Screech Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Like the looks of the "chicken" Andy! Too bad they did not include Snowtroopers with it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asmodai Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 I've been really blown away by the way Bandai have engineered and tooled this kit. I've never built anything by them before so I don't know if this is normal for them but it really is a well thought out product. As Mike mentioned earlier, it's just a shame they don't push their products to the international market more, especially when they acquire a licence like Star Wars. I'm really interested to see what they do with the AT-AT (if it goes ahead). Some people have suggested that it will be 1/48 but I think 1/72 is more likely (still hoping for 1/48 though) I've just got the R2/R5 two-pack on pre-order from HLJ. I'm hoping to add some lighting to them but I'll wait and see how much internal space there is first. Andy Bandai does good work, when they want to. They are the major producer of plastic models from the Mobile Suit Gundam anime, and it is something they devote most of their attention to. As far as 'pushing' their Star Wars kits to the international market more, that is unlikely, due to the licensing deal being to make the kits for the Asian market. While they won't be impossible to find overseas, they can't be officially imported and distributed in places like Europe or the US. In Europe. Last I knew Revell Germany was the license holder for Europe, and is now (or soon will be) selling the old Fine Molds kits there, that can't be sold in Asia now due to Bandai's acquiring of the license. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Rose Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Love the shading work your doing Andy, its looking superb! The base sounds interesting, looking forward to seeing what you come up with 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Have you seen the price of these on the bay? Free postage? I'd want a personal courier! Looks like I'll have to order a couple. At HLJ prices it's a shame not to. Still love the paint, Andy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Moore Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share Posted March 23, 2015 (edited) Got a bit more done before work this morning. I coated the base with plaster last night and I've now base coated it in a dark brown Which will subsequently be covered with this This is a forest scatter mix from Reality in Scale which I've had knocking around for a while looking for a use and this seems appropriate. To give you an idea of scale, here's the legs mounted on the base. There's two pieces of sprue stuck in the mounting holes in the bottom of the feet which drop into corresponding holes in the base. I'll probable have to scrape some plaster back from under the feet so it sits level and gives a better sense of weight One small problem has arisen. When checking the smaller components this morning I noticed that the grenade launcher which mounts on the starboard side of the head had developed a stress fracture Fortunately it's on the side facing inwards so won't be seen. It seems to be the result of the very tight tolerances of the parts as they join. I'm hoping it's an isolated incident as everything else seen OK but, for anyone else building this I'd recommend lightly scraping or sanding the large location pins before joining parts as the fit of many of them is very tight and may be putting too much pressure on the surrounding plastic. Andy Edited March 23, 2015 by AndyRM101 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gekko_1 Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Interesting! Seeing the AT-ST standing there on the base with no "head" immediately gave me an idea of an AT-ST trailer! So, imagine an AT-ST connected to another AT-ST that doesn't have its "head" but instead has the legs/base/engine unit, as seen on your base, but with some type of "star wars-ish" carrying platform for spares, droids and equipment. One of those hoses on the front of the AT-ST trailer thingy could connect-up to the main AT-ST unit so that it looks like a Sci Fi Star Wars version of a US Willys Jeep. Then I had another idea for a "drone" AT-ST with a modified "head" with a huge cannon mounted on it, similar to the Stryker M1128 Mobile Gun System but with droids in/on it? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Moore Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share Posted March 23, 2015 (edited) Interesting! Seeing the AT-ST standing there on the base with no "head" immediately gave me an idea of an AT-ST trailer! So, imagine an AT-ST connected to another AT-ST that doesn't have its "head" but instead has the legs/base/engine unit, as seen on your base, but with some type of "star wars-ish" carrying platform for spares, droids and equipment. One of those hoses on the front of the AT-ST trailer thingy could connect-up to the main AT-ST unit so that it looks like a Sci Fi Star Wars version of a US Willys Jeep. Then I had another idea for a "drone" AT-ST with a modified "head" with a huge cannon mounted on it, similar to the Stryker M1128 Mobile Gun System but with droids in/on it? I think that's a great idea. You have to assume that you only see a fraction of the Empires infrastructure in the films. The model is well suited to conversion. I like the notion of drone walkers. You could make one as a command unit along side a squad of remote dronesAndy Edited March 24, 2015 by AndyRM101 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Moore Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share Posted March 23, 2015 The scatter has been added to the base and while the PVA dries I've added a bit of mud on the feet with pigments And Chewie's had a lick of paint too Andy 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 Two drones with HIAB's carrying a bridging unit? Trooper with a remote alongside them. Or, riding on top! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmonk Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 Great work Andy. I had an idea that post Empire demise theses might be used for racing, sort of Ewok banger style. Cheers, Warren 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Moore Posted March 24, 2015 Author Share Posted March 24, 2015 (edited) I think we're on the final stretch here, the base is finished although I think it could use some ferns or other bushy leaves as it's a bit flat at the moment Unfortunately I spoke too soon about there being no more stress fractures. About an hour after taking the previous photos of the muddy feet last night, I noticed another crack along the left foot I think the plastic was under tension and was probably softened by the spirit wash I used to fix the pigment causing the crack. Annoying but I'll put it down to battle damage and sit listening for any ominous snapping sounds coming from the display cabinet. Hopefully I'll get the final shots up later tonight. Andy Edited May 12, 2015 by AndyRM101 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Shumsky Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 Lovely work, but those stress fractures are worrying 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Screech Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 Wonder if it is the plastic that Bandai uses for the kit? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Moore Posted March 24, 2015 Author Share Posted March 24, 2015 Wonder if it is the plastic that Bandai uses for the kit? I think the main culprit is the VERY tight fit on most of the parts (which is good as far as it goes but does put a lot of pressure on certain areas) but I suspect the plastic may also react poorly to a spirit based wash. It's something I'll bare in mind when I build some of their other SW kits. So, I'm calling this one done and I wanted to thank everyone who has followed this (short by my standards) build. Despite the problems with fractures (which aren't that major in the grand scheme of things), the build has been great fun and I can wholeheartedly recommend it to any SW fan and it makes a great subject even if you don't like Star Wars (apparently there are such people!) I'll leave you with a finished shot before I move it over to Ready for Inspection Thanks again everyone and roll on the next Star Wars build Andy 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Vale Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 So so good! Chewie seems happy too - "ROOOOAWWWWWRRRR" The Gunpla guys mention that Bandai plastic can become very brittle when exposed to enamel thinners, the usual culprit seems to be cracking at joints, particularly on poaeable Gundam suits and the like. I think that if you paint parts separately and then weather in-situ you have a good chance of the thinners and washes seeping into the joints (which of course aren't painted so the parts fit properly). FWIW I generally stick my Bandai things together a bit more and paint them in one piece - mainly because I like sticking things together - and I have yet to have any nasty cracks (that I'm aware of!) Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theanorak73 Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 amazing, totally amazing. just one thing. chewy's AT-ST was well known for its scar on the front panel. not criticizing, just saying 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Moore Posted March 24, 2015 Author Share Posted March 24, 2015 The Gunpla guys mention that Bandai plastic can become very brittle when exposed to enamel thinners, the usual culprit seems to be cracking at joints, particularly on poaeable Gundam suits and the like. I think that if you paint parts separately and then weather in-situ you have a good chance of the thinners and washes seeping into the joints (which of course aren't painted so the parts fit properly). Thanks for the info Will. The problem with this was that even if it was all stuck together before painting, the design of the leg joints meant that it would be hard to get any paint in the nooks and crannies and a wash will find any corner to creep into. I may stick with acrylic washes on future Bandai stuff. amazing, totally amazing. just one thing. chewy's AT-ST was well known for its scar on the front panel. not criticizing, just saying Yes, know about the blast mark (which you do get on the decal sheet) but I wasn't specifically modelling the one from Jedi. I just added Chewie cause I'd painted him and didn't want him to feel left out of the photo shoot Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMD70 Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 That is just wonderful Andy. It's all your fault but now I have a AT-ST, X wing, R2 D2, CP30 and 3 Stormtroopers meeting up in a "private" warehouse... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Brilliant. I just hope you don't hear a Ching, KAPOW! from your display cabinet in the future as the cracks join up. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Moore Posted March 25, 2015 Author Share Posted March 25, 2015 Brilliant. I just hope you don't hear a Ching, KAPOW! from your display cabinet in the future as the cracks join up. Me too Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimme Shelter Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 really enjoyed following this - superb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LT Motta Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 I'm quite serious with my colection... basically only modern jets in 1/48 and just few helicopters. However I can feel a little temptation after saw this lovely kit... And your thread doesn't help too much! It's an amazing work what you have done so far! Congratulations!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimme Shelter Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 I've come back for another look in on this build - its sooo good and the finished diorama is excellent. A real show piece 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD tiger 1 Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 That is just superb great thread by the way Got to get me one of these beauties! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kallisti Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 Hmmm I missed this build so have only caught up after seeing the RFI thread. Masterclass in painting and bring out the realism in the moulded detail, beautifully done! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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