Jump to content
 

AlfaZagato

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    1,329

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Blog Entries posted by AlfaZagato

  1. AlfaZagato
    I had picked up a Cooper Craft GWR diagram V5 'Mink' at my club's swap meet some time back.  Decided I would start on it, feeling on-trains but not interested in bringing the iron back out.   
     
    I didn't get too far in one evening.    I set the top-hat bearings in the W-irons, glued an end to the side.   I know I need to alter the bracketry on the solebars.   Sadly, apparently an accurate V5 isn't possible with just this kit.   Pertinent parts for the DCI or II brakes aren't present.   Only a Morton brake is supplied.   Shame, though I doubt many stateside would notice.   I also couldn't find my fishing weights I use as wagon weights, either.   I wanted to have the ballast set up before I needed the floor.   I'll have to look some other time.
  2. AlfaZagato
    No fault on Jidenco, but man am I bad at this soldering thing.   Real happy I didn't dive straight into the 3F.
     
    So; 

     
    Old kit, methinks.   I have option B, the 12t 1-planker.  I also don't have wheels for it.
     
    I fussed with it some years ago, when I first picked up the $10 stick-iron from Radio Shack.   Back when there were Radio Shacks.

     
    The mess on the bottom is from back then.   Trying to tin the thing.   Never got it quite clean.
     
    I'm a little better equipped now, though I guess 180-grit sandpaper isn't enough.   This is what I ended up with at the end of the night;

     
    I also really don't have good clamps for this.   Smallest clamps I have with any grip are 2".   Ended up bending the body at one point.   I also couldn't get the solder to flow.   I may have been generous with the flux.   I was under the impression that was right, though.    I don't know.   I need to order one of those scratch-pens.    George Dent suggests such a thing in his guides, and I've found myself agreeing with his methods before.
  3. AlfaZagato

    Vigna Ghina II 1

    By AlfaZagato,

    Sorry for the lack of an entry last week.   I ended up at a buddy's house, had much of a strong beer.    Then Independence Day.
     
    In the meantime, I did finish the giant robot.   At least, I finished building it;

     
    This one I do plan on painting.  I'm thinking flat or satin black with white accents.   I'll also need to make some grayscaled versions of the markings.   I don't like the colors they're in now.
     
    If you don't pay attention to my other content, this past week was mostly trains.    I solder leads to my Marklin K track, finally.   Picked up acid flux to solder the stainless rails.
     
    I also took the time to solder power drops for my shoebox layout;

     
    These were infinitely cleaner.   This sort of thing I've done before.
     
    I had ordered and received one of the N20 motors y'all have been writing about, along with 3D printed gears.   First look was to see if it would fit in the Y8 I acquired some years ago;

     
    Current consensus is no, but I think I can fiddle it in.
     
    Next, I dragged out the Nu-Cast 3F I've had for equally long;

     
    This was a very easy fit.  I just need to ream out the gear a bit more for the axle.   I can just about the motor entirely below the footplate.   OO gauge, mind you.
     
    Finally, tonight, as I had the soldering iron more-or-less out, I tried fussing with an old Jidenco kit I had picked up.   I made a mess of it;

     
    I'm fairly certain I'm still not properly equipped.   I'll need to work on that.   Next week, then?
  4. AlfaZagato
    I bought an N20 motor a couple of weeks ago, along with a pair of 3D printed gears to fit 1/8" axles & the N20.   My original thought was to fit it to this small LNER tank I picked up at an estate sale;

     
    While the motor would probably fit, it won't fit between the frames.   Which means needs to angle into the boiler.   Which hasn't enough space. 
     
    Playing around with the brass chassis, I think it was made undersized.    The chassis will 'walk' on my test plank.   I need to see if I can spread the frames some.  Hopefully, if I can drop the motor into the frame, this'll all work.    I might use the N20 on another project, though.
  6. AlfaZagato
    I finished the 'Gray' Zeta.   I just need to make space for it on my large Gundam shelf.   Becoming harder, that...


     
    I currently have no pics of it finished in robot form.   Pain to switch the thing.   I had painted in the stripes, along with washing the panel lines.   Ended up using sepia, to offset some of the vibrancy of the orange.   Still not gray.
     
    I picked up a clever little kit on a supply run to the local;

    The clever little kit is exclusively the arm, lance, and cannon-job on the right of the picture.   Bandai's new concept with the smaller-scale kits is compatibility.   Any kit released since about 4 years ago uses common joint designs, allowing for easy arm swaps.   Backpack mounts are common, as well.   As a tie-in to a couple of series Bandai's released recently, there are even 'option' kits that are just collections of parts to add-on to or swap other kits.   Such changes are yet to make any significant inroads to the larger 'Master Grade' kits I normally build.   Still, $10 for a kit - any kit - is perfectly fine for an evening.   The robot itself is a 30 Minute Mission Portanova.   No series tie-in, no Gundam tag.   I think there is still a royalty attached to the Gundam name on model kits, so Bandai can sell the 30 Minute Mission kits at a discount.   They are Bandai's attempt to combat Kotobukiya's Frame-Arms series.

    Managed to get it to hold the normal arm with the monstrosity.
     
    Finally, still in a building mood, I opened another kit.   Dragon's 1/35 Sd.Kfz. 250/8 Neu mit 7.5cm KwK 37 (L/24).   WWII German armored halftrack.   Dragon kits aren't bad, I just hate the inclusion of individual-link tracks.   These don't look so bad - they might be workable or working if I'm careful.  Better than the stupid Sherman tracks.   I haven't touched the tracks, yet.    Building up the hull, along with the suspension.   Dragon was considerate; they keyed the suspension arms, so that it may be made to sit level.

     
    This will probably be the next week's of work, at least.  Maybe I'll paint again.  We'll see.
  7. AlfaZagato
    With the continuing concerns over COVID-19, and additionally the unrest in my neck of the woods, my Gundam club held another virtual build day.   I joined, pulling out the Gray Zeta to work on.
     
    Now, you've seen the cover image, so this is spoiled, but the Gray Zeta isn't actually gray.

     
    That's right, it's cheddar orange.   Supposedly the result of the mechanical designer having a form of color blindness.   They said Stroudley was colorblind, too...
     
    She transforms, too;

    Doing so is a right pain.   This is no Transformer.   It waits to be seen which mode I display it in.   The stand supports either.   I've also seen images of people posing it in a 'Gerwalk' mode akin to Macross/Robotech.
     
    Gray Zeta is supposed to have beige-brown stripes.   Bandai provided these as stickers.   This wouldn't be so bad if the stickers fit the indentions made for them.   I've spent the past few evenings painting these in;

     
    Yes, the arm's off.   That joint doesn't hold well, so I just left the arm off for now.  I've made two mistakes with the stripes.    My brush has wandered, and I chose a overly dark color.   I like it a little better than the right color, though.   I also didn't have the right color neat; I've never had luck consistently mixing a shade.
     
    I have used some stickers.   As here, I didn't think I could freehand such a large stripe;

     
    There's also other accessories.  Can't store most of these on the model, though.   All except the mondo job seen in earlier pics are specific to the normal Zeta Gundam;

     
     
    Finally, I skipped the stream on Tuesday to help my buddy with a little 1:1 scale;

    Forgive the focus, please.    This here is a Chevrolet Vortec 5300.   Chevy's Vortec motors are nominally iron-blocked versions of the touted LS family.  There is something like 98% compatibility between the two.   He picked this motor up for around $650 - not bad for a motor that makes some 200-300bhp with no extra work.   I was helping him tear down the motor.   He'll be rebuilding it.   I've never done so, so he invited me to be involved to learn.    Very appreciated.   Might help with this Jag I'm looking at...
     
    See you next week.
  8. AlfaZagato
    Sorry I didn't post last week.   Culmination of excuses led to no work done at all.   Shameful, but I suppose this is a hobby.   Modelling is neither my job nor my life.   Sometimes, I need to realize that.
     
    Anyways, I've started streaming!  I figured, should I be able to drum up enough interest, I might turn a buck or two doing what I do anyways.   So I started a Twitch.   New laptop for it and everything.  I'll link it below.
     
    With the energy I've found from having a reason, I pulled out another kit to build till prime.   An oddity I found at a flea market, a Union 1/24 Renault 8 Gordini.   I thought $6 was a good deal, as I've seen it listed for $50 or more on eBay.
     
    Not a good deal, terrible kit.   Just completely atrocious.

     
    The seats, pedals, and exhaust manifold are all soft vinyl.   Superglue seems to stick, but I can't trim or cut it cleanly for the life of me.    Quality is dodgy, too.   Mold lines everywhere.   The tires are especially bad.   Engraving and surface detail is pathetic.   Some weird, at least to my experience, engineering decisions, too.   Like those fenderwells being separate.   I don't know why.   Errors in the directions don't help.
     

     
    I can't say anything either way about the body tooling.   Lots of mold lines here, too.   Shape may or may not be ok.   Admittedly, I've never seen a Renault 8 in person.   Honestly, I think I've only seen three Renaults of any nature, two Dauphines and a 4CV.   All rotted severely.   Didn't buy the one Dauphine that was for sale.   Thankfully.
     
    So, yeah, the stream.   I tend to stream at 7pm CST Monday to Thursday as of now.   See here for the channel - https://www.twitch.tv/alfazagato/ - the schedule should adjust for your time zone.   I hope you'll join me.   If not, next week?
     
  9. AlfaZagato

    BiMINI 1

    By AlfaZagato,

    Started working on a model of BMW's MINI Cooper;

     
    Pretty simple kit, actually.   No engine, sadly.   I can't do much more until I pick up airbrushing supplies.   At this rate, I'll have everything built, with nothing finished.   Save the Firefly.   That kit can rot for all I care.   Stupid individual-link tracks...
     
    Also, Revell...

     
    WHO THE ABSOLUTE F*** THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD G****** F****** IDEA TO CHROME THE WHOLE F****** DASHBOARD?   Persistent s***, too.   I've had it in bleach for a week now, and the chrome is only starting to lift.    And it's not lifting from the switchgear, where I really need it to.   D*****.   I'll get there, but f***.  Maybe next week.
  10. AlfaZagato
    Finished up about what I could with the Opel;

    Bunch of detail here you'll never see.   No provision for opening hood (bonnet to y'all,) deep, narrow cab hiding the pedals.
     

     
    Built a box.   She's mostly straight.   Just a little warpage.   Should be fine.
     

    Braced the box.   All these brackets lift the box maybe 1/4" clear of the frame.   The lift also gives space for the fenders.
     

    Barring some small details I didn't photograph, this is as far as she gets until I get more primer.    Annoyingly, there's no way to fit the tires after assembling the rear dualies.   I'll have to paint everything before I can get her on her feet.
     
    The scooters all have their own narrative.   This little Honda needs more primer, to see if I filled the holes properly;

     
    I can't quite manage the yellow on these two.   If I can't straighten out the color on another coat or two, I'll likely bin the...not-Vespa.   I want the Vespa, though.

     
    I like the ivory here, though it laid thick in some spots.   Helpfully, those spots are spots I think I'd need to overpaint black, anyways.

     
    Finally, I like how this red is coming along, though I'll need another coat or two.

     
    All work shown here stops until Illinois allows 'nonessential' businesses to reopen.   I need primer & blades from a hobby shop, and little eyedroppers I use for decanting jarred paints form American Science & Surplus.   I'd rather wait for the locals to open.   They'll need all the help they can get.   I'll likely crack open another simple car project.   I really don't want to brush paint right now.    We'll see.
  11. AlfaZagato
    Slowly working more on the Opel.    I'm dying of boredom, and this isn't helping;

     
    I also managed some airbrushing.   Started doing color on the scooters.   Then it has been waiting.    Can't do much with the rain;

     
    They'll all need further coats.   Thankfully, I'm getting better with the airbrush.   I just need to keep working at it.
  12. AlfaZagato

    Infinity Finish

    By AlfaZagato,

    I finally finished the Infinity army I've been working on for an age;

    I felt these were too good of models for my normal wargaming 'color & wash.'  I still don't think I did them justice.
     
    And I just had to be clever with the bases;

    These stopped play for a while.   Illinois weather didn't help.   I couldn't airbrush when I needed to.
     
    I also decided I wanted to just build a model.   Build it straight, no modifications, no care for the interior.   So, I built this (these;)

    Airfix's 1/72 RAF Support vehicle set.   Other than a gap in the hood of the Bedford I can see now in zoom, very well-fit and straightforward kit.   Shake-the-box, no fettling or reshaping endemic of Airfix's older tooling.    A nice break from the unending paint projects or kitbashes I've stocked up.
     
    Finally, I started yet another kit.    I came upon a Revell 1/24 Opel Blitz in a lot I bought off of a club member.    I've gotten so far with it;

    Kind of a new experience for me, multipart frames.    Probably better I start in 1/24 than 1/35.   Those kits are much more money to ruin.   We'll see how far my attention holds.
  13. AlfaZagato

    Dust & Sand

    By AlfaZagato,

    Not a lot of progress this week.    I'm burning out with this shut-down.   Spent a not-insignificant part of the week staring at a plank of wood with some bits on it.
     
    In other news, I 'finished' the mini I had been working on;

    I just really couldn't do what I wanted with the shield.   I have no talent for free-hand painting.   This'll be it.    I honestly don't expect the character to live all too long, anyways.
     
    I also dusted my Gundams.    That was a two-day project.

     
    Doing so also gave me a chance to reorganize the shelf.   I was hoping I could sort some more room.   I failed.   Still, these kits are basically action-figures when built, and it is a shame to have them stiffly posed 'at the ready.'   The 'action' bases contribute greatly to this sort of arrangement.   My only problem is the connection from the bases to the models is itself questionable.    The white-&-gray thing, with the blue stripe on the shoulder, is a prime example.    The clip to use with a base doesn't hold well.    A shame, as that kit is heavier than expected.
     
    Illinois weather is supposed to cooperate a little in the next week.   Hopefully, I can work some more on paint.
  14. AlfaZagato

    New Booth

    By AlfaZagato,

    I'm too lazy for tags, or any major progress.
     
    I did get in a new spray booth.   I've used it a whole once yet.    I primed a number of different projects.    A combination of laziness and poor weather curtailed any further progress.

    The bases for the Infinity, the Hexbeasts from Wild West Exodus, and some random space fighter I picked up a few years ago.   The design is from Star Blazers 2199, according to the box.   I can't read anything else on the box.  Oh well.   The Model Master enamel will at least have cured by the time I go to paint again.
  15. AlfaZagato

    Datsun & Vogt

    By AlfaZagato,

    Firstly, an unfortunate close-up of the soldier from last week;

     
    To finish, I only need some white glue.   The scenery-specific PVA I had went off, so I had to toss it.   I just want to add some groundwork to his base.   Something simple, like sand.
     
    I pulled out a long-running project;

     
    1/24 Revell Datsun 510.   I took a Dremel to the fender flares molded on the body, as the wheels I want to use would not clear.   Wasn't the neatest job, but I will be building out replacement flares with putty and styrene.
     

     
    Intentional mis-mounting here.  I'm aware the interior panels are swapped.   I mean this to look like some race car, so I figured stripped or plain side panels made sense.   Once I source more #15's, I will scribe the door lines on the backs.   I think the seat is Fujimi; they seemed to always have a number of spares in their kits.
     

     
    The centerpiece, and reason why this project is long-running.   Resin Nissan SR20DET from eBay.   This casting was meant for mounting in a curbside kit, so there was no provision for the lower third of the engine.    I've tried to improvise with the oil pan from the kit engine.   I've since had the fitting shown here removed.   I need to shim it up a bit.  Silly turbo exhaust screws everything up.
     
    Finally, slow progress on another started project;

     
    Cockpit-fuselage for the Airfix 1/72 Blohm + Voss BV 141.   Why do I say it like that?  Go look it up.   I can't satisfactorily explain the thing.   Have fun!
  16. AlfaZagato

    Variety

    By AlfaZagato,

    I've been a busy little shut-in this week.
     
    Yes, we have had a 'shelter-in-place' order in Illinois, as well.
     
    Either way, I've built the 'City Bike' set.   These things were little heaps.   Nothing lined up or fit.   The white bike, which is a Honda Tact, was to have a saddle-bag assembly.   I couldn't make heads-or-tails of it.   I didn't have directions in the box, nor were such forthcoming online.

     
    I forget which of the two leftmost scooters is the Suzuki, & which is the Yamaha, but left-to-right starting at the middle is a Honda Tact, Piaggio Vespa 200, & a Piaggio Vespa 50.   The Vespa 50 is by Tamiya, and was a pleasant bonus in the box.   Much nicer kit.
     
    I finished the centaur I was working on some months back;

    The pastel method I had researched to paint a Palomino came out much starker than I wanted.   I toned it down with a filter of green ochre.   I think it turned out well.   I'm actually proud of this one.   The base was a presculpted item, with a simple paint job.
     
    I've also made progress with another Dungeons & Dragons mini;

    This is to represent a current character I have.   Problem is, he is to be some odd fantasy race.   I don't know how to paint 'gold' skin.    I'll figure something out.
  17. AlfaZagato
    Until I sort a spray booth, the Infinity JSA will remain as they are.

    These are temporarily fixed to the bases using (ancient) PVA, thinned with water.   Water should cause the glue to let go when I go to paint the bases.  Hopefully.
     
    I also updated my 'con chain.'

    Every time I go to a convention, I will buy another charm.  I then add the charm to this chain.   The chain hangs from a very clever shirt I picked up at one convention.    Leather shoulders & brass fittings.   I thought it was neat.  Added this time was the stone in the middle.   The stone came in a set of polyhedral dice I picked up.  They are made of a stone I forget the name of, but is composed of fossilized algae.    Real pretty.    I also took the time to solder the jump rings.   I have had issue with them coming apart.   A little extra insurance can't hurt.
     
    Finally, I started another kit.   Like an idiot.

    Two kits, in fact.   The red Vespa is an older Tamiya kit.   I've built one before, and it is, in fact, Tamiya.   Just about 'shake-the-box.'   The blue Vespa is from a company called Yodel?  I've not heard of them before.   Very basic so far.   Fit isn't great either.   More short-run than classic Airfix, though.
  18. AlfaZagato

    Couplers 2

    By AlfaZagato,

    I've gone as far with the coupler project as I can now.   I've run out of couplers.   Well, mostly.   I have two packs of #31, but that micro draft box is impossible.    Not worth the trouble.
     
    These are what I converted during this push;

     
    I feel rather accomplished, cranking this out in a couple of weeks.
     
    I piled the old couplers...

    ...for no purpose other than to dump the pile in the trash.   I have no use for them.
     
    I managed to botch removing the couplings cleanly from this set;

    Either by not making the initial cut close enough, or knocking buffers off.   As of right now, I'm not in a position to correct either.   I need to recover my Dremel and accessories.   The accessories are more significant; I have a second Dremel still to hand, just no bits.
     
    Finally, this is the remainder of my freight stock that need converting;

     
    I wasn't going to cut into them before I had couplers for them.  With some sort of conversion car, I can use them as-is.   The one LMS 3-plank in the first image will likely be said conversion car, being about my only wagon with NEM sockets.
     
    My whole impetuous for pushing hard on this project was to have a consist ready for the All-American Railroad Show next Saturday, the 21st.   Amidst the current health concerns, the show has been cancelled, rendering my haste for naught.   I am rather annoyed.  Still, I may have the balance finished for the next show.   I also have some Collett coaches than need such fittings, as well.    It all depends on obtaining the #141 couplings I prefer.
  19. AlfaZagato
    Most progress this week was on another project for the other blog.   I'll have a post that way on Sunday evening.
     
    I have been continuing with laying appliques to the Infinity bases.   I've only two more to cut, and three to glue down.   I'll need to define which model gets which base next.   Afterwards, I can sit and slot the bases to take the tabs & pegs.    I'll likely glue the minis to the bases with PVA for a temporary bond, until I figure out a spray booth.   I'd like to actually play the game sometime.

     
    They're not perfect.   I should take the time to clean up the few ragged ones when I cut the slots.   Paint will be simple; primer-some kind of dark gray-drybrush silver.   Maybe an oily wash applied piecemeal.    Should look real good.   We'll see.
  20. AlfaZagato

    Infinite Return

    By AlfaZagato,

    Finally ordered (& received) the compass cutter.    While I let individual wagons set, I've taken up cutting the base patterns for the Infinity JSA.
     
    I thought the treadplate would look cool.   We'll have to see when I get to paint.   My idea is working well so far, though.
  21. AlfaZagato

    Couplers

    By AlfaZagato,

    I've dug into fitting Kadee's to my wagon fleet.


     
    I've found longshank underset works well.    I don't plan on using these for shunting.   I'm using Kadee's more due to availability & reliability.   Also, trying to take a 30-wagon train off the line at a show is a pain with tension locks.   I'll keep working on this for now.
  22. AlfaZagato

    Commando Gone

    By AlfaZagato,

    I finished building the Commando.   Of course, the pic I took barely shows what the last bit I added was.

     
    There's a couple where you can see the canteen.   The canteen part also has the gas mask case.   There also was another case for the waist.   One or two have knives in place of either aforementioned part.  I probably won't have these out for another couple of months.
     
    Also, a teaser to what the next project is;

     
    Watch the other blog.   I'll be posting this work there.
  23. AlfaZagato

    Still Going Commando

    By AlfaZagato,

    I finished building the commando!
     
    ...no I didn't.
     
    Arms, heads, hats, and Bergan bags all on.   I only need to clean and fit the waist equipment.   Still, that much more time on a project I should have finished already.    I do this to myself.

     
    I REALLY should be done by this time next week.
  24. AlfaZagato

    Gone Commando

    By AlfaZagato,

    I finally started on a box that's been floating about my workshop for a couple of years.    Bolt Action Commandos, in plastic.    They don't fall together nearly so well as the Tau I've been working on.

    Mostly cleaning some pretty sever flash here, with Plastic Weld to fix the bodies to the bases.
     

    Assembling the arms.   Arming the people?   Rules option allowed for all SMGs, so I built as such.   Should be a fun time if and when I ever lay them on the table.
     

    All armed, just waiting to get ahead in life.   The arm-pairs do NOT like to line up worth a cent.
     

    More Chicago snow preclude me getting rolling on the heads.   You can just make out here what the flash is like on this kit.   I should have these built by next week.   We'll see.
  25. AlfaZagato

    Moving On

    By AlfaZagato,

    Last of the Tau is done.

    These are just a little less knock together than the troops, but still no real effort.   Mostly options slowing it down.   Each one has both arms and the left shoulder fitted with a rare-earth magnet for swappable weapons.
     
    Built a one-off model for an upcoming army.

    Named model, Sister Novena or something like that.    No special rules, though.   Just sort of a showcase model.   When I get to paint, I'm thinking of messing with object lighting.   That will be different.
     
    More slow days at work meant more snap kits of giant robots.   First, an accessory pack;

     
    Recognize the dude?   I built him last month.   I finally picked up the weapon pack;  Foul play on Bandai's part, selling the weapons separate.   Still, now it's finished.
     
    Finally, a Goof.

     
    Gouf Custom, actually.   Wrist-mounted whip, and that monstrosity of a shield.   Shield even stores a sword.   There's a wrist-mounted machine gun under that, too.  
     
    I have some 28mm WWII Commandos that I have started, too.   I forgot to take a picture, but there's not much done yet.    We'll see where I am next week.
×
×
  • Create New...