Scratch-build Macross Armored Factory and Maintenance Bay

[MaveRick]

Pardon me again guys, I can only speak English other than my native languages..

It was early last year when i discovered using the Kotobukiya Mechanical Chain base coupled with Hasegawa ground crew kit as a good alternative for creating a diorama display for Valkyries. I was able to come up with a couple of dioramas for some of my collectibles.

Early this year, I was starting to contemplate on taking it to the "next level" and finally do everything from scratch, but didn't manage to start with the build since work didn't gave me the luxury of time.. well not until a month ago when i lost one of my sideline job and left me a couple of free time to finally work on this project.

I've already posted some progress pics and comments on my showroom thread, but thought it's more applicable to post it in this section:

[MaveRick]

From the project planning, i already intended to animate some of the base section, one of them is the gantry platform section.. i intended to only use the those ready made rotating stands being sold at our local Malls, but unfortunately just when i needed it, i couldn't fine them!! then few days ago, a friend who dropped by my place to check on my build gave me an idea of a good alternative.. so here's what i got:



it's a rotary part for disco lights.. i chose the one with the slowest rpm..

then made the platform to be mounted on the motor..



thought of using x-frame to support the entire weight of the valk, but i encountered problems with fitting it on the base..so i opted with a simple alternative..



so this is practically how it looks like with the valk/destroid (see video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuSvPF8kcO0

also made these last weekend...

gantry arms... i salvaged my prototype scaled down dryl launch arm's clamp.. then made another one..



roller for destroid/armored valk.. i still have to make another one with higher clearance from the base.

[MaveRick]

Finished installing of base for all 3 partitions.. I first thought of following the koto chain base (removable base and wall) but with the kind of material being used for this project, i thought it's a better idea to have the base permanently attached to the wall.. I also Decided to make a side wall for partition one of the factory.. i'll leave the other side open though..
[color="blue"]
Partition 1[/color]



Side Wall





Partition 1's base




[color="blue"]
Partition 2[/color]

- widest of the three partitions.. most of the hard part of the build where done here.. had to ask for help at planning on how to design some of the section (sliding gantry, sliding gantry arm, space for the rotary)

Gantry 01



Gate No. 2



Base - with added detailing.. didn't really appeared on the line-art!



[color="blue"]
Partition 3[/color]

with Gantry 02 still needed some decals..

[MaveRick]

Started installing electrical wires on all three partitions the other night...

used "Ribbon wire type" for hooking up most of the electrical components..



it's a cluster of 16 wires actually.. but could be split into a number of pairs..

then some sections where i hide them:





the rest of the wires are situated at the back of the wall.. so not much cable management is needed for it..

[MaveRick]

HERE'S HOW IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN PUT TOGETHER ( Just a mock up combination of all 3 parts).. it's about 95% Completed right now, just need to place more minute details on some part.. clean some paint smudges especially on the sides of Gate no 1., installing of LEDs and cleaning of wires.

With Scale 1/48 Valkyries:








With Scale 1/60 Valkyrie and Destroid:

[Desmo94]

Great Job!

It's simply awesome!

[odr78]

Oh nondidiou !!!! My eyes my eyes... I've seen the big light... I'm blind...


Piuuuuuuuu !! I WANT THE SAME.........

Great Job..... Great job......

[Ratatarse]

What else to say when seeing this great work...

[Lancer]

Very nice work , il love it it's a great Macross factory

[Nexx]

Amasing job ! Congratulation !!!

[Varitechs]

very good job

[Nicks]

Hi Maverick, awesome work...

[MaveRick]

guys thank you for the kind words, i appreciate all the comments... it makes me even more eager at completing this project as soon as possible..

so here's another quick update.. i had 3 straight days off from regular work (idependence day last friday, and no sideline audit engagement since saturday) i was basically spending most of my time continuing the build..

i already starting making final attachments on the wirings... so basically here's how it looks like with the lights installed:


Gate 01/Partition 1 with 8 of 10 lights already installed... with the latest 1/60 yamato destroid..






Also been looking over some specialty/hobby shops and malls hoping to get something that would more likely resemble at "Boom Lift Truck" that's being used.. but only managed to see some heavy equipment trucks and construction type trucks.. nothing really decently as accurate as this one:



so after few hours of contemplating.. heck! i decided to scratch build it too!!!

so here's my update on this extra build so far: (note.. just applied base coating.. still have to put final colors and minute details once its completely build)

manage to finish this one the other night... (Boom Base, Boom, Hydraulic Cylinder, and Carriage)



with Scale 1/72 Hasegawa ground crew kit figure inside carriage



then started working on the truck itself just early this morning.. here's how it looks like as of this posting





and just like the factory, i opted to put real working headlights for this build



other gimmicks: boom can be stretch.. boom base articulated as well..

here's a mock up combination of the parts..

[gran-steak]

Wonderfull work

[MaveRick]

thanks gran-steak


UPDATES


got home early today so i had a chance to continue working on this project..

i started continuing on my boom lift truck s.build... salvaged my old tamiya mini 4wd racer's wheels and my spare 1/48 decals for the boom part also opted not to follow color as show in reference pic and used lighter color instead.





then wired up the LEDs for the headlights.. took some time before i figured out how to conceal the connection and place the batteries.. had to modify a part of it..





here's how it looks like with the headlights on.. im still trying to choose whether to make the LEDs light up steadily or not..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bbVagUqRBc <-- CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO CLIP


also trashed my first design of the destroid roller.. just didn't appear to be appealing to me at all.. started working on the second version just few hours earlier..



after applying base color..

[hybridmecha]

hello mav!!!!


one word "incredible work" it's a pleasure to see your different piece

thanks for this !!!

mike

[MaveRick]

Got an advise that i'll be on field work starting this weekend.. so decided to devote my time for the past two days finishing this project..


First i made some changes on some parts:

Change my first design of holder for the rotating platform and motor.. the second design didn't prove to be stable enough to hold heavier valkyries.. here's my modified case..



Also i didn't like how my lighting turned it.. it really looked like the mecha's are in a club/concert thingy.. so i discarded my first set .. also opted to follow the colors of each lamps as show in the line-art.



had a problem capturing its true colors.. but it's basically green, yellow and red




Then some additional parts.. i thought of putting a cut off ceiling just to give the entire factory some dept..

still for final colors.. and reinforcement at the back portion..



cut out a rectangular hole, where i will be putting additional ceiling lights..

[MaveRick]

then came the part i hated most... cable management...


apparently the back portion still has to be covered.. but before that i need to organize all the wirings and sockets..



i used 3 separate power sources for the electrical components:



for the gate and gantry side lamps, i used my mom's spare cellphone charger as source



i used cable tie and headers as snap on connectors for all three partitions




and so here's my second version of the lighting with a mock-up attachment of partition 1's ceiling.. (without the lights at the front section and some hidden parts.)

[MaveRick]

Spent the entire day working on..

- finishing the ceiling.. and installing it on all 3 partitions
- cable management
- final placement of LEDs and Rotating Platform..


so.. here's my Scratch-Build Macross Armored Factory and Maintenance Bay!!! ( just placed both 1/60 destroid and focker and a few crew figs.. i still have to make final arrangements on how i will place the yammies with the crew)


















http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLopBK5h_lI -- CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL VIEW CLIP OF THE COMPLETED FACTORY IN LOW LIGHT WITH ROTATING PLATFORM

[Lancer]

Thanks for sharing, it's really amazing
You must send this video to S.Kawamori or Yamato, i'm sure they'll call you
Congratulation

[Nicks]

Awesome

Give me a M a A a V a E a R a I a C a K, mmmMMAAAAAAverick



You're simply a GENIUS

[odr78]

Again....terrible...

I can't say anything.... Awesome

[MaveRick]

thanks you guys for appreciating.. it was a quite an exhausting build, with me working mostly on unholy hours because of my "eagerness" to get it done as soon as possible..