Tachikoma
COMPLETE
061107.22
PURCHASED:
061015
BEGUN:
061015
061023
A Japanese kit import ordered through starship modeler.com. The overall size is 1/24th. The ultra small rounded pieces are impossible to handle. Things got easier as I built duplicates of limbs and some tricks sprang to mind along the way. However, the pain and agony experienced in my hands was enormous from trying to handle the small rounded rubber pieces.
This kit is fully articulated, but too light and small to be stop motion friendly. It will kick ass when fully painted. It now awaits an airbrush purchase. All pieces that can be glued, have been glued.
061028 -- primed gray
061030 -- silvered.
061103 -- preliminary airbrush blue.
061104 -- final airbrush and preliminary gloss coat.
061105.23
Complete (with the exception of black tires to paint. I will also pass black crayon over the eyes to get the triple indentation.). Banzai!
061107.22
Truly complete. All pieces assembled. Some more glue, etc. I f*cked the finish up as I glued pieces into place. Also, the gloss was too thick for pieces to fit properly. Much razor blading was required.
As my first 'modern-build' I have completed, I give myself a C+. Overall, an excellent appearance. However, lack of patience in the very last steps marred the surface of what would otherwise have been an A- effort. The biggest problem is a fingerprint -marred wet surface of the central leg spine bottom. Glue smears on the legs and head glue smears on eyes. Painting the black will up the grade to a B-.
PS I may have lost to the ankle pieces for one leg.
070203.18
Update: I did lose two pieces for one leg. The pieces are the ankle socket and plate cover.
Experiments done:
First airbrushing.
First full-blown semigloss seal.
Mass spray painting.
Piece organization over several weeks
Kit critique: The huge amount of very small and rounded parts was painful on the carpal tunnel/arthritis. This kit is too small at 1/24. 1/12 would be ideal, if not phenomenal!
Otherwise, this kit is a piece of flawlessly engineered craftsmanship.
Flash: all pieces had three pins connecting each to the tree and all had to be razored off. Then all three pinpoints had to be further sliced down to get them smooth to the pieces. Agony!
