Welcome Back Commander....

For tonights post I would like to revisit a small project I did a few years ago.  Rather than the "traditional" modelling with kitbashing and assorted shapes, I decided to first, build the model on a computer, and then have it created in a Stereo Lithography machine (resin not 3D printing).  As another of my hobbies are RTS computer games (which back then took up way too much time...), I selected a vehicle from the game "Tiberian Sun".

Released in 1999 by Westwood Studios (closed in 2003 by EA), it was the sequel to the original "Command and Conquer".  Other popular titles were the "Red Alert" series and they also took the format to Arrakis in "Dune 2000".  The storyline was basically fighting the baddies with various machinery, base building, micro-management and assorted missions.  Another distinct feature of the Westwood games was the use of FMV cutscenes before and after the missions, which included well known genre actors like James Earl Jones and Michael Beihn.  (Sometimes I just liked to watch the "movies"!).  It is still played today, and you can research it yourself if you so choose.

The vehicle I chose to model was the Hover MRLS (Multiple Rocket Launcher System) from the good guys, the Global Defence Initiative (GDI).  It had clean lines so was fairly easy to model.  I started by first drawing up some basic plans in AutoCAD, using images and references I gleaned from the good old internet.  I then exported the drawings into a 3D program called "Solidworks" and modelled it from there.

From the "model" it was then off to the resin goo where the replica is created by a lazer which cooks the polymer a few fractional millimeters at a time.  Even a small model like this may take several hours to create.  Once completed, the model is removed from a steel tray, and goes through a cleaning process involving several chemicals and a final curing in a UV oven.  Unfortunately I did not take any photographs of the "birthing" when it emerged from the soup.  One drawback with this process is the support material necessary during the build process.  This fine web has to be removed carefully and then there are usually minor repairs, especially around delicate areas.  The end result:

The MRLS is 4.5" in reality; I calculated the scale to be approximately 1/72, based on the images I used).  (I also made an 1/87 model in Solidworks for use in a model railroad at some future date; still waiting....).  No real special modelling techniques this time, just the basics.

Enamel military colours with pastels for weathering, and the GDI logos are custom decals.

The scenery was made using dried Sedum flower heads.  They grow like weeds in our garden, so I get alot of free trees!  I just leave them over winter and let nature freeze-dry the plants.  I then harvest what I need in spring.  You can cut and combine to make whatever shape you want.  I then use acyrilic paint on the seed head and dip them in scenery flocking.  Various shades of green bring them out nicely, even at this scale.  The rocks are just carved foam, and the "Tiberium" crystals are made from broken glass beads.

One thing evident is the complete lack of the Kinder Egg, but it won't happen again!  I couldn't figure it into the scenario, and besides, this was not my usual way of modelling.  Now I feel it may be time to dust off that CD-ROM case and go save the war-torn world of 2030 yet again!

The Scrap(book) Yard #1

New look; new format!  I had originally intended this blog to be a platform to showcase the models and miniatures I construct.  But there are many other things to say and/or contribute, so today I am starting with a new ongoing feature.  Over the years I have collected many articles from magazines and other print sources which deal with miniature and model work, as well as practical in camera effects and props.  (I apologize in advance for the quality of some of the images.  That paste I used so many years ago was not "time friendly"!)  My first post was taken from TV Guide magazine way back in 1975.  (Is this still copyrighted by TV Guide; I have no idea,  but I shall acknowledge the source just to be sure...).

The October 11, 1975 issue featured an article on some model work for the Sid and Marty Krofft series, "Far Out Space Nuts".  Lasting only 15 episodes, this Saturday morning live action series starred Bob Denver and Chuck McCann.  (I will let you research the series further if you so wish; the episodes are available on YouTube...).   The amazing fact of this clipping is the model builder is non other than Mike Minor!  If you follow Star Trek, you should be very familiar with this man.  (Again I invite you to look further into Mr. Minor's history....).  Nice to see good old simple effects, as well as the use of dried teazel flowers for use as alien vegetation!   Until next time: "Think big, but build small!"

Shape Spotting 2: "The Origin"

I have often wondered as to where this modeling style of mine began.  Of course my father was a big modeler (and encouraged my interest in the craft), as well as watching films and TV, usually with many miniature effects.  Of course the Gerry Anderson productions take the lead, but not all the vehicles were readily available as kits, plus there was a considerable lack of reference materials available.  It was the Dark Ages; there was no internet!  Fortunately I received the 1966 Thunderbirds annual (City Magazines Ltd. & A.P. Films Merchandising Ltd., if these companies still exist!), which was full of technical illustrations and photos.  But in all these 94 pages of Supermarionation goodness, two stand out.  It is the feature "How to Make a Lunar Landscape".  Here is page 52...

I of course immediately started to scrounge for all the materials required.  Following the directions carefully, I built the diorama display base and used it for what space toys and models I had at the time (as the Moon was quite popular back then what with the space race and all...).  But the real inspiration came from page 53...

An allowance can go only so far, but now I had been given the means to "expand the fleet" basically for free!  I built them all as shown, and expanded on the concept further.  Using whatever bits and pieces I could find that were not kept in a secure place, I constructed many ships and space machines.  (And to make matters even more challenging, the Kinder Eggs are still twenty years away!)  Some met many "unfortunate situations"; after all this was an Anderson-inspired diorama and something has to blow up every episode!  So, try it yourself!  Go back 51 years and do some modeling like we had to do back in the 20th century before all the fancy materials we now take for granted didn't even exist!

Shape-Spotting: "I am the Egg Man"

This first post of 2017 is also the first in a series where I show some of the unique non-model kit related shapes I collect and hoard.  The first is the most used item which has become a sort of tradition over the years.  At least one example of this shape is in every model I have made in the past several years.  They are, of course, the Kinder Surprise eggs.

I first became aware of these eggs/plastic capsules when I began dating my wife.  The family tradition was to have an egg at Christmas Eve (usually in the stockings), and then another one at Easter.  I saw many possibilities with these eggs and also with the toy surprise inside.  So it was at this point the collecting began.  Made of soft plastic (not an acrylic or styrene), they can be glued with epoxies or similar glues, and take paint after mild sanding.  At the beginning, it was primarily the small (4.4cm x 3cm D) eggs, but later on, the larger (10.8cm x 7.5 D) eggs were available.  It wasn't until recently I discovered a third medium size capsule (7.6cm x 5.7 D) when I was given a donation of eggs from a co-worker (thnx Erika!) to help replenish my exhausted supply from a recent project (see previous posts).  The eggs can represent anything from fuel or other chemical tanks, gas or liquid, flotation devices and other similar containers.  I have used them as "ammo boxes" on a early (unpublished) Gunpla work here:

Fuel tanks on the Cargo Barge Regina:

And the epic amount of 24 assorted sizes on the Buzzard:

The one little annoyance with the capsules is the seam.  You can glue them and if you so want, spend time sanding and filling the gap with putty.  I like to use a band of very thin styrene or 1/4" border tape to hide the seam.  Unfortunately, several years ago the capsule design changed from the separate halves to a single hinged egg with a dimple for opening the egg.  I am not a fan of this configuration, preferring the "classic" look.  At least the medium and large sizes are still of the same construction.

But then, about a year ago, I noticed another eggy chocolate/toy in a clearance bin at a local grocery store.  I purchased one, and to my surprise, this egg was better!  I went back to that store the next day and bought a dozen more.  I had found the Zaini Egg:

Still made of a soft plastic, these little gems are 4.4cm long with a diameter of 3cm.  The ends are chamfered with a blunt end, and there is actually a base (1.2cm wide) where the hinge for the capsule is.  The same glues can be used as on the Kinders and again the seam can be puttied or covered by a thin strip.  My most recent project, the "Gibraltar" is the first time I have incorporated them into a model (the "fuselage" has been omitted for clarity):

Six Zaini's and only two Kinder Eggs this time...  The Zaini's are clear plastic, while Kinders are mostly coloured and opaque.  The Zaini's mount easier, because of the flat base, but the Kinders have to be secured some way with a bracket or brace.  Then its a good coat of paint, maybe some decals and then a bit of shading.  Both capsules have their merrits and work well!  Now if Zaini only had a jumbo version....