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

I was asked a question today about if a individual was building the same kit as someone else on the GB was that cool.  Heck yea, I do no care how many builders build the same kit, no two will be alike, kinda interesting sometimes to see what people do, but again, if you want to submit a build and someone else is also building, by all means post your WIP.  Hope this helps and might get a few more posted WIP going.

Foot Note:  The idea is to get the darker color to shown thru the lighter color as chipped and or worn paint.  This is the reuslt we are looking.  This procees really shows it's stuff when you apply a metalic undercoat, then HS, on this zinc chromate, and then Navy Blue.  You will be amazed @ how real the paint job will look.

As You have asked havoc:  Hairspray

This was a method used by aircraft modelers for a while before the rest of us caught on to the trick.  It is really simple in principle and process of application.  Just as with any plastic model, prep is the 1st step, we all know wash the plastic and after you have done what ever you are going to do with the part or model, you prime.  I like Mr. Hobby 1200, super fine and paint likes the stuff!  Then  we pick a suitable dark undercoat for the part, lets  say dark panzer grey, apply to the part and allow to dry.  Now here is the tuff part> go to the Dollar Store, we have them in every little town in the South, and buy the cheapest Extra Hold hairspray you can find.  I take the model outside, hold at arms length and spray away.  When the model has a uniform wet look, allow to dry.  I for some reason give mine over-night to dry if I got a little happy w/the spray.  Now the hairspray will dry slick as snot on a glass door knob,  that's what we want, the hair spray becomes a barrier between the next color and the dark underlying color.  Now you have to be able to remove the paint once it is applied and dries, so acrylics is a must for this, vallejo is what I use.  Now, I have a part w/panzer grey  undercoat, a layer of dried hairspray, and now have applied the top color, something lighter than the base, lets say Desert Tan.  Now the rule is you can start the process after allowing this last color to dry to the touch, about 2 hours, I give mine a bit more time, heck, I have started the weathering the next day.  Here is a tip that is a must, warm water, again, warm H-2-O.  Also a good stiff bristle brush, a cut down flat is OK, what ever you like, but you will use to remove this last layer of paint.  Now dip the brush in the WARM water, apply to the area  you want to show as wear and tear.  I have found applying harder pressure and moving the brush in different directions, results in all sorts of neat effects.  The trick is keeping the brush and the surface wet.  When you are happy with the area, I wipe w/a Q-tip.  After you have completed the whole model, seal with you favorite flavor sealer, for the vallejo, I use their varnish applied by brush.  This is not hard to do and depending on light too heavy, the results are up to you.  I think it is the best way to do this since it mimics real results of paint  wear/tear.  I hope this has been helpful.  I do accept donations  for my advice.

Back at'cha, Gun.  Hope that all is well. I dig the base color of the suit --- looks very functional, industrial and believable... Completely believable, dude! The chips are fantastic. Did I see that you used the "hairspray" method for the chipping? Unless I missed it, can you tell us a little about how this worked --- never tried this one... As mentioned, the stripe ties it all together for me --- grounds it in the real world, kind of like the gear used in "The Abyss" or the graffittied combat gear in "Aliens"...  Great decals, too. 

Honestly, not much to show on the Snake Eye other than more sanding and putting to try to finish off the seams. Same for the 35th scale Prowler that comes with the Lunadiver. Been experimenting with paint on the Diver, too, hoping to add some burn marks on the fins and other parts...don't know if it will look good.

Alas, I had Luna Diver at my Club meeting on Saturday and a young one got a little curious --- she flexed my canopy hatch before I could stop her, breaking off the pegs. So I have to rebuild those out of square brass or Mimeca and Lion Roar micro tubing... I would probably have had to do this anyway. Kind of a bummer, but the youngster was not being supervised (first time visitors to the club) and she just didn't know...unlike my 4.5 year old son, who goes to the meetings often and knows better than to touch somebodies' works...  Oh well, things happen, what can ya do?!  Thankfully, nuthin' I can't fix.

Hope to finish up the puttying and base coat the Snake Eye soon! Same for the Diver. Keep up the great work, folks!

Regards and Aloha,

Johnny B.

 

K peso Ame go.  Boy I was glad to hear from ya.  Thanks for the kind words.  I have been working my butt off on this AFS, and that is doing stuff I have never done before, so it has been a learning curve as well.  I am just blown away w/the MIG products and I can not say enough about the stuff!  I have spent a wad on the stuff, but after using, well money well spent.  The base was won off of eBay and I @ 1st thought about putting the Nut on it, but then I was playing like we do, come on, you know you play w/them too!  Anyhoo, I set the AFS on it and since the theme of the suit is:  5th Arizona Rangers or their field name given by the natives, Red Hands, patrolling the desert for any unlucky foe that might cross their paths.  You see they are experts in desert warfare and much feared by the Strahl for their hit and run tactics, then doubling back and hitting again!  Has been rumored but kept quit by the SDR censors, they take scalpes.  This is the only way a trooper can wear the feared red painted hand.  Thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

Have set the pilots head into the suit to get a feel for what can be seen of him, even w/the visor open.

PS: havoc, you are right it is a Grief product and I think it is perfect for this ap.  Look forward to your posting photos of your work on the Snake-Eye.  Cheers

Heya Folks,

Lots of FANTASTIC work up there! Ponch, loving the vignette, dude --- that ammo crate really sells it all for me! Klik, love the camo schemes! And Gunpla, man, you are a MAKmachine, amigo!  The Nut looks fantastic, Cosmic. Great paint and detailing... Digging your AFS, too, especially the weathering and the white stripe down the helmet...touches like the stripe always make it real for me!

I've got a little progress on my Lunadiver and Snake Eye to post as soon as I can. More sanding and filing on the Snake Eye (and the 35th scale Prowler that comes with the Diver)... Jumped in on weathering with pigments on the Luna Diver, too. Anyway, keep up the great work, folks! Images to follow...

Regards and Aloha,

Johnny B.

PS Gunpla, if you can believe it, I own that very same resin base (by Grief if I remember right?) and believe it or not, posed an old AFS on it some moons ago... Great minds, huh?!

Added missing parts and pre-painted in the base color w/hairspray underneath.  Still need to tighten a few areas.  Pilot's head ready for painting.  Used MIG's Pigments and Fixer f/1st time.  Boy is this stuff the cats meow.  Just look @ exhaust pipe, you can not get that look w/paint.  Also check for areas I added rust on the suit, very convincing stuff these pigments and the fixer has it set, that means it will not rub off.

Gunpla Master:

The Kit is the Wave/3Q Model it and as far as I can see from the contests it is identical to the old Nitto kit.

I has 3 ribbed rubber sleeves in it. Pilot can either be build chest/head only or as a complete figure with a separate helmet that can be added.

 

Didn't go for the Snowman SAFS as it is based on the 1/35 Figure for when they had a range of SAFS variants like the Construction SAFS, etc.

 

The Shop I went to orders kits from a big online shop in Japan that also does wholesale orders.

Good morning everyone, a beautiful day it is, pre-fall in the South w/cooler temps makes for wonderful days.  Getting ready for Church and thought I would check in to see what was going on.

Thanks for the kind words as always from my friend SWL45.  Be well ole pal.

Mad-Modeler glad to hear from you too buddy, a Fliege.  Is this a Wave version or the Nitto.  I just love this little fella, makes me think Space Monkey every time I look @ it?  I have the Nitto version and it came with the pilot figure in space suit and helmet.  Another really cool feature you have heard Cosmic J talk about is the rubber joint sleeves that come in the kit.  The Wave version shows a camo paint job, while the Nitto is all white.  There is, not kited, a ground AFS version of this little guy as well.  But I like the one that is kitted.  No one is currently doing this one on the GB, so thats great and I for one look forward to your work MM.

Mad-Modeler, you also listed a AFS Snowman, I had to order mine from across the Big Pond, I was not aware of anyone who had got their hands on this one here in the States,  I wished you had of grabbed that one too, you know they are limited and a special edition.  I was not going to order one, but a fella had one for a special price and I took the bait.  I am glad I did, even though it is the SAFS, you do get the option for a cold climate version, w/new decals.  It was worth that for the price.

For anyone wondering where the Red Lizard on the AFS came from, it did not come out of the kit, it came from a option decal sheet from Mechaskunk.  A good purchase for Ma.K builders.  Many great decals.  The filter and varnish have had all nite to dry, and boy does it look good, even if I may say so!  Do yourself a favor and at least give the MIG Filters a try.  I know the stuff is expensive, heck the LHS in my area sells the stuff double the price of other web locations?  I guess that's the price for getting right now and after you add ship, I guess it is about the same, even Hobby Shops have figured that out too make more money since they are a dying bread because of the web.  Give the stuff a try, you will not be disappointed and it is not difficult to use.  One rule for the use of, you must paint w/Tamiya or Vallejo paints.  Either of which is some of the best paint on the market and if you have not used either, you are in for a surprise when you do.

Again, I am well pleased with the AFS and if time permits, I will work on some today.  I need to wrap this puppy up.  I believe I have been working on for about three months.  I was working on before posting here.  Then I will finish the NUTROCKER, just do not have a suitable base for it yet.  Thinking something clear!

Just got back from a visit to a friend and also hit his local LHS.

 

Among a few Macross kits for the GB I also came back with a "Fliege", had the choice of Fliege, Kauz or Snowman Safs or Kroete.

Will have pics after a long rest as I am pushed.

Looking good GM

And I still working on it

Well I guess I continue w/this WIP!  Decals have been distressed, then the suit was sealed in a satin varnish.  This was allowed to dry, and the MIG Filter 241 Brown f/Dark Yellow was applied and allowed to dry.  Will focus on the exhaust system next, the a few pen washes and the suit itself will be done.  Still have the pilot to finish and the base.

The reason some areas look so shiny, I applied vallejo gloss varnish for the decals, but I did not do the whole suit.

Got quite a bit done to the AFS today.  The white ID band on helmet, more of the hoses added and painted, exhaust system base painted and installed, and the biggy, decaled.  Now will allow the decals plenty of dry out time before I start the distress on them.  I also included a photo of the brush I use to do the distressing with.  Again very pleased with how this one is turning out for a 1st time Ma.K build.

Gunpla Master

Hello All

Many projects going @ same time, but my 1st priority is this little guy.  Hope to get alot done with this 3 day weekend and I am fortunate enough to have the whole thing to do as I please!  So I should get a good deal done on the AFS.  In today's mail was a little sumtang I ordered @ the 1st of the week and got it today, greatly service in my book.  Oh yea, a shout out to my friend Cosmic J for turning me onto the wonderful place I ordered from Noble Knight Games.com.  Good peoples. 

As you can see in the photos the objects of all this attention is really simple, but boy do they add a volume to the scene.  What you ask, well those little green cati you see bring life to the overall scenario.  Oh they are soooo cute

Cool, they look just about the right scale, and they really do add some depth and interest. Looking good!

 

 

CJ, why am I not surprise @ the notion of where you got the idea for the paint scheme on the Nut, but does make for a good story.  We never know where inspiration will come from. 

Hello All

Many projects going @ same time, but my 1st priority is this little guy.  Hope to get alot done with this 3 day weekend and I am fortunate enough to have the whole thing to do as I please!  So I should get a good deal done on the AFS.  In today's mail was a little sumtang I ordered @ the 1st of the week and got it today, greatly service in my book.  Oh yea, a shout out to my friend Cosmic J for turning me onto the wonderful place I ordered from Noble Knight Games.com.  Good peoples. 

As you can see in the photos the objects of all this attention is really simple, but boy do they add a volume to the scene.  What you ask, well those little green cati you see bring life to the overall scenario.  Oh they are soooo cute

ponch

I have made some progress, but not a whole lot.  Applied the plaster "ground" to the base and tinted it with several layers of brown, raw sienna, and burnt umber.  Still need to apply ground cover.

I painted the interior of the canopy and pre-shaded the joints and panel lines.  Also painted the panzerfaust crate with olive.

I finalized the positioning of the different elements on the base.  The wooden poles are for a fence that will dissect the base in two, and the "tree" is a twig from my backyard which I'll cover with woodlandscenics foliage.

 

 

Looking really good Ponch. The crate looks quite convincing.

Cool. I rather liked them, and have been trying to find new ways to use them. I imagine they'll look real nice on that base you got going there - they'll go well with the distressed paintwork.

My build is going slow but sure. I'll have some pictures ready when things begin to get interesting.

 About 10 years ago, I was out riding my mountain bike in the morning. When I got home, I sat on the porch to cool off a bit and finish off my water bottle. As I was sitting there, I was looking at the hill across the street - the grass was a bright green, and the early morning sunlight coming down through the trees made these strong, bluish shadows. On the right, a phone pole had a support wire coming off of it at an angle, and the lower part of the wire was covered w/ bright yellow plastic.

That's where I got this paint scheme:

 

It definitely needs some stronger washes, and some weathering, but it's holding up well for it's age. I took it off the original base a couple years ago, and haven't gotten around to making another.

 

ponch

I have made some progress, but not a whole lot.  Applied the plaster "ground" to the base and tinted it with several layers of brown, raw sienna, and burnt umber.  Still need to apply ground cover.

I painted the interior of the canopy and pre-shaded the joints and panel lines.  Also painted the panzerfaust crate with olive.

I finalized the positioning of the different elements on the base.  The wooden poles are for a fence that will dissect the base in two, and the "tree" is a twig from my backyard which I'll cover with woodlandscenics foliage.

 

This is turning into a real head turner, just one thing, a WIP is for us to learn from each other, I sure would have liked to see you work your magic on that base, the last time I saw it, you were just getting started, now it is almost done, we need to see what took place in between.  ponch you and Cosmic J have a great deal you can teach if you are willing.  But I am also glad to see you making progress and posting a WIP.  Look forward to more ponch, keep it up. 

ponch

Gunpla Master:

Standing on the base I purchased for this AFS. 

 

Whoa!  That paintjob is awesome!  I must give the hairspray method a try one of these days.

What did you use to remove the paint?  Is a stiff brush good enough, or do you have to use sandpaper?

  Once you have allowed the color paint you have applied for the main color to dry for about 3 hrs, you are ready to start the weathering/chip of your color.  The trick too this is warm water, keep the water changed to warm water as you work.  This meant I changed the water about a dozen times before I got to the results you see.  Back @ the 1st of the summer, I purchased a set of pistol clean brushes, in it was one w/very stiff nylon bristles.  The brush has a bent metal neck that angles the brush @ 45 degrees.  It was this brush I used to rub the top color off of the hairspray revealing the dark base color underneath.  You can achieve varied results from subtle to heavy, just by amount of pressure applied to a given area.  I am well pleased with the results so far,  next will apply a coat of gloss varnish and apply the decals using Micro-Set/Sol.  Once that is done, I will distress the decals, apply the ID Bands, and distress them as well.  Once all is too my liking, I will apply MIG Filters and washes.  Ordered some items to dress up the base and this puppy will be close to being finished.  I hope tonight to do a bit of detailing to the pilots head and prep for painting.  Thanks everyone for the kind words.  This was the 1st time I have tried this technique and I really like the way it has turned out.  Now I sure would like to see some other WIP being posted too!!!!

Hey Guys.

 

Just pre-ordered my entry for the GB(will be released late Sep.).

I will be doing a 1/20 Melusine, on custom base of course.

I have made some progress, but not a whole lot.  Applied the plaster "ground" to the base and tinted it with several layers of brown, raw sienna, and burnt umber.  Still need to apply ground cover.

I painted the interior of the canopy and pre-shaded the joints and panel lines.  Also painted the panzerfaust crate with olive.

I finalized the positioning of the different elements on the base.  The wooden poles are for a fence that will dissect the base in two, and the "tree" is a twig from my backyard which I'll cover with woodlandscenics foliage.

 

Gunpla Master

Standing on the base I purchased for this AFS. 

Whoa!  That paintjob is awesome!  I must give the hairspray method a try one of these days.

What did you use to remove the paint?  Is a stiff brush good enough, or do you have to use sandpaper?

Hello Cosmic J my friend, thanks for the info on the cactus sets, ordered the 2nd one.  Looking forward to the photos of the Nut and how is your WIP doing?  

Klik

Wow, thanks to Cosmic J, I now  know how big that Nutcracker is...and it's a whole lot bigger than I thought.

Keep up the great work, GM, Cosmic J. 

Oh Yeah. In 1/35 scale, it's gonna be Big. I expect the price to be big too.

Thank you for the kind words.

Gunpla Master

Standing on the base I purchased for this AFS. 

 

Coming along nicely!

I got the Cacti from Nobleknight.com. It's a roleplaying games/wargame site, but they carry the Pegasus hobbies kits for use as terrain w/ Wargaming miniatures.

There are two cactus sets:

http://www.nobleknight.com/ProductDetail.asp_Q_ProductID_E_2147360798_A_InventoryID_E_2147673632_A_ProductLineID_E_2137420052_A_ManufacturerID_E_2145082726_A_CategoryID_E_16_A_GenreID_E_

http://www.nobleknight.com/ProductDetail.asp_Q_ProductID_E_2147360799_A_InventoryID_E_2147673633_A_ProductLineID_E_2137420052_A_ManufacturerID_E_2145082726_A_CategoryID_E_16_A_GenreID_E_

Set number two has larger plants, maybe more suitable for use w/ a MaK.

I'll hang some pictures of my NR later tonight maybe. Have to take some first.

 

 

Cosmic J, when you built the Hover Scout, where did you find the cactus @.  I need 1 or 2 to add a bit of color to the base f/the AFS.

Standing on the base I purchased for this AFS. 

DISTRESSED PAINT JOB.  COMBAT PROVEN!