Snack break, part 2

Well, I did get a 'few' additions... Aile Strike Gundam, Freedom Gundam, and two smaller packs without clear names.. One of these is going to a friend, though, as a christmas present.

This kit was a 'skill level 2'. I wonder what this means, I built a 'skill level 3' kit by the time I got these done. The instructions on the previous model were definately better, with each sprue coded with letters A-D, and parts with numbers. On this kit, however, the parts were only numbered.

That means, that I had to rummage through every sprue until I found my parts. It was only after 45 minutes that I got the hands and legs done..

Still, from there it were faster, as the little parts were, on the most part, gone... Only the major body had some little parts, but these were fast to attach.

And so, after little over an hour, this was the result. It goes without saying that good instructions are the major part of the job... The stickers were left out on this one as well, I'll paint and weather it later.

Here are the brothers in arms.. The new mecha really cries for a decent paint job, without it, it seems it is unfinished... Still, these make great wargame figures, cheap (well, relatively, these were 13 and 11 euros), require no glue and can do without any paintjob. I'll have to stick a metal L screw on the body of these, to provide attachment point for the flight stands. Still, that is a work for tomorrow, or some other day..

Snack break

Taking a little break from Ghostbusters, and especially from my studies, I pulled a Gundam Wing 1/144 scale mecha kit that I purchased a while ago. These kits are great, with moving parts, and require little or no glue or paint..

I must admit, that I purchased this 'Serpent Custom' kit without any knowledge on the Gundam Wing series. I am planning to use this mecha on a Lightning Strike (DP9) / Canvas Eagles spacebattles games, and I do not need to know particular attributes that this unit has on Gundam. In fact, I do not even care.

The kit is nicely packaged, and the instructions are both Japanese and English, to mention but a few.. Still, the instructions are simple enough, this is a grade/level three kit, but I guess that with over 25 years of building experience on my but, this is a breeze...

Legs and arms completed in fifteen minutes, this really is fast building.. The parts have no visible flash on them, so they are fast to complete.


And here she is, fully completed. In all, this took about a half an hour, or very little over that. The stickers are not attached, as I plan to paint and weather this on some point. As the kit required no glue whatsoever to complete, it can be pulled apart to ease the painting.. The kit came with different hands, to hold the weapons or do fists.. Cool figure, easy build, and about the size of a coke can.. I think I will get another one of these at some point..

Today's works

We got some work done today on our packs. It seems that we are finally getting somewhere with these...

Nixu managed to find the time to work on his pack today. His days are filled with family and work, with few opportunities for hobbies. Last friday we borrowed Nixu's sister's car and got the plywood for the boyz motherboards.

After they were cut, we proceeded to mark each component on it, so that they could be screwed with ease.

And after markings were done, the individual parts were screwed on. This helps us to move them away from the common areas on my apartment for storage.

Here is Nixu with his pack, quite proud of his work, I would wager..


Here is the happy family, from left to right; My pack, Veka's pack, and Nixu's pack. Looking like proton packs, are they not?

Nixu's pack a little closer..

With Veka's alongside.

My own pack is further than the boyz, but that is because I can work on mine pretty much anytime, as we are working on my home.. Still, my pack has been at this state for some time now. The only additions I made today were the two cylinders protruding just above the Spacer..

Cyclotron work..

Here is Veka working on his Cyclotron. He is laying fiberglass on the plaster mold that I made from my own teflon pan. This is SMELLY work, and the fumes are toxic. DO use proper breathing gear, and ventilation. Veka's Cyclotron needs filler, sanding and work before it is done.

After Veka did the fiberglassing, we left the Cylcotron curying, and went to sauna. Afterwards, we pulled the fiberglass out from the mold, so that it would not stick in there permanently. After all, Nixu still needs to pull his own Cyclotron from the mold.

The mold was partially damaged during the pulling, I guess that the soap we used as a release agent was not the best one. My previous pullings were not this hard to pull out.

I frosted the Veka's Cyclotron, so that he can sand it the next weekend. I still think that this needs more filler, but that is for tomorrow.

I also filled the mold, which will then need some sanding. After this the mold is unnecessary, and it does not matter if it gets broken during pulling.

N-Filter, take two..

As I said, the N-Filter that I'll use on our packs is a pea soup tin can.. Here is the can, with the contents in my tummy..

I used coarse sandpaper to roughen up the can, so that the filler would stick a bit better. I would not want to have some parts drop off after so much work...

Then, I pasted the filler on the can, left it drying, then sanded it and primered it. On surfaces like this, the primer really comes to life, as you can really see the imperfections on the can..

That being said, more filler, sanding...

And primer again.. I do hope, that I do not need to add much filler on this anymore. Still, there are cavities that needs filling. I'll do them individually, then prime it again... Much work..

I fixed the boo-boo on Veka's pack also. The only thing left on the outer side is the cut that I made. The piece fits nicely..

So, what do you do to fill a gap? Use filler, of course... Here are the happy three, just waiting for attention..

Well, that being said, I sanded the can with 400 grit paper, and after that, I rubbed it with a towel, it seemed quite nice. Still, I'll fill some cavities, and then sand and prime it again. After this, though, any holes or cavities will be treated as 'weathering'...

Today's hard work.

Ok, today I did some work on my own pack, as well as to the other packs. I recently had a vague feeling, that a regular can of peas could work as a strurdy N-Filter. Therefore, I went and bought one, and when measured, the can is 4mm wider than the N-Filter on Stephan's plans. So sue me, I thought, it is close enough. I have been trying to locate proper size tube (no, pringles tube is not on my list) with no avail.. The can is 120mm tall though, so I need to sink it in the Syncronous Generator. So, I cut a hole in it. I also widened the hole on the center, so I have more opening, when putting in the lighting on the Cyclotron.

Test fitting the can on place, it fits snugly, so it will be durable. Well, I hope so..

And here it is with the Cyclotron.

The whole pack. It needs some cleaning, and another coat of gray, then I will be hitting it with black undercoats with steel wool sanding in the between. After that, weathering and dull coat, and voila!

I did some work for the boyz too, I cut openings on their components, so we can put the electronics inside. The boyz will have to dig out some urethane, which we used to fill their parts. Mine is urethane free..

Here are the packs, Though on closer inspection, each pack has some differences, on the whole, they look good if you don't mind me bragging. On my pack, I'll need to eat the peas, smoothen the can and then attach it to the Syncronous Generator and Cyclotron. Then a happy gray and of to work on another point..

In my rush to get the noisy work done as fast as possible, I did make a boo-boo on Veka's pack. I cut the opening for the electronics on the wrong side of the Gearbox, even after I marked every piece!! Darn, always check twice, and cut once...

As you can see, the hole is quite visible Under the HGA.

Even when the HGA is in place, it shows through.. I cannot leave this behind, as this was my mistake, not Veka's. If this was on my own pack I would be tempted to put a fluoroscent green mouse with glowing red eyes in there, and leave the hole in place. Is someone were to notice it, I'd push a button and light the mouse, giving the guy a fright of his life.. Still, as this is not mine, no can do...

That being said, I rummaged through my bits box, and found a proper sized bit of MDF.


And the put some PVA glue on it, and glued it in place. This repair work does not weaken the Gearbox, as it is in the middle of other parts. I just feel that this needs to be done... Few hours, and I will go and put filler in there, and tomorrow give it a light sanding. I was lucky to make this mistake on the easiest surface to repair on this part...

Yup, Again..

Here is today's work. I sanded these, but the filler in the gaps were still not fully dry, and it will need another coat of filler, and sanding. Still, this does not prevent us from assembling these, and painting them later on..

This is Nixu's pack, Veka's is in the same state. I am quite fond of this photo. I like it.

I pulled the plaster bandage mold from the Cyclotron. It pulled of really easy, I guess that was because the pan I used on my Cyclotron was a teflon coated cooking pan...

After I ripped the foil maskin away from the plaster, I was greeted with this sight. About the sight I expected. This needs filler, and sanding, before the fiberglass is put on. And after wards, the fiberglass pullings will need the same...

Still, that is the work for someone else than me... I just make the mold for my friends, here is the mold drying after the paste. I have to sand it thoroughly though, before they can use it.

I added the little slanted box on the lower left on the Syncronous Generator. Veka had done the other box on the bottom way before..

Nixu, on the other hand, was on the other side of the problem, he had neither. So, ergo, here they are...

After very little work today, the boy'z packs are steadily progressing and looking good...

Yup, still workin on these..

Yup, I'm really keen on getting this project flying. At this speed, we have possibilities on making this project done by the time the GB video game is released. Still, I have my doubts..

Damn, foiled again... I foiled the cyclotron on my part, to prepare it for a plaster coat, which will be used to make this part from fiberglass.

And here is the cake, just waiting for the icing on the top..

Also, I cut small triangles that were absent when the guys drew their parts from mine. We resolved to make these at a later time, and it is now.. These still require some smoothing, but that is for tomorrow.

I also glued and pastered these to Nixu's and Veka's packs, and then sanded them a little. The gaps were so large, that a lot of filler was needed, and it will require more time to dry. Well, more work tomorrow..

I also filled the gaps on these little parts that are needed on the lower parts of the pack. Tomorrow they will be smoothed and glued on place.

I also glued and smoothed these on, I know that there are weld lines on the Ion arm, but that will be taken care with epoxy putty later on.