The Madhatter Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 Throughout the Yunagi build I have been alluding to the Andromeda which to some will be interesting in itself as it is the latest incarnation of the UNCF Flagship - essentially pushing the Yamato out of the way with its twin wave guns and more advanced technology. If I have understood it right, the Andromeda even shares some Gamillian technology after the joining up of the two previous enemies to fight off another group even more deadly than themselves - the Gatlantis At any rate, there was a lot of buzz amongst the SBY fans when it was announced that this: .... was coming out and if I am totally honest - I wasn't one of them. I don't particularly like the bridge section and I think it needs a better exhaust nozzle and some bigger and better fins. The rest of it is pretty cool though and I thought I could do something wit the rest of it, but so far, it hasn't quite worked out as planned. More on this later This kit comes prepackaged with lights and even a sound board but combined, they make it more toy like than a model - in the same way Revell do their Star Wars toys "models" I have elected not to use the lights or sound board and make do with my own lights. I probably should use the Wave gun lights but I just can't be bothered. I'd never use it and as it is, I hardly ever display the ships I have built with the lights turned on. Only at shows do they get switched on and that is pretty rare However, I do have some lights planned for this because my OCD kicks in every chance it can and I just can't help myself. Besides, it does add just a little extra something to a build. I am planning on adding 3-4 ships to a display: the Andromeda, Yunagi, a Dreadnought and a medical ship. I should get myself a 1/1000 Yamato to fly alongside as well..... I mentioned that things hadn't worked out as planned with the updated exhaust, so here's a quick look at an early failure. Because I never fully trust myself to do a proper job the first time round and I am scared I'll just completely root a valuable and core piece or equipment, I make resin copies to experiment with. At first, I had the pour points in the wrong place and I wasn't getting very good results. but with the purchase of some more silicon, I remolded the exhaust and managed (after many attempts) to make a couple of decent resin copies - and even then only 1 that was totally workable. I had made 16 individual petals as well in the design of the SBY Live Action movie and spent age measuring and drawing to get the shapes right. Last time I attempted this design, I tried to cheat and make some resin copies but that didn't work out so well and I stuck with the kit version. However, I thought I would give it another go this time but make each and every petal individually. All 16 of them. They were all uniform (mostly) and made using very thin plastic sheet which is no longer in production sadly. Good thing I bought heaps when I did. Anyway, I was pretty chuffed with myself and then after successfully creating a good solid copy I proceeded to start sticking on the petals. Well guess what? I screwed up my measurements and they didn't all fit on. This became a prime reason why I make resin copies first and foremost!! I have put the nozzle idea aside for now and will look at it again when I get back from my up coming mini-holiday. However, you can see how cool it could look and I think I will amend the design a bit to. Moving along now to the side thrusters. I have cut out the space in between the forward facing fins in order to facilitate a cool lighting effect I saw on a huge one built by a Japanese fellow (his one was 1 meter long!). Even though it's not technically show accurate, I just don't care and want to use this effect for myself. A bit of cutting here and there allows the transfer of wiring into the main body. Luckily, it was easy enough to make it work due to the way Bandai engineer these kits. The pictures should be self explanatory enough but if not, please feel free to ask anything. And a quick size comparison shot against the Yunagi: So, that is where I am up to right now. It doesn't seem like much but I spent wayyyy to much time screwing up making the exhaust nozzle and fins. Once I get back form my trip, I will be able to invest more time into this. I also have to finish off the Yunagi but there isn't much left of that one. As always, thanks for looking Si Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dekon70 Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 Nice start. What color LED's did you use? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Madhatter Posted September 27, 2017 Author Share Posted September 27, 2017 Thanks for the interest, good to know someone's looking other than me. Believe it or not, it's a blue LED, but the camera just isn't picking it up properly. That's because there wasn't a lot of ambient light when I took them. It'll show better in daylight shots when I get to taking them Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Silenoz Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 looking good so far, nice start on the engine Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Madhatter Posted October 6, 2017 Author Share Posted October 6, 2017 I got back from holidays last Sunday and I managed to spend some time on the Andromeda that night and Monday and Tuesday nights too. I got the lighting for the sub engine pod sorted out and its all done ready to go on the main body which I'll probably do this weekend. The blue effect behind the engine intake looks really good in the plastic but it's hard to capture it on film SD card The orange of the engines look awesome if I do say so myself! I am really happy with how they came out. I punched out some discs of frosted clear plastic and put them over the ends of the nozzles which in turn have diffused the light beautifully I have most of the SMD's added to the body but I have run out and am waiting on more to turn up in the mail before I can proceed, so in the mean time, I have turned my attention back to the main engine nozzle. I have remade the petals and this time, they look much better and should all fit. I also made another cast of the kit nozzle and will use that to create the new one. If all proceeds according to plan, I'll have something looking more like the live action version of the Yamato and it does look so much better - or at least in my opinion Enough talking, time for the pics I'm also looking to create a different bridge as well as I am not a fan of the current design. I have no idea what I'll do as yet, but I'll have a tinker and see what I can come up with As always, thanks for looking Si Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aigore Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 Outstanding! Always impressed by your work, mate! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Madhatter Posted October 9, 2017 Author Share Posted October 9, 2017 Thanks Janne A bit more work done on the main engine. I managed to squeeze 13 3MM LEDs onto a disc 2 cm diameter which took a couple of hours, but the results are well worth it. It all fits nicely inside the clear insert and is markedly brighter than what you get in the kit supplied lighting. I'm going to paint some clear plastic with some Alclad metal to see if I can get the lights shining nicely behind it to show through. Only so it doesn't look like a clear part is all. I also remade the plastic part that sits behind the nozzle and still have more to add to it yet. Here's a few pics: That's all I have for now, but as always, thanks for looking Si Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Silenoz Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 looks good though, nice thing with the ring behind the engine... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Brad Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 Great work on this so far. I too have mixed feelings about this design, but it's kinda cool! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mikkod Posted November 2, 2017 Share Posted November 2, 2017 Oh, nice start! Keep it up! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Madhatter Posted November 4, 2017 Author Share Posted November 4, 2017 Sorry for the lack of updates. I had put it away whilst I waited for the SMD's to turn up (which they now have) but something else also turned up recently - the 38" Korbanth Super Star Destroyer! It has kind of over shadowed my enthusiasm for the Andromeda for the mean time plus I'm also in the process of building/lighting the Anigrand MC-80 Cruiser (no WIP thread sorry) but I will be picking the Andromeda up again once the MC-80 is done. The SSD won't be started for a while yet sorry but here is a link to some pictures I've taken of it: https://flic.kr/s/aHsm874pyQ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
blakeh1 Posted November 7, 2017 Share Posted November 7, 2017 Looking forward to seeing more I'm building one of these now. I stuck with the out of the box lighting kit only because I liked the wave motion effect and it was easy ( if i tried lighting it myself, it would never get done) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mikkod Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 Oh, nice start. Keep it up! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scorvi Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 amazing work as usual...I ahve this kit too and the Dreadnought kit too. Yours is inspirational! Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 By heck, I'm impressed....really serious work there! Very impressive! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Madhatter Posted December 20, 2017 Author Share Posted December 20, 2017 Thanks guys. Im sorry I haven't updated this in a while but I've been working on other projects at the same time. I'm hoping to pick this up again in the new year once everything has settled down a bit. Thank you for your interest Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ikon Posted December 26, 2017 Share Posted December 26, 2017 Our interest is assured with your work! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Madhatter Posted December 26, 2017 Author Share Posted December 26, 2017 6 hours ago, Ikon said: Our interest is assured with your work! Welcome to the forums! thank you - your very kind. I'll be picking this one up again soon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tecko Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 It's coming along very well. Your nozzle idea turned out fantastic. Keep up the good work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hoops Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 Very nice work I really like the effect with the LEDs! Hoops Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Madhatter Posted December 31, 2017 Author Share Posted December 31, 2017 thanks guys I took the box down last night and after due consideration, I have opted to use the nozzle I made. Sp I took it out side and after a couple of hours in the shed, it has some paint on it I used Alclad including on the clear bit. I didn't want it to look clear and I know Alclad is very translucent when light is shone from behind and besides - it looks better like this. I made a ring to go over the ends of the LED's and the results are perfect. Its very hard to photograph, but the white LED in the middle of the blues looks amazing I have the lights currently setting in position now. I'll now start looking see how I am going to display it Thanks for looking in Si Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ikon Posted December 31, 2017 Share Posted December 31, 2017 He thanks us for looking in! They'd be nothing to look at without this build. That engine is looking great. On 12/26/2017 at 4:35 AM, The Madhatter said: Welcome to the forums! thank you - your very kind. I'll be picking this one up again soon And you know me, Madhatter. I'm otherwise known as Thom on other sites. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Madhatter Posted December 31, 2017 Author Share Posted December 31, 2017 Ahhh!!! Way cool! Glad to see you on a different site ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dekon70 Posted December 31, 2017 Share Posted December 31, 2017 That nozzle looks outstanding! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SinisterVampire319 Posted December 31, 2017 Share Posted December 31, 2017 Really nice! Will be following your progress. Cheers! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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