No probelmo Gamera!  But you do realize that the bus driver is crazy?  

Really neat, G thanks for letting us follow along here.  

The vac-form rig is done, but during tests I discovered that enongated lumps tend to bulge out in the middle, ruining the shape.  So back to Plan-A, which is squash forming with plaster female molds.  At least I know this will work as I have done it before.

https://flic.kr/p/23ZAJ43][/url]Bakagalas-30 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

To keep momentum going, I started working on the flaps.  I'm just making it up as I go along, but the outboard segments are fairly simple in shape so they will probably just get sheeted over.  The inboard flaps are another kettle of fish as they undulate quite a bit!  The jury is still out on the best way to tackle them, but here is where I am at.

https://flic.kr/p/GWAG8S][/url]Bakagalas-34 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

The fin support struts got another look, and I decided to taper them down in the middle to get them to look slimmer.  The anime art also has this feature so I should have planned this from the start.  But I think they will look much better when done!

https://flic.kr/p/GWAGBs][/url]Bakagalas-36 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

That's just amazing G! Great work there on all the surface detail. 

Looking forward to seeing how she looks all painted up. 

I started making a mini vac-form rig to make the many lumps and bumps needed for the build.  It is designed to take a 4"x6" sheet of plastic, which a standard 12"x6" sheet will provide three.  The old vacuum cleaner attachment will provide connection to said vacuum cleaner.  I have a larger home made vac-form rig which I was able to clamp to a kitchen drawer next to the electric range, so I'll be doing the same here.

https://flic.kr/p/GHN8my][/url]Bakagalas-29 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

I am still making pieces for the rig, and have to cut little teardrop shaped holes in a sheet of basswood.  Progress photos and tests shots to follow soon.

I made some card stock templates for the flaps, ailerons, and wing tips last night.  They were taped to the model along with the fins to check for fit, but also I really wanted to have a look at the overall silhouette.

https://flic.kr/p/F9Zeqa][/url]Bakagalas-24 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/F9Ze8X][/url]Bakagalas-25 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

I noticed the fin supports look too thick - I confess to increasing the cross section from my drawings when making them.  No problemo, I'll just sand them down.  The anime version had struts that contiuously tapered, so I'll go for that look.

https://flic.kr/p/F9ZdHZ][/url]Bakagalas-27 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

They don't look so bad from the rear, which is the only vantage point that was available while the fins were in the jig.

https://flic.kr/p/F9ZdQc][/url]Bakagalas-26 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

I tried out the Shadow Hobby circle cutter to make some inspection panels on the fins.  This tool is unique in that it does not leave a hole in the center of the circle.  The blade smoothly glides around on the perimeter bearings, and the design allows very small (0.5mm) circles to be made.  It can also do much larger circles, so cutting masks for roundels are also possible.  I used 0.005" sheet plastic, which I find rather difficult to work with as it seems to deform rather than cut, but the tool made neat circles with little effort.

https://flic.kr/p/F94D9v][/url]Bakagalas-22 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/23r1Siv][/url]Bakagalas-23 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

The tool does require a gentle touch, and setting the exact diameter of the cut involves a little trial and error.  But circles of any diameter (within the limits of the tool adjustment) can be made, unlike a punch and die set.

I had a brain fart to make blister fairings which would be much simpler than casting a plaster female mold.  I'll try out my theory this weekend.

The fin support struts had their base plates trimmed, and the starboard rudder has been scribed.  Now to detail the fins with lumps, bumps, and access panels.

https://flic.kr/p/23ozuxP][/url]Bakagalas-21 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/GBhrw7][/url]Bakagalas-20 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

I am still undecided how to make the many aerodynamic lumps needed for the model.  Heat press, i.e. smash molding, is easy to do but yields inconsistent results.  A female mold made from quick set plaster is more labor intensive to set up, but will get better results and allow for mass production.  I am leaning towards the second option as I have never tried this.

Thanks G for the info on the rivets. And nice work there with them!

Gamera,

The Archer rivet decals work really good.  The clear film is thin yet fairly durable, and it responds to Micro-Set and Micro-Sol.  No need to break out the heavy duty Solvaset or Mr. Mark Softer.  It also sticks pretty good too.  The only tip I can offer to get the most out of using the decals is to use a sharp knife to cut as close to the line of rivets as possible.  Oh and measure first - this stuff is expensive!

Here is another stalled project that trialed the Archer rivets:

https://flic.kr/p/sCQ9Zz][/url]P34-015 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/vruyku][/url]P34-038 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/vmvkiy][/url]P34-064 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

Oh cool G, I've picked up a sheet of those Archer rivet decals but haven't used any yet. Looking forward to seeing how they work for you. 

I was able to sand one rudder last night.  Note the slight curve at the top trailing edge, which is intentional in order to meet up with the fin profile.  I hope to get the other one done soon.  They will get lots of lumps and bumps to set the "feel" for the rest of the model.

https://flic.kr/p/21Py24y][/url]Bakagalas-16 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

Gamera, the recessed rivets will be replaced with raised resin rivets.  The fins will be the test to verify if this is the way to go.  I'll be using Archer rivet decals, as they are quality and go on easily.

https://flic.kr/p/uwLYLN][/url]P34-037 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

Awesome G, love the steampunkish look of all those rivets. 

Oh Peter Pan, yousa breenga thats lousy Jarjar!  He no welcome here! 

Not having much bench time, but I have been working on the fin assemblies.  One support strut has been fitted with base plates.  Things have gone better than I was expecting, as fitting the struts to the curved fuselage was not too diffcult.

https://flic.kr/p/ELm1de][/url]Bakagalas-11 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/24nkCeJ][/url]Bakagalas-12 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

But I realized the fins needed to have their rudders fitted to ensure proper fit into the jig assembly, so some sheet plastic was stacked and glued together.  The inner two sheets' mating surfaces were colored with pencil lead to provide a centerline reference during the shaping process.  I have used permanent marker for this previously, but it gets messy with the liquid glue.

https://flic.kr/p/23sWNxQ][/url]Bakagalas-13 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/23sWNom][/url]Bakagalas-14 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/24tNjFh][/url]Bakagalas-15 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

The plan is to finish the fins as close to 100% as possible to get a morale boost.  Then the wings will be tackled, followed by the landing gear sponsons.  By that time I should be in the swing to make the faceted canopy and all the little bits like the gun ports.

The glue is drying while I am at work today.  Can't wait to get home and crack on with sanding the rudders!

Oh very cool! Glad to see you pull this back out of mothballs. 

Clever idea making the dividers

I cut some brass wire to make the support struts for the fins and test fitted them using the jig.  The narrow space between the fins, fuselage and jig made it difficult to take measurements for the struts, so I made a set of dividers composed of a pair of old Xacto blades, magnets, and a steel tweezer.  It worked well, but I'd better get a set of real dividers next time!

https://flic.kr/p/23e4Hq5][/url]Bakagalas-08 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

Everything seemed to line up pretty well, so the next step is to clad the wires with sheet plastic to form the airfoil cross section.  Some teardrop shaped sheet plastic will form the basis for the strut to fuselage/fin fairings.

https://flic.kr/p/23e4GKC][/url]Bakagalas-09 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

Super necro-thread!!!

I dusted off this 25+ year old shelf queen and decided I'd better finish it before I start collecting social security (assuming there will be such a thing by the time I retire).  One of the problems I was faced with was how to set the alignment of the fins.  At the time, I had never used jigs to assist in assembly and didn't know how to make one.  Fast foward to last week, and after an evening doodle session and another one cutting up foam core, I have this.

https://flic.kr/p/24fg4HG][/url]Bakagalas-07 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

The portion of the base with the fin jig slides out to allow its removal while leaving the fins in place.  Hopefully this will allow me to fabricate and install struts with the correct lengths and angles.

https://flic.kr/p/KiAdLM][/url]Bakagalas-05 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

The enormous base also helps to get the wingtips level and to set the ground clearance.

This model was the most ambitious scratchbuild I have ever attempted, but despite its age, it has proven to be structurally sound.  Some of my construction choices are laugable today, but the advantage to being a glacially slow modeler is that you pick up all kinds of tricks during the passage of time.  What was once unsolvable is now possible.  I was also at a loss to source wheels, but now the question is not "where" but "which one".  Hopefully it will be possible to finish this one.

Thanks Duster!

I think I will also try lead foil to make confomal sheeting for some of the details.  I just need to source a lot of thin lead sheet.  (I don't drink wine.  )

OK I'll say it  thats hot!  (means Very Good fyi)

Your idea to vac form the canopy sounds like a better alternative; also don't forget you can vacuum form needed body /wing panels in white styrene as well.

 It might save a bit of time cutting and gluing multiple small styrene parts together.

Reguardless, great job to date; looking forward to your next update.

I found  the remaining parts last night:

The canopy was an experiment, to figure out how to fabricate it.  It was not successful, so I will use another method which will yield a better fitting canopy with fewer parts.  Right now I am leaning towards carving one from polyester putty, and vac-forming it in two or three pieces due to the inward slant of the lower windows.

.

The landing gear sponsons still need to be shaped, and will require fairings inboard of the wheel wells.  The similarity to the Me-323 (powered Me-321) Gigant is particularly striking here.

Progress photos will follow, hopefully in less time than the ADP Heli.  .

Awesome  Details,I like SciFi models.....

Thanks for the sketches!

And yes, that's how all my projects go... except for number 14.

I found some sketches I did way back when I started the models.  I used to make a lot of sketches, including multi-views to establish proportions and details prior to construction.  Nowadays, I don't do such things.  I just wait for the injected kit to come out.  Anyway, here they are:

I think the Pejite Gunship was developed using more finished drawings, as I seem to recall doing a side view as well.

The last sketch is of the Tolmekian Corvette, which obviously was my least developed project.

Hopefully I can get back on the Bakagalas model soon and finish it.  It is kind of embarassing to have stuff like this just lying about for two decades, while I sit around doing nothing.  To be honest, I would not have started something like this today.  I'd better find those AWOL parts.

So how does everyone else start their projects?  (Mine goes something like this:  1) Find something that catches my fancy.  2) Make frenzied sketches.  3) Start chopping sheet plastic.  4) Realize that I haven't thought something through.  5) Get depressed and shelve the model.  6) Wait 20 years.  7) Dig model out of closet.  8) Put model back in closet.  9) Wait a couple of years.  10) Pull model out again.  11) Repeat a couple of times.  13) Realize that the previously unsolvable problem can now be solved.  14) Finally get off my duff and finish the model.  I hope it works this time around!

Guys, thanks for the positive comments!

Watchmann, that is a fantstic site!  I see someone else has started a Pejite Gunship.  The caption says that he modeled it after the comic version, which is a little different in shape compared to the movie.  And two Tolmekian Corvette builds!  Wow!

I am hoping to get motivated to restart these projects, especially the Bakagalas.  I still can't find the stabilizers, wheel fairings, and flaps.  I know they are some place, I just can't remember where I put them.  I took a look at what I still needed to make, and it is a lot!  That plane was covered with lots and lots of lumps and bumps.  Plus I need to make the underwing fairings for the engines, and figure a way to make the angular canopy.  I tried making a test canopy with clear sheet and white plastic frames, but it was too clumsy looking.  Maybe lead foil frames over a vac-form shell would do the trick for the canopy.

It is also my hope that I have poisoned a few minds into starting similar projects.  Come on, Bsyamato, I know you can do it!  (I apologize for not finishing any OYW kits.  I will finish them, really!)

Yes, please continue working on these projects!

I'd like to make some myself. :)

Have you all seen the Miyazaki Mecha Modeler's Club website?  Some great inspiration and tips!

Yamato, check your Messages.

m@

Real ,you're really a scratchbuild masters!! just other day discussing with an italian modeller that want to build the "porco rosso" pirates fliyng boat , i proposed a scratchbuild of one from miyazaki giant planes too.. but i just kidding 

wow effing cool.

That is some spectacular workmanship.