general melchett Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 Hi all, quite recently Airfix Model World asked me to build something a bit 'left of field' to add more of a sci-fi/fantasy theme to the magazine and then sent me this little gem. It's the 2016 issue of the Hasegawa Vanship (with steam torpedo) from the Japanese anime series Last Exile. I'll be doing more along the same vein in the near future and must say it made a refreshing change from all the aircraft and ships.... Here's a review of the kit from this very site. Vanship with steam torpedo review A great little kit with bags of character, sort of Steam Punk trike meets 1930's Auburn Speedster. The mouldings and fit were superb as is to be expected of Hasegawa though it was still fun to spice it up a bit. The original 2012 packaging came with the Vespa as a separate vehicle as well as a nice diagram depicting a servicing scene with bonnet open and all the engine paraphernalia on show however with this re-issue you get a resin steam torpedo as well as pilot and navi crew and an updated decal sheet instead. As I had the original diagram I thought I'd do something a little different and open up the bonnet on one side and scratch-build the inner workings. Various kits and lead wire, brass rod, plastic tubing, etc were harmed in the making of this area of the kit though the 'engine block' itself was a large piece of scrap resin shaped to fit onto which everything else was attached. I also added a few little extras like reflective lenses, acetate windscreens, detailed airbrake interior parts, wooden flooring, PE bodywork panelling and portholes, scratch-built instrument panels, replacement resin seats and cloth seat harnesses.... Airbrushed using various Alclad metallics along with a few of their Hotmetal lacquers and AK Xtreme Metals enamel paints, Gunze acrylics for the interior and Abteilung 502 oil washes to weather. The diagram that came with the original issue.... Hopefully Hasegawa will release more Vanships from the series....All in all good fun, hope you like it. Cheers Melchie . And finally a bit of fantasy bloom and sheen.... 30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thud4444 Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 That looks great. The weathering is spot on! God, I loved that show. Indiana Jones meets Sakura Wars, with just a touch of Captain Scarlett is how I would describe it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted May 4, 2017 Share Posted May 4, 2017 Barking and beautiful, Your Generalship, Sir. Woof! I enjoyed Last Exile too. I wish there was a large scale vanship out there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockpopandchips Posted May 4, 2017 Share Posted May 4, 2017 That is absolutely stunning, i want to have a go at making another after seeing this one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chief Smeg Posted May 4, 2017 Share Posted May 4, 2017 That looks fantastic, love the heat exchanger pipe detail you added for the engine area. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted May 4, 2017 Author Share Posted May 4, 2017 Thanks chaps glad you like it, certainly a lot of fun, might well go for a full servicing diorama at some point. Quote I wish there was a large scale vanship out there. Pete, must agree, a 1/32nd or 1/24th Vanship would be a LOT of fun.......now if they could see their way to producing a 1/72nd Turan Transport Vanship or Claimh Solais class Battleship then I'd be first in line ! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuro Nezumi Posted May 4, 2017 Share Posted May 4, 2017 (edited) Incredible scratch-build of the engine! Great work! I may have build another vanship on day, (just not one with the vespa). 4 hours ago, general melchett said: Pete, must agree, a 1/32nd or 1/24th Vanship would be a LOT of fun.......now if they could see their way to producing a 1/72nd Turan Transport Vanship or Claimh Solais class Battleship then I'd be first in line ! 1/48 with a complete engine compartment I would build. Edited May 4, 2017 by Kuro Nezumi 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimme Shelter Posted May 4, 2017 Share Posted May 4, 2017 amazing model - I have never seen anything like this before so its quite a shock to my old circuitry when something different like this pops up in plastic very nice work - very convincing 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted May 4, 2017 Author Share Posted May 4, 2017 Thanks guys appreciated. Kuro it's certainly worth another go and Gimmie I wish a few more companies would have a go at these subjects..there's a lot of weird stuff out there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerrardandrews Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 Very interesting and intelligent model, shows were the hobby could be heading for next decade, Revell could do with having a go at steam punk as it's very interesting and fun😊 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head in the clouds. Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 Weird and wonderful General and finished with your usual panache...mind you that little tail wheel looks like it will rattle like a shopping trolley at anything over 1mph! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 3 hours ago, Head in the clouds. said: mind you that little tail wheel looks like it will rattle like a shopping trolley at anything over 1mph! Unless they borrowed it from a Skyraider. They always look odd on those. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddiesolo Posted May 6, 2017 Share Posted May 6, 2017 That is a wonderful concept and model superbly brought to life by the quality finish and presentation. I really do like this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MunchMunch Posted May 6, 2017 Share Posted May 6, 2017 saw this in the magazine looks fantastic! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Vale Posted May 7, 2017 Share Posted May 7, 2017 Great work! Which issue is it in? We tend to get them rather late out here. Cheers, Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted May 7, 2017 Author Share Posted May 7, 2017 Thanks for the kind comments chaps, really appreciated. Quote that little tail wheel looks like it will rattle like a shopping trolley at anything over 1mph! Got to agree there, I think the idea was that the contraption would be airborne before the ''Nikola Tesco-Shopping Trolley' phenomenon could take effect..... Cheers Munch, glad you liked the article, Will it appeared in April's issue, (one with the red Jet Provost on the cover) so maybe you haven't got it quite yet.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chief Smeg Posted May 7, 2017 Share Posted May 7, 2017 Can't stop thinking about this model. Checked it out on Amazon and seen the little Vespa too - love the looks of these designs. In fact I have liked the looks of this so much that you have inspired me to check out the anime! About to start episode 1 of 26 right now. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted May 8, 2017 Author Share Posted May 8, 2017 Thanks TCS glad to have been of some help, there really are some wonderful creations out there...the Vanship designs alone provide plenty of variety for modelling particularly when it comes to dioramas, I can see a few more making their way onto the work bench in the future and maybe some scratch-builds too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Vale Posted May 8, 2017 Share Posted May 8, 2017 19 hours ago, general melchett said: Will it appeared in April's issue, (one with the red Jet Provost on the cover) so maybe you haven't got it quite yet.... Ah cool, I think the last one I saw was March (with the Swordfish) Glad I haven't missed it! W 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcode Posted May 8, 2017 Share Posted May 8, 2017 very nice , looks great 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
su27rules Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 That looks fantastic!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Rose Posted May 12, 2017 Share Posted May 12, 2017 Excellent! You've done an outstanding job with it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted May 12, 2017 Author Share Posted May 12, 2017 Thanks guys, appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesP Posted May 12, 2017 Share Posted May 12, 2017 gorgeous! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Vale Posted May 14, 2017 Share Posted May 14, 2017 I have the relevant Airfix Mag issue in my hand now, it's a great article! Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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