fully understand just what is being said by that, or true that it looks cool, but try as hard as you can to explain how it works, well your guess is as good as mine!!!!!!!!

Hope to have a replacement LP soon.  Hey, what is up w/a Wave AFS Mk1, does no one have this, I can find all the others excluding the PB as well?

Thanks for the intel, CJ.  Now I know.

But; as a fan of Scifi, i must disagree with the 90/10 rule. 90% cool, 10% unexplainable ( bluffed off as "dude, its the future...the future, so how can I possibly explain it?!" )

So, anyhow, I looked over my little SAFS Fireballs, and checked out the decals they came with. Don't like them. Marking choices are either large 'G's and 'R's or 'S's with a skull on the hatch. Suggestions (that I can hand-paint in 1/35th scale)?

On a side note (one more question): Why Fireball SG (stop gap), where did that name come from?

Klik

Thanks for the intel, CJ.  Now I know.

But; as a fan of Scifi, i must disagree with the 90/10 rule. 90% cool, 10% unexplainable ( bluffed off as "dude, its the future...the future, so how can I possibly explain it?!" )

Okay, I can go along with that. I might move the percentages around a bit though...

So, anyhow, I looked over my little SAFS Fireballs, and checked out the decals they came with. Don't like them. Marking choices are either large 'G's and 'R's or 'S's with a skull on the hatch. Suggestions (that I can hand-paint in 1/35th scale)?

Dunno. Coming up w/ a good color scheme and markings is the hardest part about MaK-ing for me. I still haven't locked down what color/colors I want to do my Raccoon in.

Maybe I can get my scanner working, and load some images of the color cards for the Fireball and Prowler from the Nitto kits. Maybe you can find something on those that you like.

On a side note (one more question): Why Fireball SG (stop gap), where did that name come from?

Okay, so in the MaK universe, it's the Mercenaries Forces versus The Strahl Demokratische Republik , or SDR for short. (To further confuse things, the SDR are also sometimes referred to as "Shutoral" forces.)

The Mercenaries have these simple but flexibly designed suits - the Armored Fighting Suit (AFS), and the Super Armored Fighting Suit (SAFS). They use these basic suit designs for everything, and they just modify them for new missions as needed, hence we get the AFS Mk II, The Luna Pawn, the Nightstalker, etc. from the AFS, and the Raccoon, Snake Eye, Fireball and a bunch of others from the SAFS. None of these modifications are terribly radical though, the original design is readily apparent.

Also, the Merc suits aren't very roomy - the pilots in the kits are rarely more than just a helmet covered head.

Now the SDR have more suit designs, and they modify them in more radical ways. The Gustav and the Konrad are pretty similar, but the Melusine (based on the same chassis) looks quite different. The Strahl suits are also slightly larger, with much more room for the pilot. From an artistic stand point, they are less "organic" appearing than the Merc suits, the designs look more mechanical and clumsy.

Those principles apply to the space designs too. In space, the SDR had the Fliege. It was a good suit but had a big window in the front  for the pilot to see out of  (which was obviously a bit of a weakness). To fix that, they up-armored it to make the Kauz, replacing the window w/ various sensors.

Now at this point, the Fireball was falling behind the Kauz in armor protection - so they up-armored it as a "Stop Gap" until they could come up w/ something better. I'm not sure what they came up w/ to replace the SG designs though...

At least, that's my understanding of the situation. What is considered "canon" in the MaK-verse has a habit of changing now and again.

Okay, figured out the scanner. Here are some images of the color cards that came w/ the Nitto kits.

The Fireball SG:

The Prowler, pages 1 and 2:

I'm partial to the paint scheme w/ the red hands. Hope they help.

ME TOO!

Very cool CJ.

Finishing up and tweaking the pose.  I am well pleased with the results of this build so far.

Ran brass wire thru spring to get proper sag/shape, added sheet plastic to cap off open areas, rivets added to select locations and the Que De Gra, the SS muzzle cap on laser barrel.  A few more areas require attention and this little warrior is ready to be textured and primed.

the Gunp, who's your Ma.k daddy?

Build is finished, Mr. Hobby Surfacer 500 applied w/a sponge for cast armor areas, snake chain f/laser armored power cord.  Everything is ready for primer and then after cook off of primer, tomorrow, ready f/1st base coat of Dark Green/Gray. This has been a challenging kit to build.  But over all I am happy with and highly recommend to those with a few Wave kits under their belt to give a Ole School Nitto a try.  Very rewarding.

Liking it. The off-balance pose is good.

Cosmic J

Liking it. The off-balance pose is good.

This one is base painted and ready for the primary color.  I also included a photo of sum thing I have been playing with since this weekend.  I am just addicted to these kits!

Coming along nicely, I see. Did you have to engage in that time honored MaK ritual? The one that goes "Finish build, apply base coat of paint, notice heretofore unnoticed seams, re-fill and re-sand seams, re-apply base coat of paint..."? That's always my least favorite ritual... 

So I took the plaster pieces and using a regular hammer, I knapped away the edges like you would if making a flint arrowhead, to get it into the right shape. Oh course the edges were rough, so I softened them by tapping them w/ a plastic headed hammer.

I made the wall section by breaking off plaster bits w/ needle nosed pliers until they were the right shape. I drilled holes for some brass rods that will represent rebar - they also align the wall and give it some support. Two isn't enough I think, I'll drill holes for two more bars between the ones that are already there.

I push fit the kit together to test exactly where I wanted the wall, and what height it should be. The hands are not the ones I intend to use on the finished kit, but some spares from the box held in place w/ blue-tac. That may change however, depending on how the scratchbuilt hands I'm making turn out.

Starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I think...

MK1 painted and decaled. Still have a bit to do and weathering.  Hand painted, still aways to go to get to where I want to be in that technique.

CJ I am digging what you are coming up with on the suit/display.  Cool!

Hello all!

 Some great stuff going on here and I thought I'd like to play too?

 Going after an AFS Recovery Vehicle which will be inspired by a Kow sketch. Inspired by, not to be exact.

The six wheeled vehicle and I've gathered some kits from my stash that I think will help me get there.

Wish me luck since I'm thinking to go ahead and join the 'Weekend GB' with the same project. It'll be a lot to get done in that time frame but what the heck- I think I'll try! After all, what are weekends for if not to ,"Go down in flames!"

UPDATED:

Had to make a supply run that I hadn't planned on and it ate up a lot of time?

I liked the shape of a mouse so I gutted it and we'll see where it goes? I also sectioned up the helicopter cockpit and then reoriented the side windows. Then I sectioned a tire with a refashioned rim/hub and put it in silcon so I can have six of them later. Not much, but something at least.

WOW, now this is a WIP, a not oft seen Kow vehicle, and the nads to do it in a weekend too, and do it in 2 GB's @ same time.  Wish you good luck and I would say, cut and glue boy, you got alot of work too do.  Really looking forward to this one, and welcome to the Ma.K GB.  For anyone wondering, MrSquid2U PM'd me and asked if it was OK to post this here and the other GB as well, heck after seeing what he is going for, he can post it anywhere as long as he shares this master piece with us.  Give him a warm welcome fellas.

the Gunp

Could not but help to drool over the 1/24th Hughes 500 MD MrSquid2U is using in his build.  I have a 1/48 scale one coming from Squadron for a future Skinhead build, but I have not thought of using a 1/24th scale for a skin head, wow, now I want one in that scale and try to build a King Kong sized SH

CJ, what U think bout that, could be done couldn't it?

Hey MrSquid2U, how about a tutorial on how you are making a mold to cast your own wheels after you finish this puppy.  May here would benefit from such skills.  PLLLLLLLLLLEASEEEEEEEE!

"Mr. Master",

 After such a warm (Toasty Hot actually!) welcome I could show you how I cast? Veterans of casting or 'professionals' could easily take issue with my techniques yet I produce what I need and have done so for years. On a small scale, on my desktop of course. Wish you somehow knew ahead of time what I was up to and I'd have just snapped a few more pics? But it will be a two part mold so maybe I can still give some info? Let's see how much of a rush I get into? I just went to the store to get some sugar for my coffee! It's gonna be a long night.

Waited most of the day for the two part mold of the tire half to be ready and I just finally pulled my first casting out of it. Of course the all black assembly is the new resin copy (resin dyed as poured).

Also filled in some blanks to the "cab" caused by the rotation of the side windows.

Wow  Squiggly, you go boy.  I am impressed to say the least, you want hear that too much from me.

After being blown out of my socks by MrSquid2U's over the top build, I submit my little humble AFS w/re-paint and added details.

Gunpla,

You're too kind! I'll get to that tutprial after this build. Oh, don't play "humble"- that's a nice suit build!

I'm still plugging away!

 Working on the body work and decided since I'm late on the weekend GB anyways I would add the 'recovery bed' rather than just represent it with lid on as first planned. One shot has tires dummied in place just to give an idea of where it's headed..