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Haizerado class Astro Battleship - Finished


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hi everyone

Yes, I'm back again - this time with the SBY 2199 Haizerado class Astro Battleship. Don't ask me what the name is because as far as I know, it doesn't have one. For those of you who have no idea what the hell I'm talking about, it's this ship set right here:

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I just love the shape and menacing appearance of this Battleship., According to my sources, this was the latest variant of battleship to come out and to make things even better, it comes in any color you like.

However, in the main story, there are 3 particular schemes of note. One is Blue and that belongs to the head honcho's royal guard another one is the intelligence Chief's flagship which is gray and the third variant is green and that seems to be the most common one out there.

I'm going to do the Gray scheme because so far, of all the one's I've seen online, no one has done the gray one yet and I kind of like the idea of this ship being a flagship - even though the super dreadnought makes it look small in comparison.

Also inside this set, there is a troop transporter which is in splinter colors (on the box art, it's the one on the bottom right next to the Bandai logo) but also this wicked looking unmanned drone.

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I think with some extra detailing, I can maybe make it look even better. That's a big maybe mind you.

I've been thinking of ways to light this and I'll admit, parts of it will be incredibly tricky. Most of all is the scoop like things on the bottom. On the battleship, they are molded in clear yellow, which is fine - that can be adjusted with the right color LEDs, but the ones on the drone are solidly molded on and I have no idea on how A) I'm going to get the detail out of there and B)/> what material I'll use to replace them.:

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If you have any ideas, feel free to share them!

So, enough intro, onto the build! I've had this out of the box now for about an hour or so and I have mutilated it already, getting ready for the installation of lighting. I'm waiting on the arrival of some orange, pink and green LED's which I ordered a while ago and should be here this week!

The good thing about this ship is there isn't much lighting to do, so it should be quick and easy.....famous last words!

It's a decent length too - just on 39cm.

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I love the way Bandai have engineered these kits with all these little compartments that make lighting life so much easier.

Well, that's enough for tonight - it's late here and I need to go to bed, but I'll continue on with this tomorrow night and post an update soon.

Thanks for looking

MH

Edited by The Madhatter
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well, time for one last up date for the week. I have made some progress, although seemingly not much. However, removing the bridge window is a challenge when you consider it is only 2mm high at it's tallest point. I will fill it in with clear cement once the paintings done so it won't look like a holed out window.

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I have also begun adding the usual micro detailing to give it some texture. I will try not to go over board on this one. Fibers have also been added as nav lights and there is an SMD in the bridge for it's illumination

I have also tried out something new and dug out a small trench at the rear of these small fins to enable a fiber thread to be installed. I finally got to break out my smallest engraving tool and Ii am really happy with the over all result. I just need to add putty over it to smooth it out and blend in with the rest of the fin.

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And lastly, I have created a new kind of light box for the side things (no one I know actually knows what they are called or what they do other than they change colors depending on the ships status). I may yet change out the frosted clear bits and re-do them but not so frosty. It depends on how much light they will disperse - or not.

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Well, that;s it for this week. Be back again soon with some more of this awesome ship

Thanks for looking

MH

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greetings everyone

Well, things progress ever so slowly, but I thought I'd catch you up where I am currently.

I spent a fair amount of time setting up the rear engine lighting - most of the time spent trying to work out what to use as an LED holder. In the end, I went with a hollowed out drive wheel from a Tamiya M60A3 tank. Works perfectly!

I cut a disc from clear plastic sheet and then sprayed a coat of Testors Dullcoat to give it a nice frosted effect. The little nozzle that protrudes in the middle got hacked up too and I must say, I am happy with the end result. Obviously, the below pics are just a light test and nothing is glued on, but on the final product I will make sure everything is centered etc

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And the light box in the middle is still being worked on. Trying to make it fit is becoming a challenge to say the least!

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And finally, the bridge work is now all done and ready to be installed:

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Well, that's it for now. I'll continue working on the Middle light box but I am waiting on delivery of the last colored LED set to arrive. I bought 50 Yellow LED's but what I didn't realise is that they are flashing LED's and unfortunately, they blink to fast to be of use on this ship. So, if you want some flashing yellow LED's please feel free to ask me for some. I have no use for them, but it's not so bad when considering I only paid $3.50AU delivered for them.

See you again soon

MH

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thanks bud :cheers:

I spent some time on the electrics last night and I found I had to cut some corners - literally - off the central light box to make it fit. I'm still waiting on the last of the LEDs to arrive before I can finish that off and get it installed and wired in. But I'm also waiting on a critical part of this set up before I can really know if I need to make a different set of lights - I'm waiting on the micro controller to arrive. Then, once I can be sure it fits in to the space I've managed to allot for it, I can really continue. The controller will instruct the central lights to fade-change colours every 20-39 seconds from Green for at rest to yellow/orange for at battle stations (I think that's the right way around - or it might be the other - I'll have to check)

I just hope the controller will fit otherwise I'll have to change plans and have to make up a base, house it in there and up the wires up through the ship. Which would be a PITA to say the least but still do-able

Anyway, here's the fruits of my minimalistic labor ;)

first up - the top half of the ship is mostly together and retail to detail:

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I thought this little bit here was quite a nice design feature that had remained hidden until now.

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And inside:

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Well, that's all for now. See you again soon

MH

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got to spend some time on this today as I was quite unwell this morning. Doc says get some rest, etc etc

So, with the wife and boy away visiting one of her friends, I decided that the best way for me to relax and "rest" was to do some more on this ship.

I spent a long time tidying up the wires and fiber threads and finishing up what I can ready for the micro controller to be installed.

As you can see, I have gone for the plug system again to power the LED's which are separate to the controller. Because that plug is powered, I'll use the last plug left to run the M.C and nav lights

However, I don't have enough spaces for the bridge light to plug into this board, so I'll keep the extended wires and plug it into another plug which will go into the lower half of the ship.

All being well, the last of the LED's will be here this week, so I can then finish off the central light box and get that installed to.

Organised chaos:

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Well, that's all for now but I'll be back again probably on Monday with another update.

Thanks for watching

MH

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hi everyone :tumble:/>/>

I have made some progress over the past few days and now the top half of the ship is now detailed and I will start the bottom half tonight.

I've also had to re-do the central lighting again. I've moved the LED's around so they don't block each other and disperse the light better. I haven't taken any pics of that yet because it's not finished

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That's all for now - thanks for looking and it's back to to the studio for your regularly scheduled program...

MH

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  • 1 month later...

After 2 months, the Astro Battleship “Shangri La” is now finished. The kit went together well and Bandai make it easy to do lighting. However, due some problem somewhere along the line, the bridge window light and a couple of the Nav light LED’s having either blown or just stopped working. A disappointment for sure, but I’ll live with it. The main thing is the central lights still work and change colour like they’re supposed to.

I have painted mine slightly differently than what’s on the screen by adding replaced panels which in my opinion makes it more interesting than just a slab of violet hued gray. Speaking of which, I opted not to have the violet tinge to it because I didn’t like it that much

That’s the best thing about Sci-Fi, you can do what you like with the subject and no one can tell you it’s wrong :taunt:/>

Here’s some pics I’ve taken of it. I might try for some moodier shots later tonight if I can be bothered.

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part 2 coming up

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Great work as usual.

Perhaps you could list the electronics you use and where you get them? I would like to know what components to use to light up some of my kits? Esp. power sources and lights and how to hook them up...just basic stuff?!!

Steve

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thank you very much guys for taking the time to post a reply - I really do appreciate it.

Steve, when I have more than 2 minutes to spend on the PC, I'll do up the list you want and will PM it to you :)

Bear in mind that I live in Australia and the stores I get some of my stuff from won't be applicable there in the US. However, from what I gather, you'll find Radio Shack will have most of what you need

Thanks again guys

MH

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thank you very much guys for taking the time to post a reply - I really do appreciate it.

Steve, when I have more than 2 minutes to spend on the PC, I'll do up the list you want and will PM it to you :)/>

Bear in mind that I live in Australia and the stores I get some of my stuff from won't be applicable there in the US. However, from what I gather, you'll find Radio Shack will have most of what you need

Thanks again guys

MH

Thank you & I appreciate it

Steve

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I had the house pretty much to myself tonight, so whilst the wife was away and the boy tucked safely in bed, I decided to have a play with the camera and lighting on the battleship

The below pics are the ones I felt looked cool:

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Well, that's enough of the pics but this was more an exercise in learning and practicing photography skills. Once I figure out PhotoShop Elements Ii should be able to try and create some kind of planet mural type picture.

Anyway, thanks for entertaining me by stopping in again

Till then

MH

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This is really impressive but those last set of photos are a bit amazing.:thumbsup:

I showed them to my teenager who grunted enthusiastically, so it must mean its good. :) He was interested to know did this come from a comic/anime/TVseries??? or are they original designs?

Steve.

Edited by stevehnz
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LOl - teenagers are great with comunication aren't they - I have a few years yet to look forward to that kind of response :)

The ship itself is from Space Battleship yamato 2199 - an anime series which is a revamp of the old Star Balzers series from the 80's or 90's

It's a great series and the live aciton movie of the same name is just as awesome visually but with slightly different ships

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LOl - teenagers are great with comunication aren't they - I have a few years yet to look forward to that kind of response :)/>

I figure that when laptop PCs get to around a year old, it's like their teen period. Mine is coming up to that age: it goes randomly into long sullen periods ignoring me completely, doing nothing but grumbling to itself while I really need to get some work done. Then it suddenly demands an update for something or other I don't even know about...it's like the only coherent words you ever hear from offspring between 13 and 21: "Dad!!! Can I have..."

Also, the thing declined to show your photos above for ages...too much effort! But today, it has risen to this Herculean challenge -the strange thud you just heard was my jaw making a dent in the parquet...exceptional work, Sir, even by your own standards!

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Ah Chippy - my old friend (and I don't use that term in a derogatory way), your wit never fails to make me smile or laugh. I'm glad your laptop decided to play nice for once and show you the pictures.

Speaking of which, a friend of mine's daughter from BM did this fantastic pic in Photoshop:

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I personally love it! She can do something I can't: use blimin' Photoshop effectively! (or for that matter - at all)

I know there's a Viper in the shot, and even though technically it doesn't belong, it adds to the scale in a fashion

Anyway, I promise - no more pictures

Thanks to you as well Janne - it's great to see you here as well :)

My next project won't be appearing in this part of the forum but in armour - and no it's not a tank :) I'm already well under way with it and even paused it so I could build this ship.

See you later

MH

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Believe me, I'm much honoured to be referred to as a friend, old or otherwise! That is an awesome bit of PS-ing; it really nails the mass and presence of this astonishing machine.

But...no more pics? REALLY...? Just when my Haunted Humidor has started to catch up with them? NOOOOO! :crying2:

Anyways, can't wait to see the next project on the ramp! :D

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The kit turned out great. I like the gray color, it works well with the lights. Photoshop is one of those arcane arts that I wish I could learn. Your friends daughter did an excellent job.

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