18 replies to this topic

[ValdnadHartagga]

Sat on this for a little while because I had a bunch of other projects to wrap up. Now it's time to get the ball rolling!

Over the week, I have cleaned, trimmed, drilled, and pinned my entire Vulture kit. I have also added some handholds for the pilot as well as big ol' grab bars for Elementals:




I chose to mount the missile boxes slightly higher for the "sunken head" look.




Next up is to do some filling and sanding, then on to primer. I'm also considering recasting the cockpit section (conveniently a separate piece) in clear resin. As assembled it just baaarely stands on its own - the right ankle ball joint is quite loose in its socket, so the ankles will be pinned through the leg and into a base, with some pretty substantial wire or nails.


The plan is to make it a Rasalhague Dominion 'Mech, urban camo (or simply gray) with low visibility markings, like a US Navy fighter. I will be printing custom decals on some sweet decal paper that I discovered. I will also be building at least one companion 28mm Elemental from Iron Wind Metals.

Stay tuned!

Edited by ValdnadHartagga, 16 October 2013 - 06:39 PM.

[PDR SHREDDER]

Really impressive work!

[Valcrow]

Detail on the legs are awesome. But only 19 missile tubes!

[Fury9er]

The detail on that is very nice, the little tube covers on the launchers in particular. Is it the kit made from the action figure prototype?

Totally do a clear canopy!

[ValdnadHartagga]

Fury9er, on 17 October 2013 - 01:26 AM, said:

The detail on that is very nice, the little tube covers on the launchers in particular. Is it the kit made from the action figure prototype?

Yep, this is the one! I think TheTeacher still has a few for sale: http://battlemechclu...arketplace.html

[ValdnadHartagga]

First layer of primer:


Also added some recovery shackles to the pelvis:





And I've made the mold for the clear cockpit section. I have also attempted to carve in a pilot silhouette - not going for perfect detail since I'll be tinting the plastic heavily, just enough to imply there's something in there.







It'll be cured by the morning and I'll do my first cast tomorrow if I have time.

Next steps after that are final filling/finishing, then base coating.

[ValdnadHartagga]

So, in the last few days, I have basecoated, panel lined, and printed custom decals!

They are on special paper only available through Evan Designs (http://www.modeltrai...decalpaper.html) - this stuff is magic!





Followed by a quick blast of matte spray to protect them. I'm going to follow up with some generic warning labels later tonight and over the weekend. I also have to reprint the pilot name, my printer somehow managed to scale the decals up just a tiny bit so some of the more exact fits aren't so exact anymore (most ended up working out).

My first two cockpit casts had tons of bubbles and voids, so I've been correcting the mold (and now using cheap, fast white resin to test). I think it's solid and ready to go now, but I've run out of clear resin. Since I'm kinda broke I'll just have to wait until my shop manager notices we need to restock. For now I'm going to paint the cockpit that came with the kit.

[Red Plague]

hell ya good stuff .. and the decals make it look more real

[ValdnadHartagga]

So I took a chance and tried a whole new resin, adding black and brown urethane tints.







The resin is less transparent than the one I was using before, and as you can see I'm still getting bubbles and voids. I pretty much wrecked the mold pulling this one out so I'll have to make a new one for a second attempt, but after blacking out the bottom the bubbles are much less evident. If I were to make another one I'd probably redesign the mold anyway, but for now I'm happy with what i got - I can putty up the major voids in the corners and get it onto the kit for final weathering and basing.

[NautilusCommand]

Marack Drock, on 26 October 2013 - 03:18 PM, said:

Can I have one?

I second this, how much would it run me for one?

[Fury9er]

There was a link up but it seems to be broken, here is one that should work:

http://battlemechclu...etplace_25.html

Valnad have you considered a de-gassing rig for sucking the bubbles out?

[ValdnadHartagga]

That's next on the list of things to try. My shop's vac chamber has been steadily occupied for the last few weeks so it's tough to just toss something in there.

[Frozen Spirit Jac]

I want one!!!!

[Agent Cooper]

Only 4 left, hurry!

[Bishop Steiner]

Agent Cooper, on 14 November 2013 - 10:05 PM, said:

Only 4 left, hurry!

4 left where?!?!?!

[ValdnadHartagga]

They can be purchased at FCY: http://battlemechclu...etplace_25.html


This kit is on hiatus for a little while as I figure out basing and if there's anything else I want to do with it. For now, I had a few other things to photograph so I threw this in the box real quick:

[NautilusCommand]

Looks great!

[TheTeacher]

I hope everyone that wanted one got one...they are sold out!