Surf - Design Planet Blurp No.19

BAN DAI's

Yamato Star Blazers Set of 30 Mini Model Kits

Space Ship names are:

Space Cruiser Argo, Cosmo Tiger II, EDF Main Battleship, Flagship Andromeda, Desslok's Command Ship, Zordar's Drednaught, Twin-Deck Carrier, Single-Deck Carrier, Comet Empire Destroyer, Comet Empire Missile Ship, EDF Escort Ship, EDF Destroyer, EDF Patrol Cruiser, Comet Empire Battleship, Gamilon Destroyer, Desslok's Carrier, Dark Nebula Ship, Gamilon Tri-Deck Carrier, Captain Avatar's Ship, Alex Wildstar's Ship, Cosmo Zero Fighter, EDF Cruiser, Desslok's New Flagship, Cosmo Hound, Gamilon Carrier, Dual Tri-Deck Carrier, Bolar Wars Ship, Desslok's Gun Ship, and Planet Destroyer Ship.

Model Description:

The models are approximately 3'5" to 6" long and each comes with a display stand. The easy to follow Japanese picture directions are printed on the inside of the box cover. Only two models came with decals, but at their small scale they are probably not required. Some models have a separate smaller ship which displays along side of the main cruiser. Models are formed in color if one just wants to glue them together. Of course, they would be better primed and paint detailed. They are all copyrighted 1979 - 1981. As well as the above 30 small scale ships in the first photo, there are other similar Yamato ship models made by Ban Dai available at a larger scale. Approximately 8" to 10" long as shown in the photo directly above to the right. Both the small and larger models are very well detailed.

Model Development:

I started in January putting together all of the 30 ships (photos of models shown below) and I have now completed the last one today. They all went together easily and only required a little seam knife and sanding cleanup, with minor putty fill.

Note: I use Golden Acrylic Modeling Paste applied with a putty knife and immediately cleaned up with damp Q-Tips.

All ships are now ready for priming and detailing. I also prepared six of the larger scale ships that I had as well (larger one noted and shown below).

Note: Click a photo to enlarge.

The blue ship is one of the larger scale ships (above),
and the top and right ship (below).

My final step, once all are paint finished, will be to confirm:

1. whether I want to display all of the 30 mini ships on their supplied little display stands,
2. create different diorama scenes,
3. combine and create a linear wall outer space scene background, with the ships pegged off that or displayed on their stands in front. Mmmm???

A larger scale ship ready for priming.

Surf - Design Planet Blurp No.17

Papercraft Models

There are several Japanese, European, North American and other world websites and blogs on the art of building Papercraft Models. Their subject matter and complexity vary greatly from Animals, Castles, Motorcycles, Gundam Figures, Airplanes and Custom Designer Toys. There are simple models for small children; and others that will take an adult many late hours - with a lot of extreme patience.

A Few Papercraft Websites:
http://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/global/entertainment/papercraft/
http://cp.c-ij.com/europe/papercraft/nl/
http://gunime.blogspot.com/
http://papercraft-world.blogspot.com/
http://papercraftparadise.blogspot.com/
(just Google "Papercraft" for more)

I would like to share some notes on a couple that I have made:

Star Wars "Sandcrawler"

This papercraft model is about 3" x 6". I did this in November, 2007 over a couple of days.

The pattern was in color and was printed in color on white 67 lb. card stock. After cutting out the parts with an exacto knife and folding the parts accurately using a sharp edge metal picture frame, I then used Weldwood Carpenter's Wood Glue to bond the parts together.

Extras for effect: This model had eight tank type treads on the bottom. I mixed a little Burnt Umber and Payne's Grey Acrylic in water and applied a light wash two or three times over the lower sides and all over the bottom. I also spattered a thicker wash application over the tire treads. I touched up any white paper fold edges that showed with a fine point black marker. I applied matte acrylic clear varnish over the completed papercraft model. Now it just needs a couple of those little Sandcrawler guys placed around the model!

*********************

"Gundam Model Head" Papercraft

This papercraft model is about 4" x 5" x 6". I completed this in August, 2006.

The pattern was in color and was printed in color on white 67 lb. card stock.

Strengthening a weak image: The image line work supplied was very fine (no strength) and the color supplied was also very weak (not my printer). So, I decided to paint all the colors by hand, while all the cutout card pieces were laying flat. I mixed the red, base grey, yellow, and black using Hyplar Acrylics. Once dry, I folded, and scored the back sides where necessary. I used carpenter's glue and some 3M clear double sided tape to bond and hold all together. The image's graphics are now a lot stronger. I decided also, to paint a camo effect for the grey helmet and face area (give it more character). After all parts were put together I did minor paint touch-up where required and then I brushed a seal of matte clear acrylic varnish over all.


I do have another Gundam papercraft model with the same size head and a complete body with weaponry, which makes it 36" tall. Hopefully I will find time to create it!

I surf many Papercraft sites each month looking for a variety of good or unusual papercraft and I download them into a file folder, which I later backup onto CD's. Usually Papercraft Models are saved as PDF or JPEG files.

Surf - Design Planet Blurp No.8

Wow! A whole month has passed quickly since my Blurp No.7.

"Happy Thanksgiving" to all Americans out there! Hope you had a great and full 4 days! I'm actually a dual citizen (eh/ya) ...a little bit American, after living the last 13 years in Hawaii. Aloha!

I doubt that I will have much time to build models, work on a painting, or add to my blog during the upcoming Christmas holidays. My neighbours (Canadian spelling) are putting up Christmas lights and wreaths, and there was a little white stuff on the edge of my driveway this morning. Burrr! Anyhow, I just put together a quick selection of pictures of the models I have been working on this month and I’d like to share a little bit of blurp about them below.

I have been very busy this month; putting together some studio shelving, moving reference materials and models around …"Organizing my new space". And, I actually found some retirement time this month to complete a couple of great models, start some others, and to begin a painting. The acrylic painting is 18" high x 24" wide, and of windmills on the Isle of Mykonos, Greece. The Greek Island is one of the top international tourist destinations, famous around the globe for its blue and white stucco homes in a maze of narrow streets, cosmopolitan character, and its intense nightlife. I visited the island last year, for only a day, while traveling through the Mediterranean. I will share the painting soon.

It is comfortable for me to work on more than one model at once. While I'm waiting for the model glue or paint to dry on one, I can do more planning, do research, or just work on another model. I use model box bottoms and plastic shallow trays/bins to hold the model's parts, the instructions, other idea notes, and to hold modeling color/finish supplies that I want for that particular model. Being organized, It is easy to switch from model to model, or from a model to a painting etc. Besides, I'm retired - organization helps a lot - you've heard about finding the tuna can in the shoe box - and the shoe polish in the fridge!

Paradactyl - Model: "Zoids RZ-039"

This small ZOIDS by TOMY has a right side wind-up mechanism which moves the mechanical creature's feet, and moves the wings up and down. A mini pilot is located under the head canopy.

Finishing and detailing:

Model instructions are in Japanese …but most detailed Japanese illustrations are excellent and easily followed.

I painted the body parts in Teal – a medium Hyplar Aqua Blue-Green Acrylic with lighter mixed highlights and darker tones.

The mechanical parts and feet were sprayed Acrylic Silver with Gunmetal accents. Some mechanical parts were highlighted in Copper Bronzes. The Gunmetal and Bronzes are Warhammer paints.

Decals for the Zoids are stickers. I used these sparingly and trimmed them very close with a scalpel.

A clear gloss acrylic was applied to the model on completion.

Notes on my Zoids:

I originally heard of Zoids (by TOMY), around 1997, when researching articles on early Japanese transformer toys. They seemed unique, and quite different from transformers. They had a mechanical character of their own (Robotic Dinosaurs). I purchased three of them in the late 90’s. The small RZ-039 shown above, and two much larger Zoids. I received them in their boxes (a Zoids No.037 and No.055) from an eBay contact in Thailand. I modeled the above 8" wind-up Zoids No.RZ-039 in late October. This gave me a little knowledge about Zoids construction, and then, courage to tackle the monster Zoids No. 037 in November (shown below). I plan to complete and customize the final Zoids No. 055 in early 2008.

Zoids “Ultra Saurus” No. 037

This mega Zoids fellow is approximately 13 ½” high x 24” long and has a battery mechanism in his belly. I completed it over the three weeks (including paint drying time).

Finishing and detailing:

The body parts were all sprayed Metallic Silver.

Mechanical parts and all guns were spray finished in an Acrylic Metallic Bronze. Chainmail (lighter color) and Gunmetal (darker color) Silvers were used to accent most silver parts.

Copper bronzes (Warhammer color) was used to highlight and accent mechanical and gun parts. A little black was added to the bronze color for deep lines and recessed mechanical areas.

Similar color was used to paint the 4 mini ships. I also hand detailed the 8 mini pilots to match. White was used for runway lights, and (Hyplar) Acrylic fluorescent day glow red was used to accent missile launchers.

A few of the supplied sticker decals were cropped close and used sparingly.

Clear acrylic was applied to the model on completion.

Conclusion Notes:

A fun-to-see-it-grow model! A large model for display only ...too fragile for child playing.

A very impressive Zoids!

I can’t wait to display it next to the No.055 Madthunder.